smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

GOING UP AND Down STAIRS BY Ma
cHINERY.-In describing Paran Stevens
new hotel in New York, the Journal of
Commerce says


A luxurious ear or ladies' carriage is
provided, which will glide from the low
er floor to the uppermost story. easily
conveying eight or ten persons at trip.
This car in propelled by steam, and pass
es up aud down upon a revolving spiral
shaft nearly 100 feet long and about ten
inches in diameter and so perfect is
this invention that under no circum-
stances is there possibility of accident
Even should all the machinery above be
removed. the car cannot descend any
faster than usual, owing to an ingenious
hydraulic arrangement at the base and
independent of this, the revolving shaft
may be stopped at pleasure by any per-
son inside or outside the car. This car
is the invention of Mr.. Otis Taft, Of Bos
ton. and seems to be of great value.
Year: 1859




A NICE CANDIDATE FOR JUDGE.-The
Burlington Haackeye says of Mr.. c. c.
Cole, one of the Democratic candidates
for Judge of the Supreme Conrt aia


Before he was nominateda a gentleman,
who can be relied on, told us that recent
ly stranger had his pocket picked of OF
lost his pocket book, containing one hun
dred dollars. He offered fifteen dollars
for the recovery Of the money, of which
the thief had spent all but $50. He
gave Sl5 to the person who made the
arrest, and kept the other SIS as fees.
The stranger appealed to his lawyer, say
ing that he was stranger, entirely out
of money, and having no means of re.
turning home. Cole told him he must
go around 70 the citizens and beg, and
accordingly wrote out subscription pa
per, heading it with his own name for
SO so, and charging that amount for
drawing up the paper. Is this the kind
of an individual to occupy the high po-
sition of Judge of the Supreme Court ?
He does not deserve the honor of defeat,
and will be incontinently kicked out OF
the arena when his party are better N
formed as to his real character.
Year: 1859

told the chap who he was, and if be made
the least resistance he'd be dead man
Then | slipped the iron wrench out, and
as l let the door down, the fellow made
desperate spring. caught him by
the ankle, and he came down on his face,
and in moment more the officers had
him. He was marched off to the lock-
up, and / told the Sheriff / should re-
main in town all day.


" After breakfast the Sheriff came
down to the tavern and told me l had
caught the very bird, and that l should
have the reward of two hundred dollars
which had been offered. l found my
goods all safe, paid the express agent for
bringing them from Indianapolis, and
then went to slowing them in my cart
| found the bullet holes in the top of my
vehicle just as | expected. They were
on line about five inches apart. and had
l been where l usually sat, two of them
would have hit me somewhere in the
small of the back and passed upwards,
for they were sent with heavy charge
Of powder, and his pistol was a heavy
one.


On the next morning the Sheriff cal
led on me and paid me two hundred dol
lars in gold, for he had got the villain.
afterwards found letter in the post
Office at Portsmouth for me, from the
Sheriff of Hancock county, and he in
formed me that Mr. Dick Hardhead was
in prison for life"


So ended the peddler's story. In the
morning, / had the curiosity to look at
The cart, and found the four bullet
holes just as he had told us, though they
were now plugged up with vial corks."
Year: 1859

A cold winters night found stage
load of us gathered about warm fire of
tavern bar room in New England vii
lage. Shortly after we arrived peddler
drove up and ordered that his horse
should be stabbed for the night. After
we had eaten supper we repaired to the
bar room, and as soon as the ice was
broken the conversation flowed freely.
Several anecdotes had been related, and
finally the peddler was asked to give us
story, as men Of his profession were
generally full of adventures aud anec-
dotes. He was short thick set man.
somewhere about forty years of age, and
gave evidence of great physical strength.
He gave his name as Lemuel Vienny, and
his home in Dover, New Hampshire.


"Well, gentlemen. he commenced,
knocking the ashes from his pipe, and
putting II in his pocket, "suppose / tell
you about the last thing of any conse-
quence that happened to me /? You see
| am right from the Far West, and on
my way home for winter quarters. 1t
was about two months ago enc pleasant
evening, that pulled up at the door of a
small village tavern, in Hancock Coun-
ty, Indiana. l said twas pleasant
mean twas warm, but it was cloudy and
likely to be very dark. | went and call
ed for my supper, and had my horse
taken care of, and after l had eaten l
sat down in the bar-room. 1t began to
rain about eight o'clock, and for a while
it poured down good, and it was awful
dark out doors


Now | wanted to be in Jackson early
the next morning, for l expected load
of goods there for me, which l intended
to dispose of on my way home. The
moon would rise about midnight, and /
knew if it did not rain could get along
very comfortably through the mud after
that. So l asked the landlord if he
would not see that my horse was fed be-
fore midnight. He expressed some sur
prise at this, and asked me why l did
not stop for breakfast ! told him that
had sold my last load out, and that new
lot Of goods was waiting for me at Jack
son, and wanted to be there for them
before the express agent leftin the morn
ing. There was a number Of people sit
ting around while told this. took but
little notice Of them one man only ar
rested my attention. l had in my pos
session small package Of placards,
which / was to deliver to the sheriff al
Jackson, and they were notices for the
detection of notorious robber named
Dick Hardhead. The bill gave descrip-
lion Of his person, and the man be efore
me answered very well to it, In fact il
was perfect. He was a tall, we'll formed
man, rather slight in frame, and had the
appearance of gentleman. save thai
his face bore those hard cruel marks
which an observing man cannot mistake
Year: 1859

When peas are put up for seed, put a
small quantity of flour of sulphur in
each package or bag of peas. One tea
spoon of flour of sulphur will be a suffi
cient quantity for a gallon or more OF
peas. | have tried the above method,
and have not found a single bug among
them, though | have kept them for ten
or twelve years. The sulphur thus used
does not in the least injure or retard the
terminating power of the peas.
Year: 1859

To MEASURE HAY SrAcks.-" More
than twenty years since" says an old
farmer Il copied the following method
for measuring hay from an old publica-
ton. and having verified its general ac-
curacy, | have both bought and sold by
it, and | believe it may be useful to
many farmers where the means of weigh
ing are not at hand. Multiply the lens til
breadth and heighlh into each other. and
if the hay is somewhat seitledf ten solid
yards makes ton. Clover will take from
ten to twelve solid yards per ton
Year: 1859

Judge Brinkerhoff. in. the course of
his able dissenting opinion in the recent
habeas corpus case, used the following
just and timely language to which we be-
lieve every candid person, outside of the
federallzed Democracy, will heartily as
sent:


81 know Of no way, other than thro'
the action Of the State governments, in
which the reserved rights and powers of
the States can be preserved, and the
guarantees of individual liberty be vim
dicated. The history Of this country,
brief as it is, already shows that the fed
eral judiciary is never behind the other
departments of that government, and Of
ten foremost, in the assumption Of non
granted powers. And let it be finally
yielded, that the federal government is,
in the last resort, the authoritative Judge
of the extent of its own power, and the
reservations and limitations of the con-
stltution, which the trainers of that in
strument so iealously endeayored firmly
to fix and guard, will soon be, if they
are not already, obliterated and that
government, the sole possessor of the
only means of revenue, in the employ
ment of which the people can be kept
ignorant of the extent of their own
burden, and with its overshadowinp pa
tronage, attracting to its support the am
bilious by means of its honors, and the
mercenary through the medium of its
emoluments, will speedily become, if it
not already, practically omnipotent.
Year: 1859

An exchange paper says a lady OBJ,
ialned a divorce IN Indiana on the plea
that her husband always lay with his
back towards her. Poor lawyer who
could not have defeated that action-lhe
woman might have got on the other side.
1t beats all how they do up such things
in Indiana.
Year: 1859

Impure Carbonate Potassa-a specit-
ic remedy for Felons. Directions Dis
solve in boiling hot water ina tea cup, a
tables spoonful when cold. wet cloth
and apply to the part affected let it be
kept wet with the solution till pain and
and soreness is gone, which will be soon
er or later as regards the progress the
disease has made when applied. A pure
article of Saleratus is good substitute.
if Impure Carbonate Potassa' cannot be
obtained. Tis sure cure. Press d,
Tribune.
Year: 1859

From the Galveston News Of Saturday last we ex.
tract the following paragraphs:


We learn that the storm Of Tuesday last was very
destructive to the cotton crop in Colorado jackson
and other western counties, and we fear generally
throughout that section of the State were visited BY
the storm.


Seldom have we known more rain fall in one day
than fell in this city on Thursday. We had heavy
showers on the two previous days The island was
probably never more thoroughly saturated in the
month Of August than now. We believe rains have
fallen generally throughout the State.


Every Know. Nothing paper 10 the State Is re-
joicing over the election OF Gen. Houston. There Is
not an exception to this remark.


An affray occurred in San Antonio, on the 18TH
in which man named Bolton was dangerously
stabbed by man named Panther, who was arrested.


The San Antonio Herald gives thrilling account
of combat in Bandera county, between man
named JAS ]. Short and very large Texas bear
After he had slightly wounded Bruin by shot from
his rifle the fierce animal made rush and grappeG
with him, and long struggle ensued, in which Mr.
Short was severely torn and bitten. He finally sue
ceeded in dispatching the brute by severing an ar
terry in his neck with q small hunting knife. Will
great difficulty he managed to reach his home
where he was confined to bed for twentyour days b.
the wounds received in the fearful struggle. Hi
right leg was so lacerated that it was supposed h
never would recover the use Of it.
Year: 1859

LEGIsLATURE.--A bill has beer
reported, providing for close Iuilitary organi.
zation of the State of Alabama, by raising d
military corps OF eight thousand volunteers
to be furnished by the several counties of the
State, in proportion to their population, and
for providing them with arms and camp
equipage-in fact all necessary equipage to
place them on military footing, and making
provision Tor their thorough drilling.
Year: 1859

THE Snow IN BALTIMoRE.-Up to late
hour the snow was about three inches deep,
and the storm continued without any indica-
ton of favorable change. There was some
sleighing yesterday and last night, but the
weather was too disagreeable for comfort jn
that amusement. At night the snow on the
streets was so heavy that the railway cars mad
great difficulty in getting along. All day the
temperature was very cold, but at night it
moderated considerably.-Bah Sun, yesterday.
Year: 1859

City Raiiroad.-The City Council was called
together yesterday afternoon TO consider Pc
tition of certain individuals for the privilege
of laying a railroad track from Rockets TO
Brooke Avenue. but as quorum could not be
had, the petition was not read We have no
doubt that horse cars would prove great con-
venienee 10 the citizens and profitable to the
owners, but whether the Council will permit
the track to be laid remains 10 be seen We
desire to see the improvement made as spees:i-
ly as possible.
Year: 1859

STAMPED PAPER AND ENVELOPES CoMBIN-
ED-This new patent is now in the hands of
the Post-Ofice Department, with the view to
examine into its merits and practicability. It


side half sheet being shaped liked the flap of
an envelope, and when folded has the appear
ance Of the ordinary envelope The United


States postage stamp is imprinted on the
right hand corner. It frequently happens


that in the hurry of business the usual enye-
lope is torn off and thrown away, when, if the
correspondent fails to postmark it on the in
side, great inconvenience is experienced. This
new style is especially adapted to the conye-
nience of business men acknowledgements
tim
Year: 1859

Horse Sho,y-The Executive Committee of
the Virginia Central Agricultural Society are
to hold a regular monthly meeting on Wed
nesday next, when they will probably de-
termine upon the propriety of holding a
horse show and floral and horticultural fair,
at their grounds, in May or jane next Apart
from the stock that might be expected from
other States, the blooded and quick. draft
horses of this immediate neighborhood would,
of themselves, make a beautiful show, and we
are quite sure that our florists and horticul-
turalists could give an exhibition of flowers,
shrubbery, etc, that would do credit to any
fair. If the exhibition is determined upon.
the fact should be made known at once, SO
that all classes coulG prepare for il. Moderate
premiums would ensure competitors, and the
novelty of the exhibition would attract our
friends from the country.
Year: 1859

Now and then the newspapers ring,
from one end Of the nation to the other,
with the accounts of the moral delin-
queney of some clergymen. Considering
the thousands Of this profession in the
United States, and the temptations the
Office holds out to designing hypocrites,
it is a wonder, not that few rogues
creep into the pulpit, but that the num-
Der is not greater. Hardly ever, howev-
er, docs one Of these seoundrels betray
his true character, without a cry being
raised that the clergy are evolves in
Sleeps clothing Journals which know
better, and men who onght to know bet
ter, take up, repeat, and echo this absurd
and slanderous assertion. We say ab-
surd for if there is one thing more pre-
posterous than another,it is to condemn a
class for the fault Of the individual. We
say slandcrous, because to give currency
to what the utterer is aware is false
hood, deserves to be called by 40 other
name.


With the clergy, as individuals, we
have nothing to do, nor shall we make
ourselves the advocates Of elereymen Of
any particular sect. But Of the elorgy as
body, the collective clergy--that is, of
all religious ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS avow
ourselves the friends And we are their
friends, because we know how inestima-
bic morals and IA lcvc of order are to the
well being Of the state, and because it is
impossible to ignore the influence of the
clergy in maintaining private virtue, aud
in teaching the people to be law abiding.
Every church is centre of light. We
care not what the peculiar doctrinal dog
mas may be which are there set forth !,
the neishbood is the better for the pres
ence Of that church and for the excrtions
of i,s cIergymen. Nobody ever knew a
village to grow worse in consequence Of a
religious congregation in its midst. On
the contrary, the most fair and candid
minds must confess that without churches
civilization must retrogade, immortality
sap the very life of society, lawlessness
and anarchy return


A class Of men 30 beneficial to tho com
monwealth deserve something better than
to be followed with hue and cry when.
ever rascal Ii detected in its midst -
There have been villains in the editorial
profession, at the bar, among merchants,
and ia the ranks OF medicine but does i,
Year: 1859

Sergcants Binney and Croft, with the
cooperation of the rest of the MAYORS
Squad, have been active, lately, in the
collection of the following interesting sta
tsties exhibiting the amount of vice a.
at present existing in the metropolis.
Our reporter was shown long lists of
names Of each class, in the possession Of
the Squad, and was assured that every
one Of them was known to the police
These lists would start'e our citizen both
from their location aud from their large
numbers, were they to be made public.
1t is the opinion of many experienced
and active officers, that with fifty men
under proper organization and acked
BY the authorities, three fourths of these
establishments could be successfully bro
ken up.
Year: 1859

Q. Why is it dangerous to sit before a
fire during thunderstorm


A. Because the heated air and SCOT are
conductors Of lightning; especially when
connected with such excellent conduct
ors as the stove, CRATE or fire irons


@ Why are attics and cellars more
dangerous in thunderstorm than the
middle story of house


\. Because lightning sometimes pas.
sos from the clouds to the earth, and
sometimes from the earth to the clouds,
in either case the middle story would be
the safest place
Year: 1859

DESTRUCTION OF CoTToN IN ALABAMA-We
fear that the worm will prove unusually de-
structive to the maturing cotton this season.
The prospect of the crop has very materially
changed within week past. We hear COM
plants of worm and rust not only among the
plantations OF this county, but exchanges are
making loud com plants from the same causes


gentleman of this county inform us that two
weeks ago his prospect was fair for 800 bales
now he does not expect 10 gather more than
2OU bales.-IMontgomer4 Mail. -
Year: 1859

Tobacco FdHisg.-Yesterday afternoon as
three-mule wagon, loaded with three hogs
heads of tobacco, was passing up Main sfret,
and when Just opposite Gennet's store. two
hoesheads fell of, and one taking the north
and the other the south side Of the street.
leisurely rolled down until coming into con.
tact with two lamp posts on the corner OF
18th, when both stopped, without having done
The least injury Luckily there were very
few vehicles on Eagle Square at the time OF
the accident.
Year: 1859

Queer Mistake.-At late hour last Thurs
day afternoon, two ladies called at a
jewelry store on south Main street, and asked
to be shown few sets from which to make a
selection. The merchant, who is proyerbial
for his politeness, instantly covered the show
case with precious stones, brilliants pearls and
emeralds, and the fair shoppers examined all,
inquired their value, found fault of the set
tings, and finally left. after promising to call
again and make purchase. Pleased to exhib-
it his goods and to secure customers, the mer-
chant bowed them out of the door, bade them
his address, returned to his counter to replace
the trinkets, made more valuable by the late
handling OF fairy fingers, when horrible to re-
late a noted breastpin had disappeared from
oosket, leaving the earrings alone. How to
account for this mystery the merchant could
not tell, unless perchance, the pin had accident
ally fastened itself upon the bosom of the beau
tifnI lady who had admired 1t, and taken
French leave of its legal owner. Of course the
ladies knew nothing of the pins accompanying
them and will return it at once. to save the
officers the trouble of searching for it. Such
ties are known, the bill Is paid on presentation,
and the world is none the wiser Of what has
happened.


Several months ago, gentleman of wealth
examined tray OF fob chains at the same
store and after he had taken his departure the
prettiest piece of jewelry in the lot was miss
ing As the merchant was then absent from
the city, the clerk did not feel authorized to
call in the law officers and make an exposure
of the affair; but as he has since seen the chain
and the gentleman in company, he has deter
mined to raise a "muss'' or get the value OF the
goods thus purioined. OF course the presen-
fation of the bill will settle the matter for the
merchant only wants his rights but shop-lif-
ters whether male or female, ought to be dealt
with in another way.
Year: 1859

HEN MANURE FOR CoRN.-One of the cor
respondents of the Country Gentleman gives
the following account of an experiment with
hen manure as fertilizer con cleaning out
my hen-house last spring j had more than
wagon load of clean hen manure. | drew
this into my barn intending to drop it on the
hills OF corn as soon as the corn made its APP
pearance. l planted one acre on the first of
May, but after that the weather became so un-
favorable that it was the end of May and be-
ginning of June before got through planting.
Long before this the manure began to heat at
such rate that had to unload it on the barn
floor, any on going to the barn a few days af-
ter, the efiluvia from the escaping ammonia
was so powerful that | was glad to escape from
the barn. Having some plaster on hand |
mixed it thoroughly with the manure, spread
ing the latter thinly over the floor and bruis-
ing and chopping very fine. 1t was thrown
into a heap and remained on the floor until the
corn was ready for it, and there was no fur
ther perceptible escape of ammonia. With
this top-dressed all my corn, eleven acres,
and had barrel left over for other purposes.
So well satisfied am with the result that for
the future intend to prepare my hen manure
in the same way and apply it to the same crop.
mixed enough plaster with 1t to make 1t dry
and quite inoflensive to handle. | can speak
of this from experience, as ! dropped it over
four acres myself. Now, here is manure
equal in value, doubt not, to the average Of
imported guano, which every farmer can man
ufacture for himself, for every farmer keeps
fowls. But he must have suitable building
for them, and not allow them to roost all about
his premises and even in trees, wasting that
valuable manure, as is too often the case SO
highly do | esteem this manure that make 1t
my duty every night to see that all my fowls
are within their proper roost
Year: 1859

Strong Cxrreas.--At O'Clock yesterday after
noon the flood of waters was gradually ahasing,
but the river had not fallen than four
feet. The current was at the rate of about
that Two large s'tows, - then lying near ssDaieh
Gap could not make headway against it.
Year: 1859

The ReefraL at Union Station Methodist
Church is progressing, and the Church Is
thronged with persons every night. large
number have professed religion, and the altar
is crowded with anxious seekers
Year: 1859

Stabbtag.-A free negro woman was arrested
and committed to the Jail of Henrico county.
yesterday, charged with teioniously stabbing
negro man. She will probably be tried for the
offence at the next term of the County Court
Year: 1859

A PRETTY CoNcET.-We saw yesterday, in
the parlor Of friend, a very beautiful conceit.
1t Is, Of course, the fancy Of lady, and con-
sists of the burr of pine tree placed in wine
glass half full Of water, and from between the
different layers Of the burr is shooting forth
green blades, bright, beautiful, refreshing. For
little thing we have seen nothing that so
pleased us with its beauty and novelty. And
the secret is this, the burr was found dried and
opened the different circles were sprinkled
with grass seed, and it was placed in wine
glass, with water In as above. In few days
the moisture and nourishment gave the burr
life and health the different circles closed and
buried within themselves the grass seed, and
few days more gave to the seed also life, sprout
and growth, and now a pyramid Of living green
beautifully relieved by the sombre hue of the
burr, 10 the resnlt--as pretty and novel a par
lor ornament as we have for a long while seen.
We do not know whether the idea was original
with the lady, but we do know that its success
Ia beautiful-7Foy Times.
Year: 1859

of probable presidential nominee:

 " It IS most too early for the press to center upon any one man as the choice of the democratic party for the Presidency, yet from every portion of the nation we hear the newspaper press speaking out strongly in favor of Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE of Ky He is firm, honest, true demo- crat, an able statesman, and has the expe- rience and nerve to make an excellent Pre- sident."