smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

FALL OF A BRIDsE.-A large section of
the Feather river bridge, at Marysville, fell
on Saturday last. Two teams with their
drivers we're on that portion Of the bridge
that fell, and strange to say no one was
seriously hurt, although they fell about
forty feet. The Marysville Democrat says:


1t seems that man familiarity known as
"Dutch Fred, was driving across towards Ma
rysville with load of wood, drawn by two yoke
Of oxen, and another individual, whose name
we did not learn, was driving over in the direc-
ton of Marysyille, with load of vegetables.
They were both on the central section of the
bridge, though going in different directions. On
a sudden, there was sound like the noise of
dozen thunderstorm went the entire center
OF the bridge. Dutch Fred was at the time
walking on the bridge with his team to the right
Of him. A plank sprung beneath his feet, and
threw him clear over his load Of wood into the
middle of the river, where it was about twenty
five feet deep. Amid the general crash he arose,
there being spectators on the bank, and, as he.
shot his head from the water, exclaimed, "Here
| ami" and pretty soon scrambled upon the
floating mass, entirely unhurt. A most mirac-
ulous escape! The driver Of the vegetable wa
gon sat in his cart, drawn by two horses, and
dropped the whole distance from top to bottom
without losing his equilibrium, distance Of
about thirty or forty feet. The fallen mass
buoyed him and his horses above the water, and
he and they got ashore without trouble. He
was injured somewhat in the breast by the fall
ing of beam. but VIC understandnot seriously
Year: 1860

UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.-Some of The most
learned and distinguished men in Spain
have united in society for the purpose Of
forming a universal language. to be spoken
by all the tribes of the earth in the place of
the present varying dialects.
Year: 1860

TIE Los Angeles Star has been informed by
Messrs McCrellish and Street, that the Butter
field Overland Mail Company will start Pony
Express as soon as the telegraph il completed
to that point. By that time, it is supposed the
line will have been stretched to Fort Smith,
and the intervening distance will be travelled
in five days.
Year: 1860

VINE DREssINd.-As soon as the berries on the
grape vine are formed, says correspondent Of the
San Andreas Independent, then is the proper time
to remove badly formed punches, permitting the
largest and best TO remain. Half Of the fruit should
generally be removed, allowing only one bunch on
each bearing shoot. BY removing portion Of the
fruit the remainder will be much enhanced both in
size and bloom, more thoroughly ripened, and all
together superior 20 those where the vine is permit
ted to bear every bunch that shoots. A week or so
after the punches not wanted are removed, will be
the proper time to trim or shorten the shoots,
when small berries will swell rapidly they need not
be again trimmed until after the seeds have been
formed when they will take another start and again
swell rapidly until their full size Is attained. During
the latter swelling they ought to be at least twice
drcesed.
Year: 1860

The German Republicans who held a con-
vention at Chicago. just before the meeting Of
the regular Republican Convention. adopted
resolutions almost unanimously TO support only
true Republican candidates, and leave the par
ty If any compromise man or Know Nothing
should be nominated.
Year: 1860

REMARKABLE PETR1FAcTIoNs.- The Marys-
vile Democrat gives some incidents of the recent
expedition of Captain Stevens party to the Black
nOck country, in the matter Of discoveries:


Among other curious discoveries which he men
tions, is that Of petrifed tree lying in desolato
region about sixty miles north Of Black Rock, and
partly buried in the soil. Its length far as
measured, the top being deep under ground, was
666 feet, and the general opinion Of the company
looking at il, was that it from forty to sixty
feet in diameter. Captain Stevens thinks it is OF
the same species as the trees Of Mariposa. Frag-
ments Of other trees Of the same kind but smaller,
are visible here and there-stumps and butts OF
thirty feet in length-all pctrifed. And il is more
than probable that little excavation would disclose
vast primeval forest there buried. This tree lies
exactly where it fell centuries ago, for there the
upturned roots, in Just the position they would most
naturally be, and the prone trunk bears no evidence
Of having been distrebed.


Champlin, member of Capt. Stevens company,
has called on us, and shown us specimen OF the
big tree alluded to. II is very curious to look
at. The petrfcation in the specimen before us
plainly indicates the part Of the tree from which il
He showed us also pctrifcation of fat pine which
he struck from a petrifed stump in the same
vicinity. II looks SO natural that you can almost
fancy that you smell the resin when you put il "a
your nose 1t is certainly marvellous preservation
record as durable as time. In the same place
the company found the shin bone Of man, pet
rified and the upper jaw Of grizzly, but twice as
big as the jaw of any grizzly ever seen in modern
times. Champlin brought with him some very
pretty agates picked up few miles from Black
Rock.
Year: 1860

The Message was ssnt into Congress on
Tuesday and last night we had boys distribu-
ting it Oh the streets before the mil was open
ed To-day we serve it in an Ee:ra to each
of our subscribers. This is a little flster than
the old system aad is only accomplished by
energy and liberal expenditure OF means -
All we ask in return is continuance ofthe lib
eral patronage Of our fellow citizens


The Message is long and an important doc
unent, and will repay a careful reading. Mr..
Buchanan takes bold stand against secession,
saying that the election of Lincoln is not in it
self sufficient cause for dissclut on of the Un-
ion, and that he will do his duty. He advises
q convention ofall the States for the purpose cf
amending the Constitution SO as to settle the
question of slavery forever, and urges that all
constitutional means should be exhausted be-
fore secession, or revolution Che contends that
secession is revolution should be resorted tc.


We may have more to say Of it hereafter; we
have now neither time nor space to say more.
We urge all to read it for themselves and calm
" consider its suggestions.
Year: 1860

1n.xox Ky Dec. Intelligence has
h,an received here from Columbia, KY, that
G1tenn negroes and one white leader, have been
hung by the citizens ef Burksville, for an at
tem1ted insurrection. No further particulars
received.


There have been times when beth our taste
and Judgment would have induced us to pass
bv such an item as the above, but no" we
have fallen upon times when we believe that
every class should know their respective posi-
t;ons Let the slaves know that the fir>t at
tempt at revolt will be met with speedy
vengeance, and that every offender Will be
swung to the first tree. Let them know that
the white men of the S nth have detcrmIneo'
whether the Union be dissolved or not, tha1
they shall be obcdient, submissive and qhe''
and that they shall continue to serve thelT
owners in the future as in the past.


As to the Northern people, scattered here
and there all over the State, we beg them to be
cautious and we also warn our :cit'zens that
every suspected person should be a0Gtched.-
II is better that the guilty should go unTun-
ished than that the Innocent should suffer, but
the people Of the South have borne long and
patiently, and the public mind is now greatly



excited. and hence those who would escape
punishment should act and speak dSc9eetiy
We know many Nor hern men in this State
who own slaves anl employ slave labor and
oilers too wa do no own them who arc true
to the South and her institutions, and we know
some too who we believe to be here for no good
purpose. Let every Southern man who is true
10 his section and his rights watch all suspcc-
ted persons, and whenever one is 70 md going
out Of his way to tamper with or to asscciate
with slaves let him be swung to the nearest
tree. These are desperate means, but then we
must recolcct that we live in desperate times.
Net only our property but our honor, our lives
and our all are involved. No honest man VIII
be offended at being watched in these times.
B. vigilant ther-


If the people ofNewtern can all, of all par
ties, assemble together ard agree upon any
duty and line of policy without bad feeling
being engendered or something orsc bro gAt
on, we would most respectfully suggest that a
town meeting be held very soon and Wig lance
committee established, We are confirmed in
the opinion that tnc times demand such step,
and if the services of such committee be not
now required there is no telling how socn they
may be needed.


we simply suggest, and leave Older and
wiser heads to ac'.
Year: 1860

Gloves are good things. This by wa.


text. Now for the expounding. From tht


earliest ages, they have been used by al


classes of men, for various purposes, bu


I believe that all commentators and anti.


quaries and soholiasts are agreed, that theil


principal use was to keep the hands warm


The deceiviug Jacob was the first person


who wore kid gloves, and since his time


many fair and gay deceivers have adopted


his fashion. Throwing down the glove was


in ancient times, equivalent to defiance tc


mortal combat. As the glove was made Of
steel, it has been thought by many, that
the challenger would have acted more wise


ly, by throwing it at his adversary, and thus
securing the desired combat, and at the
same time the advantage of the first blow.
1t may not generally be known that gloves
have been used as writing materials, but it
is recorded that when some Maxwell or
other, was besieged in some castle or other,
and was getting very tired of his diet of
old boots and rats, he contrived to get a
message to Sir William Wallace, acquaint-
ing him of his danger. That gallant hero
being in the trenches before another castle,
and ready to begin the assault, took his
dagger and engraved on his brass gauntlet
"Reviesco-God is with us" and dispatched
it by mail, 4, C., a warrior clad in armor, to
the suffering Maxwell. Whether the Max
we'll took courage, or whether the English
took him, I do not distinctly remember
But there is another point of view in which
gloves may be considered. Take glove,
cut off the G; what is left but lone ? Take
a glove, cut off the fingers; what do you
make but a mitten? So gloves may be
considered with reference TO their connec-
nection with love and courtship, but not
with marriage. Now I can conceive of no
more delicate yet invaluable gift from fair
lady to a gentleman, than one of her gloves.
There should be to the favored recipient
nothing but her, dearer or better. 1t brings
her, as it were, near him, though she be
afar of, for when he has that memento of
her, that little glove still bearing the shape
of the beautiful hand which it at once shield.
ed and adorned, with all the curious and
intricate network of lines, which natures
most delicate brush has pencilled; bis
recalls the hand, and the arm,.
and the polished shoulders and the slender
neck, and the fair, white breast, and the
rounded form, so 1.-THE and graceful in all
its proportions, until a glorious image dwells
within the brightest chambers Of faucy's
palace, and he sees her, the queen Of his
soul, in all her radiant loveliness as when
Year: 1860

UHfortunass.-We are informed that some
fine sheep have died on the Fair Grou nds
since the CONNIE ncement of the exhibition.
Whether this was owing 10 neglect or not, we
cannot say but we think the location of the
sheep pens Is altogether unsuitable, fronting
towards the east, and exposed 10 the suns
rays during great portion of the day.
Year: 1860

THE DRKas OF THE PRINCES VIsIT.-Dnr-
ing the late visit of the Prince TO Montreal me
officials of the city appeared before him In fuil
regalia, rather unusual style OF dress ior
many of them. The Recorder, on the principle
probably that the display was made for the
welfare OF the city, and should therefore De
at her expense, sent to the Corporation bill
for about 500, the cost OF the robe and cooked
hat he wore on the occasion. That body, how
ever, not appreeiating the idea, refused 10 foot
the bill.
Year: 1860

DIsUNIoN IN VIRGINIA.-The following from
the Petersburg Intelligencer, the Baltimore
Patriot says, "is the most sensible and truth
full answer which one of the best edited pa
pers in Virginia gives to the rigamarole about
disunion !"


ave very much doubt whether there is a
single county in Virginia that would vote in
favor of disunion, if the question were pre-
sented in such shape that the people could
vote yea or nay We have seen no evidence
of such a state Of feeling in this vicinity, nor
during recent visits through the counties of
Dinwiddie, Nottoway, Prince Edward, Cum
berland, Appomattox, Campbell, Bedford
Roanoke, Montgomery, Pulaski, Wythe
Smyth and Washington, did We hear or see
anything that would indicate that such feel
ing is abroad in the State. These sensation
papers manufacture much of the excitement
that furnishes the text for their own com
ments, and their long jeremiads are spun out
about the necessity for action, winding up
usually with the stereotyped phrases about
the nationality of the Democratic party
the necessity for everybody to fall into line and
run with the machine, in order to save the
Union"
Year: 1860

part Of the education of students at the
Universities In the olden time it was
necessary to the obtaining degree that
the graduate should give evidence of
his capacity as a teacher; and in the
very titles of his degree, as magistor,
and the doctor, be was designated q
teacher A man never knows anything,
Sir William used to say, until he has
taught it in some way or other-it may
be orally, it may be by writing a book
1t is grand truth and points a fine
moral. knowledge is knowledge, say
the philosophers; it is precious for its
own sake; it is an end to itself. But
nature says the opposite. knowledge
is not knowledge until we use it; it is
not ours until we have brought it under
the command of the great social faculty,
speech; VIC exist for society and knowl.
edge is null until we give it expression


and in so doing make it over to the 50.
cial instinct Blackwood.
Year: 1860

WHAT is A YOUNG LADY?-It is a
nice point to decide exactly when a
"girl becomes a young lady" In a
late lawsuit in Pennsylvania, the cause
turned upon the point whether the de-
fendants daughter was a child, entitled
to be boarded at halfprioe, or full
grown specimen Of the feminine article,
competent to have the "questiOn pop
ped at her, and to faint away at an uf-
frmative response. 1t is now settled
that "young lady" is any delicate in
dividual of the feminine gender who
will not touch onions stewed in butter,
or eat nice boiled cabbage. This great
principle, which must forever settle the
question, was promulgated by know
ing witness on the trial referred to.
Year: 1860

The Chicago Press and Tribune says.


Col. E. D. Baker, who has played so
important a part in the redemption of
Oregon, was the Representative in Com
gross of the Springfield, Illinois, Dis
trict, in 1916, and of the Galena District,
to which he removed after the conclusion
of the Mexican war, in which he had
command of a regiment of Illinois vol
unteers. He is unquestionably one of
the ablest men on the Pacific coast, and
in the Senate Of the United States he
will take rank with theme distinguish
ed statesmen and orators of that body.
As q public speaker, he is unsurpassed.
a voice of rare fexibiIity and power, an
animated and impassioned manner. a
memory that is to an extraordinary de-
gree tenacious of facts and illustrations,
and an Imagination Of great brilliancy,-
these added to a fine person and unim-
poachable earnestness of belief, make a
man Of mark. A constitutional dislike
Of hard labor, and a disposition to trust
to inspiration rather than the fruits of
reading and reflection, have often caus


ed him to fail where he had the ability
to succeed, to lag behind in squad.
which he had the ability to command


But in the Senate he will make his mark
Year: 1860

A man in Iowa was bitten by q very
venomous snake called a mausauger.-
Happening to have a flask of whisky at
hand, and bethinking himself of the
fame which attaches to that fluid as an
antidote in such cases, he allowed a
pint to tricklo down his throat by way
Of experiment. 1t was a perfect sue
cess; one poison uullifed the other
Had he drank the whisky before being
bitten, however, nothing could have
saved the snake.
Year: 1860

THE MASONIC FRATERNITY.-The
past few years have been marked with
the rapid growth of Masonry in the
United States. The number of mem
bers within the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodges Of the several States arc
not reported, but we learn from the sta
tistios of the Grand Lodge of the Uni
ted States that there were in 1859 up
wards Of 4,GOO lodges, and counting
the number for each lodge at forty-fve
which is twenty-five less than the gen
eral average for the State of New York,
and thirty-hve less than that Of Penn.
sylvania, we have the number of Ma
sons connected with lodges in the
Union as nearly two hundred and sew
en- thousand, while there are a large
number Of Masons not connected with
any lodge. 1t is safe, therefore, to put
down the number of Masons at the
present time within the United States al
a quarter Of a million.
Year: 1860

tt is stated in the London papers that
the new Cline gas light" which was
promised to supercedo the present mode
of gas-lightng, has been tried on the
new bridge of Westministor and with
great success. The light is of dazzling
brilliancy, a single jet being equal to
forty argand, or eighty fsh-tail gas
burners, or as many as four hundred
wax candles, while its brilliancy may be
increased by augmenting the quantity
of gases supplied in its manufacture
1t was understood when the invention
was first discovered, that this gas would
be cheaper than that now ia use, but at
present the only thing stated Of it is
that it is immensely superior to the or
dinary form of gaslight, 1t has long
been the opinion Of scientific men, from
a variety Of experiments in the manu-
facturo of gas, that the discovery of
some cheaper and better illuminator
than coal gas was not remote, but so
far no positive results have been attain
ed, particularly in the cheapening Of
gas, which is a matter of so much i'm
portance to consumers. The expert
ments in water-gas, of which we have
heard so much for year past. are said
to be eminently successful, but no ap-
parent effort is being made in any
quarter to introduce it, or to satisfy the
public Of its utility.
Year: 1860

REMARKABLE observation-disclosures
ly a man had a cateleptic ft in the streets
of Louisville. He was walking along
unconcerned as to tho things
of this world, when suddenly he became
tansfxed. At first, nothing was thought
of it, but his singular attitude soon drew
the attention Of a number of persons,
and finally a great crowd gathered
The individual stood unmoved for two
hours and a half, and was at last taken
to the hospital. This is a novel occur
renee, and one We have never heard Of
before in this country. Medical works
record a few such cases in France
Year: 1860

OUR TURN MUST COME.-"Genera.
ton after generation" says a fine wri-
ter, "havo felt as we now feel, and their
lives were as active as our own. They
passed like a vapor while Nature wore
the same aspect Of beauty, as when her
Creator first commanded her to be. The
heavens shall be as bright above our
graves, as they are now around our
paths. The world will have the same
attractions for our offspring unborn,
that she had once for us as children
Yet little while and all this will have
happened The throbbing heart will be
stihed, and we shall all be at rest. Our
funeral will find its way, and prayers
will be said, and then we shall be left
alone in silence and in darkness for
the worms. And itmay be, for a short
time we shall be spoken Of but the
things of life will creep 10, and in q
short time we shall be forgotten. Days
will continue to move on, and laughter
and song will be heard in the room in
which we died; aad the eye that mourn.
ed for us will be dried, and glisten agair
for Joy; and even our children will cease
to think of us, and will not remember
to lisp our names II Exchange.
Year: 1860

There was once an old man whose
eyes had become dim, and his ears deaf.
When he sat at the dinner-table, he
could hardly hold his spoon, so that
he split his soup on the cloth. His
son and daughter-in- Law were much dis
plcused at this; at last they made their
old father sit in a corner behind a stove,
and gave him food in a little eartben
plate. Ho never got as much as he could
eat and he would look toward the ta-
Bile with wet and longing eyes


One day his shaking hands let the
little dish fall, and it was broken. The
woman scolded. but he said nothing; he
only sighed They then brought q
wooden trough for him Once he was
sitting thus in the corner; his little
graudchild, about four years old, was
playing on the floor near him with some
pieces of wood.


"Wbat arc you making?" asked tn,
father, smiling.


81 am making trough, " answered the
child, "for father and mother to eat from
when they are old aud am growH big.


The man and his wife looked at eacl
other 10 silence, and their tears foweC
fast. They brought their old fathe
back to the table and gave him as mucl
as he wished. and they never spoke an
cry words when his trembling hand spill
soup on the CLOTH Christian Witness
Year: 1860

The CROPS ABuOAD.-AImost all
over Europe tho pitiless shower seems
to have been descending. In the wine
districts Of France they are debating,
not whether the wine will be worth any
thing this year, but whether the G. a1,s
will be worth the trouble Of gathering
them. In England the fate of the hop
is settled the bitter of the beer must
come from abroad or illegally from tho
druggists at home. The o p .cts Of
the winter are on several accounts far
from cheering.
Year: 1860

Itis more a weakness than a virtue
in strong Christians, when a weak saint
is fallen, to aggravate his fall to the ut
termost, and to present his sins in such
a dreadful dress as shall amaze him.
He who shall lay the same strength to
the rubbing of an earthen dish, as he
does to the rubbing Of a pewter plat
ter, instead of cleaning it will surely
break il to pieces, The application is
easy.
Year: 1860

firmly believe that almost every
malady of the human frame is, either by
highways or by.ways, connected with
the stomach. The woes Of every other
member are founded on your belly-tim-
ber: and l must own never see a fash
ionnble physician mystcriously consult.
ing the pulse Of his patient, but l feel
a desire to excaim, why not tell the
poor gentleman at once Sir you have
eaten too much; you've drunk too much;
and you have not taken exercise
enough" The human frame was not
created imperfect. 1t is we ourselves
who have made it so. There exists no
donkey in creation so overloaded as our
stomachs.--[ Heads Bubbles from the
Brunnen.
Year: 1860

PRETTY MUCu TUE CAsE-To get
the name Of having great talent, throw
away the little you have. Let clever
fellow get drunk every little while and
make a fool Of himself, aud he is a bet
ter doctor, or a better lawyer, or what
not, than if he kept sober.