smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861




The present year is undoubtedly the most event
ful in the political history of this country and the
record Of occurrences transpiring at the Fed
sral Metropolis is naturally Of striking and re-
msrkable interest. The public desire to receive
prompt, fAJl and reliable accounts of ak that
passes here ii most intense, and we have
consequently made alterations and Improvements
In the weekly issue OF the Washington Star to
meet this want most satisfactorily In compli-
ance with the wish Of the public the paper has
been changed from a quarto to the more conve-
nient folio shape, and now appears a kandSonls
sheet Of thirty-ttro columns, filed with choice
and carefully prepared Reading Matter, and bear
ing the name Of the


"Washington Dollar Weekly Star" "
As indicated by the title, we now furnish the
paper at the unprecedented low price Of


ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR!!
Or barely more than the price Of the paper upon
which II is printed. 1t is our determination to
make the WEEKLY STAR not only the Idrgsst
and handSOmsst Dollar Newspaper in the United
States, but that II shall absolutely be


THE BEST FAMILY WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN THE


WORLD!


II contains the very fullest, freshest and most
important details Of all that transpres at the
Seat OF Government; editorials on all the impor
tant topics Of the times; the news Of the week;
interesting correspondence from all parts Of the
world; capital stories; humorous and graphic
sketches, and the pick Of the floating miscellany
Of literature and gossip.


The DOLLAR STAR has as permanent feature
carefully prepared


AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT,
embodying whatever may be of interest to farm
efs in the transactions Of the Interior Department
the Smithsonian Institution, and the U. s. Agri-
cultural Society. Gardening and Horticulture
also receive due attention in this department
Of the paper, and we also give each week a
choice budget of Household Recipes for our lady
readers; also, Recipes FOR the Workshop, together
with an official list of all the new inventions
issued from the Patent Oface each week.


In short, 1t 10 our purpose to give our readers
a varied, rich, and sparkling variety of the
reading that at once instructs and entertains,
but aiming to make WASHINGTON News AND
GUssIr our speciality, in accordance with the
views set forth above.


Believing 1t to be better to sell many papers at
low price than few at a high price, we have
determined to offer the following


Extraordinary Inducements to Clubs.
Year: 1861

Since the great scarcity of cot
ton, the Partisan milliners have been
charging so and 70, and as much as
50 per cent extra for padding. If the
scarcity should still continue, it will
be frighttul to contemplate upon the
thousands and thousands of French
beauties that will be pinched by the
want of it during the coming winter
Punch.
Year: 1861

EVANSVILLE, cept zothi 'O"i'


Mr.. THOMAS RANDoLPH-SIR We the members ana
we-wisher of the African Methodist Episcopai
Church adopt this plan of informing the puohc' u1a'
we do not recognize being minister In goou
standing. Fnrher, that visited you on last Saooatn
morning notifying you that it against the VIII
the Methodist people and the rules Of their disciphne
for you To occupy the pulpit that day, ana uhuer
certain circumstances and you did not respect the
notice which you received from me, though VerOai'
therefore consider that you have violated the rules
OF the Church and insuted the Methodist people
also informed you that If you entered on TIE pulpit on
that day and under certain circumstances that there
party who had said that they would serve you
as you had been served in the Baptist Church; but
did not state any certain number of people, neither ud
say anything about stewards trustees to you; so
would advise you to1earn how to tell the truth before
preaching or especially to the Methodist people, not
that they are q selfish people, but people VINO ne
lieve in God of truth But had that party nav. met
and appyed coat Of tar and feathers instead OF una
City rotten eggs, it would have been very applcaoe
to the case. Sir, feel that am uphOldng the true
rights of the Methodist people. Further, hod myself
responsible for all hat1 have said in this letter ana
hold myself in readiness to meet you or ANYBODY VINO
Will take your part, by giving me twenty-iour hours
notice. l will add no more at present,


se2S-et LEANDER MAYO.
Year: 1861

4 THRUST AT JEFF. DAvIs-In q strong ar
tele on Walker, the Confederate Secretary of
War, the Richmond Whig of the I0th Gays
it is the general conviction that he is not
suited for the position he occupies.


Walker is known to be the merest dummy
in the rebel Cabinet lie was put there in
order that jeff. Davis might be the Secretary
of War, himself Any attack upon the War
Department is, therefore, an attack on Davis
Manifestations Of dissatisfaction with the
Rebel Chief are becoming more and more
common ct the Sosnh.
Year: 1861

THE PoNY News. "A portion of the news
by Pony was published by us in an Extra
last evening. The dispatch was received late,
and, surposing it would be much longer, we
did not wait for it all to come before putting
the Extra to press. The news is important.
We have neither time nor space for comments
now. There is decided air of exsggeration
about all the Lexington (Mo news, from first
to last. Kentucky seems to have gone TO
work in earnest to rid her borders of insolent
invaders. Washington was entirely safe
Year: 1861

Let Them Go.--Sundry persons, residents
here when money could be made in gulling
the people, have found since the inception OF
the present difficulties sufficient cause 10
authorize them TO abandon the city. Most Of
sueh persons have left between Two days
When arrived at safe distance they preach
a crusade against the place that afforded them
shelter, protection and money, and invoke
against our people all the horrors that 4 dia-
boiical Ingenuity could suggest. We are bet
ter rid OF such characters than with their
pestiferous presence, poisoning the pure
Southern breeze They are generally and In
most instances very inferior eggs" Let
them 60 and stay.
Year: 1861

Small Notes es-Persons finding difficulty in
obtaining the small notes of the Farmers
Bank, the only one of the old institutions tha t
preserved its old issue, can get what they wish
by calling at the office of the City Chamber
lain, who, we believe, is the custodian of the
notes authorized to be issued by the Council.
No one need be vic tim ized u cent for silver.
Year: 1861

Louisiana V0tuntesrs The Louisiana SOL
diery are quartered in this city, and making
themselves as comfortable as circums tances
will permit They are fine body of men,


and what is better, as we have said before,
"more are coming" We understand that the


battalion of Louisiana Guards are under
orders to leave to-day for another quarter of
the State
Year: 1861

Schonbein has been industriously follow
ing up his researches respecting the pres
eDce Of this peculiar and most important
agency in the atmosphere. He has just
found that when strip ofpaper, moistened
with a solution of pyrogallic acid, is intro
duced into an atmosphere containing ozone,
it is rapidly darkened while, if no ozone
be present, the paper retains its original
whiteness A test of this body ought to be
as common in house as q barometer. The
test recommended by Doctor Angus Smith,
Miss Nightingale, and Others as we have
before remarked, 10 the alkaline permang-
anates or Condy's fluid, which, besides, is
itself vehicle of ozone, and, as free con-
tributor of it, is in extensive use as a sani-
tary agency identical in its nature with
the ozone Of the atmosphere itself-the great
scavenger and cleanser of nature. Ozone
is almost equivalent to health. In crowded
cities or unhealthy neighborhoods it is
scarcely ever to be detected while, on the
ocean, the sea- shore, or elevated open tracts
of country, it is almost invariably present
in quantity. The first outbreak of an epi-
demic such as cholera is always heralded
by a decrease of ozone in the atmosphere
while its temperance is almost as certain
sign of the cessation Of the sickness
Ozone appears to be essentially electrified
oxygen; and that in truth, is the vital all
which we breathe, and which sustains life
and health. Were the oxygen of the air en-.
treLy neutral, or unelectriied, it is doubtful
whether it would sustain life or constitute
ritaJ air at all.-London paper.


The above is so well stated, that it de-
mands respect at least. We are neither
ready to contradict or adopt its doctrines
but as electricity is the fashionable scape-
goat, laden with most of the unexplained
natural phenomena of the day, we always
view with jealous scrutiny the various re-
suits attributed to its action.
Year: 1861

A MELANCHOLY RsLAPsE-The New York
Express says that old Virginia, (the secesh
part of it) is going back fast to the dark ages.
The special committee recently appointed by
the State Convention, TO report on certain
amendments to the Constitution, among
other absurdities, denounce what they call
"the system of free schools" That system
they think is unjust, educating, as it does,
the children of the poor at the expense OF
the rich, They are also opposed to unlimited
suffrage, etc.


Putting this and that together, what is
left for mankind 10 infer, but that the rump
of the Old Dominion is seeking to erect an
oligarchy of the most odious kind upon the
ruins with which her own folly has already
surrounded her.
Year: 1861

A Coon CAToH-Very extraordinary in
cidents have been told of shOt'having been
caught in the mouths of soldiers in the War
of 1872, and the Mexican War, but an Incl
dent perhaps more remarkable occurred in
the battle of Fort Drane, fought in 1887.
During the hottest of the fight soldier re-
ceived shot which broke through the outer
part of his pantaloons, and lodged in his
right hand pocket Feeling the slight sting
of the spent ball, he thrust his hand in his
pocket, drew out the bullet, and dropped il
into the barrel of his musket. Then, OBJ
serving the very warrior who had shot al
him, he leyeled his gun and returned the
bsll with fatal effect
Year: 1861

A volunteer who prides himself upon the
domestic arts he has learned during camp
life, writes home to advise the girls not to
be in hurry to marry, for the boys will be
home in a short time, and they can get good
husbands that can cook, wash and iron,
and can do general house-work, or work in
the garden, or run errands for their wives.
Year: 1861

There are those whO believe that Messrs
Mason and Slidell plotted their own capture
by the United States, in the precise mode in
which it was effected, for the purpose of em-
broiling the Government in war with Eng.
lard
Year: 1861

THE DEMANDS FOR STIMULANTS. S.-There are
times when the pulse lies low in the bosom,
beats slow in the veins; when the spirit sleeps
the sleep, apparently that knows no waking in
its house of clay, and the window shutters are
closed, and the invisible Grape of melancholy is
drawn over US; when we wish the golden sun
shine was pitcby backness, and are very will
ling to fancy clouds where no clouds are. This
is state of sickness when physc may be thrown
to the dogs. for we will have none of it. What
shall raise the sleeping Lazarus? What shall
make the heart beat music again, and the pulse
to dance to it through all the myriad thronged
halls of the house of life? What shall make
the sun kiss the eastern hills again for us with
all his own awakening gladness and night
overflow with moonlight, music, love, and
flowers Love itself is the greatest stimulant
the most intoxicating of all and performs
all the miracles but it is a miracle itself, and
it is not at the drug store, whatever they may
say. The counterfeit is in the market, but the
winged god is not money changer, we can
assure you.


Men have tried many things, but still they
ask for stimulants. The stimulauts we use but
require the use Of more. Men try to drown
the floating dead of their own souls in the wine
cup, but the corpse will rise. We see their
faces in their bubbles The intoxicaton of
drink sets the world wbirling again and the
pulse playing the widest music, and the
thought galloping but the fast clock runs
down sooner, and the unnatural stimulation
only leaves the house it fills with the widest
reYery, the more silent, more sad more de-
serted, more dead. There is Only one stimu-
liant that never intoxicates-Duty. Duty puts
blue sky over every mau-up in heart mag.
in which is the leak. Happiness always goes
singing.
Year: 1861

For SPoRTsMEN-Her is an explanation,os
a fact which has puzzled sporting nickname
ly, why the left barrel of gun bursts so much
more frequently than the right? The sport
man, on going out loads both barrels, and on
seeing bird rise, fires naturally the right one
he reloads that barrel, and when be again sees
bird or hare be fires again and SO he does
perhaps twenty times in succession. But each
firing gives a shock TO the charge in the left
barrel and at last the succession of shocks
separates the wadding from the powder and
shot the consequence is vacuum ensnes be-
tween them, and when the second barrel is
fred it Frequently bursts. To prevent this
danger the recommendation is made that when
ever the right hand barrel is loaded, the charge
in the left hand one should also be rammed
down.
Year: 1861

THE SoRRowFuL MULTITUDE OF THE OLD
1t is sad to think of what multitude of old,
decrepid, friendless, homeless men will be
found in this State, ten or twenty years hence
Hundreds who, in the vigor of manhood and
hope, came and smote the undertook in vain
and sank to helplessness under disease, despair,
or the dread destroyer drink. Already we
begin to meet them, everywhere, from the
metropolis to the lonesome defles of the noun
tain, white-haired, shriveled, tottering and con-
suming, under the mildew of premature age
Lost to home and friends, too feeble to work,
unable to reach their kindred, where will they
go but 10 the hospitable grave? Poorer than
the foxes, more homeless than the birds, who
will care for them? who will uphold them,
down to the shadowy valley, where the waves
of eternity sound from the unseen shore?


Happily, there are brotherhoods to shelter
some, and here fraternal societies will do, and
are doing, the noblest work of humanity
And as the aged pilgrim totters down the
dreary valley, between the frowning hills of
poverty and old age, his dull ear will quicken,
and his old heart will warm anew, as he looks
above, and beholds two shining lights, one on
either hand, cleaning like clasps of fire on the
great belt of the heavens, and hears voice
saying command you to clothe the orphan,
comfort the widow, bury tie dead y and hears
the answer from the other, So mote it be )"
Oh, how these magic sentences will thrill along
his deadening nerves, making the halting Laz-
arus bound like the playful roe Placerville
News.
Year: 1861

A VENITIAN Love SToRY.-A sad story
has plunged Venice into more than its wonted
sorrow. A young Hungarian noble in an
Austrian regiment had fallen violently in love
with beautiful Venitian girl. They met fire.
quently in society. She returned his passion,
told him that she would never marry another,
but that she could never marry him, an officer
in an Austrian regiment, while three Of her
brothers were fighting for Italy. Vainly did
the Hungarian urge bis sr't, earnestly did he
entreat meeting. At last the fair Venitian
wrote to him: q Have you sufficient courage
to kill me? If you consent l will meet you
to night But will meet you on this condi-
tion only, that you slay me, but respect me-
Should l receive no reply, shall come, and
know that you have the courage which ex-
pect from you." The girl went forth that
evening with boquet of snowwhite blossoms
in her girdle On the morrow, on the banks
of the lagune, the officers sword and scabbard
were found, raised in the form of a cross, and
in the stream below were found the bodies of
the two lovers, closely locked in each others
arms
Year: 1861

Ye who listen to stories told.


When hearths are CHEEKY and nights are cold,
Of the lone wood side, and the hungry pack
That howls on the fainting travellers track
Flamered eyeballs that waylay,
By the wintry moon. the belated sleigh
The lost child sought in the dismal wood,
The little shoes and the stains of blood
On the trampled snow-O We that hear,
With thrills of pity or chills of fear,
Wishing some angel had been sent
To cheer the hapless and innocent
Know We the fiend that is crueller far
Than the gaunt grey herds of the forest are?
Swiftly vanish the wild fleet tracks
Before the rifle and woodman's axe:
But bark to the coming of unseen feet,
Pattering by night through the city street
Each wolf that dies in the woodland brown
Lives spectre and haunts the town.
By square and market they sink and prowl,
In lane and alley they leap and howl.
All night they snuff and snarl before
The poor patched window and broken door.
They paw the clapboards and claw the latch,
At every crevce they whine and scratch.
Their tongues are subtle and long and thin,
And they lap the living blood within.
Icy keen are the teeth that tear,
Red as ruin the eyes that glare.
Children crouched in corners cold
Shiver in tattered garments old,
And start from sleep with bitter pangs
At the touch of the phantom's viewless fangs.
Weary the mother and worn with strife,
Still she watches and fights for life.
Bat her hand is feeble, and weapon small:
One little needle against them all
In evil hour the daughter fed
From her poor shelter and wretchcd he'd.
Through the city's pitiess solitude
To the door of sin the wolves pursued.
Fierce the father and grim with want,
His heart is gnawed by the spectre gaunt
Frenzied stealing forth by night,
With whetted knife, to the desperate fight,
He thought to strike the spectres dead,
But he smites his brother man instead.
O you that listen to stories told,
When hearths are CHEEKY and nights are cold,
Weep no more at the tales you hear,
The danger is close and the wolves are near.
Shudder not at the murderer's name
Marvel not at the maiden's shame,
Pass not by with averted eye
The door where the stricken children cry.
But when the beat of the unseen feet
Sounds by night through the stormy street,
Follow thou where the spectres glide;
Stand like Hope by the mother side;
And be thyself the angel sent
To shield the hapless and innocent.
He gives but little who gives his tears.
He gives his best who aids and cheers.
He does well in the forest wild
Who slays the monster and saves the child;
But he does better, and merits more,
Who drives the wolf from the poor mans door.
Year: 1861

In another hour, we had recovered our
horses, and had left behind US the scene of our
late excitement but when we were miles
away, the bafled Kioways were still engaged
in depositing the dead warriors beneath the
grass of the prairie"
Year: 1861

REST OF THE SABBATH.-The North British
Review thus speaks of the physical necessity
of the Sabbath


The Creator has given us a natural restora-
tive-sleep anda moral restorative-Sabbath
keeping and it is ruin to dispense with either.
Under the pressure of high excitement, indi-
viduals have passed weeks together with little
sleep, or none but when the process is long
continued, the over ridden powers rebel, and
fever, delirium and death comes on. Nor can
the natural amount be Systematically curtaied
without corresponding mischief. The Sabbath
does not arrive like sleep. The day of rest
does not steal over or like the hour of slumber-
1t does not entrance, almost whether we VIII
or not; but addressing us as intelligent beings,
our Creator assures us that we need 1t, and
bids US notice its return, and court its renova-
tion. And il going in the face of the Creators
kindness we force ourselves to work all days
alike it is not long till we pay the forfeit
The mental worker-the man of business. or
the man of letters--fn his ideas becoming
turbid and slow the equpage of his faculties
is upset; he grows moody fitful and capri
cious and with his mental elasticity broken,
should any disaster occur, he subsidies into
habitual melancholy, or in self destruction
speeds his guilty exit from gloomy world.
And the manual worked-the artisan the en-
gineer-by toiIing on from day TO day, and
week to week, the bright intuition of his eye
gets blunted, and forgetful of its cunning, bis
fingers no longer perform their feats of twink
ling agility nor by plastic touch mould dead
matter, or WELD mechanic power; but min
Cling bis life in his daily druggery, bis locks
are prematurely gray, his genial humor sours,
and shaving it till he becomes a remorseess or
reckless man, for an extra effort, or blink of
qualmy feelings, he must stand indebted, 10
opium or alcohol.
Year: 1861

a SOLDIER was once wounded in battle and
set up terrible bowling An freshman who
lay near with both legs shot off, Immediately
sung out /: -" Bad luck to the likes Of ye-do
yer think that nobody is kilt but yourself2"
Year: 1861

RATHER SHORr.-The Boston Traveller state,
that most Of the shirts made by the ladies OF
Boston for the volunteers are from four to sir
inches too short.


Like a man without WIFE


Like ship without sail,


The most useless thing in life


Is shirt without a-proper length
Year: 1861

attorney and Counsellor at Low.
Has resumed the practice of bis profession in
Manitowoc, and car now promise to give
prompt attention to all professional business
entrusted to him.
~ Collections made in any part of the State.
For few weeks bis Office will be found at
his dwelling house.
Year: 1861

In addition to sending two companies to Fort
Macon We learn that the people of Goldsboro
have raised third to act as home guard. -
Ihis is right, and we hope that every Southern
community will organize ." Home Guard "at
once We need one here and as the Rifenen
and Cavalry have gone to Fort Macon we trust
that the divisions and differences which have
unfortunately sprung up among the Light In
fantry will be at once buried and that the
Company will at once organize for home de-
tense. Drill once or twice week and turn
out once week for parade, for the present
Never mind about uniforms-if we get them
all well, and if not 60 without them. These
are times for action, not for show. Ifun;for1ns
are to be had we would suggest that cheap
goods be purchased and the army of mattrass
makers whose heroisrn was yed at Low
throp Hall yesterday and the day before be
put to work on them. They would Uniform
regiment in week
Year: 1861

Our exchanges say that South Carolina has
imposed g tax Of one dollar on every dog owned
by a negro, and two dollars on eli dogs owned
by white men This Will drive many Of the
white men to palm the ownership Of their dogs
on their negroes. Their revenue law viii be
complete if they would now impose tax on
every dog ecdo o1caa s'ogro and at the same
time discriminate between dogs on TWO and
dogs on four legs.-EnorUille Whig-


The above we frd copied into the Green's
boro Patriot The Knoxville Wtig must have
known it to be false when it published it and
the Patriot certainly knew it was giving cur
rency to falsehood when it copied it, This is
no time for people in the South to be abus-
ing and libelling each other and We hope that
the Wig, Patriot and all others will have the
patriotism and good sense to refrain from it in
future.