smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

General siclSIes and the Mission to Mexico.


1t is proposed to make General Sickles Min
lister to Mexico, as our Washington dispatches
tell us, and the President only hesitates in this
appointment from doubt whether or not
Sickles would like some years of exile in such a
country. Grant may naturally be disposed to
proffer to this efficient adherent something that
looks like handsome recognition of appreci-
ated service, and not like the infiction of
penalty, and therefore may we'll stand in the
doubt the paragraph indicates. At the first
glance the Mexican mission would seem one
giving the holder choice between oblivion or
bad name. Apparently men of very satisfac-
tory talent can 60 there and be lost to our fur
ther knowledge as completely as the pebbles that
Mungo Park cast into the African pools to try
their depth. At the same time it is a land that
swarms with jobbers from our side of the. line,
who expect to ''gobble up the Minister from his
very entrance into the sphere of their opera
tions. If the Minister should be a man dis
posed to object to summary proceedings OF
that sort, woe to him! Every telegraphic
despatch vouchsafed to us would be elo-
quent with accounts of his bad conduct,
his ''betrayal of American interests"
&C.; and this clamor would not be
small thing to endure. For such reasons
and for others not dissimilar in their nature
General Sickles could scarcely be accused Of
undue leaning toward the feshpots of Egypt
if he preferred to ministry in Mexico some
place nearer home, in which he might neither
wear out nor rust out But if we rightly
understand the General, we fancy the main
question in regard to his going to Mexico
would be as to whether there is anything to
be done there. Has the President or has the
nation any policy in regard to that country !?
II there is any definite line of conduct toward
the neighboring republic to be followed and
any result is sought the mission has another
character altogether, and the man of high
morale with an incentive Of a possible success
declines no hardship, excuses himself from
no prvation and faces all consequences for
earnest endeavor makes him superior to all
these This is what we want, then, before
we send good man to Mexico-somethin to
send him for. From our own view of the
case we regard the Mexican mission as
second to none in Importance, but this view
supposes national purposes. If we have not
these to lift il into the number of places that
afford possible career the sending of Sickles
there is merely sending an accomplished gen.
tleman on a tour in search of the picturesque
when very likely he regards the picturesque
as a bore.
Year: 1869

This well known lawyer and former citizen Of New
York city died at his residence on Staten island on
Yesterday morning, aged seventy six years. He was
born In Grange county in l793 received an excellent
education, studied law, and upon being admitted
to te bar began the practice Of his profession In
this city, He attained to eminence at the bar.
and was for many years q law partner OF Surrogate
Miller with whom he did q large and lucrative busi.
ness. Nearly quarter OF century ago the deceased
retired from professional lile and removing 10 new
DOrp on Staten Island, spent the remainder OF his
days In tranquility surrounded by numerous friends
and loved and esteemed by all who knew nm
Year: 1869

New APPorNTEEs IN VIRGINIA Abing-
don Vsrginidn states that of the twenty-eight
ewly-apponted justices in that county but
nine could be mustered to swallow the IRON
clad, although great deal of reasoning and
persuasion and manipulation and coaxing and
scolding and pleading we're used upon them.
General Grant had better order that iron-clad
to be run ashore and dismantled.
Year: 1869

THE QUESTION SETTLED President
signed yesterday the modified Tenure Of Office
bill, so that it is now law. This question is,
therefore, settled for the present; but the true
construction of the law may yet be made a
case for the Supreme Court. AT present it is
disputed proposition between tweedledum
and tweedledee.
Year: 1869

How TO PROVE DOCTRINES ORrHbDox.-
A negro in Macon, Ga, recently ihot and
killed another because the latter would not go
to church. Other negroes in the n,ighbor-
hood are in pursuit Of the murderer for the
purpose Of giving him foretaste of the next
world by roasting him alive in this.
Year: 1869

BRITISH PROGRESS. A bill for the abolition
of Imprisonment for debt has passed second
reading in the English House Of Commons
Should it become law many accomplished gen.
tlemen of that country will postpone intended
visits To America
Year: 1869




We believe there is no doubt about these
being missed and unaccounted for. If the
committee failed to discover this fact how
much more may remain undiscovered? We
fear the committee did not 60 beyond the walls
of the Treasury Department to get informa-
ton. 1t confined itself, probably, to the
examination of those only who were inte-
rested in protecting the department. 1t was
either incompetent or purposely left the irregu-
larities or frauds covered up. Its labors are a
miserable failure, and the result Is the country
gets nothing but whitewashing report.
Year: 1869

TIE CONNECTICUT ELEcTIoN.-An election
for State officers, Legislature and Congress
men took place in the State of Connecticut yes
terday. The result is reported in our columns
this morning. and our readers will see from
the exhibit that the people were, to say the
least apathetic, If not Indifferent, as to
the issue, the total vote polled falling
ten thousand short of that called out by
the contest Of last spring Hartford
and New Haven casting vote less by
one thousand Of that given at that period.
The republicans have a net gain, however, on
the aggregate vote. For Congress the demo-
Gratis elected two members and the republ-
cans two, showing a republican gain of one !;
ex-senator James Dixon, democrat, being de-
feated in the First district The election of
members Of the Legislature is balanced ex-
ceedingy close. but the exact result of the
vote had not reached us at the hour of going
to press this morning. The result for Gov
ernor was very doubtful at the same moment
Year: 1869




We have intelligence this morning
from London that the Initial steps have
been taken for an offensive and defen-
sive alliance between England. France
and Spain against the United States.
The announcement will create some
thing OF sensation, we imagine, both
In Europe and here. The attitude
claims and Cuban questions are the
pretexts for this proposed combination.
OF course we could whip all three of
them II 1t becomes necessary. We only
hope 1t will not be deemed necessary
for while at least. AS Mr.. Sumner
remarked the other day, the American
Eagle can do almost anything
it chooses, but then we must take the
consequences of doing it. AT present
there does not seem to be anything we
need be anxious to fight about. We
have nothing to gain by fighting about
the Alabama claims, for we have Eng
land at greater disadvantage as the
question stands than if we undertake
to settle it by the arbitration OF saltpe-
tire. We might take Canada but we
are better off with Canada just as she is.
We might mix in and fight in behalf of
the Cuban insurrection I; but how could
that compensate for a war with this
triple alliance2 Nobody likes to take
dare. The menace implied in this hos
tile alliance will do much to excite a
war feeling on this side OF the ocean.
The Fenlans especially will be delighted
at the prospect of a row TO which Eng
land is party. Nevertheless, whatever
aspirations the administration may
have for military glory Qf it has
any) and however belligerent the Fen
ians and Cuban patriots may be, we
hope, should the report prove true (and
business men discredit 1t in New
York, J cool heads will govern and calm
counsels prevail at Washington. There
is no reason why the American people
should court fresh trou bles, heavier
burdens, and ultimate bankruptcy, be-
cause there is a GOODNESS between them
and their Trans Atlantic neighbors.
Neither England nor France can any
more afford a war than we. The situa-
ton in Europe is supposed to be critical
1t always is. Russia and Bismarck are
in the background ready to improve
any opportunity which a complication
between US and their traditional enc
mics might offer. England and France
know this. They have no purpose
therefore but bluster. 1t doesn't seem
necessary that we should bluster in re.
turn; though If we did, it is not proba-
BILE anything serious would result. But
it would create excitement and disturb
the business affairs OF the country, de-
press the credit of tho Government, and
in this way retard return to normal
prosperity.
Year: 1869

AN individual in Texas publishes a
card stating that his brother Is candi-
date for Sheriff of the county because
be himselfis disfrauchised, but that he
is TO be the real officer. "You are vo-
ting for me, and that Is for my benefit,
and am to receive all the pay if am
oil ~
Year: 1869

THE orator who was chosen by the
bar of Louisville TO present cane to Il
brother barrister, assured the benedcia-
ry that the cane came from friends
"around the tendrils of whose hearts
his image was insepArably woven"
Year: 1869

too early and have all applied in good
time. Iproposo the following plan
Lay off all your lands now with two
horses and follow with subsoil, and
ridge with scooters as above. Then
if it approaches say 25th of March to
lst OF April, scatter your fertilizers
along this ridge, which will be below
the surface level, (and ifa considerable
portion scatters in tho open scooter
burrows, it is no Disadvantage and
then bed on this with the turning
plows. Don't wo concentrate our ma
nures in too narrow drill? Who're
Where do the long fibrous fruits get
nourishmcnt from? Would it not be
better to scatter half of these heavy
application at second or third plow-
ing ?"
Year: 1869

Hon. Horace Greedy, editor of the New


York Tribune, delivered an address re-.
Gently to the New York newsboys. The
following abstract of it contains much
wholesome advice:


AS the result of many years. experience
he believed man should not be Door all
his life, and unless poverty was the result
OF misfortune, i: was unjustifable. By
riches he meant enough to satisfy all
proper wants and guard against contin-
gencies. He believed every boy before
him could be rich and ought to be rich


lie cited John Jacob Astor, as an exam,
pie OF poor boy who had by industry
and honesty succeeded in life. 1t was
honesty and industry, said Mr.. Greeley,
that gave Astor bis success, and 1t is the
patient. plodding careful, industrious men
that succeed. Stephen Girard, who by his
great wealth left noble college to the
country, was another example of industry
and perseverance. He advised the bows
to begin by saving ten cents, and adding
rs often as possible, aud the boy who
should save one hundred dollars by the
time he was twenty one years old would
pretty surely be rich man. He told the
boys men got rich by doing right, and
not by doing wrong. Men who cold rum
or kept gambling houses didn't often get
rich, and none of them were ever able to
found library like Mr.. Actor, or eudow q
college like Girard. He believed one
thing essential in getting rich was to be
an honest man. The most of the men
who had become rich since be had been in
New York were honest. All tue thieves
in New York bad never ecquired as much
wealth as John Jacob Actor, Evil causes
did not lead to wealth, although they
might seem to do 80.


Another thing necessary in order to get
rich was to be temperate. lie bad known
many men with great abilities and fine
prospects to fail because of iutemperance.
Il 'ney resolve to be rich they must stop
drinking, or if they had not commenced,
they must not begin. Ihey ought also to
resolve to be industrious, and when resolv-
ed on that, make up their minds to learn n
trade. Mr.. Greeley spoke at length on
the evils of being without trado, and re-.
leted his own experience and his sa,isfac-
t'ou at having followed out an impulse
which he formed al ten years of age, to be
a printer. He would have every boy be,
fore him either learn a trade or become
farmer. He commended farming a. a
healthy and honorable employment, saying
that if he could have his life to live over
again he would be farmer. He conclud-
ed by speaking Of the great opportunities
afforded in this country for young men,
and especially for farmers, under the home
stead law, and urged the boys to resolve
10 embrace these opportunities, and while
hey sought to live in accordance with the
moral teachings they received, to gain
riches and honor, and true manhood.
Year: 1869

The last words of the latter were,


aThomas Jefferson still survives %
Unknown to him, the spirit of the
great Virginian had taken, its depar-
lure to the God who gavo it several
hours before the breath was to leave


BIS own body. Among the few i'm
mortal names which were not born to
die was that of Thomas Jefferson. As
long as time shall endure it will be
connected with tho annals of this coun-
try and thetrlumphs of its Democracy.
His fame is by no means confined to
this hemisphere. 1t reaches the Old


World, and his doctrines are quoted
ait, respect wherever the light Of civ
ilization has extended or political


knowledge made any advance. He
was founder of the American Democ-
racy, and it will always look back
with pride to the fact that it had SO
distinguished a parentage. .
Year: 1869

81 We are further told that we shave
rascals among us, but we are not a
nation of rascals. We are glad to
hear this. That the first part of the
proposition is true we have the. best
and most indubitable evidence. The
bondholders-tlle five-twenty bond
holders have the effrontery to ask
their payment in gold, which would
be two dollars and a half for every
one they ever loaned the Government
This is not all: the people never
promised them gold, and they never'
had any right to expect it. Their
claims to it were apparently suggest
ed to them by parties who are in the
firing, and who would make every
thing by the robbery.
Year: 1869

There is quite contest on the assessor
ship Of the Fourth district of Kentucky
There are three applicants now, and two or
three on their way to Washington. 1t is
claimed that the nomination of MuIhol
land will be withdrawn, Or not confirmed, as
nearly all are against him. A majority of
the senate finance committee are said to be
pledged against this confirmation.
Year: 1869

TnR white Boys in Blue" who paradcd our
streets so yaliantly during the late presidential
campaign aud used to shout themselves hoarso
for Seymour and Blair should call at tho drug
store and settle that little bill for kerosene OIL
Rim Union.


About the silliest thing any business man
can do is, privately or through the newspa.
Pers, to traduce party organization for the
act Of some individual member of that or.
ganizaton. We should think his custom
would be very likely to suffer by it. If he
has sold oil to any man he probably knows
who it is-and that man is responsible for
it. If he has trusted man who can't pay
him, it shows that, as a business man, he is
green, Let him look to the man he trusted,
and not resort to the newspapers to insult a
whole party.
Year: 1869

PgRsoNAL.-We understand that Major
Abram Wagener has or is about to resign
the Office of justice of the peace for the pur-
pose of accepting the appointment of con.
stable, believing that outdoor exercise will
be better for his health than the confinement
Of office business He will make faithful
ami upright collector for all who entrnst de-
mands in his hand
Year: 1869

As Mrs. Lincoln's petition for pension
is now before the United States Senate,
perhaps your readers would like to know
something of her whereabouts She is at
Frankfort with her son, who is at school.
She lives at one of the public hotels, in a
very plain and unpretending style, occupy
ing room in the third story, and having
the reputation of being very industrious.
She is quite economical, and it appearances
do not mislead, she has no more funds than
are necessary.to make her comfortable
To Americans she speaks very freely of the
good President, and always with tears
Two periods of the Presidential career of
Mr.. Lincoln she alludes to with great feel
ing. The one covers the last day he spent
in Springfield before he first started for
Washington. The other is connected with
the last day of Mr.. Lincoln's life He had
presentiment that he should never enter
it again, He was tender but very sad in
all his farewells to his neighbors. When
he got into his carriage to go to the station
be gave the old homestead, where he had
passed SO many happy hours of his life,
long, fond, lingering look. Turning to his
wife, he said; "My dear, take good
look at the old house. We shall never live
in It again-never." He leaned back in
his carriage and was silent till he reached
the station. The day on which Mr.. Lincoln
was shot he seemed very sad and worn
down. Before he left the breakfast table
Mrs. L. said to him: You need rest, you
are exhausted. Promise ne that you will
ride with me this afternoon at three
O'clock" and he promised. Mrs. Lincoln
said /: "Shall / invite some friend to go
with us?" He said: "No; let us go
alone" He was uncommonly tender dur
ing the whole ride; spoke of their pleasant
home in Springfield their early struggles /;
the death of their children the noble men
who had died in battle; and the dear
friends they left behind. He seemed like
one on the western slope and nearing the
going down of the sun, whose joys and the
friends of hisyouth were clustering around
him. The rest of the story the world
knows by heart Whatever may have been
thought of Mrs. iLincoln during the heat
and conflict of the rebellion, she has won
on this side of the water only friends by
her ladylike and retired conduct. The
best friends of America here think she has
been treated rather harshly Military men
are unanimous in the opinion that she is
entitled to a pension as much as any
soldiers widow, for by our Constitution the
President is the head of the army, and he
fell in the cause of his country.-Cor.
| Boston Journal
Year: 1869

A JERSEY Boy SWALLOWS WATER SNAKE
Two Feet LoNG.-Newspaper stories Of
snake.swalIowing, says the Newark Courier
of March 18th. are common enough. but can
seldom be traced home to any positive source.
A case of this kind recently occurred at
Martinville. Somerset County, concerning
the truth of which there can be no possible
doubt its actual occurrence being vouched
for by perfectly reliable people in the vicinity.
1t appears that son of F. Burr Of that place,
while coming from school, stopped to take
drink of water from trough by the road
eide. The lad was exceedingly thirsty and
drank deeply. During the time he expert
enced momentary spasm Of the throat. but
thought nothing Of it. For several davs
afterwards symptoms were manifested
OF any irregularities in the boys stomach,
but at the end of the week his appetite in.
creased enormously. There was developed
a craving for food which no abundance
could satisfy, and everything eatable that
came in his way he devOured ravenousy.-
This singular exhibition Of glnttony contin.
ued with increased violence until his parents
became alarmed and solicited medical advice.


The doctors disagreed widely on the dag
nosls OF the case, and finally came to the con-
clusion that the boy must be afflicted with
tape worms. On Monday last. feeling a
choking sensation in his throat, he ran his
finger down. when water snake, fully two
feet in length. wound itself around it and
was drawn forth. to the astonishment and
terror of the family who witnessed the oper-
alton. The boy tainted at the sight, and lay
for some time nfterward in convulsions. lie
lis. however, now rapidly recovering. This
story, though perhaps not quite as sensation
al as some that are told, has the merit of be-
ing true. and in that respect differs some.
what from the majority Of snake swallowing
warns
Year: 1869

STEWARDS LETTER OF 1861. The follow
ing is copy Of the famous letter of A. T.
Stewart to Southern debtor and customer
at the breaking out of the rebellion:


New YoRK. April 29th 1861.


Dear SIR: Your letter requesting to know
whether OF not had offered million of dol
lars to the Government for the purposes of
the war. and at the same time informing me
that neither yourself nor your friends would
pay their debts to the firm as they maturec,
has been received The intention not TO pay
to be universal in the South, aggrava-
ted by the assurance in your case that it
does not arise from inability but. whatever
may he your determination, or that of the
others of the South, it shall not change my
course. All that have of position and wealth
! owe to the free institutions of the United
States. under which, in common with all
others North and South. protection to life.
liberty and property have been enjoyed in
the fullest manner. The Government to
which these blessings are due calls on her
citizens to protect the capital of the Union
from threatened assault, and although the
offer TO which YOU refer has not in terms been
made by me- vet dedicate all that have,
and will, if needed, my life. to the service of
the country to which | am bound by the
strongest ties If affection and duty. | had
hoped that Tennessee would be loyal to the
Constitution, but, however extensive may be
secession or reputation, as long as there are
any to uphold the snvereignity of the United
States | shall be with them, supporting the
flag. ALEXANDER T. STEWART.
Year: 1869

President johnson lately delivered a
parting kick at Grant in the following
remarks addressed to the Baltimore in
vitatiOn delegation:


"All was gone unless the Constitution
was saved, and it ought to be saved with
out blOodshed. Civic honors had been
far mere dazzling for him than fields Of
carnage or scenes of blood through his
long public life his career had net been
stained with blood. His road through
life had not been paved with the crani-
ums of his fellow-countrymen.- nor had
the bridges over which he crossed been
fi0ered with the mutilated limbs Of his
fellow-citizens. He had followed always
the path of peace. He was proud that
neither in the beginning nor the ending
the blood of his countrymen was at
tached to his skirts He would rather
wear the burrows Of care from the re-
sponsibilities of civic life, rather be
covered with the dinge Of the work.
shop or the dust Of the field, than be
decorated with the epaulette and sword.
Year: 1869

The slow combustion Of metals is call


ed rusting, and the oxide formed is call


ed dust. All the familiar metals, except


silver, gold and platinum, are tarnished


ON exposure to the air; that is, they be-
come covered with film of rust or oxide.


That heat is developed by rusting, SIS


by other kinds of slow combustion, n
shown by the fact that, If a large pile OF
iron filings be moistened and exposed to


The action of the air so that they rust
rapidly, the temperature rises percepti-
bly,. A remarkable case of heat devel-
oped by rusting occurred in England dur
ing the manufacture Of submarine
electric cable. The copper wire of the
cable was covered with gutta-percha, tar
and hemp,a and the whole inelosedi IL acas-
ing of iron wire. The cable, as it was
finished, was coiled in tanks filled with
water; these tanks leaked, and the water
was therefore drawn off, leaving about
one hundred and sixty-three nautical
miles of the cable coiled in mass thirty
feet in diameter with space in the
centre six feet in diameterl and eight
feet high. 1t rusteI so rapidly that the
in the center OF the coil rose
in four days from So to 79o, though the
of the air did not rise above
$50 during the period, and was as low as
590degrees during q part of the time
The mass would have been even hotter
had it not been cooled by pouring on
of Chemistry.