smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

A SNOWMAN MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR A
BEARS CowARDIcE.-W read in the last
Cuba Messenger which has come to hand that
man in Matanzas, the proprietor of the pub
lie building, advertised grand fight between
a ball and bear. Anxious for exciting enter
tainment, the public crowded the ring at the
appointed time, paying an admission fee. But,
when the animals were turned into the arena,
Ursus showed considerable of the white feath-
er, and only acted on the defensive, refusing to
attack Taurus, but satisfying himself with
boxing his ears and scratching his face, when
the horned enemy attempted to gore him, and
he was in such position that be could not
run out Of his difficulty This lack of pluck
was detrimental to the quality of the sport
promised, and the public officials were DISCUS
ted. Forthwith the proprietor was brought
before the authorities, and heavy fine levied
on him, because his bear was deficient of pluck,
and thereby made him a swindler 10 deprecia-
ting the quality Of the entertainment which
the public paid 10 see
Year: 1861

AMPHIBIoUs WoMEN.-The most remark
able sight met with, says a recent traveller,
was the number of women, who seemed to be
more like fishes than human beings, for, get
ting their living by fishing, they reside upon
the water in great boats. As for the manner
of their fishing, it Is sufficiently curious, for not
only do they use nets and lines, but should a
particular fish escape their net, they make no
more ado than plunge into the depth of the sea,
after the fashion of ducks and swans, and it is
said that they never fail to secure the fish ;
neither are they afraid Of the whales, porpoises
or other great fish with which these seas
abound for they carry with them long sharp
knife, or spear, ready for defense or attack, as
the case may be; and this particular race Of
women may always be known by their eyes,
which, from continual diving, grow of a blood
red color.
Year: 1861

SAM HoUsToNs s LErTER-The following is
the conclusion Of Houston's letter to some gen
tlemen, Of Huntsville, Texas:


II am now an aged man. My locks have
become white in toiing, as | believe, for the
liberty Of mankind. Were I young, that
might look forward to the future, feeling that
whatever danger might come, my strong arm
would be at hand to defend my family, should
feel less anxiety than l do at present. The
years that will have TO endure the misfortuDes
Of civil war are but few. If could feel that
with the close of my career would end the
miseries of my race, l could share its misfor
tunes with patience but to feel that the per
lis of revolution must continue, that war, with
its attendant horrors Of bloodshed, rapine and
devastation must still be visited upon it, would
embitter my last moments; and after living TO
witness the demolition of the best government
that ever existed. 1 would sink to the grave
without hope that Freedom would be regen-
Grated, Or our posterity ever enjoy again the
blessings with which we had parted. Let US
pause and ponder well before we take any
action outside Of the Constitution.
Year: 1861

A travelling agent, passing farm saw a
boy at work in the corn field by the roadside,
and being Of an inquiring turn of mind he stop
ped his horse and thus addressed the youth


Ny son, whose farm is this?"


Dads" was the laconic reply.


Does your father raise any stock ~


Ees, lots nv en-


What kind y continued the stranger.


Corn stocks mostly was the reply, as he
proceeded to shoe" hill of the article, and
the stranger went his way musiDg.
Year: 1861

ANOTHER MAMMOTH CAvE.-There is 4 cave
near Hannibal, Illinois, in which a man enter
ing at the Hannibal entrance recently Travelled
seven miles to the southwark, and emerged there
at another town. The thermometer in this
cave stands at from Coz to 62o, and so sur
charged with oxygen in the atmosphere that
one can travel four or five times as far without
fatigue inside this cave as outside Five visi-
tors went into this cave without guide They
had lamps and provisions, but both failing they
wandered about for five days. AT the end OF
that time, company Of fifty men from Hanni-
bal went in search of them, but though they
repeatedly fred guns and rang bells, they were
thirty hours before they found four Of them,
furnishing and in total darkness. The fifth,
who had wandered still farther than his coin-
panions, was not found until fifteen hours later
still, and when he was at the point of death


He afterwards said that the last thing he re-
membered was finding bat and devouring it.
The cave is said to have petrifying powers, the
process Of petrfaction having considerably ad
yanced on portions Of human body kept there
for about four years, on projecting shelf
Year: 1861

The following burst of oratory uttered by
Daniel Webster, in the great strife of 1850,
catches new grandeur from the exigency that
is now upon US:


Mr. PREsIDESr.-I should much prefer to
have heard from every member on this floor
declarations of opinion that this Union could
never be dissolved, than tie declaration of
opinion by anybody, that, in any case, under
the pressure Of any circumstances, such dis
solution was possible. hear with distress and
anguish the word @ secession especially when
it falls from the lips Of those who are patriotic
, and known to the country and known all over
the world for their political services. Seces-
sion Peaceable secession Sir, your eyes
and mine are never destined to see that mira
Gle. The dismemberment of this vast country
without convulsion The breaking up of the
fountains of the great deep without rulfling tie
surface


Who is so foolish-I beg everybodys par
don-as to expect to see any such thing? Sir,
be who sees these States, now revolving in
harmony round common centre, and expects
to see them quit their places and fly off with
out convulsion may look the next hour to see
the heavenly bodies rush from their spheres
and jostle against each other in the realms Of
space, without causing the wreck of the uni
verse. There can be no such thing as peace
able secession. Peaceable secession is an utter
| impossibility. Is the great Constitution under
which we live covering this whole county
is it to be thawed and melted away by seces-
sion, as the SHOWS on the mountain melt under
the influence Of vernal sun disappear almost
unobseryed and run off? No, sir No, sir
| will rot state what might produce the dis
ruption Of the Union; but, sir, see as plainly
as | see the sun ia heaven what that disruption
itself must produce l see that it must produce
war, and such war as l will not describe in
its two-fold character.


Peaceable secession. Peaceable secession
The concurrent agreement of all the members
of this great Republic to separated A volun-
tary separation, with alimony On the one side
and on the other. Why, what would be the
result? Where is the line to be drawn p
What States are to secede? What is to re-
main American What AM | to be? An
American no longer? Am to become a sec
tional man, local man, a separatst, with no
country in common with the gentlemen who sit
around Inc here, or who Gil the other House of
Congress Heaven forbid Where is the
flag of the Republic to remain? Where is the
eagle still to tower? Or is lie to cover and
shrink and fall to the ground? Why, sir, our
ancestors, our fathers and our grandfathers,
those Of them that are yet living amongst us
with prolonged life, would rebuke and reproach
us, and our children and our grand children
would cry out shame upon as, if we of this
generation should dshonor these ensgns of the
power of the Government and the harmony of
that Union which is every day felt among US
with so much joy and gratitude.
Year: 1861

The STATES BEFORE UNIoN.-Judge Story
gives graphic picture of what the States
were before the adoption of the present Union,
and what they would likely be again, if it
should be dissolved
Year: 1861

WASHINGTON, June Z.


Especial Correspondence of Tribune
Several hundred regulars have left within
twenty four hours for the Relay House
They will form a portion Of one Of the col
umns which are to operate against Harper's
Ferry.


A column of Gen Patterson's army is
approaching by the way Of HagersiOwn,
and column of Gen. McClellan's army is
moving from the West.


Help cannot come to Gen. Johnston from
Manassas Junction, for Gen. Mcdowell will
engage the whole attention of the rebels
posted there, nsr can they be reinforced
from Richmond and Norfolk, for Gen But
Ter will be dangerous foe TO leave even IT,
active in their rear, and he will not remain
quiet


There are armed steamers enough in the
Potomac to threaten other approaches to the
Capital of the Old Dominion.


We have good reason to believe that before
many hours, a column of four thousand men
will march from the City towards Harper's
Ferry; the whole commanded by Cole1el
Stone of the Fourteenth4Infantry. The hour
of starting, which has been postponed several
times, is not yet definitely determined. This
column will probably have no more serious
task than that of intercepting the fugitives
driven by other commands from Harper's
Ferry. Other Regiments are under marching
orders.


We learn from a prominent politician
from Wheeling what will be the probable
course of the Convention. All the seeding
men have agreed not to attempt making q
new State out of Western Virginia, but to
act for the Old Dominion as a whole in
setting up a provisional Government
The first act of the Convention will be to
depose Governor Letcher and his rebel
lious associates.


It will then appoint good and true men
in their places, The provisional Governor
will probably be Gen. jackson, of Parkers-
! burgh.


The Convention will then declare Eastern
Virginia in insurrection against the Gen.
eral Government, for which aid to put
| down the rebellion will be invoked
The Legislature chosen on the 23d ult.
the members Of which are by its request
to meet with the Convention, will be pro.
nounced the legally elected Legislature of
the Ststea and will be empowered to proceed
at once to the transaction of business The
Cover viii send in his message to the two
Houses, and two Senators, Of whom John
S. Carlile viii probably be one, and lead
ing Republican the other, will be chosen,


In this plan Of operation Messrs. Car
lille, Wiley, Pierpont and jackson unite.
Our informant thinks the Convention will
be one Of the grandest popular assemble
ges ever called together.
Year: 1861

WAKEMAN, June 4th, 1861.


EDITOR LEADER: l returned from Texas
last July, and a few days since received the
following letter from my uncle in said state,
who is a native of Vermont, and has lived in
Texas about thirty years. A fac simile copy
OF the letter is sent the Editor of the Lea
der for publication, R. H. CANP.


CEDAR BAYow, (neaT Galveston,


May 6, 1861.


DEAR RANSOM: received your Letter da-
ted Jan. 18th ought to hav answered it
Long a 90 but you are were what I am
| cant hardly git time torite, work all the
time when am well, but am nearly broke
down hav been troubled with the rumatism
this spring have Enlarged my farm this
Spring & hay got 20 acers in corn it l oks
well will raze a plenty this season-I hav
sold my Steam mill at a sacriise of two thou
sand S we hav in Texas the fairest prospect
for good crop than Ever we had before
but in consequence of the Black hearted
north many of our citizens hay left ther
crops & Sholdered their rife & gone to lite
for our rits & as old as am if Good Lesre
home l wood leave my wife and my
little boys & wood fly to the field of Battle
Ransom I hav not got language TO Express
the indignation have for an abOliionist l
| Good fight & Kill them with a better hart
than cooda mexican when I was in the
army of Texas & if | hav any relation that
wood Steal our negroes from US say 70 them
4 to for Ever Keepout of my Site for l want
never to see black republican-ths black
harted north has imposed upon the South
until the South Good stand it no longer & we
ware compeld to with draw our Selves from
the north & make our one wooden nutmegs
and we now ask those black, republicans TO
let US a lone or We win make you do so we
ask no DDS Of those black harted men that
wants our negro weuches for @ivs. Ransom
J I hope & trust that none of my relations are
.abolitionists & further more hope that none
of my relations will volunteer to fight against
the South for If they shood volunteer as old
as am wod volunteer to fight them for
our cause is good we fte for our rits we are
not eompeld TO draff, men to fte more than we
want have vola1teerd to fte more than we
want old & young men are al all times ready
to obey any call for volunteers & Ransom
what Is above all we beleave that god is on
our Side and ne is for us who can be against
Us ali we ask OF the NORTH is 10 let Us alone
we believe they viii whip themselves, a per-
feet union prevails throughout Texas we are
{ ready at all times to meet our foe & we cant
be cercerd when we are on the rite side We
have company on Cedar Bayow of SIS men
that will start in few days if wanted we
don't want for men here hear all is ready
our wives are ready to load our guns for u'
8 ru1 balls we are in fling spirit.


I Ransom rite me as soon as you receive
! this Il you are all rite.


Signed SETH CARY.
Year: 1861




we print in another column the call of ths
COMMITTEE for a Republican State Convention
II Is unnecessary for us to define our position.
Our views have been frequently expressed and
are well understood. But for the course taken
by the corrupt leaders of the Democratic party
VINO control its organization, and who sympa
thize with rebellion, we would say hold no dis
t'nctive Republican Convention But these
men, long ago discarded by the people for their
venality and subseryiency to the leaders in this
rebellion, are determined to thrust themselves
upon US as no party candidates, or else organ
i1e the Democratic party in opposition to the
Administration and the War; The alternative
is presented of taking the Halls, the Johnsons,
the Duncombes, the Mahoneys and their co.
workers, or of making separate nominations. s.-
underno circumstances can we fellow ship these
men. There is no honesty or loyalty in them.
As We believe. Under these circumstances, be.
lieving that the Convention, when it assemblies,
Will adopt no platform to drive from US patriotic
citizens of other parties who think Iowa should
present an unbroken front in this crisis, we place
the call before our readers, trusting that liber-
al and patriotic course will be pursued Parties
and party leaders are Of no consequence. We
want the best and ablest men in the State for
State officers. 1t is Of but little consequence
what their former political associations have
been, SO they are honest, faithful and capable
Give US good men on the Bell platform.
Year: 1861

In the appropriate place in this weeks Regis.
ter will be found the call for Republican State
Convention to be held in this city, on Wednes-
day, the 3lst proxmo. The Offices to be filled
are the most important in the State, and there
has been no time since Iowa was admitted into
the Union when they needed and the interests
of the people demanded good incsmbents as are
needed and demanded now. We are aware that
many good men in the Democratic ranks are
anxious that party distinctions should be obit-
Grated and that the Republicans should abandon
their organization. The Republican members Of
the General Assembly at the late Extra Session
did indeed so far ignore for the time being par
tizan distinctions as to choose Democrats as well
as Republicans for officers Of either branch; but
if no other admonition were necessary to in
duce the Republicans of Iowa to adhere religi-
ously to their faith and keep their ranks unbro-
ken, it would be furnished in the action Of the
Democratic members of the Legislature. There
were honorable exceptions in both Houses-men
who seemed willing to forget the politics of the
National Executive, and their own former party
opposition, and remember, only the great fact
that the liberties of the people were endanger-
cd by pro-slavery insurgents-but the Journals
of both Houses show that If the support of Mr..
Lincoln's Administration should by any calami-
ty be committed to the keeping of the Demo-
cratic representatives as mass in this State, it
would meet in time Of its necessities with very
much such responses to its calls for aid as were
sent by the State administration of Missouri
Democratic officers and Democratic privates
are in the ranks of the Iowa Volunteers, ready
to hazard life, if necessary, in defense of the
Government; but while all this is so, the Lead
ing organs of that party show venomous ha-
tired Of the National Administration which
seemingly makes them crave for it's downfall,
even though the Federal Charter of the peoples
liberties should be dragged down along with it.


No! no Republicans of Iowa! This is no
time for furling the Republican banner! The
President elect in part by your votes, never so
much needed faithful as well ss jealous friends
as he needs them now. The State admnstra-
ton to be elected in October can greatly add in
strengthening or paralyzing the Federal arm.
The Legislature to be chosen at the same time,
will be charged with the duty of apportioning
the State into Congressional Districts, -Wheth-
er the Representatives from those districts shall
be friends or enemies of the present administra-
ton will mainly be determined by the majority
which will control the next General Assembly.
1t is for you, Republicans, to determine how that
majority shall be constituted, and whether your
President shall be turned over to the uncertain
magnanimity of partizan foes in the hour Of the
Nations peri.-[State Register. .yis7ig-sq
Year: 1861

State, would make the flag too unwieldy.
The old number oi stripes also perpetua-
It'd the original number of States of the
| Union while the addition of the stars
| showed the Union in its existing state.


The flag planted by our troops in the
city of Mexico, at the conclusion Of the
M. xican war, bore thirty stars.
The size OF the flag for the army is six
feet six inches in length by four feet four
inches in width, with seven red and six
white stripes. The first seven stripes
flour red and three Whitley bound the
square of the blue field for the stars; the
stripes extended from the extremity OF
the field to the end of the flag. The eighth
STRIFE is white, extending partly at the
base Of the field.


Success to the flag of our nation


Its folds all around us be spread


Il is blazoned with deeds of the valiant,
And sacred with names of the dead.


The STARS are the symbol of the UNION
In UNION they ever must wave


The White is the emblem of honor,


The Red is the blood of the brave!


Success to the flag of our nation


Let it sweep Ger the land and the seal
The shade Of our heroes around it,
Beneath it the ranks of the free.


We will keep its young glory unsullied,


In ages to come as the past,
! Uprear it a beacon of Freedom,
Unbowed through a Il storms to tie last
Year: 1861

~ The groundwork Of all manly char-
acter is veracity. That virtue lies at the
foundatian Of every solid. How common
it is to hear parents say, II have faith in
my child SO long as he speaks the truth
He may have many faults, but I know
he will not deceive me. build on that
confidence" They are right. 1t is a
lawful and just ground to build upon
So long as truth remains in child there
is something to depend upon.
Year: 1861

SATURDAY EvEN1Na.--Every Saturday
evening has to my ear. gentle knell.--
The week tolls itself away--one. two,
three, four, five, six, and the perfect
seyen--and | can almost hear the sound
dying away as if the days had slipped
the cables, and were drifting down the
stream, but beating faint murmurs as
they receded And Of every one l say
ended !--gone ! I shall never see thee
more How have we improved them
Have We done any good acts ? were we
busily engaged iu our employment have
we been honest in all our dealings with
our fellow>men Ask yourself these
questions, and you can answer all these
interro gatories in the affirmative, you need
not mourn and lament over the past week
for you are aware that you have done
what was just and honest in the sight o.
God.
Year: 1861

SuccEss.--Industry and economy are
indispensable requisites to success; but
they are not the only ones. A man may
be industrious and over-economical, but
he must possess good judgement or his
economy will be of no avail.
Year: 1861

In the summer season, when the weather II
roof Is hardly felt, it !s not usual to find
crime SO prevalent, and beegAH at the sane
season are SCARCE The reason Is obvious. It
Is then comparatively easy work to obtain euf
fcient food to sustain life, and Is for q bed to
Eepose his weary limbs upon, bless you, none
Is required; the poor child Of want is fully
satisfied with his soft side OF a plank, under L
There he sleeps - soundiy as though beneath
hiA father's roof tree. The rats that play
about him only serve the purpose of keeping
him trom forgetting that he is wanderer and
an outeast.


The winter season, with its chilling winds
and cutting cold. Ice, SNOW, sleet, and its usual
effects upon the various callings from which
terrible influence upon the labofins man.
Work Is stopped Bread and butter are sub
jcct to the sarue process at the same time. II
is q much more easy transition under these
circumstances, from the honest laborer to the
srAcre Of the petty pi1fercr, bold burglar, or
robber, than the most Of people would believe.
The present winter Is IN instance in point.
Barglaries aud hrceniea have increased md
decreased In frequency Just in proportion at
the weather has been colder OF more mild.
Clothes lines and hen roosts auftr in relation
and proportion to rising and falling OF degrees
Farenhcit. Ten degrees below zero Is 4 won-
derfal thief; zero is no better; and 1t is not
until the temperate region Is reached that We
flnd crimes ot this character beg in to be-
come less frequent, So We learn that the win
ter's cold, the need or want Ut comfort, lie
lack Of protection against the storms anil The
winds, create crime. To be sure, mora1ists
will contend it should not be thus. Grant 1t
to be so, and still the truth Of the statement Is
not shaken.


Another lesson: Therc are those too poor to
I've, almost, who are not far enough reduced
to steal. They would work If they could find
work to do, but it Is not to be Lad yet their
sense Of honesty revolts against taking the
property Of another, even to clotle or feed
their freezins, fauishinS children We arc
informed that there are many tuch in our
midst. It would prove blessed comment
upon the inherent goodness Of the human
heart, and show that the lesson taught by
stern winter had not heen tau:ht wholly In
vain, were the charitable and benevolent of
the city to 70 out into the streets, seek out
these poor, honest families, and ca7y sub
stantial relief to their houses. In addition to
this, it would be onasof the strongest checks
upon the increase Of crime in our midst that
could be forged.
Year: 1861

ARRIVAL OF THE PONY EXPRESS.


FoRT KEAREEr, Feb. 5.--By the arrival of the
Pony Express at this point We have dates from
San Francisco to the 18th ut.


A speaker for the Assembly was elected on tho
18th by Republican and Douglas coalition.


The same means will be taken to elect a u S
Senator


The Governor, in his message to the Legislature
takes strong grounds in favor of preserving the
Union, and opposes the formation OF Republic on
the borders of the Pacific.
Year: 1861

MEN AND ANIMAI.s.-How superior are men in
intellectual and moral qualities to the animal
creation! For example, let bird discover store
of seeds or fruit, and the foolish thing goes and
tells of his good fortune, and all the birds in the
neighborhood fock to enjoy it. Even little ant
will bring his whole tribe to feast upon newly
discovered dainty. But let q man discover mine
of gold, or any kind of valuable treasure, and he
will keep it to himself as long as possible and take
| the greatest care to conceal it from others.