smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

SNAKE WoRsHIP IN AFRICA Accord
ing to correspondent of the Boston Post,
now in Africa, the people there have some
curious ideas on religious questions:


"The chief objects of worship in Why
dab, are snakes and large cottonwood
tree. There is snake-house which i
used to 90 often to see. The snakes are
of the boa species, and are from five to
fifteen feet in length. You can almost any
day see them crawling about the streets.
When the natives see them they fall
down and kiss the earth. They are per-
fectly harmless, as have often seen the
natives take them up aud carry them
back to the fetish house. 1t is not at all
unfrequent to find them on the mat
alongside of you in the morning, as the
huts are without doors. had my lodg-
ing in what was once an English fort,
but is now in ruins, and is favorite re-
sort of the snakes. l never found one in
my room, but one morning, upon look
ing in the room adjoining mine, found
one almost seven feet long The penalty
for killing one is-for white person
the price of sixty slaves, now $4,000
For native, he is shut up in bamboo
house, and then the house is set on fire.
The poor fellow has the privilege of get
ting out if he can, and run for the lagoon,
distance of two miles, followed by the
mob, andif he reaches the water he is free.
But very few can ever avail themselves
of this water cure 1t is great dodge
with the fetish man, if he knows that you
are peculiarly averse to this kind of god,
to bring them near your house and put
them down knowing they will enter, and
he will be sent for to come and take them
away, for which he gets a few strings OF
cowries."
Year: 1860

a HARD SToMAcH.-A Western cattle
dealer, who rarely had the privilege Of
sitting down to cat with family, and
had never been in minister's house in
his life, was not long ago benighted and
lost in his ride across the prairies, and
compelled to ask for lodgings in the first
house he could find. Happily for him, it
proved to be the dwelling of good man,
aparson, who gave him cordial welcome,
and what was especially agreeable, told
him supper would soon be ready. The
travellers appetite was ravenous, and tho
moment he was asked to sit down, he
complied, and without waiting for SEQ
ond invitation, he laid hold Of what ho
could reach.


"Stop, stop" said the good man of the
house ; eve are in the habit Of saying
something before we eat"


The hint to wait till the blessing was
asked, the rough customer did not under
stand, but with his mouth full, he NUT
tered:


"Go ahead; say what you like you
can't turn my stomach now!"
Year: 1860

High up in air, the sea-mew spies


An oyster lying on the strand,
Gaping with open shell to inhale


The summer breeze from of the land.
To seize the luscious morsel quick,
With sudden swoop and deadly pick,
The sea bird darts his horny beak


Between the oysters shell;
But, closing on IT quick as thought,
The bird Ia by the oyster caughtl


And nippcd so tight and well,
That, strive and struggle as he may
To free his beak and get away,
He keeps him captive, firmly bound,
TIL with return-tide he is drowned.
Who TO themselves would all appreciate
or tina, they see deserve the sea-mew's fate,
Nor doth he fail to meet IL, soon or late,
Whose nose Is thrust In everybody plate.
Year: 1860

Grace Greenwood is "hero worshiper"
of a rather uncommon type, and in her
search after heroic men and women, has
sought for examples where perhaps few
would expect TO find them. That she
has a just and catholic idea of what hero
ism is, we think will be proven by the
following extract from the Boston Lee
ture:


"The heroism of private life, the slow,
unchronicled martyrdoms of the heart,
who shall remember? Greater than the
knightly dragon-slayer of old is the man
who overcomes an unholy passion, sets
his foot upon it, and stands serene and
strong in virtue. Grander than Ienobla,
is the woman VINO struggles with the love
that would wrong another and degrade
her own soul, and conquers. The young
man, ardent and tender, who turns from
the dear love of woman, and burries in
his heart the sweet instincts of paternity,
to devote himself to the care and support
of aged parents or an unfortunate sister,
and whose life is long sacrifice, in man
y chcerfulness and majestic complaint, is
hero of the rarest type - the type OF
Charles Lamb. l have known but two
such. The young woman who stays
resolutcly with her father and mother in
the old home, while brothers and sisters
go forth to happy homes of their own;
who chcerfully lays upon the altar of
filial duty that costliest of human sacri-
fees, the Joy of loving and being loved
she is a heroine. l have known many
such. The husband who goes home from
the weary routine perplexing cares of
business with cheerful smile and loving
word to his invalid wife; who brings not
aaginst her the sin of long sickness, and
reproaches her not for the cost and dis
comfort thereof; who sees in her languid
eye something dearer than girlish laugh
ter, in the sad face and faded cheeks that
blossom into smiles and even blush at his
coming, something lovelier than the Old
spring time - he is a hero. | think /
knew one such.


"She who bears her part in the burden
of life-even though it be the larger
part - bravely, cheerily, never dreaming
that she is heroine, much less q martyr,
who bears with the faults of husband
not altogether congenial with loving pa
ticnce and a large charity, with noble
decision hiding them from the world
who makes no confdants and asks no
aa-6.lanae, ---LS .vh aa,S nUn hroodiug
over short comings in sympathy and SEN
timent and from seeking for perilous
ailinties, who does not build high
tragedy sorrow on the inevitable, nor feel
an earthquake in every family jar, who
sees her husband united with herself in
dissolubly and eternally with their chill
dren--she, the wife in every truth, in the
inward as in the outward, is heroine,
though of rather an Questionable type.
Year: 1860

holder. Thus is celebrated and thus
terminates the great festival OF the
Holy Week in the Catholic Church
at the Eternal City. have seen it
all and am content: Much is
very interesting and full of meaning;
much mystical and beyond my COM
prehension, and apparently vain
show, though we should not con-
denim ali we cannot understand.


LAFAYgTTE.
Year: 1860

A correspondent of the New York Herald,
writing from Walkers expedition, tells the
The following story


The day before yesterday we had an ex-
citing scene, which has been the talk two
days. AS we were near the Rutan shore, a
boat was dispatched ashore on business by
Gen. Walker. There were Eve men to
pull and stear the boat On attempting to
return 10 the vessel, the boat was capsizej
by heavy sea breaking over her, and The
men where left clinging to the boats bot,
tom six or more miles from the shore, and
little hope of lie. They at one time saw
our vessel, ard signalized her in several
ways, but 10 no effect. One of the men,
John ]. Shirley, of Delaware, proposed
swimming to the vessel, and giving notice
of the condition of his companions, and if
possible, have them relieved. He started
out without clothes, and swan for the
schooner. The sea was rather high, and
he often was engulied beneath lis waves
yet he exeried himself maniuIly for the
salvation of his companions, and nobly he
succeeded. The first that was seen of him
fIom the schooner was Just as breakfast
came on, and the cry, "man overheard "
reused every man on board, all snpposing
that man had fallen overheard from our
vessel. A boat was Immediately let down
and sent TO the swimming man-for he was
still some distance from the schooner. On
being taken abord Siikey gave US an ac-
count of the affair, stating tha: he left his
com panions about eight miles distant cling
ing TO the boat, which was bottom upward,
and that they would continue 10 make a
signal, waving shirt, for as long a time as
possible. The vessel was immediately put
about in the direction from which Shirley
came, and in less than al hour we came
upon the boat and the four wrecked men -
They had thrown off all their clothes. and
had thus been exposed for five hours, with
out water to drink or food to eat, since the
afternoon of the previous day. On being
picked up and taken on board they were
properly cared Tor, and were soon foil of
life, and mingling with the general crowd.


During the day We have been cruising off
the island of Barbarat, one of the bay Is
lands. The islands are still under the
British iag-treaties are nowhere.
Year: 1860

BsS@ Some person has written us whet pur-
ports to be full account of the late Indian
difficulties in the Round Mountain section. The
writer should have accompanied the letter with
bis name, not for publication, but for the use of
the editor. Without that condition being COM
Piled with the communication could not have
appeared, even though it had arrived in time
As it tis-the letter bearing date the 18th of last
month, and the matter of which it speaks hav-
ing occurred several weeks previous to that


ume-we presume the writer would not, If he


were here, desire its publcat on at this late day.
Year: 1860

Sickness AT RED BLUFFS Our beautiful
neighboring town, Red Bluff, has been consid-
erably afflicted recently, with that terrible dis
ease, scarlet fever. Several cases have proved
fatal Among those whose hearts have been
made sad is our friend Capt. Johnston, of the
Cal. Steam Navigation Co A little over a week
ago he was forced to resign darling little boy
into the relentless arms of DEATH Little Willis
was preceded by his brother only a very few
weeks. They are now both angels, wandering
along the flower bedecked banks of the river of
everlasting life. Truly may it be said of our
friends household:
Year: 1860

DONATIONS TO REpoRTERs.-The Union of the
lst inst, has article upon this subject
seemingly called forth by a paragraph which
appeared in the Courier last week,-which
strangely misconstrucs our position.


True we did say that the Legislature should
not have made the donation, because we thought


it wrong policy, but we did not find fault with
the Union . for refusing TO sanction or have any
part or lot in the matter" We could not have
done so foolish thing, for the reason that the
Union has had no opportunity to have any
part or lot in the matter" The donation was
intended for the reporters and not for their en-
ployers. AT least thus we understood it
Neither did we object to the UnsoRs denounc-
ing the measure and disclaiming all connec-
ton with it," Therein we think it did right
On the score of the impolicy of the donation
we endorse the position of the Union heartily
But we did object, and do now oil ect to its other
argument against the action of the Assembly in
making present to two free-born American
citizens, who happened to be in its employ. We
thought and still think that the Union, in saying
to the Legislature, You must not make present
to these reporters, because they are our proper
ty for the time being, arrogates to itself right
of control over its employees similar to that
exercised by Southern planter over his slave.
Nay, we doubt if even a Southern planter would
presume to doubt the right of his State Legisla-
ture to make his slave valuable present for i'm
portant services which it may have thought he
rendered the people.


Thus, while we think with the Union that the
donation should not have been made, we also
think the Union has raised an untenabe and
anti republican objection. That's ALL
Year: 1860

BEE HIVE SALooN.-Read the advertisement
OF Uncle Johnny Ball. 1t makes ones mouth
water just to read the bill of fare for his daily
lunch What he promises every body knows
he will fulfil. Oft have we partaken heartily
of his stews. We know what they are. Hence,
to those who don't know, we pledge our word
of honor that they can't be beat


Uncle Johnny never offered q second rate
article of any sort of liquid since the "Bee Hive
has had an existence.


His pony brandy, of the vintage of ls4O and
his Figaro cigars, are precisely what they
purport to be-not limitations, but the real
genuine article,-the first cost of which is great
er than the retail price of the spurious articles.
Year: 1860

Our Assemblyman, Hon. John White, arrived
home on Thursday last, in excellent kealth-
His constituents will extend to him hearty
welcome, with the greeting, sfWell done thou.
good and faithful servant" Seldom has an
Assemblyman ever had the good fortune to re-
present the people Of any county in this State
more satisfactorily than has Mr. White repre-
sented bis constituents. For ourself we confess
that, after having watched his whole course
very carefully, we can name no single act or
vote worthy of serious objection, while almost
every really obnoxious measure before the Leg
islature during the session found in him one OF
the most inexorable opponents. He has GER
tainly acquitted himself-n the position in
which the Democracy, unasked, placed him.
with great credit to himself and to his county.
We are happy to state that in thus speaking, we
but re-echo the very general sentiment of the
people of Shasta.
Year: 1860

The Breckenridge interests, especially
in the North, where they are shivering in
the cold thinly clad and few in number,
are anxious to compromise with the lit
tie Giant" But the friends of the latter
Indignantly scorn these overtures. Hon.
John Forsyth, of Alabama, in his speech
at the Philadelphia ratification meeting,
met the coalition advances in the follow.
ing handsome style:


Mr.. Breckenridge took occasion to say
in his speech of acceptance, that he was
not Disunionist. Perhaps he is not
If he be not, he is like little Billy in the
story. A father died and left his two sons
patrimony in sheep, to be divided be-
tween them. He directed that the elder
brother should divide the sheep into two
lots, and that the younger brother should
have the choice. Among the sheep was
lamb called little Billy, to which the
younger brother was much attached
The elder brother, with the instinct OF
his age, thought he could make good
bargain out of the affection of his broth
er for little Billy. He took all the lank
and mean sheep and put them and little
Billy in one lot, and all the good sheep
he put in the other. But the younger
showed that he had some of the elder
brothers quality. He said, Little Billy,
we have long been friends; have loved
you; you have been my companion in
pleasure and in grief. But, Little Billy,
you are in damned bad company, and
we must part" Laughter. My friend
Mr.. Breckenridge has got into bad COM
pany. [Cries of "Thats SOL"


That is the reason they want to COM
promise. 1t is the most impudent thing
ever heard of. After they have bully
ragged us; after they have threatened us;
after they have tried to make minority
govern the majority; and, after their de-
feat, they ask us to compromise! Com
promise means mutual concession. They
have got nothing to concede; they have
nothing to give. The only compromise
we can make with them is, that they
shall lay down their arms, confess their
sins, sit Upon the stool of repentance,
and vote for Stephen A. Douglas. Great
applause. If we do compromise, we
cannot compromise with the Breckin-
ridge faction or the Black Republican
party; but there is Union party we can
compromise with, and that is the Bell
and Everett party. They have the same
object in view we haye-to preserve this
Government, and not to allow it to be
sacrificed to the passions and ambition OF
| mispltileQ men.
Year: 1860

The conduct Of the President of the
United States in prescribing every man
from Office who may choose to mani
fest a preference for the Democratic cam
didate not of his own choice, is so unwor-
thy the Chief Magistrate Of the Union.
that we are amused to see it countenanc-
cd by any one citizen Of the American
Cniin. Mr.. Buchanan owes his elevation
to the united support OF his party. In
the Convention which nominated him at
Cincinnati his support was due to the ac-
1uiesence Of his whole party, most promi-
nent among his supporters were thefriends
of Mr.. Douglas. Indeed, to him more
than to any other public man, he owes
his place. But, now, after receiving his re-
ward, and the highest honors Of the Gov
eminent, he not only cuts his political
friends to pieces, but insists upon chop
ping off the head of every one in office
who will not agree to support his own
candidate. The motive is one of pure
personal revenge against Mr.. Douglas. be-
! CtuSc IIdt ocuutOT ull cu W ulHtT WIKI
the President upon question of great
national policy. 1t is an attempt on the
part of the President of the United States
not only TO enslave party, but leading
citizen, and in doing this unlike all the
early Presidents, he seeks to execute his
revenge through the power Of his Office
and the patronage of the Government
more degrading and dangerous use Of
the Executive office has never been heard
Of since the foundation of the Federal
Government, and we entirely mistake the
character of the American people if such
an abuse of power does not recoil both
upon him and his candidate. If it be-
lieves, indeed, that Mr.. Douglas is made
powerless under the ban of the Presi-
dent, the people will see to it that the Adj
ministration and its supporters are equal
ly powerless before the people.
Year: 1860

Awriterin the Columbus Enquirer speaks
well Of the prospects Of the good cause
In the Empire State Of the South. He
says the prospect is encouraging-that
Georgia will not strike hands with those
who seek to Dissolve the Union--ridicules
the idea sought to be made that the
ticket has no strength in that common
wealth, and concludes:


"JomS BELL of Tennessee weak, with
forty thousand voters to back him in the
coming contest in Georgia. Weak, with a
record that will compare with that of any
statesman now living or dead--a South
ern man, living in d State as sound as
Georgia upon the all-absorbing subject of
slavery! Weak, because he voted against
the repeal of the Missouri restriction,
which has caused the present aspect of
political affairs weak because he said in
'54 or SIS that the Kansas bill contained
squatter sovereignty! weak, because he
was and is a man of great sagacity and
foretold the effect of the slavery agitation.
No, no, that is not it. John Bell has too
much conservatism about him, he is too
much of a Unior man, to suit Young
America. They want disruption, disun-
ion, general spree over Government
that was fought for on preamble and
cost the blood and treasure of the follow
ers of Washington. John Bell is not recll.
less enough to crafty the morbid taste of
Southern fire-eaters for revolution and
conquest. Weak indeed 1.-THE ablest,
soundest statesman running for the Presi-
dency Lincoln is sectional candidate
Breckenridge is elso sectional candidate;
F, Douglas processes to be the candidate of
the National Democracy. but truly is the
representative of the Northern Democra-
cy; while Bell was nominated by men
from all parts of the Union-fairly put
before the people on his own record
Knowing him, they were willing to trust
him for the good Of the whole country.
Year: 1860

THE MEMPHIS POSTMASTER AND THE DoUG-
LAS DEMoCRACY.-The decapitation of the
Memphis Postmaster aroused the indig-
nation of the Douglas Democracy here
considerably. Some of them are now
making living by cussing old Buck for
the act. They have cussed him so much
that the atmosphere for ten feet around
them is as blue as indigo, and as thick as
Tewkesbury mustard. We heard one
Douglasite make set at him last Satur-
. day around on the corner of College street,
and We don't think we have ever heard
anything to equal it since the army gave
grand exhibition of profanity in Flan-
ders. We have always thought, and have
often taken occasion to say, that the Old
Bucks chances for salvation are slim, but
we had no idea that he was SO infamous
scoundrel and so ineffably damned as
some of Mr.. bpuglas' friends represent
him to be. They regard Mr.. Carroll as a
meek, unoomplaining martyr, and the
venerable Buck as the inexorable and
blood-thirsty old tyrant who has dragged
him to the stake.--NashviL6 Patriot.
Year: 1860

To MEASURE FODDER IN THE STACK
Multiply the length, breadth, and height
into each other, and if the fodder is some-
what settled, ten solid yards will make a
ton. Clover will take from ten to twelve
solid yards. This is an excellent way to
measure, where the means of weighing
are not ut hand.
Year: 1860

D~ Who has not seen child turn
from the embodiment of oil that could
please the eye, to sta charmed listener,
on the lap of one whose only attraction
was gentle vote, speaking words warm
with love of pure heart.
Year: 1860

( pay When Blodgers was asked the
other day who he intended to support
during the present contest, he answered
that his first duty was to Mrs. B. and the
children, and he meant to make an effort
to support them.
Year: 1860

IMPORTANT ANNoUNcMEST.-The Louis
vile Courier of yesterday says:


The Democratic party is unit. There
are no divisions in its ranks. North and
South, East and West, wherever the flag
of the country floats, there the Democra'
cy is found.


The above is full of typographical errors
and it is evident the editor never read
the proof. 1t was intended to read:


"rhe Democratic party is eunuch.
There is no doubt that it is rank North
and South, East and West, wherever the
flag of the Union floats, there democracy
is found dead"
Year: 1860

s6S- An unprincipled disunion editor
in the South says he is about to "visit the
country, and lie in the shade" lie need
not go far; he can lie anywhere, and, if
necessary, under the shade Of his own
reputation.
Year: 1860

THE officers of Los Angeles, while on duty
at night, have frequently been tripped up
and bruised. The Star thus describes the
way it is done:


Two Mexicans on horseback meet the Off
Ger in the street, on foot, and having their
RATA prepared, by being tied to the pommel
of each saddle, they separate, one on each
side of the officer, at the same time dropping
the middle of the RATA, then spurring their
horses, quick as thought the RATA strikes the
officers leg, and throws him with violence
upon his head and when he recovers they
they are far away; it being dark at the time
of course he could not identify them.
Year: 1860

How THE EXCITEMENT IN Ell DORADO WAS
RAISED Not long since, great excitement
was raised, on account of the discovery of
what was supposed to be a rich silver mine
in the vicinity of Georgetown, Ell Dorado
county. How the excitement was gotten up,
will be seen in the following extract from the
Coloma Times:


The excitement about the discovery of a
rich silver mine near Irish creek has nearly
ceased, and the matter is undergoing a legal
investigation at Georgetown. There appears
to be but little doubt but that the silver was
taken out of the place as represented but it
is supposed by a good many that it was put
there by one of the parties interested. 1t ap
pears that as soon as the excitument got TO
the right pitch, two Of the three partners
started off with the specimens as is supposed
to sell claims, as one of them has been to
Carson Valley, and is well posted in the mo-
d,s operdndi of silver mines. The other
partner. fearing they were about to get the
advantage of him, had them arrested. and
the specimens taken into the possession of a
Justice of Peace at Georgetown, where ac-
cording to our last accounts, they still remain
Year: 1860

RIcH QUARTZ "A rich lead Of gold bearing
quartz was recently discovered by party
ofprospectors on Manhattan Creek near John.
town, Ell Dorado county In two days, they
took out the sum of $4,000. The Coloma
Times says:


On Monday morning one of the partners,
there being three in the company became
discouraged and declared that he would work
no longer. The other two persevered, and
that same evening struck the ledge, finding
it the richest ever discovered in this section.
The best thing connected with the discovery,
and for which they deserve to make their
pile is the generous way in which they took
Mason, the partner who quit on Monday Just
before they struck it. back into the claim,
which they did on Wednesday,.