smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

ANOTHER MERMAID IN New YoRK-A mermaid
is said to have been recently brought to New York.
A description sent us says "This beautiful crea-
ture, genuine mermaid, is said to have been
caught on the Northeast side of the Bay of Yeddo,
on the coast Of Japan, about twenty-three and a
some poor fishermen who had it finely preserved 1t
is about a foot and a half long, with a face and
breast somewhat resembling those of woman, but
the lower part of the body is fshIike the extrem-
ty is turned up in the fashion represented in most
pictures of the mermaid-N Y. Erpress.
Year: 1861

As the passengers left the depot a hackman nam
ed Phillips, becoming infected with the spirit of
fun, jumped into the barouche intended for Mr.


Lincoln, and was driven down Calvert street The
report was instantly circulated that he was the
genuine 'Old Abe and mistake. The crowd
rushed after him, and from the manner in which
he bowed his thanks to those who were shouting
after him, it was thought that Mr. Lincoln could
Year: 1861

We call the attention Of buyers to LARGE end COM
PLETE STOCK embracing foil lines OF Foreign and Domestic
articles, both Staple and Fancy.


The uSPRRCEDESTEDLY PRICES at which for the past
sixty days bought sarse portion Of our present stock
place MS In position offer inducements far greater than
period since the establishment OF our business In 1877


For EXTENT VARIETY, aud BEAUTY OF SELECTION wodphy
suPyRIoR TO ANY OF THE KIND sVsh BEFORE
pRgsEyTED CITY, which offers to dealers an UNLIMITED
range of srYLR3 and PRICES from which to choose


WE PARTICULARLY INVITE THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER DEALT
WITH US TO EXAMINE OUR PRICES assuring them
that all the advantages which have gained by LoNj E1P
RIENCE LARGE PUKCHAsBs and PAYMBSTt will be oe
ally divided with


CASH AND FIRsT-CLASS TIME BUYERS.
We annex list Of few Of the articles embraced In our va
rey all Of which will be sold BY the package in lots to suit
purchasers.


Catalogues giving full description Of cur stock Will be fur
nshed tent by mail on application


AL orders n.rustedto will be accurately and eTpedoay
supplied.
Year: 1861

MORE NAVAL ExpEDITIoNs.-The N.
York Herald says:


We understand that since the brilliant
conquest of Hattaras Inlet, the Government
has resolved upon several similar expedi-
tions, without loss of time. We are glad
to hear it, for this is the shortest way to the
vital parts of this Southern rebellion. We
thus take it in the flank and rear, and CON-
pei it to face about to defend itself. Bet
ter still, by our occupation of the iulets and
seaports of the Cotton States, we shall be
able, in good season, to relieve the Man
chester cotton spinners and make them
good Union men. Let US make bold dash
for the headquarters of King Cotton, and
we shall soon have him on the hip on both
sides of the water.
Year: 1861

The RICE CRoP.-The harvesting of the
rice commenced about ten days ago on the
Savannah and Ogeechee rivers, and We may
say generally that better crop has not been
made for years. 1t met with no disaster
during the growing season, and is large and
fully headed out. The continuous rains
since it has been cut may damage it some
what, but it can stand good deal of wet
weather without serious effect upon the
grain.


The inland plantations in many sections
would have done better with more rains to
fill up the ponds, but still We hear the crop
is very fair one.-Savannah Republican.
Year: 1861

We are permitted to publish the follow
ing extract from letter (says the Richmond
EraminsrASast received in this city. We
are gratifed to fud a confirmation of the
account we have heretofore had of bril-
liant rencounter between Gen. Wise and
the enemy, near Hawks Nest, and between
it and the Gaule7.
Year: 1861

The Rev. j. j. Nicholson, writing from
Norfolk, on the 18th ult., gives the Mobile


Tribune an interesting account of visit
he recently paid to the Navy Yard at that
place. He describes the Merrinsac as fol.
lows:


81 was on the celebrated Nerrinaac.-
She is turned into sort of terrapin, only
with sharper back-or if you will take
an old fashioned chicken coop, with augu-
lar top, as type on a small scale you will
have all of this great ship that will appear
above water. Bow and stern will be en-
tirely under water, and so constructed as to
puucture anything that falls in the way
The only possible chance for the enemy to
do anything with it, will be to straddle the
sharp cone or comb of the roof, and sing to
the sharks as he passes along. To get into
it will be impossible, and to make hole in
it with anything, or any machinery, just the
same. 1t will be covered with oak plank,
two courses, each four inches thick, and
then encased in railroad iron. Do you sup
pose cannon ball can have IL courage to
go through all of that? She will carry ten
tremendous guns. And when she pokes
her 6endish head out of these waters, then
you may look for speedy raising of block
a1e, &c. | would not be afraid to 60 any
where in her; right under the guns of
Fortress Monroe would be as safe as any
where else"
Year: 1861

A professional gentleman was called in
to the house Of an old customer, and on
making his visit quite forgot the name Of
his patient He was ashamed to confess
his ignorance or fOrgetfulness, but having
to write a prescription, be shrewdly hit
upon plan Of acquiring the information
he desired, and quietly observed to the
lady" Madam, how do you spell your
namel"


"Our family" was the reply, d" Always
spelt it with two LIS"
Year: 1861

A TIMELY REPRooF.-Humor and sharp wit
are never put to a better use than by answering
fool according to his folly, and we could wish
that reproofs like the following We're more fire.
quent:


Some five or six years ago, in one of the
trains of cars running between Newark and
Jersey City, New Jersey, there was young ma
val officer who was constantly intermingling
his conversation with profane Oaths. A young
lady was so situated that she could not but
hear every time he swore. At first she bore it
with perfect eqninimity then as it continued
and rather increased in the shocking character
of his imprecations, she began to grow idgety,
and her ewes flashed. We knew a bolt would
soon be shot, and that it would strike him. 1t
came directly.


Sir, can you converse in the Hebrew tonguep'


Yes, was the answer, in half unconscious,
but slightly sneering tone.


Then was the reply, if you wish to swear
any more, you would greatly oblige me- and
probably the rest of the passengers also, if you
would do it in Hebrew


watched him. 1t had hit. His color came
and went-now red, now white. He looked at
the young lady, then at his boots, then at the
ceiling Of the cars but he did not swear any
more, either in Hebrew or in English, and he
probably remembered that young lady.
Year: 1861

Boy, STOP SroNING THOSE Cows.-To a
person of kindly sensiblities, it is absolutely
painful to witness the harshness with which
cows are sometimes treated. Stones and clubs
fly with almost the force of missiles ON the bat
tie field and because the poor things are dumb,
and cannot utter a just complaint, the needless
boy little imagines how much pain he inflicts.-
But the farmer would put stop to it if he full
ly understood how Improbable is the operation.
The secretion of milk is an involuntary function
and yet it depends very much on the quiet and
content of the animal. Amy undue excitement
is adverse to it. The more gently cows can be
treated, the more milk will they give Tor the
same amount of farage.
Year: 1861

Troy AND GREENFIELD RAILRoAD.-We
understand that the final hearing before the
Governor and Council in the matter Of the Troy
and Greenfield Railroad was had on the 25th
ult., the question being upon the report of the
Committee of the Council directing further
payment of scrip to be made, in contravention
of the estimates of the State Engineer, William
s. Whitewell Esq. Among the evidence ad-
duced were the opinions of a number of emf
nent engineers who genenerally sustained the
postulates and computations of the State Engi-
neer. When all the testimony which was Of
fered had been heard, Governor Andrew pro-
ceeded to sum up his judgment of the case, re-
viewing the subject carefully in an opinion
which occupied early an hour in delivery
The opinion was substantially TO the effect that
further issue of scrip is inadmissible in the
present aspect Of the case. The Governor
stated the grounds Of his opinion with such
perspicuity as apparently to produce conviction
upon the minds Of all who heard 1t at any
rate no attempt was made to pass the manda-
tory order reported by the Committee of the
Council and it was suffered to perish stl-born
--BOStoR AdretiSer.
Year: 1861

At no former period did science contribute
so much to the use OF life and the wants of So
ciety. And in doing this it has only been full
filling that mission which Bacon, the great faith
er of modern science appointed for it, when he
wrote that "the legitimate goal of the science is
the endowment of human life with new inven-
tons and riches," and when he sought for a
natural philosophy which pot spending its en-
ergy on barren disquisitions, ''should be opera
tive for the benefit and endowment of man.
| kind"
Year: 1861

RECIPE FOR THE BEST PICKLES EVER MADE.
A peck of green tomatoes, sliced one dozen
onions, sliced, also sprinkle them with salt
and let them stand until the next day, then
drain them. Then use the following as spices
One box of mustard, one and half ounces OF
whole cloves, one ounce Of yellow mustard
seed one ounce of alspice put into the kettle
a layer of spices and one OF tomatoes and
onions alternately. Cover them with vinegar
wet the mustard before putting it in let the
whole boil a few minutes, and you will have
pickles so good that you will be pestered by all
your friends asking you for the recipe.
Year: 1861

The rifling of heavy ordnance, the introduc-
ton of wrought iron, and the new principle OF
construction with strained hoops, have given to
all countries the means of increasing enormous
ly the destructive power of their ordnance.
One Oft the results ofthis introduction Of wrought
iron, and correct principles of manufacture, is
the reduction of the weight of the new guns to
about two-thirds the weight of the older cast
iron ordnance. Hence follows the facility with
ed, whilst the range and precision of fire are at
the same time increased But these improve
ments cannot be confined to ourselves. Other
nations are increasing the power and range Of
their artillery in similar degree, and the ener-
gies of the nation must, therefore, be directed
to maintain the superiority of our navy in armor
as well as in armament.
Year: 1861

-
curves in the road, but there were several heavy
grades. | was perfectly acquainted with every
rod of it, so that knew exactly what had to
encounter and when | saw how the engine
was moving, had very little fear of the result


The road, for the first few miles, was an air
line, and SO smooth that my engine flew along
with scarcely perceptible Jar. / was so busy
post ng myself up as TO the amount of wood
and water aboard, ETC., that we danced by the
first station almost before l was aware of it,
having been five minutes out, and having five
miles accomplished.


You are losing time yelled voice from the
coach. looked around, and there stood Rob
erts with his watch in his hand.


Il knew very well that We should have to in
crease our speed by some means, if we carried
out our plans of reaching C by midnight,
and looked anxiously around to see what could
do to accomplish that purpose. She was blow
ing off steam fercely at one hundred and ten
pounds, so turned down the valve to two hun
dred, for knew she needed it all to make some
of the heavy grades which lay between us and
@.


1T was three miles to the next station. With
the exception OF a few curves the track was as
good as the last. AS wo darted around what
Year: 1861

az We notice that the Kansas papers
are generally calling upon the Presidents
to make the appointments for this State.
il possible, before the meeting Of the Leg
islature. A very good suggestion. A.
most every member Of the Legislature il
an applicant for federal pap and in their
extraordinary concern for self, they srs
forgetting their pledges and the interest,
Of their constituents selling their votes
to those Senatorial aspirauts who will
promise to 10 most in their behalf. II
the appointments be made before the
meeting Of the Legislature. this game
will be blocked, and members may then
be disposed to consult the interests oi
those whom they were chosen to serve.
Year: 1861

ABs1HrHE.-The use of absinthe in France
's rapidly assuming the magnificent proper.


tons of q national vice. The literary and ar


t'stlc vocations seem the principal sufferers
tromlt; the temporary stimulus which like
opium, Il imparts to the brain, readsriag it
specially seductive to those whose pursuits
are mentally exhausting The gifted Alfred
de Musset fell a victim to the excessive use
of this most subtle and pernicious s.imuant.
Eugene Sue is said to have fastened his
death by its use. So prevalent has the habit
become that little less than a year ago it en-
gagged the attention of the chief medical au.
thorities of France, who pronounced the
beverage only less injurious in its influence
upon the mental faculties than opium. In
fact, what the fasheesh is to the Syrian, the
opium to the Chinese, absinthe is rapidly be-
coming to the Frenchman. ..n


The sombrs warnings Of the medical in
stitute, the more direct testimony of wan
ing faculties and unstrung nerves will, how
ever, doubtless remain unheeded The
French surrender their liberties with gri-
mace, their political privileges with cour-
teous genuhection; but they cling to their
vices with the desperate tenacity Of q martyr
TO his creed. They give up their charters
with smile but stick firmly by their absin-
the bottles The deadly stimulant will pro-
badly in due time exert an important in
huence upon the intellect of the nation. 1t
may even be thatwe shall sometime have as
a pendant to De Quincy's famous work, the
confessions of aH absinthe drinker from the
pen of an afflicted and penitent Frenchman.
Such work would doubtless reveal as vivid
picture Of mad delirious ecstacies and Us
melancholy an array of hypochondriac hor-
rors as those which aoat through the pages
of the opium eating Scotchman. We get
some of our fashions from Paris. Let US
hope that it will be long before the habit of
absinthe drinking be quoted as among the
recent importations. World.
Year: 1861

II have ever found" says a sensible
writer, that the men who are really the
most fond of the society of the ladies, who
cherish for them high respect, nay, rever-
ence them, are seldom most popular with the
sex. Men of more assurance, whose tongues
are lightly hung who make words supply
the place of ideas, aud place compliment in
the room OF sentiment, are the favorites A
true respect for women leads to respectful
actions towards them and respect is usually
distant action, and this great distance is
taken by them for neglect and want of in
terest.
Year: 1861

lFrom the Chicago Post tDem.l Sepr. l0.l


The Democratic party owe no gratitude to
the miscrcants now inrebellion. The wretch
who, under the guse of a Democratic paper
or Democratic platform, cries out for for
bearance toward ''our brethren of the
South, is not Democrat, but mere tool
of the enemy. There is no brotherhood
between the Democracy of the North and
the men now in rebellion. The tics of
brotherhood have long since been severed.
The only allies, the only men at the North
who can be claimed by the rebels as breth-
rem are the Garrisons and Phillipses. Be-
tween the two there is air irrepressble sym
pathy. Both hate the Constitutions both
seek to destroy it, and between both and the
Democracy there is n gulf so deep that no
human science can invent bridge strong
enough to enable union of their members.
One year ago ''our brethren at the South
unnasked themselves at Charleston. For
twenty years the Democrats of the North
had been beasts of burden under their
Southern BRETHREN" they had walked on
foot while the gentlemen from the South
rode; they had carried upon their shoulders
the baggage and the camp equipage, and
they had done all that their 'Southren
brethren" bad asked ofthem. At Charles
ton they were required to become menials,
to become body and soul the slaves of the
Yanceys, Rhetts and Slidells. They refused.
To their eternal honor be it said, they
declared themselves free men, and that they
would be pack-horses no longer. In the
city of Charleston, in sight of Sumter,
they refused to be degraded, and insisted
upon their freedom. How were they treated?
Did fraternal affection, or the memory of
long years of devotion soften the hearts of
their Southern brethren. Not so. State
after State seeded from the Convention,
and the election of Lincoln was then deter
mined upon by the Southern traitors, and
that determination was made good.


The Democracy of the North in 1860 de-
clared themselves free. Shall they in 1861
go back to Charleston and pick up the dirty
livery they rejected year ago? Shall they
now, on their knees, beg for peace from the
men who spat upon and reviled them
gone?


Sour Soutnren BRETHREN" when they
commenced this unholy war, knew that
there we're one million and half Of vote .
Year: 1861

"reminiscences of the Cotton King.


When I was six or seven years old, there
was rule adopted amongst the young peo.
pie of the neighborhood, that each one
should pick his or her shoe full of cotton
before going to bed, so that the females
should have enough to spin without wasting
their time in picking. This was observed
only during the fall and winter, when the
nights were long. The planters had to be
careful to make cotton enough to clothe
their families. Some few planted and made
little fax for shirting, but the cotton in
Virginia and the Carolinas was the main
standby for clothing.


In the winter of 1856, went to Georgia.
My father rented land in Burk County, on
the waters of the Ogeechee River, forty
miles from Augusta. We planted a patch,
Gas we had been doingin No:::L Carolina j
we called it always the cotton PATCH
There was no other object in view but to
make cotton sufficient for the family use,
but, to our great surprise, when the cotton
was picked out of the patch, We had con-
siderably more cotton than we had any use
for and it was not known at that time that
there was any demand for cotton any where
This was in 1888 or 49, However, before
any disposition had been made of our super
abundant crop of cotton, we got news that
there was firm in Augusta that bought
cotton, and would give four cents per pound
for it in the seed. Our cotton found its
way to Augusta, shortly after, and it strikes
nv mind that about this time was the first
bale of cotton sent to Europe that ever was
put up for expectation from America. Some
time after the sale Of our cotton, was at
Augusta, and saw parcel of hands at work
in a cotton picking factory. They were GIN
ming cotton with little wooden rollers. The
saw gin had never been introduced at that
time, nor do l believe that it was used for
ginning cotton till 1893 or '99, at which time
l was living in York District, South Caro-
lima, m;nding mill, and a man who had a
saw gin for cleaning cotton, came and got
liberty to drive his saw gin by the water
power of the mill, and he packed his cotton
in round bales, by driving it down with a
crow bar I think his gin was not the best
quality, nor was his mode Of packing ap-
proved of, for the staple Of the cotton was
injured. This, however, was about the be-.
ginning of the cotton rage in Carolina. In
1901 or 1902, think the State Of South
Year: 1861

TO-
| am standing where we stood
Years ago-years ago;
In this edge of besky wood,
Where the little silver flood.
Singeth low.
There are lilies floating near
To the place where we did stand;
And they wave so white and fair
And they seem to beckon there,
Like thy hand.
And the roses blushing red,
Like their cheeks and finger tips
Now playful breeze hath shed
Many leaflets on my head,


And they touch my cheeks and lips.
Here are viole,s meek and blue
That have drank from summer skies
Thro' their drops of pearly dew
Such sweet, familiar hue
Such soft and tender blue
Like thine eyes!
o. the very birds that sing
In this fair enchanted grove.
Touch within my heart spring.
And dreamy memory bring
Of days Of early love.
But fearful demons spell
O thou dearly loved and lost.
On my lips and Tyre fell
When breathed that long farewell,
And never more may tell
Of,be nome that love most! G. l..
Year: 1861

B8- In olden times, women were prohibl-
ted from marrying until they had spun
set of bed furniture, and hence they were
called spinters until they were married.
Nowadays they spin street yarn.
Year: 1861

PROGRESS OF THE SLAVE POPULATION.
The returns of the national census show
very material growth oftbe slave popula-
ton during the last decade. In every
Southern State, except Delaware, Mary
land and Missouri, the increase Of the slave
population has been nearly in the same
ratio as that of the free population, white
and colored; and in the aggregate the
growth of the slave population in the fifteen
Southern States has kept pace with that of
the whole population of the United States
that is to say, it shows an increase of
about thirty per cent. in ten years. And
very curiously even in Missouri-surroun-
ded on three sides by free States-where
we we're told that slavery was rapidly dying
out, the number of slaves has increased
from S7,422 in 1850, to 1853 in the
year 1860, and this, too, with abundant op.
portunity of running them off, and very
great loss from this cause.
Year: 1861

PEDIGREE IN AMER1cA.-Dr. Curtis, in
his last State Registration report, speaks of
a marked neglect of the American people
as follows: "More attention is given in
this country to the pedigree of animals than
of human beings, and many persons can
tell the exact genealogy of a favorite horse
for several generations, who do not know
the maiden names of their own grandmoth-
ers, nor would it be possible for them to
ascertain the fact fiom any legal records
1t would probably be impossible for large
portion of the middle.aged men and women
in the United States to prove that their
own parents were ever married, and that
they have any legitimate right to the name
they bear"
Year: 1861

PAYMENT OF THE BRITISH DEBT.-The
human heart pulsates about seventy or sew
enty.two timesa minute in young person,
say once iu second Now, shoulda dollar
be coined by every pulsatiou, what an enor-
nous pile the whole would make in the
space Of a year! Many will perhaps sup
pose that the product would gil a teu-acre
lot in the course of q single year. No, the
amount would not be so very large. On
the contrary, if the process were kept up
from the first day Of a child, both day and
night, to the day of his death at sixty years
of age, it would not pay the public debtof
Great Britain! The coinage Of dollar
second for sixty years would produce on
ly two thousand millions of dollars where
as the English debt is double that sum, or
about four thousand millions Of dollars -
It will not all be paid this year, that is
certain. To do this will require more than
a dollar to be made at every click Of sewing
machine. The debt might then be paid,
though not in less than some ten years per-
haps, provided the machine never stopped
in all that time.
Year: 1861

Il is Fumsrsd, on what is alleged to be
good authority, that siE hundred thousand
volunteers are now enrolled in the different
statss Il is also stated, that no more volun-
tesrs win be accepted, from the States, after
the six hundred thOusand are in the field.
After that, the only opportunity to become
attached to the army viii be through the
regular service.