smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

and to burn about ss freely while the tree lives IS
. YEAR or more after its death. Unless in the
Ced.r of Lebanon, suspect these mammoths Of
the vegetable world have no counterparts out Of
California.


They are Of course no. al Of extraordinary size,
yet / cannot remember one that would eirth %
little 80 twenty feet at a hight Of two yards from
the earths surface which is the proper point for
horizontal measurement. Hardly one is entirely
free from the marks Of fire at its root while
several have been buried at lesst half through,
and are 90 followed by fire that tree eight
feet in diameter would probably find ample room
in lis cavity. And, while many are still hale and
thrifty, did not perceive single young one coming
forward to take the place Of the decaying patrlarchs


believe these trees now bear no seed-cone or nut,
whatever they may have done in Scipio's or in
AeXander's time, and that there Is no known
means Of propsgatirg their kind; and deeply regret
that there is not though starting tree that would
come 70 its maturity in not less than four thousand
years would ,eem rather slew business TO the fast
age in which it is our fortune to i've Possibly,
the Big Trees are 8 relic of some bygone world
some pact geologic cperiod-cOtemporaries OF the
gigantic, mxuriant ferns whereof our Mineral Coal
is the residuum / am sure they will be more
priced and treasured a thousand years hence than
now, should they, by extreme care and caution,
be preserved so long, and that thousands will then
visit them, over smooth and spacious roads, for
every one who now tolls over the rugged BRIDE
path By which reached them Meantime, 1t is
comfort to know that the Vindals who bored down
with pump-sugers the largest of the Calaveras
trees, in order to make their fortunes by exhibiting
a section of its bark at the East have been heavy
losers by their villainous speculation.


We left the Big Trees little after 10 NJ, re-
turned to Clarks and fed, and then struck for Mari
posas, where We arrived a little before 6 PM
alone 60 covered with boils, caused Immediately BY
horseback exercise, as to make riding in any way
torture. Ny friend who had taken me up to Hus-
sey's in bis carriage was promptly on hand on my
return, though he had been q hundred times as
sued that could not possibly be back at the time
appointed. We had a gathering and a talk at
Mariposas in the evening, and then rode over to
Bear Valley which we reached little before mid
night Next evening, we ran down 30 far as the
Tuolumne on cur return, and to-day came on to
Stockton, where we tOtk the steamboat for San
Francisco which We hope to reach little after
midnight.
Year: 1859

A COLLEGE OF THE RIGHT SoRT.-We learn
from the Alameda Herald that there is about
to be established at Healdsburg, Sonoma
county, an Agricultural and Mechanical
University of the State of California The
institution is undertaken by joint stock
company, with capital of $4,000, and a
building is to be erected, the dimensions OF
whfch are so by Is feet, three stories high,
with an observatory for the use of astronom-
ical classes. There will be connected with
the institution a farm of one thousand acres
Of excellent arabic land. Students will be
admitted at the rate of 1925 for term of
forty-four weeks. They will be required to
labor four hours each day, for which they
will be allowed one half of the scholarship
fee. They will be taught general knowl-
edge of mechanics and the use of tools, so as
to prepare them to pursue the various trades
known among US, and they will also be in
structed in scientific farming. Pupils thus
instructed will be fitted to enter at once on
a useful and profitable career; the world will
want their services. For private institu-
tion, the Healdsburg Agricultural and Me-
chanical University is very well, and very
praiseworthy; but when shall we have one
on similar plan under the care of the
State, and to which the mest advanced pu-
pills from our public schools can be admit
ted2 So far as this matter of education
goes, the State would do well to initiate an
cient Sparta, and take her children under
her own charge.
Year: 1859

GUIDE BoARDs.-It is very possible that
the politicians of Nevada county have never
thought upon the subject of roads, or guide
boards to reads, for politicians are remark
ably oblivious to all matters of earthly util-
ity. They prefer to flourish away about the
abstract rights of man, and all that sort OF
thing, and never condescend to bring their
majestic energies down to the level of sub
qunary considerations; bat we, who are
poor mortals, without the adventitious aid
of horses and mules, have a right to reach
above our sphere and ask--"Why have we
no guide boards?' The absence of them in
the mountain regions, where there are
so many diverging roads, and where dense
forests prevent the observation of landmarks,
is often the cause of extreme annoyance 10
travellers ignorant of the topography of the
country they are traversfng frequently
the stranger walks or drives several miles in
the wrong direction, takes some roundabout
way or some finely opening route that ter
inmates in brush-heap or at the edge OF
some deep diggings. As nearly all our
mountain roads, like those of the lower
country, are extremely dusty, these accident
al pro7ongations of a journey are doubly an
nesing, both to man and brute, and cause
fearful arnount of profanity and physical
discomfort. We can think of no way in
which the county Supervisors could make
themselves so usefal, as by having erected
at every crossing or fork of 3 road plainly
lettered guide boards, telling the weary
traveller where he is going and how far off
is his destination. The expense Of such
public convenences would be incon derable,
and we think the Supervisors have perfect
right to provide them. The people woal&
certainly applaud them for doing it, and
every dusty wanderer bless them in a man.
ner different from that in which they are
sometimes blessed now. The proprietors Of
tor roads and bridges are generally accom-
odating enough to erect guide boards, and
for this they win daily thanks. Willnot our
excellent board of Supervisors take this
subject into consideration, and instruct the
different road overseers to comply with the
public wish? seEgl
Year: 1859

PRlNTERs.-T typographers of New Jer-
sey boast that there is not single member
of their craft in the penitentiary of that
State, and but one in the State Legislature
We believe there are some printers in both
houses of Congress, who got there, no doubt
by keeping bad company.
Year: 1859

The Quincy Argws says that about twelve
hours work will finish the Plumas Court
House, SO it is safe to predict that the work
will be done within the next sixty days
providence permitting.
Year: 1859

The Petaluma Journal boasts of the Fine
new cider, made from apples grown in So
noma county, which its editor has had pre-
sented to him by Fine fellow who appreci-
ates the value of the press as a medium for
the expression of good things.
Year: 1859

Opposed 10 WELLER.--A Sacramento cor
respondent of the San Francisco National
thus speaks Of Governor Weller The Ma.
tional endorses the writer as zone -four most
prominent" Democrats:


There is much speculation as to who are
likely to be the most prominent candidates
for the United States Senatel in January
next Public attention is at present more or
less fixed upon Gov. Weller. To him there
seems to be grave objection at the outset.
His administration of the State government
was repudiated by his party, in the late State
Convention, by the nomination Of a compara-
lively young man and that condemnation
was sustained by the people of the State in
electing his democratic competitor by an
overwhelming majority. 1t is not usual to
elevate man to the office of Senator whose
administration of the Gubernatorial functions
have been condemned in so marked a man
ner.


Gov. Weller served a full term of six years
as United States Senator from the State OF
California; the people did not see fit to re-
elect him. He was defeated by decided
majority. Nor was this defeat the result OF
accident, or the casual combination of par
ties. 1t grew out ofa well founded convic-
tion of his incompetency for the place. Gov.
Weller has been very imperfectly educated
he has very little general information; he has
no habit of reading, and beyond the merest
party relations, has no knowledge of the his
tory of the government Gifts great opera
tions he has never had sufficient industry TO
acquaint himself During the whole term OF
his service in the Senate, he never submitted
a report or delivered a speech which his
friends can cite as evincing either eloduence.
solid information, or parliamentary ability of
any sort. 1t is notorious that his indolenee
and inattention to business prevented his be-
ing of any service to his constituents before
the Departments. 1t is known to every Cali
t1rnian, who is in the habit of visiting Wash
ington City, that Weller's habits untitled him
for business, and rendered any distinction as
Senator quite out of the question. The
sonorons voice and stereotyped claptraps
which take him tolerably well through a
party canvass only expose him to rdicule in
the Senate. His conduct, his appointments
and administration of the State government
generally, have exhibited lamentable want
| ofJudgment, decision of character, and firm
ness of purpose. His democracy is more than
suspected by the intelligent and sound men
OF the party. 1t can be proved, beyond
doubt, that in the first instance he sided with
Douglas in relation to the admission of Kan
sas, and came only to the support of the ad-
ministration when he saw that the party of
this State was determined to sustain Mr.
Buchanan.
Year: 1859

PROGRESS OF THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC Rail-
RoAD.-A dispatch says:


Dr. Fowlkes, late President Of the South
ern Pacific Railroad, has written a letter
confirming the statement as to the sale Of the
road and the decision of Court in its favor.
The doctor has provided means to extingush
nearly all the debts outstanding against it in
Texas, and does not doubt his ability to free
the company of every embarrassment A
letter has also been received in Louisville.
from j. Edgar Thompson, stating that G. b.
Roberts,a civil engineer, will leave Philadel-
phia in a day or two, to superintend the con
struetion of the road, and that it will be
pushed ahead with vigor. Application will
be made to the next Legislature of Texas.
for such action as will facilitate its progress,
and it is suggested to change the name to
that of Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Sew
eral journals speak with great confidence of
the immediate commencement of the work
under the most favorable auspices.
Year: 1859

A MELANCHOLY SIGHT Henry Courtaiue,
the actor occupied a place in the Police
Court yesterday, on a charge OF drunken
ness He has been spreeing for some days
past, and appeared yesterday, pale and hag-
gard mere wreck of the fine figure which
he made upon the stage a few weeks ago.
He was sent below for "a hours.-San Fran
cisco paper.
Year: 1859

SINGULAR SPEcrAoLE-During recent fire
at New Bedford, one beautiful and singular
scene was presented. A large quantity of
oil had escaped and run down into the dock,
covering the water an inch deep. The
flames caught the oil and ignited it, giving
the dock the appearance of lake on fire.
Year: 1859

How IT HAPPENED The manner in which
the explosion in the Great Eastern happened
is thus described by one who seems to know
what he is talking about


The cause of the mischief is extremely
simple, as generally happens in such cases,
but grave and serious blame rests on the
shoulders of some officers of the vessel. 1t
appears that round the lower part of the pad
die tunnels was placed an iron jacket, the
space between which and the funnel itself
was to be filled with cold water. The object
of this casing was to reduce the temperature
in the grand saloon, which it was feared
might be raised uncomfortably higg if the
lower portion of the funnel got too much
heated. A secondary object to be attained,
was that the water thus passing around the
base of the funnel would be heated to con-
siderable temperature before flowing into the
boiler, and that thus great saving of caloric
would accrue. The supply of cold water for
this casing was to be kept up by donkey
engine, but it was noticed that soon after the
ship left the More the donkey engine was
all but useless, and the supply of cold water
sent into the casing but small in quantity.
To guard against this risk there was stand
pipe or valve, through which steam should
escape, and this valve-out Of sight be it
noted-every one on board interested in the
matter took for granted must be open. Af-
ter examination, however, showed that snch
was not the case, for some careless workman
had screwed it down before the vessel left
Deptford, and hence the fearful catastrophe.
The strong iron casing became veritable re-
tort filled with steam having a pressure of
not less than 500 lbs to the square inch.-
The explosion was so powerful that it de
stroyed everything in the division of the
ship to which it was confined and had it
occurred in a vessel of war, or a steamer of
the ordinary construction, such blast would
have sent them to the )ottom like a stone


DRoLL INSTANCE OF SwrNDLING-The New
Orleans Delta tells this odd story of what
physician did


Dr. Rossvalley, of that city, one of the eur
geons who assisted at the post mortsm eXami
nation of DR. Graham, returned to the house
of the deceased ON the day of the burial and
stated that while performing the dissection
valuable ring had slipped from his finger
and fallen within the body. He therefore
asked permission to re open the corpse and
recover the lost jewel. The afflicted
widow begged him to retire and speak to her
brother upon the subject The matter was
finally compromised by paying the Doctor
S31 as an equivalent for the ring, but he has
since been arrested for obtaining the money
under false pretences.
Year: 1859

SURGEONS PULPIT STYLE-The following
extract from the fifth American series of Spur
geon's discourses will give the reader a good
Idea of his style of preaching and illustration


Many of Gods people have a manufactory
at the back of their houses in which they
manufacture troubles; and home made trou-
bles, like other homemade things, last very
long while, and generally fit very comfortably
Troubles of Gods sending are always suita-
ble-the right sort for our backs but those
that we make are of the wrong sort, and they
always last US longer than Gods. have
known an old lady sit and fret because she
believed she should die in work-house. and
she wanted God to give her strength accord
lngly; but what would have been the good OF
that, because the Lord meant that she should
die IN her own quiet bedroom?
Year: 1859

MODEL ScHooLMAsTER.-The following i:
the exact copy of notice written by an off.
eating schoolmaster near Jamestown With
master so learned the scholars ought to at
tain the highest perfection of education


Description Camel Flat-Of horse belong
ing to A. NJ. Pottle yellor sorrel horse l5 or
l6 hands hi; heavy set with white face 3
inches wide, main and tale the same color; of
the body the main half on either side of the
LETT hind foot white with piece of balm rope
all round his neck, with loose not tide in it
OF another piece of rope with a little white
spot on him about the sse of sents cash,
whoever finds him | will pay Is for him.


JAMESTOWN, July 5th, 1859.
Year: 1859

SKILL AND EXPERIENCE. We refer our
readers to the notice of partnership OF
Doctors BRAY & SAWYER, two veteran and
able physicians and surgeons. DR.. BRAY
has an eminent reputation secured by sue
cessful practice, for the period of an ordi-
nary professional lifetime. DR.. SAWYER,
though principally known here as man OF
business was graduate from the same med
ical school as DR.. BRAY, and was for fourteen
or sixteen years q successful physician and
surgeon in the Northern part of the State
In the union of so much experience and
skill, safety and relief for the sufferer will
be found, if it be attainable anywhere.
Year: 1859

HeA. our friend HUaHKs has received a
nice lot of skirt supporters which are well
worth the attention Of ladies. His stock of
notions is very large and still they come,
making the most varied assortment ever
brought TO this city. The best quality of
watch spring Hoop Skirts, and watch spring
Hoops are always to be fonnd at his store.
His stock of Hosiery is very large, in fact
we did not suppose SO large a lot of Hosiery
could be sold in one season in this city.
He must and will sell cheap.
Year: 1859

DR.. FRANKLIN's SoN.-Speaking of the son
of Dr. Franklin, the Newburyport Herald
says =


AS the name of DR. Franklin is prominently
before the public, it may not be unnteresting
to give some account of his son, William about
whom we think little is known by the commu,
nifty at large Unlike his father whose chief
claim is for the invaluable services he rendered
to his country in her greatest need, the son
was from the first to the last devoted loyGl-
ist Before the Revolutionary war he held
several civil and military offices of import
ance.


At the commencement of the war. he held
the Office of Governor of New Jersey, which
appointment be received in 1878 When the
difficulties between the colonies and the mo-
ther country were coming to crisis he threw
his whole influence in favor of loyalty, and en-
devored to prevent the Legislative Assembly
of New Jersey from sustaining the proceedings
of the General Congress of Philadelphia
These efforts did but little to stay the tide OF
popular sentiment in favor of resistance to
tyranny, and Soou involved him in difficulty -
He was deposed from Office by the wings, to
give place to WIN. Livingston, and sent pris.
oner to Connecticut, where he remained two
years in East Windsor, in the house of Capt
Ebenezer Grant, near where the theological
Seminary now stands In 1888, he was ex.
changed and soon sitter went to Engiand.-
There he spent the remainder Of his life, re.
ceiving pension from the British Govern.
ment for his fidelity. He died in 1913 at the
age of eighty-two. As might have been ex.
pected, his opposition to the cause of liberty
so dear to the heart of his father produced an
estrangement between them. For many year,
they had no intercourse, when in 1884, the son
wrote to his father. In his reply DR.. Frank
lin says -


Nothing has ever hurt me so much, and
affected me with such deep sensations, as tc
find myself deserted in my old age, by my only
son and not only deserted, but to find him
taking up arms against me in a cause wherein
my good fame, fortune and life were all al
stake" In his WILL also, he aludeS to the
part his son had acted After making some
bequests he adds The part he acted against
me in the late war, which is of public notori
ETY., will account for my leaving him no moro
of an estate he has sought to deprive me of
The patriotism of the father stands forth all
the brighter when contrasted with the deser
tion of his son.
Year: 1859

INFLUENCE OF Coop NEwsPAPER-Show
US an intelligent family of boys and girls, and
we find family where newspapers are plenty


Nobody who has been without these silent pri.
vate tutors can know their educational power
for good or evil How important then to Sc
cure those which tend only to good Have
you never thought of the nnumerable topics
for discussion which they suggest at the break,
fast table the important public measures
with which, thus early our children become
familarly acquainted great phanthropic
questions of the day, to which unconsciously
their attention is awakened and the general
spirit of intelligence which is evoked by these
quiet visitors? Any thing that makes home
pleasant, cheerful and chatty, shunS the haunts
Of vice, and the thousand and one avenues Of
temptations, should certainly be regarded, when
we consider its influence on the minds of the
young as a great moral and social blessing.
Year: 1859

A VERY DorBrFr1, EHDoRsEMENr-Th
Cincinnati Gazette says, that few days ago
business house in the city had occasion to
write TO a correspondent in one Of the interior
towns of Indiana "What is the standing of
Mr.. -" In due time the correspondent
replied to the query as follows


If Your question refers to Mr.. ---s real
responsibility to any limited amount, we answer
it is good but to say that he is obstinate and
mulish, but family expresses his popularity of
disposition when an account is presented He
usually pays a debt at the extreme tail end of
an execution, and then doles out the cash to
the constable as though he were driving nail
in his coffin The money shaver who took tho
last scat in the last car Of railroad train, so
as to have the use of his money while the con-
ductor was reaching him, was not circum-
stance to the grim-death grasp with which Mr..
- holds on to his purse strings lie means
TO be honest, but his neighbors say that FIVE
cent piece produces Dsor1l strd5isrsas that
affects his vision quite painfully "


The firm concluded 10 close their account as
"the tai! end Ok an execution aud q drum
no more In that direction
Year: 1859

TINES GRATIrUDE AND REvENGE-Time is a
coed and faithful friend. but most revenge
full and remorseless enemy. Like deep feel
ing and love desiring human heart, it treasures
up grateful memory of kindness and good
service and is sure, sooner or later, to make
payment with the addition of compound inter
est But for every instance of neglect or abuse
it takes certain and terrible vengeance I; and
none who incur its anger can escape its punish
ment for, like death, time is inexorabe.
Year: 1859

AN ELOQUENT ExrRAcT.-Generaton efter
generation" SAYS fine writer, have felt as
We now feel, and their lives were as active as
our own. They passed like vapor, while na-
ture wore the same aspect of beauty as that
her Creator commanded her to be. The heavens
shall be as bright over our graves as they are
now around our paths The world will have
the same attraction for our offspring yet unborn
that she had once for our children. Yet lit
tie while, and all will have happened-the
throbbing heart will be Stiaed and we shall be
rest. Our funeral will wind its way, and the
prayers will be said, and then We shall be left
behind in silence and darkness for the worm.
And it may be, for q short time we shall be
spoken of, but the things Of life will creep in,
and our names will soon be forgotten. Days
will continue to move on, and laughter and
song will be heard in the room in which we
died and the eye that mourued for us will be
dried, and glisten again with JOY and eevn
our children will cease to think OF US, aud will
not remember to lisp our names"
Year: 1859

CONSTANT EHpLoYMENr-The man who Is
obliged to be constantly employed to earn the
necessaries of life and support his family, knows
not the unhappiness be prays for when he de-
sres wealth and idleness. To be constantly
busy is to be always happy. Persons who
have suddenly acquired wealth, broken up
their active pursuits. and begun to live at their
ease, waste away, and die in very short time.
Thousands would have been blessings to the
world and added to the common stock of hap
piness, if they had been content to remain in
an humble sphere, and earned every mouthful
of food that nourShed their bodies Persons
who are always busy and go cheerfuly to their
daily tasks, are the least disturbed by the auc-
tuations of business, and at night sleep with
perfect composure.
Year: 1859

Ra- We doubt whether any other country
exhibits larger amount or proportion of use
less talent or msdirected energy, than ours
Our clever young men, in fearful superabun-
dance, addict themselves to law, to phySic, to
commerce, mainly because these seem the only
pursuits which promise wealth and distinction.
There has been no day Of the last forty years,
in which there were not four times as many
trying to live by trade in this country, as were
needed in that cupaton-twice as many as
could possibly succeed.