smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

In the city of Frankfort, of all German
cities the most intensely active, is Hotel for
the Dead. Outside, the population is bust
ling to and fro with an intensity in singular
contrast with the usual German ealmness.-
Here. at this centre of trade, meet the keen
est of traders and here they pass and repass,
exchanging few words, then hurrying on
until night comes to give time to recast the
speculations of the past day, and to plan the
speculations of the next


In the midst of this intense vitality is the
Hotel for the Dead. Sumptuous beds are
there spread The softest and thickest car
pets deaden all noise from the step. A
splendid reception does the corpse of the rich
man meet as it enters The host, with his
most ofiicious attendants, hurres down to
receive the mute clay Unconscious as it is,
it is laid on one of these rich beds, the head
propped on pillow, the body carelessly COW
cred, as if it had just laid down to rest. with
an embroidered quilt. By courteous fic-
ton, this dead man of business, whose once
active brain lies SO cold and rigid. is sup
posed to be still alive. All the Injuries of his
house arc collected about him in this hotel,
where he is temporarily sojourning. And in
order to enable him to call his attendants
when he awakes, his fingers are placed on the
keys of an instrument by his bedside, the
slightest pressure of which will sound the
alarm.


Yet that alarm has never been given. For
twenty years have the rich dead of Frank
fort gone to this hotel after their death, vet
in these twenty years none of these rich dead
have spoken. Busy men were they, with
wonderful love of life. and passionate desire
for its continuance, which was evidently no.
thing more than by their treating death as a
thing which was only for short time to stop
the rapid current oftheir activity.


6 lie down for moment" says the dying
man, :" but only for moment, and to save
time. my hand is kept on the bell, so that the
carriage may at once be called, and | can
drive straight back to the bank or the count
ing g-house."


But the bell is never rung, and the next
carriage that the once busy merchant gets
into is the hearse.
Year: 1861

INFLUENcE OF NEwsPAPERs.-Small is the
sum that is required to patronize a newspa-
per, and amply repaid is its patron, care
not how humble and unpretending the ga
zette which he takes. 1t is next to impossi-
bic to fill sheet with printed matter with
out putting into it something that is worth
the subscription price. Every parent whose
son is away from home at school, should sup
ply him with newspaper. well remember
what a marked difference there was between
those of my school-mates who had, and those
who had not access to newspapers. Other
things being equal, the first were always su-
perior to the last in debate, composition and
general Intelligence Utebster.


LINE FINE OLD AMERICAN LADY" &c.
There is now living in Newark Mrs Pro-
vost, who is ninety-three years old, and can
see and work without glasses as we'll as a
young woman. She has had nine children.
of whom eight are living; forty grand
children, of whom forty-one are alive; sixty
two great grandchildren, of whom fifty three
are living; and seventeen great great grand
children, of whom sixteen are living. The
whole number of her descendants are one
hundred and twenty eight living. The old
lady recently formed the principal figure in
Photographic picture of group represent
ing ivc generations in a direct line from her.
self.
Year: 1861

attacked the 18th. which was being cut
to pieces. On hearing this, the re.en-
force ents from the Capital turned slow
ly back, sorel7 disappointed at having
lost the opportunity to fight.


There are many who think that this
whole alarm was planned By Gen. Scott,
in order to test the spirit of the troops,
and also to prove in what readiness they
stood for battle; if this be so, the old
chieftaiu must be satisfied that our mate
rial is of the highest, temper and that the
present soldiers Of the North have Rot de-
generated in material spirit from their
Revolutionary sires. / have only to add
to this letter that ourliues arc now we'll
placed and strongly fortified on the other
side Of the Potomac, and that there is no
i'm mediate likelihood of further battle in
that direction, unless the insurgents make
an attack upon our lines.


GEORGE WILKES.
Year: 1861

ENCLOSE A STAMP.-It would be well
for those who correspond with volunteers
now in camp, or on duty away from home.
to enclose postage stamp in order to Sc
cure a reply. 1t is difficult to procure
postage stamps, and this difficulty may
lead to Dbarrsss meBt 10 correspondence.
Year: 1861

GA western editor says he is ''going
to get narried-he saw a young lady
handle the broom SO gracefully that be is
determined to make her his wife," Per-
baps after he is married he may not ad-
mire the way she may handle the broom,
so much.
Year: 1861

The best method for cleaning tainted
barrels is to put one peck of charcoal and
one teacup of salerstus Into each barrel,
fill them up with boiling water, cover
tight and let them stand until cold.
Year: 1861

The Planters Convention at Macon has taken the final step in order to make the confederate bonds the best thing for plan ter to hold A resolution was adopted, by a decisive majority, calling upon the Legis- lature to pass an act making these bonds a basis upon which banks will be authorized to issue their currency dollar for dollar. Under such a law, let us see what planter can do with S1,000 bond Heretofore (especially in the Mississippi Valley) the planters have been compelled to give city acceptance before the banks would discount their drafts. This city accebtance not only involved the planter in the meshes of runious interest account, but gave the entire control of the crop to the factor, who, be- cause of his acceptance, claimed the right to sell cotton at will to protect his own en- dorsement. Under this system the planters have for years been practically overseers on their own estates.

 Now, however, the grower of the crop, and at the same time the holder ofa con- federate bond, makes direct application to the bank, lodging his bond as collateral instead of city acceptance. The bank by having the bond on deposit, is enabled safely to increase its issue dollar for dollar. The planter will get his money upon his own acceptance, and can always renew without extra charge or discount. He pays the bank say per cent.(a high rata) but the government interest on the bond settles that. When the crop moves forward, Ii is unfettered by an acceptance which can force it on the market. The bank obtains its regular interest upon the loan to the planter, the factor gets fair and reason able commission for attending to the sale of the crop, while the planter, independent of the bank itself, and freed entirely from
Year: 1861

ALEXANDRIA, July 25.-I overheard one of the men sitting on the door step of the house describing the charge of the Black Horse Cavalry, part of which believe is Capt. Scott's Faquier cavalry. He said they advanced in wedge form, then opened disclosing battery which fired upon his regiment, hemming it in on all sides and cutting right and left with tremendous blows, each blow powerful enough to take off mans head. He said he never wished to see such a charge again.
Year: 1861

MORTALITY SrArEsTICs.-From the report of the
Committee the Senate of New York app ointed to
investigate the Health Department of the city of
New York, we CLEAN the following numerical con-
trasts:
Year: 1861

Eminent iron ship-builders say that in some in
stances ga thousand decapitated rivets ma be
found in the bottom of an iron hull after one or
voyages" and that smart kick OF the foot is
often sufficient to shake out the rvets so oeheaded,
and open an inlet for the Many persons sup
pose that iron ships will, after time cease to be
built,
Year: 1861

The banking law now pending action before
the Pennsylvania Legislature reduces the amount


of specie required to be kept in the vaults of the


banks basis for circulation, and authorizes the


issue of 10 per cent of notes of the denomination
Of one, two and three dollars.
Year: 1861

The characteristic propensity Of the Yankees to


indulge in falsGyng, is well illustrated in the report


of the battle in Western Virginia received by tele
graph and published in yesterdays paper The
| news comes from the enemy, and the impression is


sought to be conveyed that the Confederate troops


retreaed, leaving the Yankees in possession of the
field. careful analysis Of the report will show


that this story of retreat on our part, is alto


gether improbable. It would not surprise us if. it


turned out, like other Federal accounts Of battles,
to be lie out Of whole cloth.


The report opens with statement that the Con
federates, FIVE thousand strong, and with sixteen
| field pieces, were strongly cntrenched on the top
of mountain with large 1rorton OF their force


accessible, It is said that we opened terrible


ethat one Federal Colonel, in charging our bat
| teres, disabled and another one killed. It is


further said that after furious ght Of three hours
night compelled rcca Of the Federal troops ;;
This is admission that the attack upon us was a
failure-that they did not succeed in taking our


batteries, and that still kept our entrencbments


All the stuff, then, about Floyds retreat at night,


burning bridges and destrornc boats, is so utterly
improbable that it amounts to nonsense. 1t was,


in all probability, aterthought Of the reporter,


intended as alleyiation Of What was undoubtedly
a defeat.


He states in the beginning that Floyd was en-


trenched on the 1rcst side Of Gauley yrTcr II is not
probable that he got around the enemy so as to
recross the river and burn his boats. The Federal
| army being between him and the river, by the re-


porer's own admission the story of his retreating


across the river is, We conclude, first class
fiction.


The truth of the matter, we have no doubt is
that the federals were, as usual, badly whipped.


The statement that our forces were strongly en-


trenched is given with great particularly If to
serve as an excuse for what was known to he g
disastrous Federal repuse.


The assertion that we retreated after fighting
for three hours, resisting several charges killing


and Wounding some Of the enemy's officers, and


finally holding our position, is very improbable
that nothing but Yankee credulity will swallow IT.
Year: 1861

The Cincinnati Gazette illustrates the
vexations of official circumlocution by the
story of an unsophisticated daIkey, who
waited upon a certain military gentleman
with a bill of Sl,l5, for washing done at
the camp hospital, which, after undergo
ing rigid scrutiny by the officer, was re-
turned with the following explanation,
which the astonished son of Ethiopia lis
tened to with an equal amount of wonder
and perplexity. "rhis BILL said the mil
itary gentleman, will first have to be sent
to the Quartermaster- General at Washing
ton, and he will report it to the Adjutant
General, who will lay it before the Secre-
tary of War for his approval. The Ad-
jutant being satisfied, it will be sent to
the Auditor of State, who will approve of
it, and send it to the Secretary of the
Treasury, who will send it to the United
States Treasurer who will at once dis
patch an order to the Collector of this
port to pay the bill" The darkey reliev-
ed himself of long drawn sigh. Then
massa," he remarked, dat last gemblam
you spoke of pays for the washing, does
he?" NO" continued the other, "he
will hand it to the Quartermaster; but as
there is no such officer here at present,
some proper person must be selected for
that purpose, who must be appointed by
the Secretary of War, under the direction
of the President, and his appointment
must be approved by the Senate. Con-
gress not being in session now, the COM
mission cannot be issued until after it
meets. When this commission is received
the Quartermaster will show it to the Col
lector, and demand the funds. You will
then call upon him; he will examine your
bill, and, if correct, he will pay it, you
giving your receipt" The unfortunate
Niger first scratched his head, and then
shook it. and finally said, 81 guess I'll
hab to let dis washing slide, but it am de
last job l does for Uncle Sam!''
Year: 1861

Charlotte Bronte's father is dead. On
the 9TH of June he fell asleep in the weird
old parsonage of Haworth. closing his eyes
on the hearthstone where the three lovely
women who made his name glorious sat
but a little while ago. dreaming inscruta-
bly, over the wonderful world within them,
and whence they passed one by one, their
fragile shapes seeming rather to fade slow
ly than die quickly, like the common lot
Eighty-four years old, and, but for that
faithful son-in-law Nichols, who looks to
us in reading of him more like a protrac-
ton of Charlotte's life than separate ex-
istence-but for him and the servants, all
alone! We may believe or disbclieve the
stories of his iron frmness; he may have
fired himself off in pistol cartridges from
the back-doOr step; he may have torn tuf-
feta gowns; be may have been a gloomy
companion for three motherless women,
and a gifted, reckless, unbalanced son
we forget all that now. He outliyed one
of the rarest families that were ever born
to man. All that We know of him is
known because he was the father of Cur
rer, Acton, and Ellis Bell, of Patrick the
younger, dead in his despairing youth, af-
ter a life Of wild, brilliant misery, for
which no philosopher in the tangled organ
ism of morbid nature could dream of hold
ing him responsible. The Rev. Patrick
Bronte was born on the Saints day which
gave him his name, in the year l777. A
brief but unutterably fascinating history,
with an end which saddens US, yet makes
us still more glad. 1t is impossible to
feel overbalancing regret at the death of
the last Bronte. We rejoice that there is
none living to bear that name which al
ways meant misery and spiritual unhealth,
while it portended genius and glory. 1t
is as if we saw a galaxy of glorious stars,
and know that while they shOne they were
burning in a bitter conscious pain. We
might sorrow for ourselves when they dim
med and went out in white ashes, but for
their sakcs we should rejoice. 1t is ben
efcent law of nature that no morbid
growth, however splendid. prOpagates it
self through generations of unhealth and
agony. And we would have no more Of
the Bronte's left us than dwells in their
immortal books.-Ne,o York Erening
Post
Year: 1861

When you are i'll and desire medical
treatment, consult physician with whom
you are acquainted, who lives in your CON-
munity and has an established reputation.


If you have a surgical operation to per-
form, never put it into the hands of a man
of whom you know nothing. and who ad-
vertises himself as a wonder of skill and
knowledge. Nine times out Of ten they
are imposters.


Never call physician who makes a
great bluster or drinks great deal Of
whiskey.


Never trust your eyes and ears to the
manipulation of an individual. who, for
all that you know, has been kicked out Of
decent society and makes his living by
practicing on the credUlity of weak-mind-
cd people.


Never allow yourself to be swindled out
of an enormous fee by any such pretender
or if he should get hold Of your money
or get into your debt, take him by the
neck and choke it out of him. -.


Never put any confidence in these tin
Grating mountebanks. If they were so
Skilled and worthy of confidence as they
would have you believe, they would not
find it necessary to move from place to
place in pursuit of business.


Never consult them, trust them, or pay
them a single cent of your money, or you
are sure to be humbugged-and more is
the pity, every man or woman with the
least discernment ought to know better
than to trust their senses and money in the
hands of man of whom they know moth
ing, but who, most likely. has the appear
ance of being thief-HalPs Journal.
Year: 1861

"SOme people visit nearly all the time,
and so waste their own lives and their
friends substance; some rarely visit at all,
and 50 deny themselves and their neigh
bors one of the greatest pleasures of social
existence Some people make their visits
so short that they are not worth the troub-
le they cost, others stay 50 long that the
visit becomes Visitation" like fever
or a famine. As use is always essential
70 excellence in any art, only those who have
a certain amount of practice, knowing how
to visit well; while those who visit too much
sin in another way, and become bad visit
ors, from imprudenee and earelessness,-
But We are writing the essay which we be-
gan with simply suggesting, and will only
add, in conclusion that all rules must vary
more or less with the character Of the visit
or. As an old epigram says


'What smiles and welcome would give


Some friends to see each day live;


And vet what treasures would pay


Ifsome would always stay away"
Year: 1861

The course of portion of the Republi-


can press toward the Administration,


writes the able correspondent of the New


York Post, is so decidedly hostile that the


Government is somewhat embarrassed
This l know to be the fact A portion of
the press labors to undermine the conf
denee of the people in General Scott, and,
in fact, by insinuations and criticisms, to
destroy the military reputation of almost
every officer urder him. Such may not
be the intention of the articles alluded to,
but they will have precisely that effect.
Scott is altogether too slow-the army must
be in Richmond in three weeks, shouts one
journal. Yet there is not military man
in the world who will not give it as his
opinion that if our small, raw army, con-
centrated arounk Washington. were to
march straight on to Richmond" it
would be utterly destroyed. And, if it
were, these impatient writers could shake
off their responsibility for the slaughter of
an army and tie loss of campaign-but
Gen. Scott could not


Let me give single illustration OF the
unfairness of certain journals in their at
tacks upon the Administration-and |
give it simply because it is in everybOdy's
mouth here. A few weeks since there was
an unmistakeable demand that General
Dix should be appointed Major General
and called into the field. A New York
journal repeatedly made this demand up
on the Administration, at times the air of
the demand was menacing. Well. Gener-
al Dix was duly appointed and yesterday
that very journal complained because Gen.
Dix is appointed to the command at Ar
lingtOnl Pray. where can the War De-
partment put Major General? We ehaye
one at Fortress Monroe-one at Williams
port--Nr. Fremont is to be stationed
in the West-where then could General
Scott put General Dix except at Airing
ton? The insinuation that our troops are
dissatisfied is utterly false, as | am as
sured by many of the prominent officers
it possible fer the War Department to
disarm such 4 critic?
Year: 1861

A writer, describing the Mendoza South
America) earthquake, says:


The town was all peace and activity.
Customers were in the shops, loungers a
bout the Corners bright moon shone-
when, in five minutes, the whole town was
in heap, or rather a series of heaps of
ruins. The cloud of dust from the fallen
walls was so dense that for half an h.ur
the moon was invisible, an intense dark
ness adding to the confusion and dismay
of survivors Ere long the lurid light of
burning buildings, or remains of buildings,
began to CLEAN. Some persons who had
been buried under the walls, but were still
alive, were burned. On every hand rose
cries for help Robbery then set in. Shops
and stores were scenes of unhindered pill
LACE. The earth at intervals was still
trembling. The savage robbers would rob,
and then kneel in prayer, crying in loud
voices for mercy, and up and at the work
of depreciation once again. A nun was
taken out alive who had been under the
ruins eight days, but she did not survive,
such had been the shock to her system and
such her exhausti"n. A man was actual
ly taken out who had been sixteen days
buried under the ruins. He had sustain
ed bruise on TIE head, on which some
worms had bred.
Year: 1861

BusHIxd PRAs-A SUBsTITUTE.-Bush-
ing peas is considerable of a job even in
the country where brush is plenty, and
still more so in cities and villages, where
it is not. In view of this fact, L will give
YOUR readers my experience this year,
which if too late to be of use to them now,
they can make note of it for their bene-
fit next year. Stick stakes eight or ten
feet apart-the length and size of the
stakes should depend on the kind of peas
to be supported-aud stretch strong twine
from one to another, fastening it around
each one. commencing about one foot from
the ground and continuing it to the top u
the stakes at intervals of about the sami
distance. Lighter twiue may be used neat
the ground or all the way up, by setting
the stakes closer together-O. Farmer.
Year: 1861

r By J. ). LORD
Gem of the starry night
Shedding thy freedom light,
Ever thy rays unite
Betting the skiesl
Let no dissension cloud
Darker a beam SO proud
Wave till the sun of thy glory arise.
Ever thy treasures hold
Firm in the siiken fold,
Binding. with bands OF gold,


Many in one"
Then shall thy glory be
Union and Liberty
Then shall the will of our Fathers be done
Where'er thy pinions move,
Laden with freedom-loye,
=a Pure as the stars above
zz- Hume thy way;
And with thy glorious light,
Danish oppression's night
Growing the joyous earth with Freedoms day
God of the nations might
Ever our hearts unite
Keeping our bann er bright,


Waving above,


Till every land shall be
Hallowed by Liberty,
And every heart by the spirit of love
Year: 1861

On the 4th Of July another star was -
added to our national flag, representing s
the State of Kansas. which was admitted
into the Union the 2Sth of last January Fr9s
This is in accordance with an act Of Con- 2
gress passed in 1915, which reads thus


"On the admission of new State into e
the Union one star shall be added to the
union Of the flag. and such addition shall
take effect on the fourth day Of July next
succeeding such admission.
Year: 1861

THs Shoe and Leather Reporter says that
the South had good stock of northern made
shoes at the commencement of the war, which
is not yet exhausted, and that of the six thou.
sand tanneries In the United States, two thou.
sand are In the slave States, their full proper
ton, considering for how many other uses than
shoes leather Is consumed in the nerthern
States. One seventh of the shoemskers in the
United States were also iu the slave States. On
the whole, the Reporter says:


al So far as shoes, and most of the manufac.
lures OF leather are concerned, we reach this
conclusion, that although the facilities of the
southern people are limited, still, with proper
outstanding Of their resources, there is no occa
sion for any immediate suffering, and that it il
the part of wisdom for US to calcu that they
will not be brought to their knees during the
present year in consequence of deficiency in
the supply of leather"
Year: 1861

DIsAsrKRs FISHING vEssxIs.-- fishing vessels OF
Gloucester Mass have suffered much this year from dis
asters usual The list is given in the Cape Ann Ad
vcrtiser Four vessels sailed for Georges OF which no


diugs were eyer had; vessels and went together
Three vessels totally lost in the bay crew saved
One vessel with valuable cargo lost at the Labra
dor One coaster lost and three disasters occurred
the harbor In all twelve vessels were lost valued At
total loss Of lo was forty -four mon Last year nine YES
sells lost valued at $50 s0 and tho loss Of life was
seventy .hve men,
Year: 1861

THE HANLoN PERfoRxANcEs-The matinee this morn
ing, and the performances at the Academy this
evening, will be the last occasions which Mr. Hanon
will appear for the present In New York He leaves IN
the next steamer for Havana where he has engage
ment for the middle Of next month.