smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

THEIR RIAL POSSESSION, Use AND POWER.


Good manners are in their decadence. e"
So says a recent writer, and so, though
not without a question of personal an
tagonism, say We. This is not the uni
yerSal conviction. think il is not even
the common one The confession is hard
" consonant with our ideas OF progres-
sion. Is not the Atlantic telegraph a pal
pable reality? And even the Hoosac tun-
mel. is it not yawning within the horizon
of remote possibility? Consequently.
are we not the greatest people, living in
the greatest age, and in the broadeSt
country Of history or geography Mani
feStly. Yet may we not be in danger Of
becoming obliyious 10 some of the arts,
which have been forgotten and left be-
hind in this stupendous march of civiliza-
ton; this nineteenth century crusade
against old Time with the scythe and
hour glass? Hour glasses are obsolete,
and as for scythes. dear me! Hasn't the
benighted old pre-Adamite heard about
moving machines? In spite of our an
tagonism, then, there are certain terms
in common use which have tell-tale sig
nifcance. A lady of the ancient time, ="
"a gentleman of the old school ;" and, if
| mistake not, the phrases suggest So
cial standard. We smile at the stiff bow
of the Sir Charles Grandson, gallant !;
and laugh outright at the picture of our
great grand-papa in powdered wig and
silver buckles. mouthing solemn non
sense to our great grand-mama sitting in


state arrayed in her pontifcals and bro
cade and old lace. Those were vastly
absurd times" we think. But after all,
better too much starch than too little
lawn Better the Scylla of precision
than the Charybdis of laxity. An idea
formerly prevailed to some extent in New
England that attention 10 the little observ-
anceS of good breeding was beneath the


notice of sensible individual. A man
with gloves upon his hand, and polished
boots upon his feet. might have sense in
his head, but the inferences We're not in
his favor. and if the affirmative were
proved beyond shadow OF doubt, the
person was set down as one Of the nota-
bic exceptions which only strengthened
the general rule. Macaulay has said, lit
Is soothing 10 envy, to believe that what
is brilliant cannot be solid. that what is
clear cannot be profound" and what is
elegant cannot be genuine. the old per-
suasion would have added. "a man
may smile and be a villain still" said the
copy books. And, may not man smile
and smile, and still not be villain' /
beg leave to enquire. think he may.
having had the good fortune to know two
or three, Because Aaron Burr had car
ried the art Of fascination to such an ex-
Year: 1869

children to bid their parents good morn
ing upon ordinary, rs guests upon extra
ordinary, occasions. Let there be no
company manners" Convince children
by example no less than by precept, that
the best they have to offer in matter and
manner should be laid before those they
love most earnestly. A boy taught at
ten to enter the parlor and bow to his
mothers friend, will do it with ease and
self-posession at twenty For what, after
all, is ease of manner but politeness long
practiced and Incorporated as an uncon-
cious constituent of the individual? IL
may be well for us to remember the origi-
nal significance Of gentleman, gentle


woman-terms which fear would never
have grown out of the clustering car
riage ola class ofmodern gallants. Gen
tie blood and mob @ lineage" were
synonyms in those old days. "Suaviter
in modo, fortitir in re-" was the Latin
proverb, and it has often occurred TO the
writer that we of the present generation,
are more in danger of forgetting the mild
ness of manner than the strength in deed.


To those who believe that noise is pow
er, and obstinacy dignity, nature furnishes
instructive lessons. Think how noiseless
is the working of NIL this great physical
force. The snowflake does not fall to
the earth more silently than the innumer-
able stars move in their courses. Look
at drop OF water q feather will displacc,
ray OF sunlight diss pate it. Yet an ag-
gregation of such drops once dcpopulated
the world. The hoar frost crccps up
across the land. of n November night,
and the misty dawn sees thin film ot
ice boarding the wayside brook. A sec
ond glance and it is gone. Delicate,
transparent, would il ever have suggested
itself 10 human wisdom as power in the
world? Should we not have taken iron
or granite instead? But iron and granite,
mans skill may conquer; while stranded
ships in Northern seas and graves un-
watched mid ice and snow, are the only
remnants of the gallant band who rashly
beSeiged the Qualifications of the icc-king,
in his frozen dominions. A cloud of steam
rises and looscs itself in the still air of a
June morning. Through it you can see
the blue sky and the sunlight. is diff
cult Ia believe that out of this impalpable
yapor has risen the servant which bears
man and hi, possessions round the world,
the MASTER in whose hands iron bands
are like tow, and giant but falling
thing before the whirlwind. Out of weak
ness there comes strength. Power re-
strained and controlled is the only in-
yincible power Of life.
Year: 1869

We take the tolloailg Interesting extract. from
Parton. article on The New Yor. Incbriate Asy lum,
In the October number OF the Atlantic;


TIE CASE or 4 CLERGYMAN.


It's interesting TO observe the applicants
for admission, when they enter the office
of the Asylum, accompanied generally
by relative or friend. Some reach the
building far gone in intoxication, having
indulged in one last farewell debauch or
having drunk bottle of whiskey for the
purpose of screwing their courage to the
sticking point of entering the Asylum. 4
CLERGYMAN whom this institution restored
told me that he reached Binghamton in the
evening, and went to bed drunk and be-
fore going To the Asylum the next morn
ing he had TO fortify his system and his
resolve by twelve glasses of brandy
Sometimes the accompanying friend, out
of an absurd kind of pity for poor fellow
about to lie deprived of his solace, will
rather encourage him TO drink and often
the relative of an nebriate can only get
him into the institution by keeping him
intoxicated until he is safe under it, roof.
Frequently men arrive emaciated and
worn out from weeks or months of hard
drinking; and occasionally man will be
brought in suffering from delirium tre-
mems, who will require restraint and
watching for several days. Some enter
the office in terror, expecting to be i'm
mediately led away by a turnkey and
locked up. Allcome with bodies diseased
and minds demoralized; for the presence
of alcohol in the system lowers the tone
ofthe whole man, body and soul, strength
ening every eviltendency, and weakening
every good one. And this is the reason
why men who are brought here against
their will are not to be despaired of. Al
cohol may only have suspended the ac-
tivity of their better nature, which few
weeks of total abstinence may rouse to
new life. As the health improves, am
bition often reviyes. and the native deli
cacy of the soul reappears. and the man
becomes polite, docile, interested, agreea-
BILE, who on entering seemed coarse,
stupid, obstinate, and malign.


The newcomer subscribes 10 the rules,
pays his board three months in advance,
and surrenders all the rest of his money.
The paying in advance is good thing;
it is like paying your passage on going on
board ship; the voyage has no care. and
nothing to think of but the proposed OBJ
iect. 1t is also one more inducement TO
remain until other motives gain strength.


Many hard drinkers live under the con-
vic.ion that if they should cease drinking
alcoholic liquors suddenly, they would
die in few days. This is complete
error. No "tapering Off is allowed here.
DIR. Day discovered years ago that man
who has been drinking quart ofwhiskey
a day for long time suffers more if his
allowance is reduced to pint than if he
is put at once upon the system of total
abstinence. lie not only suffers less. but
for shorter time. The clergyman before
referred to informed me that, for two
years and half before entering the
Year: 1869

THE NEW SENATOR FROM PENNsYLvANIA.-Jotn
Scott, the Republican Senator elect from Penn
sylvana, is distinguished member of the bar
of Huntingdon county, where he is said to have
the largest practice of any lawyer in his judicial
district. He is good speaker, has served in the
State Legislature, and has been an active politi-
cal canvasser. He is about fifty years of age.
Before the rebellion be was Democrat, but has
since acted with the Republicans in defense of
the Uuion and liberal principles. He is said by
those who know him to be conscientious man,
who has been all his life independent of factions ;
and his election seems to be another defeat of
the ring and bargain principle in party politics.
Year: 1869

A SAD SroRY.-The Grass Valley Union re-
lates sad story of real life, which it pronounces
stranger than fiction. Names are suppressed,
but the condensed facts are as follows:


Eight years ago an apparently happy married
couple resided in a State or Territory east of
California, who had bright little son, upon
whom they lavshed their affections. On GER
tain occasion the husband and father left home
for few days, and, on returning, found it de-
serted by wife and child. His efforts for a long
time to find their whereabouts were fruitless
A few months ago he went back to bis former
home in the East, where he had been married.
There he ascertaned that his wife was living
with another man in California, under an as
sumed name. He came back to this State and
many months were spent in the endeavor to
trace out their place of abode. Certain informa-
ton directed his pursuit to Grass Valley, where
he discovered that his little son, who had been
well cared for, was attending school under
other than the paternal name. The father Wis
tied the school, had conversation with the boy,
and announced his determination to assume over
him fathers rights and protection. He also
called upon the mother, and, as the Union sur
misses, discussed the matter with her. The par
amour with whom she had eloped was over at
White Pine and it is thought the interview
had, like that between " Hamlet" and his
mother caused her to look into her heart-as
the bereaved father was heard to say, after leav-
ing her-that she would never live with the de-
stroyer of his happiness again. The real father
now has full possession of his son.
Year: 1869

ANOTHER VIEW OF IT.-An exchange says:


fast young lady is said to be like a steam
boat, because she never goes ahead without a
swell after her.


All the young ladies who affect the Grecian
bend may be said to have swell astern.-Dra-
matte Review
Year: 1869

one to suppose, a priori, that there possibly
could be anything remarkable or extraordi-
nary in bis history; but was induced sud
denly to change my opinion, OF at least 70
take some interest in him, by my friends
exclaimiBg, in the utmost amazement, and,
at the same time, pointing to him with the
the red comforter


TO BE coNTISUED.l
Year: 1869

General Banks, on Friday last in the House
Of Representatives, from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, submitted joint resolution
declaring the sympathy of the people of the
United States with the people of Cuba in their
patriotic efforts to secure independence and
republican government on the basis of equal
rights, and declaring that Congress will give
Its constitutional support to the President Of
the United States whenever he may deem 1t
expedient to recognize the independence and
sovereignty of such republican government"
This resolution was recommitted aud ordered
to be printed, the immediate object being the
encouragement Of the revolutionary Cubans,
notification to Spain Of what is coming and
hint to England and France to beware of
entangling alliance in this business or disre-
gard Of the Monroe doctrine.


We think we may safely say to the Cuban
revolutionists that this resolution of General
Banks expresses the prevailing sentiment of
the people Of the United States, of the two
Houses of Congress and Of the administration,
and that in all probability the Cubans will not
have to wait very long before they have a
recognition from our government of belligerent
rights in behalf Of the new republic. Let them
get it into shape and show that they are
holding their ground and are competent to
hold it against all the forces Of Spain on the
island or likely to come there, and q recogni-
tion from the United States, like that graciously
accorded JEFF Davis by Spain, England and
France, will in very short order settle the
question. We expect soon to hear that the
Cubans are no longer fighting with old
fashioned short-range muskets against the
modern long-range weapons Of the Spanish
troops, and when, in the matter Of arms, there
is any approach to equality between the bel
ligerents the war will be speedily finished in
favor Of the republic of Cuba. Meantime the
friends of the cause hereabouts would do well
to see to it that this resolution Of General
Banks is circulated through the island.
Year: 1869

Resolutions Of tho Buffalo Board Of Trade
Reform In the Management Of the Canals
Demanded.


BUFFALO. March ~, 1860.
The Board OF Trade. after an animated discussion
this morning. endorsed the resolutions adopted
March % by the New York CITY Produce Exchange
favoring the enlarGing and improvement OF canals
In this state and general reform IN the manage
ment OF the same There was only one dissenting
vote.
Year: 1869

same time a gentleman opened the door
and entered the parlsr. Look ere, :
he said, addressing the dashing young
widow, "you go up stairs. Up to your
old tricks again, see. supposed you
were, and that's the reason why | watched
you"


This interruption broke the susceptible
heart of our young gentleman like ter
rible calamity, and the effect was greatly
heightened when the young widow com :
menced to pour out a volume of epithets
on the intruder, quite as inelegant as they
were profane. Here was nice fix for
our adventurous young gentleman. He
turned pale with surprise, and addressing
the gentleman, said But | hope you
will allow me to explain" Oh, that s
all right" said the stranger. "Tll fix
that with you as soon as ! get this untor-
tunate woman to her room"


With considerable difficulty the young
widow was removed, and when the gen.
teman returned "our hero" was informed
that the woman was crazy, and that q
constant watch had TO be kept over her to
prevent her from having similar inter
views with strangers. Our young gentle
man begged a thousand pardous, and was
shown the door. He at once returned
home, and VOWS that he will never be
caught in the matrimonial advertisement
trap again.
Year: 1869

A few days ago there vas a Wedding
party st the residence OF gentleman
whose house is in Indiana sud his garden
in Ohio, his estate lying beth sides Of
the boundary line. The marriage was
daily performed aud The company had
been for some time engaged IN the fee
iivities arranged for the occasion, when
it occurred to the clergyman that the IL
cense which was procured in Ohio was
not authority for marrying a coaple in
Indiana, and so, 70 make a sure thing Of
i, the party marched out into ihe gar
den, and, standing there in The snos,
with crowd Of shiveriDg witnesses. the
nervous bride and groom we're sg4ia
pronounced husband aad wife.
Year: 1869

Lecture by Professor Ebell, Of New Haven.


There was large audience last night at Cooper
Institute In attendance upon the second of
OF lectures on zoology. being delivered there by
Professor Adrian J. Ebell of New Haven. Before the
Professor began his lecture the announcement was
made that on the completion OF the present course
it would be followed by course social and polit-
ical science by gentlemen well qualified to discuss
those topics.


The subject for the evening was given as corals,
molusks snas and cuttlefsh. These animals, it was
said belong to the class OF radates. The reasonfor
thus designating them was given and illustrated
with diagrams. The coral was described as belong
ing to this class OF radiates. There were three con-
these animals and the productions OF coral Islands,
First temperature OF the water at above sixty
that Tney are found distributed In the ocean, not
according TO the lines OF latitude, but according as
the temperature Is modihed by ocean currents Sec
ond, depth OF water not less than thirty feet and
not over one hundred IL required. The structure OF
the animal Is such that 1t cannot live at greater
few are found at a less depth, but OF SO frail
development as to be broken OIL by the motion OF the
Coral Islands are formed around the base Of noun
tain wholly or In part submerged. The form OF the
growth OF these islands is perpendicular towards
islands never rise to the surface than thirty
feet by the action OF the coral animals themselves.
jection above it is attributable to the deposit
by the waves OF the frazier kind OF
coral found at q less depth than thirty feet and
broken Off from the rocks by the action OF the water
Sometimes the mountain sinks below the water. and
then the coral deposits are seen In the form OF cir
Gle with lake or lagoon In the centre. These la
goons are sometimes taken advantage OF In the pro-
duct0n OF SALT water being let In and retained until
IL has evaporated and left q residuum OF salt.
Turks Island salt, so familiar to commerce,
Is obtained In this way. From the consid-
Grafton OF corals the lecturer proceeded to
the consideration OF jelly fish, and thence TO mol
lusks, and last OF all the cephalap0ds " which class
was illustrated throughout with extemporizcd draw
ings on the blackboard and afterwards by more
elaborate representations by means Of the magic
lantern. The audience were attentive during the
whole lecture and went away seemingly well pleased
with what they had seen and heard.
Year: 1869

The MATERIAL PRoGREss OF THE SoUTH-
,CHRRRING SIGNs.-Perhaps the best evidence
of the sure and rapid material progress Of the
South may be found in the fact that the price
eof the bonds of the different Southern States Is
steadily rising in Wall street. The directors
of our New York savings banks, who are pro-
verbally conservative, cautious and sagacious,
have lately bought largely these State bonds.
The Southern people themselves are also adding
considerably to their investments in these
bonds. Other cheering signs Of the energy
with which the recuperative powers of the
South are awakening may be found In the
rgreat cotton CROP estimated at two hundred
million dollars; in the plentiful rice and
sugar crops; In the abundant production of
everything consumed by the Southern people
at home; in the report that in many parts of
the South labor has become even cheaper than
1t used to be in the days of slavery; and,
lastly, in many indications that the political
spaci6cation which must infallibly follow the
Inauguration of President Grant will open at
the South an era Of good feeling and of unpre-
cedented prosperity.
Year: 1869

The operations or the pickpockets on incoming
trains at night have become so common and so
daring that the public clamor for an abatement OF
the nuisance. On the arrival OF every train the
thieves rush into the cars and spreading themselves
through the traln some OF them cry out, .srhs car
does not 90 down town; change to the 'front.'" Dur.
ing the rush for the forward the thieves crowd
themselves among the passengers and ply
their profession successfully. During the transit
through the tunnel they also succeed in relieving
unsuspccting passengers OF their watches and
yaluables. Captain Allarc, OF the Twenty-frst
precinct, has long been convinced that there IA an
organized gang OF pickpockets operating about the
depots, with which many Of the hack drivers are
connected. Last night he resolved to terrify these
bold vilains and sent number OF ofiicers 10 Mott
Haven to accompany the Harlem train In. At Forty
third street the thieves made several attempts upon
the property or passengers aud seven were ar
rested, among them fve hack drivers, all OF whom
were taken 10 the Twenty-flrst precinct station
house and an investigation had by the captain,
which resulted IN the discharge Of all but two, for
want of sufiicicnt evidence to hold them.
Year: 1869

AN ILL WIND, &c.-Some good seems
likely to come to workngwomen through the
folly of the printers. The men have quit
work and the employers are putting women
on at full wages, which they have not hitherto
DONE Evidently the printers are in danger.
Their only chance is to marry the women, as
this, no doubt, will make the latter subject
to the rules Of the Union.
Year: 1869

DEAD, No DoUBT.-The men whose duty it
Is to clean the streets or to see that some
body else cleans them are evidently all de-
funct. Broadway is pretty well under the
public eye, and is therefore kept clear, but
there are miles Of space in other streets that
are never touched at all. Some sidewalks
even have on them ice that has been there
since Christmas. ..-.-...
Year: 1869

mote and from the fshboat the blast OF q tin
horn, while the ferry bell at the slips sounds
far away, as If q church in the stream were
afraid of being run down.


MoraL-Hurry up the Brooklyn bridge.
Year: 1869

and permanent arrangement in any one of
them.


We fancy that the only remedy for this
state of things lies in an intelligent cOmpre-
hension of the fact that one cannot always
remain young, and that, with youth, there
depart many of those powers of resistance
which enable one in early life to eat, drink,
dissipate, or to offend nature, in almost
any way, with impunity. When one gets
to understand these facts, he will be well
advanced in the direction of the solution
of his difficulties. This solution is
largely in the fact that he should
decrease his offenses against nature in
proportion with the decrease of his ability
to do so with impunity If the craft can
not carry so much sail in middle life, let
some of the broad sheets that have been
spread to catch the spiced breezes ofyouth,
be reefed. Power should now be hus-
banded, in place of being lavishly expended.
Nature is less recuperative in middle age,
but she will kindly sustain moderate
average of strength. She will not mend
the broken links of digestion, as she did
before, but she will enable those that re-
main unbroken to perform moderate and
reasonable amount of duty.


Let the hypochondriac of middle life
understand that he has passed the easy
dOwn-grade of life, and that he is begin
ming to climb the upgrade of old age, on
which the machine will not run by its own
weight. Let him understand the fact that
he has reached period when he is begin
ming to break up" Let him adapt him
self to this state of things, and avoid as
deadly these searchings after specific all
ments. Let him understand that he must
eat, drink, labor, worry, moderately. In
fine, let him adapt himself to that new con-
ditiOn in his life in which he is weaker
every way than he was before.-Chicago
Times.