smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869




An extraordinary and most wonderful
phenomenon occurred at Indian Grave
GAP, Campbell county, Tennessee, through
which the Knoxville and Kentucky rail-
road is being built. Sunday afternoon,
during a severe thunder storm and while
it was at its height the Gap was suddenly
filed with countless mum Der Of snakes,
which were seen falling for nearly ten mil
utes. They were the common ringed
species, and measured from five inches 10
two feet in length, and were all dead. 1t
was supposed that they we're killed by the
fell. The news Of this freak of nature
soon spread among the farmers of the re
gion and created the most intense excite
ment among them. By evening, the vicin-
ity Of the Gap was crowded with hundreds
of people drawn together to witness a
novel spectacle. Various surmises were
INDUCED in by the puzzled spectators, bet
the general opinion was that the mystic
rious shower was premonition of some
dreadful scourge.
Year: 1869

was only yesterday that 1 summed up the
account, and assure you the resuI. surpris ed
myself! and now. Ben. the sum here set
down. and as much more as you please, is
yours for the year, provided you will accept
with 1t this little book as a new years gift.
and use it twelve months as have done. and
II at the end of that time you are not ready
to introduce me to Mrs. Sanford, | am much
mistaken"


Ben grasped his friends hand. but lust
then the entrance of Mrs. Meridian prevented
his reply. Mark. however, saw with salts
faction that he put the book carefully in his
vest pocket. and buttoned up his coat with
the air OF man who is buttonng new
resolution.


When they parted for tn, night, Mark
SAID with smile. ''in cases of bilious attacks,
you know where to send for medicine" Ben
answered only by fervent grasp of the hand.
TOR his throat felt too full for him to answer.


Mark Meridan's book answes Il the purpose
admirably 1t less THAN tvo yssrs Elm San
ford was the most popular lawyer in -,
and as steady house holder as you might
wish to see; and in conclusion we will ask
our lady readers their opinion on one point
and it is this: If Mrs. Meridian had been a
woman who understood what is called,
catching beau" better than securing a
husband-if she had never curled her hair
except for company, and thought it degra-
dation to know how to keep house comfort
abb, would all these things have happaned !
Year: 1869

FARM ON THE UPPER TECHE JUST BELOW
n Breaux Bridge, parish of St. Martin, LA arpents
fronting the bayou. This includes ten of fine
cypress timber land. dwelling, comfortable and
strongly built all necessary outhouses. Kitchen pantry
barns Ill in perfect order This land is above all
flows, and easy of cultivation. That to the town
may be sold in lots The town is prosperous, and will
doubtless soon become the seat of Justice IS
Year: 1869

AFTER THE KuSLUx.-When the bill to
incorporate the grand conclave of the order
OF seven wise 'men of this State. was read
by its tile in the Senate. Jackall Sobley was
dreadfully frightened at the idea of passing
bill to incorporate the Kuklux. and moved
to table the bill,
Year: 1869

A wise clergyman, now deceased. once
said; He had learned to preach not only 80
hat people could understand him if they had
a mind to. but also so they could not mis-
understanding him if they wanted TO-"
Year: 1869

IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERY
A party under Professor Bell, which has been
recently engaged in a geographical survey of
the region north Of Lake Superior, has made
an important discovery. Lake Neepignon,
lying thirty miles north of Superior, and con-
nected with it by broad, rapid stream called
the Neepignon River, which has hitherto
been considered too insignificant to find
place on an American atlas, is announced by
the professor to be larger than either Lake
Ontario or Erie, and surprising Lake Supe-
rior in interest in swarm of picturesque
little islands covering its waters. Professor
Bell traversed five hundred miles of this
coast line, when the approach of winter COM
PEELED the party to return to Canada. This
lake is the seventh in number, and possibly
the second in size, of the chain Of great lakes.
AS it receives its waters from upwards of .
dozen considerable rivers, it is not improba-
BILE that the system of lakes, commencing
with Lake Ontario, may extend many miles
further to the north. That the existence of
the island sea should have remained unknown
to this time is remarkable, considering how


near it lies to Lake Superior. r
Year: 1869

A PLANTATION TWO AND Or ILLS
"A from washington, parish Of ST. Landry, on Bayou
Crocodile near Its junction with Bayou BGu one thou


sand aerss hundred and fifty acres open and under
GOOD fsncs all but hundred and fifty acres above


overflow large dwellingin good repair stables, out


houses etc Cotton sugar. tobacco and other
crops do well this place and would make superior
stock farm. is fine hog range convenient to ship
pns point and healthy Plenty of seed and
Ont n place III
Year: 1869

THE MAN WITH THE DIAMOND.-Tllere
may be seen daily on Chestnut street, Phila-
delphia, a man clad in faultless apparel, with
great diamond upon his breast, vainly en-
deavoring to outglitter the magnificent SOL
taire upon his finger. In a German UNIVERSE
ty he learned chemistry, and not even Liebig
knew it better. His occupation is the mix
ing and adultcration of liquors. Give him
a dozen casks of deOdOrized alcohol, and the
next day each of them will represent the
name of genuine wine or q popular spirit.
He enters wholesale drug store, bearing q
large basket on his arm. Five pounds of
Iceland moss are first weighed out to him.
To raw liquor this imparts a degree of
smoothness, of oleaginOusness, that give to
imitation brandy the glibness of that which
is best matured. An astringent called cate
chu, that would almost close the mouth Of
an inkstand, is next i'll order. couple Of


ounces of strychnine, next called for, are


quickly conveyed to the vest pocket, and a
pound of sulphate of zinc (white vitroD is as
silently placed in the bottom Of the basket.


The OIL of cognac, the sulphuric acid, and
| other articles that give fire and body to the
| liquid poison, are always kept in store


These things are the staples of his art, and
| the mixer buys them at different places.
| Chemistry alone discovers the cheat. Among
| drinkers the question is asked with alarm
"Haye we Bourbon among us I"
Year: 1869

Seventeen years since the writer took
from situation as porter and salesman
In village grocery a young man ofprom-
ise, of the age of nineteen years, who had
sagacity sufficient to be able to compare
the chances of success In merchandising
and In agriculture, and see that the latter
presented much the greater promise. He
commenced as farm laborer, at the COM
mon wages Of farm hand, and made his
employers interest his interest, spent his
evenings in reading agricultural journals,
and other reading devoted to the art to
which he had determined to devote his
life. He remained three years, and had
his salary annually increased, which he
well earned, when he went away to the
State of Georgia, to take charge of large
plantation, In which situation he remain
ed but few years, when he purchased
and stocked fine farm of several hun
dred acres, on which he still lives, and
lives as only the farmer out Of debt can.
The firm he left In the grocery business
have since failed, and one of them has
failed twice. What contrast!


How many young men have the same
opportunity to-day, and how happy would
| 1t be for them, If they would only em-
brace 1t.


The idea Is delusive one that It Is
more respectable, and the chances of sue
cess are greater to the young man to take
the position of porter or lackey In mer-
camille house in the city, with hope of be-
coming salesman, or book-keeper, and
finally a merchant, instead Of taking a
situation rs a farm hand, where, with the
same industry and application that would
secure only living In the former he
might In n few years become competent
to take charge of large and productive
farm, which he could take on shares with.
out capital, and with great degree Of
certainty he could In ten or fifteen years,
save enough to stock fair farm, and
make a payment that would number him
among the most enviablc class Of men,
known rs lords OF the soil.


Ifthe youth reared In the country could
only see behind the tinsel curtain that
conceal so much gcntccl misery In the
city. he would shun It as he would vi
per, and would return to the land OF his
nativity, with the firm resolution to make
the country his place of abode, and field
of labor for life.


II the writer with his experience with
life In the "country which God made'
and the city, that work Of man, had a
dozen sons to locate In business, he would
certainly settle twelve of them on farm,
and the other one too, If 1t were a bakers
dozen. Not one of them should come to
the city by his consent, to take the one In
one hundred chances of success there Of
fered.- GnmantoVn Telegraph.
Year: 1869

The eyes of all birds have popularity
Of structure which enables them to see
and hear distant objects equally well, and
this wonderful power Is carried to the
greatest perfection In the bird Of prey.
when we recollect that an eagle will as
cend more than mile In perpendicular
height, and from that enormous elevation
will perceive Its unsuspecting prey and
pounce on It with unerring certainty, and
when we see the same bird scrutinlzing
with microscopic nicely an object close at
hand. we shall at once perceive that he
possesses power Of accommodating his
sight to distance In manner to which our
eye Is unified, and Of which Il Is totally
incapable.


II we take printed page we shall find
that there Is some particular distance,
probably ten inches, at which we can read
the words and see each letter with perfect
dlstinctncss; but II we move a page to the
distance of forty inches we shall find It
impossible to read It at all; scientific men
would therefore call ten inches the focus
or focid distance Of our eyes. We cannot
alter this focus except by the aid Of spec
tacles.


But an eagle has the power Of altering
the focus of his eye rs he pleases; he has
only to look at an object ut the distance Of
two feet or two. miles In order to see It
with perfect distinctncss. The ball Of his
eve Is surrounded by fifteen little plates,
called sciorot;c bones. They form a CON-
plotc ring. aud their edges slightly over
lap each other.


When he looks ut the distant object this
little circle Of bone expands, and the ball
of the eye being relieved from the pres
sure becomes fattcr, and when he looks
at worry near object the little bones press
together, and the ball Of the eye Is thus
squeezed into roundcr and moro convex
form. The effect Is very familiar to every
body. A person with very round eyes Is
near-sightcd. and only sees clearly an OBJ
ject that Is close to him; and a person
with dat eyes, as In old age. can see moth.
Ing clear except at distance. The eagle
by the mere will can make his eye round
or fiat, and sec with equal clearncss at any
distance.
Year: 1869

Swine are oftcn troubled with disease
dcnominated by veterinarians as "kidney
worm." Corn soaked in very strong
lye made of wood ashes, Is said to be an
infallible remedy. Salt and birthstone, In
small quantities, is preventive, and. In
deed, the only one known. Comfortable
quarters and good feed are Of really more
Importance In the successful management
Of these animals than many are inclined
to suppose, and should never on any &C
count be neglected.
Year: 1869

FEMALE CoMPosIroRs.-The Nevada Gazette,
has two young ladies at work learning the 90 art
preservative." The first day they went at the
business they put up 90 FIVE sticks" though they
had never seen case before that day. These
young ladies are just through the high school at
Nevada City, and are determined to learn a busi-
ness which will make them indenendent
Year: 1869

CouSTERFElrs.-Late dispatches from Wash
ington state that large numbers of spurious ten
dollar greenbacks are arriving at the treasury
department. They are so well executed as to
cause suspicion that the original plates were
used in their manufacture, through the conniv-
ance of some one in the employ of the parties
intrusted with the keeping of the plates.
Year: 1869

TELEGRAM from Madrid states that the Pope
has given Affirmative reply to the question
whether the Spanish priests were to take the oath
of fidelity to the new constitution. His holiness
is not disposed to create any disturbance, nor to
set the clergy in hostility to the law. But it
must not be concluded that he approves of con-
stitution in which the principle of free worship
is recognized
Year: 1869

STILL LOWER RATES OF FARE.-For second
class passengers, from San Francisco to Omaha,
by railroad, the fare is SEQ in currency, and
children between five and twelve years of age
half-price. The rate is of course the same for
persons coming westward. Baggage is checked
through and one hundred pounds allowed to
each adult passenger without extra charge
This reduction will give poor men an opportu-
nifty to make the trip at little expense and it is
to be hoped that it will be followed by large
migration to this coast
Year: 1869

INCOME TAx.-Perhaps it is not generally
known that the income tax expires by limitation
after one more payment. 1t will devolve upon
the present Congress to devise means for raising
the revenue now derived from this source
Year: 1869

We desire to call attention to a Communication
which appears this week concerning the organi-
zation which has been made for the bringing of
the waters of Stewards fork upon the mining
ground lying between Stewart's fork and Wea-
yer basin. The intention of, and manner of
forth in a way that any one can readily under
stand. We need not again urge upon the atten-
ton of the public the importance of this under
taking to the residents of this county. We
know that the minas are here, and at the same
time we know that they are not worked for the
want of water, while all the time our population
is decreasing and the assessment roll lessening
in amount proportionately for the want of suff-
cient inducements to work In our mines. We
are not prepared to say what the present under
most reliable citizens are among the incorpora-
tors and constitute the board of trustees We
understand that those particularly moving in the
matter intend to spare no exertion to prosecute
it to successful termination. 1t is asserted that
if a reasonable portion, say one-fourth or one
tnlru, Is subscribed or guaranteed In this county


that there will be no difficulty in obtaining
whatever additional capital may be necessary
from capitalists in San Francisco. We think
that any attenpt or proposition to con-
struct this ditch deserves our attention and
should be encouraged to the utmost of our abil-
ity. Twenty, thirty or fifty thousand dollars
absolutely donated by the citizens of the county


if such donation should result in the construc-
tion of this work, would finally and indirectly be
returned, with interest, through the increased
facilities thereby created for the transaction of
business and the requirement of wealth. As
Messrs. Wattles and Jones intend making the
rounds of the county, the exact plan and inten-
ton of the company will generally be made
known and explained. Concerning the ultimate
construction of the Stewards fork ditch, we
have no doubts. 1t only offers rare induce
ments to capitalists safe and profitable in
vestment, but it is rapidly becoming a necess-
ity to the business interests off, not only Weaver
vile, but nearly the entire county. We should
therefore lend our aid in every possible way to
bring about this much-to-be-d result.
Year: 1869

The whole financial sys-
TEN of the United States is
rotten-rotten to the core,
and either the laws Of nature
must change and the expe-
rience Of ages in monetary
affairs must go for naught, OF
else we must soon witness in
the United States an over
whelming monetary crisis,
with its accompanying gen
eral distress among all the
industrial classes.
Year: 1869

The municipal election occurred
at Washington on Monday week
ago, and the papers are filled with
reports Of riot on the part of the
negroes, who took possession of the
polls to keep conservatives from
voting, The police interferrc4, aud
a bloody fight tasted nearly all day
between the negroes and the police,
in which several were killed and
many wounded. The political re-
suit was that quiet people remained
at home, and the negroes had it
pretty much their own way. A
majority of the common council
elected were negroes. A pretty
picture for the capital of a great
nation.
Year: 1869

The Democratic party,
when in power, was governed
by the old landmarks-the
Constitntion-and the coun-
try had peace and prosperity.
Democrats still insist on the
old written Constitution as
the guide for our rulers. The
Radicals, when they came in
TO power, said they could do
without it--that they would
run the Government in def
nnce of its provisions, and
for the last eight years they
have administered the Gov
eminent outside the Consti-
tuition. We see the result,
an immense public debt, high
taxes, extravaganza and cor
ruption in every department,
and waning prosperity in the
business Of the merchant, the
mechanic, the farmer and
among all classes of the la
boring masses. II we desire
a return of the good old times,
we must have a change. Let
lis go back to the old land
marks.
Year: 1869

LET every Democrat and every
man opposed to this corrupt and
wicked Administration keep to
work until their organization even
in every school districtare complete
No better time than the present
could be selected to do this most
important wark. The county con.
yention will be beld only one week
from next Monday-the 2sth and
the delegates to compose that con-
vention will be chosen in the sever.
al townships on the Saturday af
ternoon previous. What a conve.
nicnt time that will be to make ar
rangements to have Tho party in
every school district perfectly or.
ganized Gor the important cor test
which is fast approaching. Let
every man in each township attend
the meetings, and select good men
who will be sure to represent theii
respective townships in the conven'
tion in person.


The Radical party has had but a
brief existence. The principles Of
the Democratic party are funda.
mental and enduring. And the
Democracy can go into this cam
paign upon substantially the same
general principles that have con-
trolled its actions throughout its
history--and not changein the least
The Radical party is short lived,
but short lived as it may be it has
a history; that history has been writ.
ten in ffdternal WooGl '"f I.


Now, Democrats ofVinton county
we again urge upon you the i'm,
portance Of thorough organiza.
ton in THIS CAMPAIGN We want
you to be united, energetic, and
harmoniousl cast aside all personal
resentments, if any may exist, and
labor solely for the success of Dem
Ocratic principles t.
Year: 1869




THE lmperialist is now quarreling
with BENNETT Of the New York
Herald. The Herald is rather weak
y in its advocacy of Radical doc
trines, but the lmperialiSt will no
doubt Hwhip it into ranks" and
compel it to say "The Empire is
Peace" The ImperiaIist is strong
ly "in favor of an Empire which
really means the adjustment Of all
the State Governments and the en-.
slavement of every man in the
country. Do the people wish to be
subjects and soldiers of an Empe,
ror? Do the people wish to be
unparalleled 4? The people, like the
editors of the New York Herald,
shosld oppose the changing of this
country into an Empire. GRANT
and his cabinet and all the Radical
Governors and Radical officials of
the States in tho Union are favoring
an Empire" Imperialism follows
Radicalsm Of course. 1t would be
a good idea for those controlling
this mperialiSt to remove the con-
Germ from among the bagnos Of
New York city to Washington city,
Il place that is far more suitable and
convenient for the publication of q
journal favoring imperial power.
Year: 1869

James Carr canal bOatman, was tried on
nh Indictment charging mm with having n large guam


y Of counterfeit fractional currency In his possession
with intent 10 pass tho same. The money found
is person. The defense that he found II behind


pile ~ lumber u n umber-yard. He found guilty,
Year: 1869

We present herewith complete alphabetical
list of the persons assessed in this City for
the payment of IncOmeTax to the Federal
Government, with the sums set down rs their
net Income respectively. 1t is known that
each person is entitled to subtract from his
gross annual income, l. $1,000, which is the
amount exempt from IncOme-Tax 2. All that
he has paid for Direct Taxes Estate, National or
loca) during the past year. 3. All that he has
received as dividends on the stock of
any Bank, Insurance, Railroad, Turn
pike, Canal, or Slack-water Company !;
and interest on the bonds Of any
Railroad, Canal, Turnpike, or Slack water
companies which are required to pay the tax
themselves and deduct it from the amount
they hand over to the stock or bond-holder: also
the salary received by any person in the civil
military, or naval service of the United States
Many persons have thus paid quito large
portion of their IncOme-Tax before they are
required TO render their account to the Asses
sor few Qike Com. Vanderbilt) pay almost
entirely through the great corporations wherein
their capital is mainly invested. We have no
means of ascertaining the amounts so paid nor
who pay them. Our expose herewith given is
full and perfect as the Assessors books enable
us to make it.


The Income-Tax is one of the worst ever





d-inquisitOrial, unequal, and Offering a
premium for perjury. We trust its days are
nearly numbcred-that it will be the very next
of our heavy War burdens removed. While it
stands unrepealed, however, we would have it
honestly assessed, returned and collected for
its sting is sharpened by the consciousness
that half those required to pay 1t return either
no taxable income at ali or far less than the
true amount. We hope, by this days publica-
ton. to do our part toward making the assess.
ment more just and equal hereafter.


The list herewith given will prove an excel
lent help to the study of Character. Scan it
carefully, and see how many whom you know
have returned incomes of 81 900 to $500 when
they are living at the rate Of $4,000 to $4,000
per annum, and saving money at that! You
may give very fair guess as to which of
your acquaintance may be trusted implicitly
and which may not. when you shall have
scrutinized their returns to the Assessors.


More than Eighty Millions are returned as
Year: 1869

Why should it be more wonderful for the
rivers of the East and West to meet beneath
the Rocky Mountains than for locomotive to
go through the Alpsf asks correspondent
in our columns to-day. We commend
the vital subject of which this
question is one of the texts, namely :
"The Improvement of the Ohio" Vir-
ginia will have managed to tunnel to-
gether her James and Kanawha Rivers, and
so one great link in the chain of free
and uninterrupted navigation may be
counted upon. The proposition which our
correspondent opens is extraordinary, but
not more so than the building of the Pa
cifc Road, and the scheme to furnish intercourse
by water and rail to the Territories and Prov
inces of British America.
Year: 1869

The thirty eight double columns Of figures
which we give this morning make the most
wonderful exhibit ever presented in any
newspaper, in this country or in Eu-
rope, of the distribution of wealth in
great city. There are seventeen
thousand nine hundred and nineteen
names of citizens, paying tax on incomes which
range from 81 up to $3,O19,218 for single
year, alphabetically arranged, with figures care
fully transcribed from the official records. THE
TRIBUNE may claim to have made an exhibit un-
equaled in newspaper annals and the city may
point with pride to these long lists of her
wealthy men as an illustration, even more con-
elusive than the census tables, of the rapidity
with which she is becoming not merely the
most populOus city of the Continent, but the
commercial emporium of the world.


For the convenience of the curious we ap-
pend an abstract from the lists showing the
returns of all our citizens who pay tax ON in
comes of one hundred thousand dollars or