smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

Uselessly, aimlessly drifting through life,


What was born for "For Somebody's wife"
l am told by my mother. Well, that being true,
"Somebody' keeps himself strangely from view,
And if naught but marriage will settle my fate,
believe shall die in an unsettled state.


For, though Pm not ugly-pray what woman Isl
You might easily find a more beautiful phiz
And then, as for temper and manners, tbs plain
He who seeks for perfection will seek here in vain
Nay in spite of the drawbacks my heart is perverse
And should not feel grateful 'for better worse,
To take the first BOBBY that graciously came


And offered those treasures his home and his name
] think, then, my chances OF marriage are small
But why should think of such chances at all F!
My brothers are all ofthem, younger than |,
Yet they thrive in the world, why not let me tryg
know That II business Pm not an adept,


Because from each matter most strictly I'm kept,
Why am not trained UP to work ofsome kind
Useessly, ,aimlessly, drifting through life.


Whv should wait to be Somebody's wife 2"
Year: 1863

TIA TAsT1NG-Few of our readers are
aware that tea-tasting is reduced to a reg
u[er profession, one which is as certain
death 10 2 man as the continued practice of
opium-eating. The success of the tea bro
ker, or taster depeSSds upon the tr'ir'' &C
curacy Of his nose and pala'


ence in the wants of the American market,
and a keen business tact If he has these
qualities in high cultivation, he may make
from twenty to forty thousand dollars per
annum while be lives, and die of liberation
Of the lungs He overhauls cargo of tea,
cIasslfies it, and determines the value of
each sort. In doing this he first looks at
the color of the leaf, and the general clean
illness Of it. He next takes a quantity of
the herb in his hand, and breathing bis
warm breath upon it, he snufs up the fra
GRANGE. In doing this, he draws into his
lungs quantity of irritating and stimula-
ting dust, which is by no means whole
some. Then, sitting down to the table in
his Office, on which is long row of little
porcelain cups and pot of hot water, be
'draws" the tea and ases the Infusion
In this way, he classifes the different sorts
to the minutest shade makes the different
prices, and is then ready to compare his
work with the invoice. The skill of these
tasters is fairly marvel, but the effect of
the business on their health is ruinous.-
They grow lean, nervous and consumptive.
At the end of hard days work, they feel
and ect as fdgety and cross as if they had
the Mysteries.
Year: 1863

RUSH FOR New MINEs-The San An
dreas Register contains the following in
reference to the Spring emigration If
half the people of this neighborhood 60
who say they will start in the Spring to
the new silver regions of Humboldt, Reese
River, etc., we shall witness a greater ex-
odus than at any previous time, Fraser
River included. We learn from people
who have been there ''that the imagination
can scarcely picture such wealth. yet it
must not be supposed that every one who
goes will carry mountain of silver away
with him. 1t requires time and capital 10
develop such mines to the man who goes
with the means of starting business there
is undoubtedly the best opening of the
present day, but to the poor man, the
chances are less favorable Letters have
been received from some of our townsmen,
who left short time since for the Ban
mock Mines~ one of them, Mr.. A. Thorn,
warns his friends not to be too hasty in
coming there, as it is, mot all gold that
glitters."
Year: 1863

A SPUNKY UNION BRIDE.-A few days
ago young married lady of Covington,
ILL.,, appeared at the Office Of the Depart
ment Provost Marshal General, with the
information that her husband, one Capt.
Ripley, was a rebel, had been in the rebel
army, and that recently he had been sending
quinine and other contraband articles to
Memphis, and thence through the Federal
lines 10 the rebel States She asked that
he should be arrested and suitably punished
for his reasonable acts. She told when
and where he could be found, and accord
ingly he was soon in the hands Of the Fed
eral police, handcuffed, and sent off to Myr-
tie street prison, where he will remain un-
til one of the military commissions can SEN
tence him to hard labor in the old Alton
penitentiary until the close of the war
That is the punishment which seems TO be
regularly awarded to the perpetrators The
history of her marriage to the gallant cap
tain she related to be this When visit
ing friends in this city, six or eight weeks
ago, some one of them introduced Ripley
as proper person whom he or she had met
in the city After an acquaintance Of a
few days he courted her, and she agreed to
marry him, depending on the opinion Of her
friends that he would make a very proper
husband. A few days after the wedding
he obtained half her money to trade and
speculate with, and in little while after
informed her he had bought quinine with it
to send South and that he was certain his
speculation would result proftably and he
asked for the rest of her money to engage
in another speculation of the same kind
He further informed her of his rebel SYM
pathies, and that he had been a captain in
the rebel army. This was more than she
could bear, and she resolved to have him
arrested and punished, and get a divorce
from, him as soon as she cOuld
Year: 1863

MNhu always prevent any Government UNW attempting
to interfere with cnuntcract the possible and he hoped
probable results Of such proclamation lHeaf heatl


The Militia BW.


The House spent yesterday, until midnight,
and three hours Of to-day, on the Senate bill
providing for supplying the army by ENROLL
ing and drafting; and the bill was passed
without material amendment. An attempt
was made to strike out the 18th section
which provides that any drafted person may
be discharged on furnishing substitute or
paying three hundred dollars This was OBJ
jected to on the ground that it will be hard
ship to the poor; but the answer was, that it
is for the benefit Of the poor, since it in effect
limits the price Of a substitute to $500, where
as without such limit the price may, and
probably will, rise to much grea,ers sum.
10 fact, much greater sums we're e1aoted last
year in New England in some cities a, high
IS seven hundred dollars was the price paid.
The sum Of $500 is rather high for poor
man but it should be remembered that it is
as much too small for a rich man therefore
a medium price had to be fixed. The amend
ment was rejected, ss to &C.
Year: 1863

ALMOST FIRE.--At one o'clock to-day
Saturday fire was discovered in the garret
of the extensive Furniture Ware House of J..
c. Emery, head Of State Street, caused by the
burning out of the chimney. Fortunately the
fire was Immediately extinguished, with slight
damage. The engine companies rivaled each
other in the prompt manner in which they
responded to the alarm The Hook and Lad
der company, also, was where it should be-
on hand.
Year: 1863

ALLHGANr CoLLE0E.-An effort Is being made
to purchase the Blue Sulphur Springs property as
the seat of this College, and further establishing
fund which shall be devoted 10 the education OF
the children Of soldiers killed In the service, and
Of young men who have been disabled In our de-
fence. An agent Of the Institution is visiting the
cities and towns Of Virginia TO accomplish Il u
praiseworthy object.
Year: 1863

the Southern psopleq We need NOT say that We
have no part Tor lot IA any theory Of war,
as We Know the President has noh6l Bat his
failure to embrace In his enumeraUo On nof the
ways In which We may attain peace, The ,ibhe
that makes q wlse and benefcent political
policy oolueideut and concurrent With the appli-
cation Of force, must be our apology for recall.
Ing the Presidents former declardtlop 10 favor
Of the latter. We shall sustain no other polioy.
Year: 1863

When General Hooker took leave of his
officers he spoke in high terms Of General
Meade. He believed him to be a true sol
dier and an efficient officer. He believed
they would defeat the enemy under his
lead. He said that the army had already
been the gamer by the change, for what
he had asked for had been granted to his
Year: 1863

ing the army, to describe battlefield after battle,
but have as often had TO decline because had never
seen one. The nearest ever came to 1t was when
fell behind my regiment IN getti. away from the
first Bull Run. Had | been only few minutes
later should have had ample time to survey that
now historic field. On all occasions since that !
have taken good caro- to hear the order TO retres
had to know that sooner or later such an order
would come and SO stood in readiness to catch it.
On ons occasion, in company with about ten thou
sand Others slightly anticipated it and left some.
what precipilatey. We I'll ACKNOWLEDGED this
branch OF military discipline, however, by march


ing back and staying until it came, as come II did.
II was only question of time.


1s it any wonder, then, that an always beaten
army Is somewhat discouraged7 Then, too, there
have been other causes TO breed discomfort in the
army, Of the most obvious Of which is the want
OF any system Of promotion. In some regiments the
favortes Of the commanding officer have been pushed
along over meritorious officers without any regard
whatever either to rank or merit. Whisky drinking
and gambling lleutenants made 6eld-oifcers to
the exclusion OF captains vastly moro worthy Oh
these positions. and then, the other hand strict
adherence to regular promotion has liited into the
saddle men hardly fit to foot it as eighth corporsls
In filing vacancies from the ranks the same prnci-
pie, or want of principle seems to govern Now,
this Is all and noticed by the men, talked about
around the camp tires, and written about IN letters
home


Irrsgularity OF payment is another cause Of dis
conten. too obvious to need anything more than a
mere mention Ii is not because the soldier works
for pay that be is disconented if his pay fails. 1t
is because his Of right is outraged by unjusti-
fable delay.


But, the chief cause Of whatever Of discomfort
there may be ia the Army Of the Potomac, has been
the circulation Of s'mi-ioyal papers there. a better
state Of things however in this respect is beginning
to exst and let us hope that, when officers who are
loyal to general before they loyal to their
country are dismissed from the army, journals OF
similar aflinities may likewise be dismissed am
for the largest liberty in time Of peace, but for the
sterrest despotism in time Of war.


But notwithstanding all this, the Army Of the
Potomac is still grand army; II Is well disciplined
never better, well drilled we'll appointed, well
provided for aud we'll armed and equipped. The
men look WELL there is but little sickness, little de-
sertoD of ls,c and nothing like the disposition to
give up back out. cit down like craven towards, that
had been led to suppose. The men are willing to
6gh, and not % unwilling to have Sambo's help as
the Copperheads would have us believe. DO any
thing within reason" 10 their language Ito crush
this Rebellion" " II the negro will fight, for Gods
sake and the country's let him."


lam encouraged we arc progressing Mills.
Year: 1863

the roar OF steam, and the quick


flash of electricity. The age


has to attend to so many


practical questions of urgency


and weight, and is so hurried


from one grave crisis to another.
that it has no time to linger on


the sward by the side of the great


dusty highway, or to dream be.


meath the shadow of immemorial


woodlands. The man who fol-


lows literature tor its own sake,


apart from any design at once


recognizable by the hurrying


crowd, stands a poor chance of


being listened TO; ard the author


OF to-day is per force obliged TO
mold his work into some tangible
shape, such as he can at once
take into the market, and offer


for sale with the probability of
finding purchasers. Except in
the case OF those few geniuses
who possess the rare gilt of
creative power, the literary man
finds himself. speedily lapsing in
to the journalist. lie may not
have begun life as a politician;
he may have had stronger pre-
dlection toward the greener
regions OF imagination and fancy;
he may love old books, and the
abiding phantoms of old days,
with a tender and unsatisfed
affection; but the press demands
him. and will have him. ''How
is IT." asked an old journalist
one day, ''that so many young
poets finally develope into sub
editors? The answers obvious.
Moonbeams are very innutri
.ious diet, and the young poet
soon learns TO appropriate the
advantages that belong 10 the
sub. editors room. Accordingly,
lie mere author sinks out OF
sight, and the journalist takes
his place.
Year: 1863

With tne modern expansion OF
journalism, and the absorption oil
the writing faculty in the luces


SAINT production ol vast periodI-
cal, beating for the most part on
the immediate necessities or
evanesccnt entertainment of the
hour, we seem to be in danger OF
losing the old scholarly type OF
Authorship, such as existed IN its
highest perfection IN the seven
tcenih and eighteenth centuries,
and in the earlier pat OF the
present. We have abundance OF
rapid and able penmen--writers
full OF inlormltlon Oh the toDics
o. the day--illustrious novehstS,
and clever observers oil current


manners; but the race OF literary
men, pure and simple, is fast
dying out under the glare OF gas,
Year: 1863




The Copperleads who went into the
late Legislature strong in numbers and
secure Of IN easy accomplishment Of their
measures, may now set themselves down
as thrice thoroughly beaten By the loyal
minority: The first time it was by plan
Of withdrawing the reasonable iniouity in
tended by these men, looming so near
and monstrous that they were left with
out quorum, by Republicans who would
not sit BY and see loyalty stabbed and the
fame Of our State dishonored. Next it
will be remembered how the Copperheads
were beaten in fair setto in parliament
ary tactics, the rout being signal and COM
plete. This third and last time maui
was borrowed straight from the State Con-
shtution, and the Legislature left for dead
on The scene Of its iniquities.
Year: 1863

D We have received thirty or forty
communications from gentlemen in and
out Of this city discussing the questions
involved in the suppression Of the Copper
head Times and the revocation Of the order
by the President. Some OF them are very
long; others very severe in their censures
Of those who asked the President to re-
woke the order, and some Of them hard on
Tie President. Three or four purport to
defend the revocation; but really, We have
not space tor all this controversy, without
elaughtering the current and important
news of the day. We are nard pressed for
room to accommodate half the food Of
war news that pours upon our columns.
Year: 1863

Not an honest man Of the majority in the
Legislature failed to approve, in private,
the action Of the Governor in sending the
members home. Not one Of them express
ed a doubt Of the constitutionality Of his
action, nor Of its necessity They were
well satisfied that dangerous mob had
been safely and legally disbandedL And
this will he the opinion Of honest men
eyerywhere
Year: 1863

Considerable distrust is arising in financial cir-
ces in regard 90 the future condition of the money
market and the probable effect that the anticipated
rush for the last batch o. the hvetwenty six per cent
bonds will produce, and further fears are enter
tsiled that the unusual and pressing demand for
money in Europe may induce English cap taiists
60 send back their American securities for In-
mediate convertibhity INTO gold. Temporary
ktrinGeuCy may follow both either OF
these movements; but, while the currency
IS inflated and the payments OF the gov
ernment reach nearly two millions day,
The dificulty woud be OF short duration, parricH-
larly at the money centres. We have no fears Of
a panic al the present time. while the volume Of
our currency is more than doubled and all manner
of eKtrsyagances are iudulged in. The day has
not yet arrived for any serious disturbance in
financial affairs. The great crisis will he post
poned until Mr. Chase attempts to approximate
bis greenbacks to the gold standard, which can
only be accomplished by reducing The volume OF
currency. Then will come crash that has not
been equalled in this country since the disasters
Of 1881 br. Chase was lorewarned of an event
OF ths kind before lie began his system
OF imitation. aud he was admonished by
wiser heads than his own OF the conse
ouenoes of sucha dangerous proceeding History
gave him examples OF the ruin that had followed
expansion, and the desolation which its kindred
revulson had produced; but he was deaf to the
teachings OF experience and the admontons of the
past. His ignorance OF the requirements of the
position he assumed, and his dogged indifference
in regard TO the effect which might be produced
have placed us in position fraught with danger TO
Che moneyed interests of the country, from which
there appears escape, and, judging from the
dnary course OF similar events, collapse must
follow. which the Secretary OF the Treasury viii
be called upon to explain.


The following were the quotations at the gold
Year: 1863

The Boston Post the ablest Democratic
journslin New England, makes the follow
ing urgent appeal for the speedy filing aI
Of our armies in the field. We publish the
article in connection with the Presidents
call;


aLet the uIterances coming from the
Secession headers" says the Post "attest
how idle is the proposition for an armistice
and how absurd it is 10 hope for peace in
any ether state Of affairs than that Of vic
tory 10 our armies. To have victory they
must be reinforced. To do this is a grest
national duty rising paramount above all
other duties; and it itsppeals to each citizen
to act in it as though it we're his own per
sonsl concern.


"Indeed, in one aspect Of thesesse, it is
sssuredly the personal concern ofail. Are
not the soldiers Of the Republic, who 1t
orally stand wall Of FIRE around the in-
stitutions Of the country, our own kith
and kin Of our own households? and are
the people not bound TO strengthen their
hands by every consideration connected
with the most sacred ties Suppose there
has been mal-administration; are the
brave soldiers to suffer for it Are they
in anyRise the authors Of it2 To ask
these questions is to answer them, and the
answers will rise spontaneously to every
lip not lost 10 what is due to the country.
II there is one place in the land where
there is true patriotism, it is in front of
the enemies lines, where at the call of a
most sacred cause, brave men stand shoul-
der 10 shoulder, ready for the death-shcts
and knowing each othor only as brother
soldiers with the straight forward duty
before them Of obeying their superiors and
standing by the flag. To sustain, cheer on,
reinforce and recognize the merit Of such
service, is no more than a common measure
Of justice.


Are we told that the people are opposed
to deing this that they are tired Of the
war; that they desire pesce2 Well, who
pant for peace more than the gallant men
in the Aeld2 They are not mercenaries,
who pursue war as trade, as class do
abroad, but the bone and sinew Of the land,
whose service all the money of the world
could not purchase, and their end and aim
is peace. None can pant for peace as do
our soldiers. But it must be peace con-
sistent with the rights, and honor, and
dignity Of the na1on-a peace with the
Union and the Constitution triumphant.
And the vast majority of the people desire
no other peace. Who does not read this,
written in living letters across the public
sentiment, fails to discern the signs Of the
times.


''The path Of peace, necessarily, is
through war with Cancellation, and the
practical mode of showing q nation's care
Of the soldiers is to let them see fresh
levies Of worthy recruits coming to help
defend the country. This is an apprecia-
ton of their wants which they understand
as solid and without humbug; and moth
ing short Of this will meet the great duty
deVolving on all who would save the
country"


The spirit manifested in these remarks is
the true spirit, The need pointed out in
these remarks is inoOntestably real and
urgent need.
Year: 1863

PERsoNAL.-Governor Tod spent Sun
day at the residence of his son, John Tod,
Esq. He left for Brier Hill this morning
and will return this evening, leaving for Co.
lumbus to-morrow,


General Sigel spent the Sabbath at the
Angler, He was strongly solicited to attend
the German Convention now in session here,
but business prevented and the General will
leave for Pittsburgh this afternOon.'
Year: 1863

A very important capture has been made
in Mississippi. Three men were captured
who were formerly Memphis policemen,
but are now members Of the gang who
have in hand the diabOlical scheme of burn
ing every steamboat on the western rivers,
of which SO many have lately been destroy
ed. A full list OF steamboats,, with the
price to be paid for the burning Of each,
was found upon these villains. 1t is hoped
they will find the end Of their career at 8
ropes end.
Year: 1863




The telegraph reports the arrest Of three
men engaged in the infamous plot to burn
all the Western steamers. The following
additional particulars we gain by the Gin
cinnati Commercial:
Year: 1863

The following is an extract Of letter
from General Blunt, written the day sfter
his late surprise and defeat:


az an now waiting the arrival Of troops
from Fort Scott. If get them (which is
doubtful, as the 14th Kansas is not srmedl
I will follow the hounds through the en-
tire Southern Confederacy as long IS there
is prospect of oVertaking them. And l
will have it well understood that any man
Of this command who again breaks from
the line and deserts his post, shall be shot
on the spot; and there shall be no quarter
to the motley bands Of murderers.