smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

1t has become sort of popular
almost national-faith that it is not
possible to be truly happy unless you
drink. Among certain classes-and
they are by no means exclusively the
lowest-drink is the beginning and
end of everything. The very name
Of liquor is held to be Synonymous
with enjoyment. and the dearer the
liquor the more it is priced and GOV
eted. Yet every man who is not
downright drunkard, IS well aware
that the pleasures of drinking are,
beyond a certain point, a mockery, a
delusIon, and a snare. | put it to any
one who has stood half the night at
a bar, or set half the night In a club
room, drinking, smoking, and handy
ing reckless talk, if the enjoyment of
such an evening has been anything
like that of few quiet hours spent
at home with a book or newspaper?
The evil influence of tavern pleasures
on the health is too obvious to be de-
nied by any one, and the illusory
nature of the pleasures themselves
would be undeniable also, if the per
sons who indulge in them did not de-
ceive themselves and put the truth
out of sight.


No one ever brought any good out
of drinking bout yet. It is a short,
feverish spasn of animal enjoyment,
which leaves nothing behind but mo-
roseness, regret, bad temper, self
reproach and headache I6should
like to ask you, sir, if you say your
prayers when you come home in that
state2 No-you don't. You are
ashamed to say them. You postpone
them until you have purged yourself,
your mind and your lips by more sober
and rational behavior, Next night
when you pass the hours quietly at
home with a book or frie nd, you feel
that you have had real enjoyment, and
that the time has passed pleasantly,
that you have learned something, and |
that you have notinjured-your health.
You are not ashamed to say your !
PRAYERS. md YOU get mn next sr,1orp;rar-.l
Year: 1868

ATLANTA, GA, January 14.-The
ti-reconstruction press of Georgia
one week ago was overfowing with
praise aud adulation of Gen. Meade.
1t Is now as vehement ia threats and
abuse A Columbus paper says


: We have exchanged the devil for a
witch" A Macon paper, not yet ad-
vised of Jenkins removal, Eliminates
thus:


General Meade informs the Sword
and Bayonet Convention that they
shall be paid for their services in en-,
deavoring to radicalize the State of
Georgia. We know that Governor
jenkins will never sign a warrant for
one cent of the peoples money to be
withdrawn from the treasury for any
such illegal purpose. General Meade
will have to resort to his bayonets to
get possession of the funds from that
quarter. We shall see whether or not
he will dare take such a step. We
have been disposed to receive him
cordially, and give him credit for
an honest disposition to execute an
odlous edict of tyranny with strict
lmpartiality, believing, from his ante
cedents, that he was a soldier and a
gentleman, and not willing tool of
miserable faction. Ii we have been
deceived the readers of this journal
at least know H. We shall denounce
and hold up to public scorn and in
dignation General Meade or anybody
else who dares TO use arbitrary p3wer
to oppress and degrade a free people.
Let General Meade walk one inch out
of the path designated for him By the
law that gave him his position, and
he will learn, if he never knew it be-
fore. what it is tc fall under the ban
of people who do not believe that
obedience to the law and the Consti
tuition means patient and unprotest-
ing submission to the cruel and cause
less abuse of arbitrary power"
Year: 1868

Chicago, June Is.
The cad anniversary of the battle Of Bun
ker Hill was comuemorated yesterday. by a
picnic al Haas Phrk, under the auspices of
the New England Society.


AL the Smngers of the Band met at 10
o'clocas this morning for rehearsal for the
grand Concert TO night.


The hull Of the Inflated steamer Sea Bird
has been found in about twenty feet OF water,
not far from shore, having drifted consider
able distance from where she took fire. Il is
the intention of Captain Goodrich, ~ soon
as the weather is fairly settled, to send opt
divers for the purpose of recovering any
bodies that may be found, and also the safe
and other valuables.


The thermometer got up to s0o yester.
day. The weather this morning is oppress-
iyely hot
Year: 1868


could hold them, and they broke and
tore away like mad. BY this time great
many people had collected, aud they tied
a chain around his neck, with running
moose, and dragged him through the
Geld 10 the big road. They now found
n couple Of strong horses geptle enough,
and they with these determined TO
carry him 10 Nolensville, IL being the
nearest point on the pike. Hearing Of
these circumstances, in company with
Mr.. Ben. johnson, Of this place, started
for the scene Of action. When near MIR.
Bittock's, we met with Esquire Greene,
gsing 70 the same point. We had not
gone far before we hove in sight, and
here we met with very serious accident,
for no sooner bad our horses caught
sight Of the huge body OF the serpent than
they began TO plunge at such a fearful
rate as TO throw all three Of us; Mr.. John
son aud myself sustaining no injury, but
ESQUIRE Greene received severe dislo-
cation Of the ankle that will probably
lame him for life. -


However, we soon reached Nolensville,
aud the question arose, What will we do
with it?" We were anxious to take il TO
Nashville just as il lay, but the carcass
would, we knew, become very offensive
from the great heat Of the weather. So
at last it was agreed TO skin him, and
after stuffing aud drying, take him down
to the city for inspection. | took good
survey Of him. aud found his length not
so great as we had imagined, for he was
Just twenty-nine feet eight inches from
tin to tip. His greatest circumference
was thirty and half inches, and he was
Just seventeen and half inches around
the neck, or rather just behind the head.
About ten feet Of his tail had spinous
ridge, like that Of an alligator. His head
was the most formidable part about him,
and was truly terrible to behold, even
when dead. 1t was fslly twenty inches
across, and was armed with the most
formidable set Of sharp small teeth, with
four huge tueks. II had hole in it
just under the right eye, from the mimic
ball, and dent in his neck from the


glancing ball Of Mr.. Irvine. Although
he seemed at short distance to be of o


uniform dark color, on close inspection
l discovered be was spotted like rattle
snake, in diamond spots, and his belly


was OF bright blush black color. We
cut him across the middle and skinned


him both ways, thus preserving the


head whole. 1t was then well sailed and
lined, and the ends were we'll sewed
together, aud then by inserting Mr..
Simpsons bellows we inflated the mon
ster to its full size 'sa =
We will let it dry in this tx, and then
stuff it with sawdust. And now comes
the best Of all.


There are so many shares in it, its


captors are agreed to make a present Of


it to Andrew johnson. This determi-


nation was arrived at in the face of


very liberal offer sent for it by Messrs.


Wall q Handy, of Franklin. Now, in


order to pay expenses there, as soon as


it is in travelling condition it will be ex-


hibited in all the large cities between


here and Washington, commencing in
Nashville the first Of next week.


| tF 4ais j. l.. SCALES.
Year: 1868

The London Morning Star, says The
great and satisfactory result upon which
the two peoples may be heartily congratu-
lated is, that an agreement has been come
to for settling all the open questions be-
tween them by mixed commission of En-
glishmen and Americans. The umpire IS
to be named simply an case of disagree
n,ent WHICH is not probable, as public
opinion has almost unanimously come to
the conclusion that the best thing for Eng
land in the future would be to pay for the
destruction caused by the Alabama in the
past. If we acknowledge our liability, and
pay the cost, we gain a powerful stand
point for remonstrance with other nations,
should they attempt to take us at disad-
vantage during struggle, and send pri-
vateers to play havoc among our merchant
men. Unpalatable as it may be to pay u
heavy sum for the reckless and unpatriotic
conduct of some Liverpool shipowners. 1t
is infinitely better that we should pay than
to remain subject to have the anhdiLoued
precedent turned against omseloes. While
we are thus blotting out one bad precedent
| from the records of international law, we
! are building up another which may be pro-
duc,;ve of the most beneficial results so
long as time endures. The two strongest
and most high spirited nations of the
world, having causes % difference with
each other, have not rushed ao the fatal
extreme of war. They have discussed the
! questions at issue with great care, ingenu-
ity, and learning. A few foolish persons
on both sides have attempted to throw fire.
brands, but they have been put down by
the vast preponderance of sound opinion in
both nations. And now, when the people
have been fully informed, when the Gov
ernments and the press, the pamphleteers
and politicians, in Parliament and out oi
it, have all had their say, it is found that
a mode of adjustment can be agreed upon,
and that the whole dispute may be han
ded over to four gentlemen representing
the two nations, to settle it as they see
best. We may depend upon it other ma.
tions are looking on at this instructive
spectacle. They will ask themselves
| whether it is not better than keeping W
immense multitudes of men to prey on the
vitals of the taxpaying community. W.
congratulate LORD Stanley on his share il
the noble work, and we hope he will fol
low it up by insisting that the bloated ar


maments of England may now also be
greatly reduced.


/ Hon. Reverdy johnson, the American
party to this arrangement is greatly cen
sured by the Radical press aud politicians
who are clamorous for his recall.
Year: 1868

A preacher by the name of Hall, in
Guilford, Connecticut, was recently dis
missed by his congregation for hanging
out a partisan banner on election day.
This was fit payment for such an ancleri-
cal job. During the war, a majority Of
preachers turned more declaimers on top
les calculated to interest the excited crowd.
and some Of them are still running on the
old rails. Parson Hall has, howev-
er, been switched off in such a manner as
to slightly derange his monetary prospects,
and the example may be beneficial in all
parts of the country.
Year: 1868

WH1pPINe.-The Radical newspapers
deliver themselves of some columns Of
" cant" every time Court of Quarter
Sessions in Delaware orders thief to
be whipped. Now, we are no advocates
of that mode of punishment, and are glad
that it is abolished in Pennsylvania Yet
the continuance of what was not long
since common in all the States does moi
seem to us conclusive evidence of {. bar.
barism' in the people of Delaware. With
in the present year committee of the
Legislature of Massachusetts, decared the
fact that the use of the whip in the public
schools of that enlightened Commonwealth
extended to girls of marriageable age
This seems to US worse than the applioa.
tion of the same mode of chastisement t.
thief in Delaware
Year: 1868

A writer in Southern Society" who was
contemporary, in Congress, Of the late Felix
Grundy Mcconnell, Of Alabama, Contributes
some amusing anecdotes Of that eccentric per
sonage. We quote:


"One night Mcconnell went to hear the
great yiolinist, Ole Bull. Unfortunately he
had taken glass or so too much, and he Was
hardly in situation to appreciate properly
the sweet strains that fell from the bow: In
the midst Of one Of the most exquisite pieces
while every breath was suspended and every
ear attentive to catch the soft sounds OF that
magical instrument, and the whole audience as
it were hanging upon the elbow OF the artist,
the silence was suddenly broken, and the har-
mony harshly interrupted by the well-known
voice of Mac. exclaimlng at the toy, OF Its
compass, s'None of your ID hightalutlng.
but give us Hail Columbia, Happy Land, and
bear hard upon the treble. Immediately
from eyery Dart Of the house was heard the
cries Of "turn him out, - 6 throw him over,
etc, Instantly some five or six police officers
approached to enforce the wishes of the house,
and eject tie disturber of the peace and har-
mony.


Nc. was not only one of the haudsomest men
in the house, but also one of the most athletic,
and besides, was an accomplished practitioner
of the art of self defence Seeing some score
of these officers approaching, he squared him
self In a boxing positol crying out ust
lay yourself off into acre lots, and I'll take a
half acre at time" He would have been as
good as his word, but some of his Congression.
al friends coming up, interfered and took him
off to his room-not before he had received a
severe cut on his forehead from one of their
heavy clubs.


The next morning coming into the house, he
met Charles j. Ingersoll, who was surprised at
seeing his hair (which he usually wore brushed
up) fiat down on his forehead.


"Why, General" said MIR: L., l did not
know you / was not aware that you wore


SOh, no." said Mac, ''it's only scratch;
at the same time exhibiting the cut which he
had received the night before, and which he
had hid by plating down his hair on his
forehead; so opposite to his usual way OF wear
ing it, that it had very much the appearance
Of wig.


He had collection of the most singular and
striking phrases and comparisons / have ever
heard, but unfortunately they were mostly
drawn from the race course, and other places
not quite so respectable, that it is impossible
to give them here.


ITO the above, we would add, that Mr.. Nc
Connell was the member of Congress- who,
once, ''on BENDER" found himself at Fish
Town, in this place, then in all its glory, and
in the "heighth of the season" Astonished,
and as it seemed, delighted with the scene and
its accessories" he swore that it was "a Ken
lucky of place-and had he known there was
such tasa to be found in striking distance from
Washington, he would have madeit his busi-
ness to visit it, at least, once week. ;"
Year: 1868

reflect thst g sound mind and body are the most
necessary requisites to promote connubial hap
pines Indeed W thout these the journey
through life becomes u weary pilgrimage; the
prosp ct hourly darkens 20 the view, the mind
becomes shad"wcd with despair aud filed with
the melancholy reflection that the happiness OF
another becomes lighted with your own.
Year: 1868

individual characters of our members.
They are inalienable--they are con-
secrated by the governing law Of
Charity, and the principle of Frater-
nization, which binds us together.


We need not add that the true Odd
Fellow must be benevolent man
not only within the precincts of his
own lodge room, but he must carry
his philanthropic spirit into general
practice. The Odd Fellow that is a
cold, calculating, avaricious heartless
man in his intercourse with the world,
is living libel upon the Order he
has falsely identified himself with.


We will not enlarge the picture we
have endeavored TO sketch of the true
Odd Fellow. 1t is not an imaginary
one there are hundreds Of our mem
bers who might set for the portrait ;
men who are governed in all their ac.
tions as Odd Follows by the great
principles we profess, and are rendered
thereby more valuable citizens and
better men. The application we
would draw from our remarks is to
enforce closer studyof the real obi
cations we have assumed by becem'
ing members of our Order, and by
this process avoid the disgrace at
tached 70 those who do not act up to
"the character OF A TRUE OBJ FELL
LOW" 'IAHHo IfH raIttN
Year: 1868

Verres, the Pretor of Sicily, prose
cuted by Cicero for his venalIty, once
boasted of what he could do with the
fruits of his three years occupation OF
office. "Those of the first" he de.
clare would suffice TO make his own
fortune those of the second TO re.
ward his advocates and partisans
those of the last, and most abundant
to secure the suffrages of bis judges
The leading impeacher of the Presi.
dent has somewhat the advantage Of
his Scilian prototype, for in one year
Of his pretorship in Louisiana be ac-
cumulated enough to make him the
richest man in the country, and to
render all prosecution useless by ST.
leneing the tribunals. 1t manifests
the effrontery of the man, and the
rottenness of the cause he serves, that
he should have been enabled. fostering
with corruption as he is, 10 take the
leading part in the Presidential i'm
parchment His partisan and malig
nant harangue on Friday was in ev
cry way worthy of his name and rep
utation, and foreshadows the tone ana
temper with which he intends to con-
duct the prosecution. History does
not furnish an instance of a great
State trial where the managers oi
the prosecution ever came into court
with such characters as those who
are now styled the Honorable Mana
gers on the part of the House of Rep
resentatives. One OF them has the
stain of the blood of an innocent
woman upon his soul another is pub
licly charged by the journals of hi:
town with adulterous intercourse with
woman not Of his own color for
years a third only escaped an expo
sure Of his ccrruptions in the House
of Representatives, the other day, by
doubling on his pursuers; while a
fourth, on account of his outrages and
expressions, has won the title Of
+" Beast" that will cling to him like
the shirt of Nessus, aud by his pecu.
lations has won another soubriquet
that is known wherever the English
tongue is spoken. These advocates
are worthy OF their client-the Rump
and that is about as severe a charge
affecting their honor and integrity as
any man could bring. Philadelphia
Herald.
Year: 1868

A prominent journalist Of New
York has offered a reward of one thou.
sand dollars for q tale that will make
his hair stand on end. Before any
ambitious author enters into the field
of competition it may be well for him
to understand that this generous jour.
nalist is perfectly bald
Year: 1868

SUMNER SNuBBED.-That crazy mar.
row-minded, unhappy wretch, Charles
Sumner, was most etfectually snubbed
by his own friends in the Senate a
few days ago Emerging from the
pile of manuscript and books from
which he complies bis bombastic effu.
sions, he offered a resolution, that
pending the Presidents trial it was
improper for Congress TO hold any
communication with him. But even
the desperate men who follow the
lead of the great automaton dare not
follow him so far as this, and voted
down his resolution by a large major.
ito, and the wretched fanatic sank
back among his documents rebuked
by his most ardent supporters. This
action Of the Senate indicates clearly
that no attempt will be made 10 sus.
pend the President during his trial.
Year: 1868

Asother Attempt 60 Establish italian Opera.


Italian opera In this city was revived last
night under tho most favorable auspices, and
received in the commencement Of its new
career very encouraging guarantees Of success
First, thero was q magnificent home prepared
for 1t, one far SURPRISING the fondest expecta-
tions OF Its most ardent 'devotecs then an
audience both fashionable and brilliant
attended ils birth, and a superb company, with
La Grange as its chief attraction, appeared in
the most popular Of the popular Verdi's operas.
One very curious circumstance is that this
latest enterprise in Italian opera follows close
on the heels OF lamentable .fosco in the same
branch OF lyric art at another establishment.
For twenty-five years numerous trials have
been made to establish Italian opera in the
metropolis, all Of which have sooner or later.
failed. The causes Of these constant failures
may be attributed to incompetent managers
in the first place, and in the case
Of the Academy Of Music to the interference
and domineering course Of clique Of stock
holders. OF all those who undertook the
dangerous experiment of localizing opera in
Gotham Maretzck made the best beginning.
He got along very well at first, and might
have succeeded had he not fallen victim to
the lords Of the Academy. They ruined him
by making him attack his best friends,
reducing him to the condition Of slave,
debating to him who should be prima donna
and who should play first fdile, and then
leaving him 10 shift for himself in his sorest
tn srta ~ tha
theatres which we published this week the
extraordinary success Of the "Black Crook"
contrasts very strangely with the receipts OF
the opera. Undoubtedly in the days Of Baby
Ion, Sodom and Gomorrah the "Black Crook"
would be considered one Of the "big things"
Of the day, and it seems as il his
tory repeats itself in New York In the
nineteenth century. 1t is o cheering thing,
however, to find that Wallacks, where the
legitimate drama is at home, returns the next
receipts to Nlblo's. These returns show that
our amuseme mt public are not forgetful Of the
drama, in spite Of their penchant for legs and
transformation scenes The opera at Pixies
new Opera House commenced well last night,
but the management ought not to be content
with that Unless the opera Is kept up to a
first class standard and such artistes as Ade-
lima Patti, Pauline Lucca, Tieuens and Chris
tine Nilsson be imported to Ml the place Of the
great La Grange, and everything kept up to
the highest standard, this attempt to establish
Italian opera will be failure, like the others.
The impresario will have to follow up this
commencement ofthe season, which was really
an artistic as well as pecuniary success, with
novelties in either operas or singers; and as
he has no stockholders there Is no excuse for
neglect on his part. According to present in
dications, however, the result Of the expert
ment is extremely favorable.
Year: 1868

A lot of twaddling old democrats, nssils of
a bygone age, and little spouting Washington
politicians and Office seekers, who always
manage to make q fuss just about the time
Presidential election is coming on, got up q
meeting or banquet the day before yesterday
on pretonce Of celebrating the anniversary Of
the battle OF New Orleans, but really to make
themselves conspicuous. or course President
johnson was invited, and ou. of politeness he
made his appearance. They tried to get
speech out OF him, and probably this was their
main object, hoping thereby to identify them
selves In some sort Of way with the glorious
fight he is making in defence Of the constitu-
ton and best interests Of the country. But Mr..
Johnson had nothing to say, He simply re-
his acts. II was unnecessary for him to say
more, and it is quito likely he had o proper
estimate of most OF the fussy and useless little
politicians who were endeavoring to glorify
themselves by his presence The battle of New
Orleans! Why, glorious as II was, 1t is over
shadowed by the battles of late times and by
the greater battle the President is now fighting.
These men are behind the age. There never
was such grand military event rs the crush
ing out Of the rebellion by General Grant
and there never has been in political history
such tremendous and successful war as
Andrew Johnson has fought against the radi-
calls and In defence OF the constitution The
Washington politicians may find grander
theme, and one with the grandest results, in
the Presidents conduct with regard to the issue
now before the country.