smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

TREE PLANTING. The season for at
tending to this important and pleasing du,
ty has come round again, and will soon
pass by. Deciduous trees should be put
in as soon as any interval can be gained
from more driving matters; evergreens
will answer any Tina in the month of May.
Every man who has a few rods Of ground
will be apt to find that he has something
to do in this line. And here @ question
arises at the outset. The great majority
OF those who have anything like home.
sted are pretty sure 10 discover that s'some
one has blundered" themselves or
their predecessors-in this matter Of sets
ting out trees. Either a tree has been
put down and is growing beautifully just
where no tree at all is wanted, or there
are too many crowded together, or there
is the wrong kind in the right place--and
what shall be done about it? As a gen.
eral rule, the wrong ought to be righted
at once. 1t is better to uprcot the noblest
tree than to have it become nuisance by
interfering with the convenience or health
Of the family. Besides, there is consn-
ual pleasure in these little endevors to
get things as they should be and to keep
mother nature within bounds.


The principles and mechanism TO
use a phrase OF the standard work on
tactes-of the planting ought to be well
understood by this time. They are mainly
these: to keep the roots Of the tree as far
as possible from becoming dried; to shorten
in the limbs about in proportion to the loss
OF roots, and if anything little more so
TO set the tree at about the same depth at
which it originally grew; to see that the
earth is pressed closely against all the roots
"a pailful of water dashed under is good
help to the process and to mulch thickl7
during July and August of the first season
after transplanting. With regard to tho
selection Of the kinds of shade trees, refer.
ence must be had chiefly to the situation
Do you want a screen, or an over arching
shade with an uninterrupted view under,
meath, or something ornamental to look
upon9 There are trees adapted for each
requirement, and having, too, each its own
defects. The elm has the noblest top, but
is apt to be thin and scraggy. The oak is
hard 10 transplant. The rock maple is
clean and has beautiful foliage, but is of
very slow growth, especially when frat
;ransplanted. The silver maple, on the
other hand, is Of rapid growth, but does
not make dense shade nor color its leaves
deeply in the autumn. The horse chestnut
comes out early in the Spring and holds
its leaves late, but is too dense for some
situations and is rather set in its habit of
growth The mountain ash ought not to
be planted where its berries will fall upon
walks, as they are a nuisance. Every
one, then, before he sets out tree, ought
to consider what he wants for that partic.
ular situation, and make his selection ac-
cordingly, If, in addition, he looks ahead
and thinks of the size of his trees in
dozen or twenty years, he will be likely
to hit right and to DO piece of work
which the lapse of time will only render
more and more beautiful and benefcent,
Year: 1869

A SHOWER OF WORMS. The Port.
land (Oregon) Courier says that during a
shower at Sheridan, in Yamhill county, on
the 18th of March, there fell what seemed
to be kind Of hail, but on examinas
iicn was found TO be composed of peculiar
whitish worms-milions of them. Each
worm had the power of doubling up and
skipping foot or more. They were from
an eighth TO quarter of an inch long,
with small darkish spot about the head.
They appeared to die very soon.


An exchange says that farmer cured
his daughter of the Greclan bend by ihrow-
ing water ON her, and then laying her in
the sun till she warped back TO the old place
again.
Year: 1869

A Committee of notable Virginians speaking
only for themselves and the small meeting of
prominent citizens who sent them, but probably
capable of bringing to the polls, in support Of
any adjustment they may secure at the hands
of Congress, majority of the men who formed
through the four years war the bulwark of
the Rebel cause, sought in Washington some
plan by which they and those like-minded
could be enabled to support the attempted
Reconstruction in their State. Wise and ex-
perienced members of both Houses advised
them to request certain notifications OF tho
Constitution for Virginia-framed last year, but
not yet submitted to the people as
fundamental conditions precedent to its
adoption by the State or its accept
ance by Congress- Through tho Senates Judi
ciary Committee therefore, they ask the erasure,


l. OF all provisions for disfranchisement or
disqualification.


g Of the article reversing the former policy
Of the State as to Church property, and en-
abng ecclesiastical bodies outside the State to
take the churches of Virginia from the congre-
cations that built them.


3. Of the cumbrOus machinery for local or
ganization, government, and police.


4. OF the extension Of the existing laws
granting prospective homestead exemptions, so
as to apply also, by constitutional enactment,
to past indebtedness.


5. OF the limitation upon the power Of taxa
ton for school purposes, which they wish
changed in mode, though not asking that it be
reduced in amount


Of these notifications, all excepting the first
relate TO details of State policy, and are of
local interest. They seem reasonable on their
face and the memorial in which they are
urged is temperate, conciliatory, and dignified.
We trust Congress will consider it candidly
and kindly; and, If the things asked appear
just and the mode of doing them seem clear
from troubles, yield so much to the wishes of
the large and intelligent class whom these
gentlemen represent. AS to the first there can
be, we think, no doubt. We are for the
immediate removal of the disfranchise-
ment. We would welcome these Yirginians
who come to us seeking once more the bless
ings of the Government they once sought to
overthrow and are now ready to sustain. To
this complexion it must come sooner or later.
Everybody sees, everybody acknowledges that
Why not come to it at once, and have done
forever with a prolific source of irritation and
discontent7 We ask it because since it is sure
to be won some time it may better be grace
fully accorded now; because It is wise policy
in itself; and because it brings with it the
certain guaranty of equal rights for all.
Year: 1869

There is q certain Senator in Washington,
the name of him to us unknown, for whom we
feel degree of cOmmiseration which Qn the
present condition of the English language) it
is impossible adequately to express. This grave
and potent unfortunate, according to a news
paper letter now before us, "has already re-
"ceived over six hundred applications for
office 1t is hardly possible to read this
sorrowful statement without recalling the words
of Scripture And the river shall bring forth
frogs abundantly. which shall go up and come
" into thine house, and into thine bed-Chamber,
and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy
servants, and upon thy people, and into thine
ovens, and into thy kneading- How
the poor Senator aforementioned must be
howling for some magic spell which shall
destroy the frogs that they may remain in
the river only ~


The benevolent mind naturally shares its
sympathy between the Senator and the seekers.
AS we cannot write by post to the honorable
gentleman because we do not know his name
we prink our pity here We sincerely hope that
he may not be murdered. Wo pray Heaven
TO save him from becoming a maniac. 1t is
useless to recommend him to bar his door,
unless he wishes it to be broken down and de-
stroyed. lie cannot abscond, while his legiti-
mate public duties keep him in Washington.
lie cannot cause to be promulgated report
that he Is dead, for his State would at
once make hot haste to elect his sue
cessor. AS for playing sick and tying
up the knocker, that would be little
too transparent; and, moreover, were he In the
article of death. the men who are haunting
him would not scruple to disturb his last med
itatiOns by asking him for his sgn-manual.
What can he do TO save himselfP We really
do not know. The frogs are large and numer-
Gus and hungry, and when they consent to
"remain in the river only" we shall think that
the Thousand Years are at hand.


But what pity it is that the six hundred
cannot be persuaded that "to remain in the
"river onlyp is the best thing they can d0j
though some of them may be jumping intolt,
Jelo dc SO fashion, with stones (and nothing
else) in their pockets, before all is over, The
report upon which we are commenting says |:
"Of the six hundred applications, In al proba-
"bility not sixty will be successful. y What o
prospect! Five hundred and forty wretches
doleful, desperate. disappointed, all their
trump-cards turned to rubbish, all their cOllec-
ton of influential autographs become mere re-
fuse, must return with free PISS, If they can
get it) to confront their neighbols and either
to be pitied or laughed at Unhappy DXL!
Desperate Light Brigade Of Beggars!


"Into the jaws OF Death,


Into the mouth OF He'll,


Rode tho ak huudred."


Much that has beep written about the in
Year: 1869

ences Of priest and landlord in Ireland; no true
freedom can be had while liberty of any sort
has to be bought by the supremacy of the one
or the other. To us, the power of the Army
seems to be a more immediate danger in Spain
than even tho power OF the Church. The Re-
publicans have to grapple with it, or their
movement comes to nothiMg. Even Republic
supported by the Army, and living OF the
favor and toleration of the Army, would DO a
poor change for the better.


The two great results, then, Of the infOrma-
tiOn laid before our readers is that there is
in Spain a Republican party, resolute, organ
lied, and enthusiastic, which has already had
its baptism of blood, and is prepared to
endure sacrifice and dare martyrdom. Next,
that the true work before them is not so
much to make Spain a Republic as to make
her q civil State. The task is difficult one.
Before the elections we were not sanguine
enough to believe that the Republicans would
win this time. We are not now Sanguine
that they will win soon. But that they
have o cause, and SEQ the way they
would go, is great fact in itself 1t is sign
that form and order are at last beginning to
emerge out Of the chaos of Spanish politics.
Once party bearing such banner appears
in good array upon the political field, a new
and an auspiciOus chapter has opened in the
history of Spain.
Year: 1869

minority. In other words QOr this is the exact
meaning of the above diatrbe) The Post is
about to execute its long-meditated return to
the Democratic party, and is only lingering nom
inaly with the Republicans in order that it
may more effectively damage them.
But we are used to being called hard names
by The Post, and are not moved by them. 1t
can say nothing worse of us than it did OF our
fathers, who framed and passed "the Black
Tariff of 1928, which it was sure would
destroy our Industry Commerce, and Revenue;
yet all these fourished under that Tariff as
they had never done before. 1t DETAINED us
as recklessly when we passed the TarlH OF
1s42; yet that Tariff lifted the country once
more out of the slough into which Free Trade
had plunged it, and made it so prosperous
that its enemies could only subvert it by
fraud, even though they had the Slave Power
at their back, with King Cotton on his throne,
and British influence and money uphOlding his
scepter.


When The Post shall have openly proclaimed


its hostility 20 the party it now treacherously
stabs we shall have closed out the Slavery
controversy and be ready for the struggle 1t
now invokes-a struggle in which we shall
have the support of hundreds of thousands of
artifcers, artisans, and mechanics, who are now
deceived into opposing us by the catchwOrd De-
mocracy There was never yet an issue fairly
joined on the question Of Protection Us. Free
Trade on which decided majority of all our
countrymen who could read did not vote for
Protection. The ground is familiar; the issues
have already been tried Let, then, our adver-
saries come on! We ask but an open field
and fair play, and these we shall hope to Sc
cure.
Year: 1869

Mr.. Wilson's new Army bill, arranging the
higher grades on a new scale, seems to be con-
triyed on the double plan of leveling the sala-
ries up and the Offices down. Our army system
has always been imperfect and anomalous. The
present is doubtless an effort to bring its Offices
moro nearly to correspond with those Of certain
European models and, if we were seeking to
place our establishment on war footing,
would perhaps be wise. But we distrust any
multiplication Of high offices now, and
utterly condemn any direct or indirect effort
toward hiGher salaries.
Year: 1869

The confessions of Arnold and Atzerodt relative
to the assassination of President Lincoln give
us the testimony of two participants in tile
crime and yet dsinterested witnesses, taken
while John Surratt was fugitive In Canada
very clearly to the effect that John Surratt was,
next to Wilkes Booth, the presiding organizer
of the assassination. Arnold, who Is now sery-
ing out his time on the Dry Tortugas, but
whose confession was taken four days after the
murder, shows that during the earlier stages Of
the plot, and while it was merely q plan 70
kidnap the President, the minor actors in the
tragedy saw little of Surratt, but Wilkes Booth
was always "pressed with business with Sur
ratt, and in daily and apparently engrossns
confidential communication with him. sr-
ratt was present at the first meeting Of the
seven conspirators, and seems to have arranged
a very sly and safe role for himself. While
Arnold was to rush into the private box
of the theater and seize the President, and
Atzerodt and Booth were to handcuff him and
lower him to the stage, and others were to put
out the lights and carry him to the coach, all
of which was an obviously hair Drained scheme,
Surratt was to wait "on the other side Of the
Eastern Branch bridge TO facilitate escape
1t would seem strange that Booth should need
constantly to advise with one who was to bear
so slight and cowardly hand In the business
if Booth were the originator Of the crime
But if Surratt were the insprer Of the murder
it is easy to see how he might have nodded
the bold courage of Booth to carry out the
promptlngs of his more guilty and subtle
heart, and how Booth himself may have been
so impressed by Surratts superior boldness In
guilt as to have overlooked his Superior
caution in avoiding danger. Arnold denounced
the plan as impracticable, and withdrew from
the entire conspiracy before it had developed
into plot to assassinate.


Atzerodt declares that the plan to kidnsp
was first changed to one of assassination az
eight o'clock on the evening of the murder.
About the middle of March, the seven con
spiratOrs-Booth, Surratt, 0'Laughlin, Arnold
Payne, Atzerodt, and Harold-had q plan by
which the others were to capture the Presideut
and Surratt. rs the best driver, was TO drive
the coach over the Long Bridge into Virginia
1t failed, because the President did not pass
the place at which they were expecting aud
waylaying him. When the plan was changed
from kidnapping Surratt had just had an
interview with Booth. The impression left by
these confessions is that Booth was the bold
fanatic. and Surratt the cunning and cautious
inspirer of the deed.
Year: 1869

The Times accords preposterous space end i'm
portance to the allegation that during the pro-
gress of the Vicksburg campaign Gen. Banks
was once ordered to supersede Con. Grant aud
that he took the responsibility of disobeying
the order. As no proof whatever is offered, it
is not easy to see whether the story
is true; but there is 10 difficulty in
seeing its present motive. In tho midst of the
Cabinet maneuverings it is not far to seek.
Whether such an order ever really issued from
the War Department or not, the fact is per-
feetly well known that 1t was long and Sc
riOusly urged from influential quarters. No
body knows or has known this any better than
Gen. Grant himself.
Year: 1869

Oh the copper Oul'


"The Senate yesterday passed the bill imposing enc-
NOUS additional duties on aR kinds of oopEt and on the
ores and manufactures OF that metal This bin viii levy


tax OF from three 10 Grs millions Of dollars he people,
not dollar OF which will go into the National TreasuFy
but all Of it will be given to few stock speculaors IN
Boston and TO land SPECTATORS IN Michigan 1t wiz IL
deed DESTROY the import ude M copper and deprive
the Treasury OF the revenue now derived from IT,"


The gross misstatements embodied in the
above paragraph were probably made in ig or
ance of the facts but it is an ignorance 50
reckless as to be culpable. The bill in question
imposes duty OF three cents per pound on che
fine Copper imported in the form of ore-a
duty of considerably less than twenty per cent
ad valorem. Were our Tariff Imposed Tor
Revenue only, without particle, shade Oh
discrimination with view to Protection the
duty on this Copper would be considerably
higher than this bill proposes. So far IRON
discriminating IN ytdUOr of American miners Oh
Copper our Tariff has hitherto discriminate
largely agains! them, and viii so discriminate
after this bill Shall have become laws wlis
it will no more destroy the import trade !.
- Copper than it will stop the importation H
Hardware. But who expects fairness or acc~
racy from The Post?
Year: 1869

The news from Indianapolis concerning the
SenatOrship is still vague. The sixteen Re-
publican boilers who withheld their votes from
Gov Cumback on Tuesday, and so left him
with only plurality of the whole vote cast,
claim one addition to their numbers. They
do not seem to be making Overtures to the
Democracy, and yet the Democratic leaders
evidently expect either to secure the election
of a member of their own party, or to force
the choice of some Republican unObjectiOnable
to the enemies of Republicanism.
Year: 1869

The House did its part yesterday toward a
Homeopathic reform of the Franlling iniquity.
1t actually voted to abolish the use of counter
felt franks or stamps. An attempt to make
those who write to Members Of Congress pay
their postage was voted down-123 TO SO. Per-
haps we ought to be grateful for any abate-
ment of the nuisance, but we can't be uery
grateful for so small a reform as this 1t is
Just better than nothing. Can't the Senate
he persuaded to improve itP
Year: 1869

The conclusion of the Senate Indian Com
mittee on the vexed Indian Bureau question
seems to be an attempt to create something
midway between the flesh of the Interior
Department and the fish Of the War Depart
ment, which shall have neither the system OF
the one nor the power Of the other. To the
War Department, as we believe, the whole
charge of the Indians must ultimately come,
and therefore, for the sake of a settlement
we hope it may be remanded there at once.
Year: 1869

Gen. Schenck's resolve affirming the obliga-
ton of the United States to pay the principal
of their Debt in coin at maturity is maIred by
his proviso forbidding the payment or pur-
chase Of interest bearing obligations not due
until after tho Treasury shall have resumed
payment on its Greenbacks. We see no neces-
sary or proper relation between this proviso
and the resolve to which it is appended We
would buy up interest bearing bonds in order
to raise the value Of all our securities, and SO
make Resumption easy. Why nOt7
Year: 1869

Railway schemes of one sort or another are
still able, by the grace of Messrs. PomerOy and
Sherman, to keep the Senate from finding time
to say, in answer to the reputation of the
Presidents Message, that this nation means to
keep its word and pay its debt as it promised,
in what the world reckons money.
Year: 1869

One of the component parts of a good far


r,er il mechanical ingenuity. Some lose


half n DAVIS time for want of knowing how


TO repair a breakage which an ingenious per-


son could 90 in five minutes. A team and


two or three men are sometimes stopped a


whole day, at critical season, for want of


\ little mechanical skill 1t is well Cor


eyery farmer to have at hand the facilities


tor repairing. In addition to the more com


mon tools, be should keep supply of nails
of different sizes, screws, bolts and nuts
Common cut nails are too brittle for repair
ing implements, or for other similar purposes.


Buy only the very best, and anneal them,
and they will answer all the ordinary pur.
poses Of the best wrought nails. To anneal
them. all that is necessary is to heat them
red hot in a common fire, and cool gradually.
Let them COOL for instance, by remaining in
the fire while it burns down and goes out.
One such nail, well clinched, will be worth
half dozen unannealed. Nothing is more
common than for n farmer to visit black
smiths shop to get a broken or lost bolt or
rivet inserted, and often single nut on
bolt. This must be paid for, and much time
is lost. By providing supply of bolts, nuts
and riyets. much time and trouble may be
saved. They may be purchased wholesale
at low rate. These should all be kept in
shallow boxes, with compartments made for
the purpose, furnished with bow-hande for
in carrying them. One box
with bali dozen divisions, may be appro-
prated to nails of different sizes and anotb.
er, with as many compartments, to screws,
bolts, rivets.setc. Every farmer should keep
on hand supply Of copper wire, and small
pieces OF sheet copper or copper straps
Copper wire is better than annealed iron
wire; 1T is almost as flexible as twine, and
may be be bent and twisted as desired, and
it will not rust Copper straps nailed across
Or around fracture or split in wooden ar
ticle, will strengthen it in a thorough man.
ner.-Rural Afairs.
Year: 1869

When female is in trouble or afflicted with dis
ease as weakness of the back and limbs, pain in
the head, dimness of sight loss of muscular power
palptation of the heart, irritabity. nervousness,
extreme urinary difficulties, arrangement of digest
i've functions, general debility, vaginitis, all dis
eases OF the womb hysteria, sterility, and all other
diseases peculiar to females, she should go or write
at once to the celebrated female doctor, w. K Do
herty' at his Medical Institute and consult him
about her troubles and disease. The Doctor l.
efecting more cures than any other physician in
the State of California Let no false delicacy p-e
vent you, but apply Immediately and save yourself
from painful suffering and premature death. The
Doctors Offices are so arranged that he can be con
suited without fear of observation.
Year: 1869

An AFFECTING ScENE.-At the theater in
Douai. during the first performance Of Offen-
bach's new operetto, a young actress. who
appeared for the first time, was hissed. She
turned deadly pale, drew a poignard from
her bosom and tried to stab herself. Fortu-
nately the other actors succeeded in wrestling
the weapon from her hands. The perfor
nance was interrupted for half an hour,
and when the curtain rose again, the mana
ger appeared, and said To the highly excited
audience that the young actress would reap
pear, but he begged them not to insult her ::
she was highly talented. and that a little
encouragement given to her would at once
elicit the full splendor of her talents. The
gallant Frenchmen burst into deafening an
plause when the young girl came forward
again, and encored the first air which she
sang in tremulous voice. This mark Of
success visibly animated her courage, and
she achieved a great triumph. 1t was after.
wards ascertained that she had gone on the
stage to support her old mother, and the fail
ure OF her debut would have exposed them
TO extreme poverty. Hence her despair
when the kissing burst forth.