smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

THE first impression, upon hearing
that watch is made by machinery, is
that it must be rather clumsy. No ma
chine so cunning as the human hand I,
we are fond of saying. But, if you
will look at this gauge, for instance, and
then at any of these dainty and delicate
machines upon the benches, miniature
lathes of steel, and contrivances which
combine the skill of inumerable exqui-
site fingers upon single points, you will
feel at once that, when the machinery
itself is so almost poetic and sensitive,
the result of its work must be oorres.
pondingly perfect.


My friend--not the watch, but the
watchmaker-said quietly, BY your
leave, and. pulling a single hair from
my head, touched it to a fine gauge,
which indicated exactly the thickness of
the hair. 1t was test of the twenty five
hundredth part of an inch. But there
are also gauges graduated to the ten
thcus, tn part of an inch. Here is II
workman making screws. Can you just
see them? That hardly visible point sx-
uding from the almost imperceptible
hole is one of them A hundred thou
sand of them make pound. The wire
costs dollar; the screws are worth nine
hundred and fifty dollars. The magic
touch Of the machine makes that wire
nine hundred and fifty times more valu-
able. The operator sets them in regu-
lar rows upon thin plate.


When the plate is full it is passed to
another machine, which cuts the little
groove upon the top of each, and of
course exactly in the same spot Every
one of those hundred and fifty thousand
screws in every pound is accurately the
same as every other, and any and all of
them, in this pound or any pound, any
one of the millions or ten millions OF
this size, will fit precisely every hole
made for this sized screw in every plate
of every watch made in the factory. -
They are kept in little glass phials, like
those in which the homeopathic doctors
keep their pellets


Tho fneness and variety of the ma
chinery are 80 amazing, so beautiful
there is such an exquisite combination
of form and movement-suoh sensitive
testh and fingers, and wheels. and points
of stecl-such fairy knives of sappiro,
with which King Oberon the First
might have been beheaded, had he insis-
ted upon levying taxes upon prim-
roses without the authority Of his elves
such smooth cylinders, and flying
points so rapidly revolving that they
seem perfectly still-such dainty oscil-
lations of parts with the al: of intelli-
gent consciousness of movement, that
q machinery so extensive in details, SO
complex, SO harmonious, at length en-
entirely magnetizu you with wonder and
delight. and you are firmly persuaded
that you behold the magnified parts of a
huge brain in the very act of thinking
out watches. .--AHantic Monthly.
Year: 1863

A Scotch parson, in the Ramp time said
in his prayer, Laird bless the Grand Council
the Parliment, aud grant that they may all
hang together A country fellow said
Amen very loudly, adding, in this it is the
prayer of all good people, Friends ro-
piled the minister, Il don't mean as that fell
low means; my prayer is that they may all
hang together in concord and accord No
matter what cord, replied the other, so that
it don't break.
Year: 1863

INVENTIVE GENIUS has been operating
upon the eye of a needle, and produced and
Improvement which enables the needle to
be threaded as well by the blind as BY the
sharp sighted. 1t is done by means of a lap
joint in the eye Of the needle. BY laying
the thread over theey and drawing it down
to the joint that portion Of the eyeundcr the
lap is depressed and admits the thread into
the eye. This is small but it is a very
useful invention.
Year: 1863

So you are going to teach school p said
young lady to her maiden aunt. We'll for
my part, sooner than do that / would marry
a wdower with nine children 4 would
prefer that myself was the quiet reply, but
where is tho widower'
Year: 1863

In chemistry the way to part two bod
les is to introduce q third The same
holds true in other departments. To
increase the distance between pair
of lovers, all that is required is to let
Willie walk into tho back parlor with
lighted candle in his hand.
Year: 1863

A young officer at Shelbyville
writes thus to a friend in Richmond


Yesterday l had the honor to ride
around the camps with Lieut. Gen.
Polk and Gen. Cheatham, who were
on . grand inspecting tour The
camps all looked in fine order, the guns
bright and tho mon in the very best
spirits.


Gen. Polk, after questioning Col.
McMurray about the condition of his
regiment, said. Where is the color
bearer? Sergeant Oakley, d young
man about eighteen or twenty years
old, stepped ont in front of the whole
regiment, dressed in common butter
rut jeans, with real honesty and unaf
iected manner and took off his cap
Gen. Polk ungloved his hand and
said Il must shake hands with you"
and thep raising his hat, said with great
feeling and real martial eloquence, |
am proud to uncover in the presence
of SO gallant man" The effect was
tremendous and q shout rent tho air.
This young Oakley at the battle of
Murtreesboro' advanced two hundred
yards in front Of his regiment under a
terrible FIRE. A battery was playing
upon the regiment, and it was uncer.
tain whether 1T was our battery or
that of tho enemy. This color bearer
advanced in front, displaying bis colors
in q conspicuous manner, so as TO stop
the Sring il they were friends, or 10
make it more intense if they were
enemies. The Increased severity OF
the firing which Immediately followed
determined the doubt and showed
them to belong to the enemy. lie
then deliberately resumed his place in
the line. We slenced thoir battery
and drove back the opposing column
The high compliment which Gen Polk
paid him made that young man as
proud as a king. 1t WAS an honor
greater than the Star or Garter. He
and the whole regiment will fight until
tho last mau falls,
Year: 1863

WHEN you lind ID before your name on
your paper, please renew your subscriptions,
rs " is notice that the time for which it
has been paid will expire in few days


Articles OF much length, intended for publ-
cation, inUst be handed in in the forenoon to
insure publication next day.
Year: 1863

the tangled briers and cane until we
reached swamp more formidable than
that OF tho Chickahominy. Into this we
waded, and after padding for some
time to reach q landing, we succeeded
in getting into line on ground { little
higher anu bushes little thicker than
we desired. We had skirmishers de.
pioyed IN iropt who kept ua wide
awake during the night Early in the
mogning-M&y 2d--we were relieved
by Q brigade from Anderson's Division,
and A. r Hills Division was put in
march to execnte one Of Stonewall's
flank movements We recrossed the
plank road and moved in q circuit of
about ten miles to head off Hooker's
advance. Thomas and Archcr's Brig.
AIDES were in the rear Of the division.
On our march we passed an Iron Foun.
dry, and after getting about three
miles beyond it, information was
brought that the trains had been at.
tackled by the Yankees at the Foundry.
Wo, with Thomas Brigade were then
countermarchcd at a double quick to
rescue our crackers and picked pork


We got to the scene Of action iust as
the fanks had been put to fight by
regiment Of Georgians. The train had
not suffered We now retraced our
steps, marching rapidly in order to
overtake our division That night we
stood picket to prevent an advance Of
the enemy by the plank road. Before
day We changed our position again
passing down the plank road we NOV.
cd to the extreme right of our division,
and got into lire Of battle about light
on Sunday morning, At sunrise we
advanced ~ line upon the works Of tho
foe We got very close before either
party could see distinctly, the trees and
bushes being SO thick They opened o
rapid fire uron our line, doing but little
execution. After getting within q
hundred yards of their position, we
moved at double quick with an un.
earthly yell upon them. Tho contest
at this point was bittor but brief. We
carried the hill, took three pieces Of
artillery and number of prisoners,
We were now III an open field and
about eight hundred yards before US
were their heaviest works protected by
batteries. We opened the fight and
we were now unsupported on either
fanlc-havirg detached ourselves from
the division at sunrise. Archer moved
us Immediately upon their trenches,
supported and held by number at
least ten to one, We got within seven


ty five or q hundred yards Of them and


mado desperate stand for some min


utes Their grape and canister hailing


around us, and their infantry pouring


stream Of lead dalong our lines. Archer


found it too hot and we fell back to


the position from which we had Just
dri7on them. Rallying again we
charged the breach but had to fall back


the second time Pegram's battsry


was now brought up which our rsgi-


nent Supported, and Anaerson'a nivis'
ion moved upon them They fought


desperately TO hold their works, but 3.


last gave way in great confusion. Our


brigade was nov formed aud moved


upon their last stronghold, and sfter q


heavy fight we drove them from their


trenches and occupied them. Forming


again they came. upon us with their


5uzgar'S, but the Rebs were in the
Year: 1863

Houses IN CHINA.-In China, a man
is not allowed to build a house above his
Legitimate rank in society. He may ac-
quire fortune by his Own exertions, but,
unless he holds some Office, or is born to
some rank, h, has no liberty of architect
ure. Every matter relating to building IS
the subject of regulation by the police
The laws Of the empire detail and enforce,
with the grertest precision, the mode Of
constructing q residence for price of the
first, second, or third rank, of grandoe,
or of mandarin. According to the an
cient law, the number and height of the
apartments, the length and height Of
building, aro all regulated with precision'
from the plain citizen to the mandarin,
and from the mandarin up to the emperor
himself.
Year: 1863

Bsg- if Democratic papers are full of
treason, and of onmity to the soldiers,
why don't the Black Republican authori-
ties let the soldiers see them The brave
fellows would be sure to vote against the
party whose journals inculcate such doc
trines. In fact, it is because Democratic
papers are true to the Constitution and
the Union, and friendly to the soldier that
they are kept out of the lines of the army.
Year: 1863

4 LAWYERS ADVICE An old lawyer
was giving advice to his son, who was just
entering upon his fathers professich.-
"My SON." said the counsellor, ifyou have
a case where the law is clearly on your
side, but justice seems to be against you,
urge upon the jury the vast importance of
sustaining the law. II, on the other hand
you are in doubt about the law, but your
clients case is founded in justice, insist on
the necessity Of doing justice though the
heavens fall. "But, asked the son, chow
shall manage case where both law and
justice are dead against me 3" In that
case, my son, talk round it.
Year: 1863

AN English writer says of tho militia
of London, that the captain of one of the
corps avorred it was dangerous to make
the rear rank take close order, for fear it
would pick the pockets of the front rank.
Year: 1863

As it has so often been denied by tue
Republican press Of the country that that
party ever desired dissolution of the
Union, we publish the following circular,
which speaks for itsclf;--
Year: 1863

a Do the DEMOCRACY OF Iowa agree
with Tuttle and support the measures Of
the Administration? II so, how can
they support Duncombe and Mason and
endorse the Democratic platform and the
orders and address of Byington & Co. by
voting the ticket7 And, indeed, if they
are really loyal and approve the measures
of the Administration, Why vote to con.
denim those measures and render aid and
comfort to the enemy?
Year: 1863

HELP.-There are several colored
women now in our city who would like 70


obtain situations. They all have knowl-
edge of housework generally, and those


wishing servant girls can obtain one by
calling on Provost Marshal Hiatt.
Year: 1863

WHAT CONSTITUTES REBEL AND TRAIL
roR.-The St. Joseph (Mo) Herald violent
abolition concern, started by the Administral
ton and edited by the Iowa army officer,
says:


"When we hear an individual assert that
the war must be carried on according TO the
Constitution of the United States, we wish
to hear no further expression of his opinion.
He is a rebel"


What quantity of traitors and rebels
there must be, and how rapidly they are in.
creasing! Aboitionists think all men who
stand up for the Constitution of the United
States ought to be hung or shot Outside
of the Abolition party there are no loyal
men! This comes with good grace from
men who have for years prayed for a
dissolution of the Union, and insulted our
national flag by erasing the stars and stripes
from it, making it a sectional rag!


Mountain Democrat.
Year: 1863

DIFFICULTIES TO DE SURMOUNTED AT
VIcKsBuRG.-rhe correspondent of the New
York World says:


Should the water, however, eventually
rush through and force navigable passage
for steamers, our success will be but partial.
Last Summer the fortiications were con.
fined to the immediate vicinity of the town
Since that time, however, foreseeing the
danger, they have constructed a line of bat,
teries down the left bank of bluffs as far as
Warrington. Just opposite the lower end
recede so as to leave the outlet just out of
range of the nearest batteries, both above
and below; so that, although the canal itself
is not commanded by the guns of the rebels,
the river below is, so far as transports are
concerned, the same. The number of guns
at present mounted below Vicksburg is
probably not more than forty. The river is
straight, and the chances Of being bit are
for gunboats and protected vessels by so
much essened. So that If the channel
should be diverted tomorrow we should
simply be able to take our transports below
the city, but not below the lowest batteries
of the chain, and the operation of landing
a force midway of the chain, and cutting Of
the Warrington, end, would be, so far as
heavy guns are concerned, quite feasible,
but would no doubt be resisted by the whole
$4,000 troops said to be garrsoned in and
about Vicksburg. The method Of taking
Vicksburg would, however, be much smpl
fed by this canal, if successful.
Year: 1863

A plain and unschocled man, who had
received his education principally beneath
the open sky, and in the field and forest, and
who had welded the AK more than the pen,
while speaking of children, remarked with
true and beautiful simplicity: "The little
chips are nearest the heart"
Year: 1863

y memorial from the Minnesota Legis-
lature is to be presented to the State of Wis
consin asking the cession Of Doug las county
from the latter State to the former, in order
to give Minnesota port on Lake Superior
Year: 1863

tuO A1cots


The Boston transcript Of the 10th Feb
ruary says:


Our citizens have done well to give the ex.
cellent cavalry company from California a
fitting welcome. The members of the COM
pany are fine fellows, every inch men, and
true lovers Of their country, for the service
of which they have left remunerative employ,
ment in California which is entirely out Of
the draft, and buckled on harness of war
Their arrival here, and especially their ap-
pearance in the streets of Boston, have ex-
cited the liveliest curiosity of our citizens,
who have been full Of wonder to know what
the Californians were like, how many lnd
ans they are in the habit Of killing before
breakfast, and whether they are themselves
white men or aborignes of the Western
coast. Consequently we have heard the
most marvellous stories about our guests.
1t has been currently reported in one place
of popular resort, that every man in the
company could pick an apple from the
the ground on the point of his sword, while
riding at breakneck gallop. In another
place we heard that the men were native
CaIfornians, very expert with the lasso, and





Davis, Bob Lee and Stonewall Jackson ION a
string;;" that they certainly brought their
lassoes with them, one of them having been
seen by member of the Charestown sur
prise party. 1t is common talk that the
men ride with equal facility and grace on
the top or the bottom of a horse, and
that when they make charge nothing will
be visible but the tails of the horses. We
have heard an absolute statement, moreover,
that when the rolls for enlsting the compa,
ny were opened, two hundred thousand men
put their names down, and this hundred
were chosen after a grand tournament, in
which they overthrow all competitors, kill
ing many. Our fellow citizens seem to be
so well informed, we can tell them little that
will be new about the Calfornans. We
desire to add, however, on indubitable tesi'
mony, that each of these gallant fellows has
a thousand scaps, which he has taken from
the widest Indians of the mountains with
out the consent of the owners, and that
their favorite sport is to 60 bird nesting,
mounted upon the agile mustang, which
climbs tree with perfect ease and safety
The bad feature of the case is this-they
have been so accustomed to riding horseback
that they cannot walk a step, and if one
has a horse killed under him he is obliged
10 throw his asso and catch another before
he can do the enemy further injury. With
this slight drawback the men are all that
can be expected of civilized white men who
have been born in houses.
Year: 1863

SINGULAR BATTLE INcIDENT.-There were
many incidents in the battle Of Stones River
that have not yet seen the light. One es-
pecialIy is worth mentioning In the rebel
charge upon McCooks right, the rebel Third
Kentucky was advancing full upon one of
our loyal Kentucky regiments. These two
regiments were from the same county, and
consequently wore old friends and neigh
bors, now about to meet for the first time as
enemies. As soon as they came close
enough for recognition they mutually ceased
firing and began abusing and cursng and
swearing at each other, calling each other,
the most outlandish names and all this time
the battle was roaring around them without
much attention from either side. 1t was
hard to tell which regiment would come off
victor in this wordy battle. AS far as |
could hear both sides were terrible at swear
ing but this could not always last; by mutu
al consent they finally ceased cursing, and,
grasping their muskets, charged into each
other with the most unearthly yell ever
heard on any field of battle. Muskets were
clubbed, bayonet met bayonet, and in dozens
Of instances, where old feuds make the bel
ligerents crazy with passion, the muskets
were thrown away and at it they went, pumi
melting, pulling and gouging in rough and
tumble style, and in manner that any
locker on would consider as free fight.
The rebels were getting rather the better Of
the fight, when the Twenty,thrd Kentucky
succeeded in giving thanking fire, which
made them retreat with quite number of
prisoners in their hands.
Year: 1863

THE CoPPERoPoLIs COPPER MINEs.-A
correspondent of the Stockton Independent
writes that it is seldom the veins in the
Cornwall mines ever exceed six feet in width,
though an enlargement in one instance Of
twelve feet has been known to take place.
Their length is unknown, but have been
traced upwards of seven miles, the quality
of the ore being much inferior to that taken
out Of the mines in Calaveras county. They
have sunk down on the Union lode" at
Copperopolis, to the depth of 10 feet in
the Union claim, and to the depth of 26O
feet in the Keystone, without any diminu-
ton of the vein; on the contrary, in the
deepest shaft the width of the vein is in.
creased, and the quality of the ore improved.
In the Union, the greatest width of the lode
is fourteen feet solid ore of an excellent
quality. The Union will ship this year not
less than 5000 tons; and three hundred
tons per day can be sent from that place
before the Summer is out, if transportation
could be had at a reasonable rate.
Year: 1863

White man and black man had a talk in
Baltimore. White man told black, "rhs
is your war; you ought to fight" Black
retorted, "Ngger has muffin to do wild dis
war Two dogs fight over bone. Did
you ever see de bone fght9' The negro is
indeed the bone of the North and South
ground up, just now between the jaws of
the two.
Year: 1863




ITEM FROM ESMEKALDA. -rhc Cnrtrz
Consolidated Company have II Splcnii
lode on Silver Hill, near the Utah. They
have already sunk a shaft seventy five
Ieet, and have Struc. n cross ledge, which
Is turning out richer rock than has ever
been taken from that hill aud 1t is said
by practical miners ~hu are acquainted
With the Virginia ores, that it is equal to
the Gould & Curry in richness. The
company are working it night AMI day,
and will soon have large amount Of rock
ready for crushing. We shall watch this
enterprise with great deal of interest,
Tor We believe from what we have seen
tnat it will be the means Of revolutiuniz-
ing the affairs of this district to vast
extent for the better.-Yirginia Daily
Year: 1863

That the opposition members in the next
Congress will have such majority as to enable
them to elect Speaker without difficulty is
plain. That attempts will be made to change
that majority Into minority by those corrupt
means and appliances which every party In
power knows how to employ we have not the
slightest doubt; and the enormous contracts
and Offices, civil and military, at the disposal Of
the present administration give them immense
facilities for bribing members Of Congress.
But these are peculiar times, and every repre-
sentative Of the people will be SO watched that
II will be at his extreme peril If he should prove
unfalthful to his constituents. And what shall
It profit man IL he gain the whole world and
lose his life. The bribery and corruption
dodge will therefore probably fail, under The
strong pressure Of public opinion


There is another device upon which the radi-
cal and controlling element in the adminis,ra.
ton relies to carry out its satanic designs. In
order to swamp the majority against II repre-.
sentativcs will be sent to the House from Sec
tons Of the rcbellious States occupied by our
armies-representatives not OF the people. but
Of the administration, under whose ausnices
they were nominated and elected by the opera.
tion Of martial law As every legislative BODY
mas the power to determine the validity Of the
claims Of It's own members to sit, Il is not
probable that the farce Of such elections will
be tolerated by the opposition majority. The
stands self-condemned by sane.
toning them; for the political battle ground 1,





have forfeited all their Ights u nder tho consti-
tption; that the people of those States are no
longer In the Union, aad tina: The soil has DO.
Year: 1863

The Bells Tonight This evening
the Peak Family give their irst entertain
meut at Huston Hall. They have visited us
before, and succeeded in creating so favorable
impression for themselves that Il does not
seem necessary for US to offer any special in
ducements for our citizens to visit them. They
are Of that kind of agreeable people and
talented artists who are ever welcome back
where they have previously gwen perform
ances, But it is proper to say that the Peaks
have improved, and that they have added to
their admirable repertoire so that where they
pleased before, they will now delight their
audiences.


OF course Huston Hall will be filled this
evening by the admirers Of the most captiva.
ting music in the world. Give them hearty
greeting.
Year: 1863

MORE RAIN-The windoWs of heaven
were again opened on Saturday morn
ing, and we had heavy rain about seven
o'clock. Towards IL another heavy
shower fell and prospects are, that with
the change of the moon we shall have a
change of weather.


Ducks and steamboat men rejoice at
the humid aspect of the clouds.
Year: 1863

PUBLIC ScHooLs-The public schools of
this city viii reopen this morning. 1t is
highly important that all the children
should commence at the first, in order
to be properly classified, and have a fair
chance with the balance We are glad
to see many evidences on the part of the
Juveniles of the city that they rejoice in
the prospect of again going to school