smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

Our financial history and pros-
poets are thus eloquently present.
ed in the October number of the
Atlantic Monthly as follows:


The conflict began with empty
Golfers and falling credit, but the
treasury was soon replenished, and
the credit OF the nation restored 80
that it raised more than three bill.
liOLs by loans, and during the last
year OF the war, more than thou
sand millions, half by loan and
half-by taxes in single season,
the greatest achievement in finance
which history records. Nor was
the country exhausted. The loyal
States could have continued the
struggle for years. So far were
they from debility thai i'll the three
years which have succeeded, they
have reducedtheir funded debt two
hundred and fifty millions, their
floating debt at least one hum
dred and fifty millions more,
and their interest fifty millions in
addition, and paved the way for
further diminution. Such is still our
afiuence, that after repeating half
the I'M posts the nation finds re-
venues sufficient to meet the in.
terest of the debt, the bounties for
the volunteers, and the pensions
for the wounded and the orphans
and widows of the honored dead.


Having shown our ability to
raise ore thousand millions in a
single year, having preserved tho
unity and prestige OF the nation, We
have reduced our interest and ex-
peuses the present year to less
than one third Of the expenditure
during the war, and may reduce
II to q fourth of that amount in the
coming year, while our growing
population and wealth will tighten
still further the charges of the war.
Indeed, we may well hope that
taxes on our vices, as imposts on
liquors and tobacco-wilr alone
NEE; the interest OF our debt, and
extinguish the principal before the
close OF the century ,
Year: 1868

nearly lost the faculty of speech, and for
many years before his death, became Who'll
ly demented and idioiic. For so:se years
before the death of his parents their pow
erty compelled them ito throw their only
son upon the town for support as a pauper,
in place where rigid penuriousness toward
the poor was the law of public opinion.
Thus lived for sixty years, and thus died,
one of the "chronic insane poor" We
find no record in the medical journals of
so long period of insanity. The longest
period noted by French writers, and that
In hospital, is fifty-six years.


Such is the inglorious history of one who
was son and brother and a neighbor-a
scholar, a gentleman, and Christian, until
struck with that terrible sickness of the
mind which three score years back was so
i'll understood as to be thought incurable.
He died at the age of eighty -one. No Off
cial or legal investigation of his case, or his
class OF cases, has ever been made by the
government, but he was left in the pitiable
but unpitied state, in the midst of a highly
enlightened and Christian people, to howl
and shrek and groan, and suffer the unut-
terable horrors Of mental madness, for sixty
years.
Year: 1868

From tho New York Evening Post.l


The Massachusetts papers announce the
death of Josiah Spaulding. the maniac
pauper of Buckland, whose sad case has
often been referred TO by the press. Mr..
Spaulding was the only son of the late JO-
siah Spaulding, pastor of the Congrega-
tioDal Church in Buckland, who died in
1926. He was graduated at Yale College
in l76S. The father was an accu ate schol
ar, an acute reasoner, and an able writer !;
but lacking the graces of e,oquence, his
dscourscs were mared by monotonous
and disagreenble delivery. His personal
integrity, goodness of heart and eminent
piety were doubled by mona. His ferv0r
and fidelity in pastoral duty won the res
pect and love of all classes. The pious
temper with which he bore his great trial
for eleven Of the last years of his life, anil
the accomplishing spirit with which he
provided, out of his scanty income, for the
support of his unfortunate son, excited the
admiration of his friends and Of all who
became acquainted with his case.


Josiah was his only son. 1t was his
fathers chief desire that his son should be
educated to he a minister of the gospel.
With feeble constitution, and mind
Of only ordinary capacity, the young man
studied beyond his strength in fitting for
college, being compelled also to engage in
school keeping to supplement- his fathers
narrow means. just as he was ready for
college, being twcnty-one years of age. he
became violently deranged. The first pub
lie outbreak of insanity was at church on
Sunday, while his father was al prayer,
when he suddenly threw the pslam book
at his mothers head ~


For nearly two years he was not con-
fined until his father life had been repeat
edly endangered by his violence, when he
was restrained with chains for couple OF
years, and then was placed in a strong cage
in the garret of the house, from which he
never came forth while he lived. No cloth
ing could be kept ON him but in sever e
weather he would allow himself to be Gov
cred with blanket, whicIl lasted only till
his propensity for, destruction became
stronger than his fear Of cold. His cage
was not high enough for him to stand erect,
and he remained constantly in sitting pos
ture, leaning back against the timber when
he slept His limbs could not be straight
ended. his hair was never trimmed, and for
cleanliness he received only the attention
given q poorly-kept animal. In fact, bs
lost the appearance Of human being,
Year: 1868

There is cause for general congratulation
that the country has escaped the avalanche
of evils which it was predicted would over
take ii during the winter just past. In
stead of the prevailing distress and busi-
ness stagnation of the autumn having been
greatly aggravated by the lapse Of time,
we are able to note marked improvement
in nearly every department of industry,
despite the numerous obstacles. political,
financial, and otherwise, which have been
interposed- We know not how much
assurance of future benefit to build upon
present indications. but we are disposed to
make the most of them, and to tske fresh
courage in renewed efforts to lift our busi-
ness interests out of the slough in which
they have long been mired.


II Is true that Congress has not shown it.
self particularly astute in its management Of
financial questions, nor has ii adopted any
decisive measures of positive relief. New
ertheless, what has been done is of char
acter to inspire confidence and effect an
Improvement in the business aspect OF the
country generally. II is now settled that
there will be no disturbance OF the currency
fer the present, one way or the other, either
in the direction Of expansion or contrac-
tion repudiation is scotchcd, and the pres
ervation of the public faith assured the
National Banking system will be fostcred
and protected while in all that concerns
taxation and expenditure progress In the
right direction is perceptible.


The improvement in trade Is specially
noteworthy in the Southern States-due
chiefly TO the recent rise in the price of cot
ton from l511 to 25@26 cents. Under It's
magical influence the fleecy staple is being
exhumcd from dusty place Of long conceal
mcnt, and there is promise that the crop
win exceed by 100000 bales the highest
estimate of the fall. The local press speaks
in cheerful tones of future prospects.
Country merchants are generally meeting
their obligations, contrary to the expecta-
ton some time ago, when cotton fell to 50
low price; planters are paying up their
Indebtedness of 1867, and .ielp is promised
them to carry on farming operations of the
current year negroes are inclined to make
contracts; and the once despondent AID
apathetic are preparing to go TO work Ia
Year: 1868

Au IlnSiisn nth si,difci tciio WI ShOuhi'
cuiion in the British war office. II says
there is a tradition. said to be historical,
concerning a clerk in the war Office who
once wanted peg whereupon TO hang his
hat. To save expense of a carpenter, he
applied for hammer and nail with which
to drive it in himself. Six months passed
before he received any answer to his re-
quest, and nc had long ago SET up peg OF
his own, when special messenger of the
tower arrived in Pail Mall with hammer.
sent to him at last through the medium OF
numberless acquisitions and authorizations.
At the same time he was informed that il
was not the province of the Tower officials
to supply nails, but that these would come
to him from Woolwich, and after a few
months further waiting, they really did ar
rive--a pound Of nails, brought by great
ambulance wagon, with half dozen hor-
ses and its dozen attendants.
Year: 1868

The Louisiana Republican State Con-
vention held on Thursday evening in New


Orleans resolved that they were in full
sympathy with Congress, that cheers for
jeff Davis and General Hancock were an
Insult to the flag, and requested General
Grant to relieve the latter. General Han
cock and JEFF Davis were riding in the
same carriage on the same evening of the
day they were cheered by the rebelcrowd.
Year: 1868

A New York correspondent writes
Long Branch, Newport and Saratoga
have drawn of most OF our bellies and
fashionaDles, but good many are still in
town, and you may see them any pleas
ant afternoon driving through the park.
II is no longer improper for ladies to
handle the ribbons. 1t was considered
improper few years ago, but We have
outgrOwn that idea, and some of the
finest equipages DOW to be seen in the
park are guided by the wives and daugh-
ters OF our milliOnRires. They handle
the reins with as much skill as any old
turfmsn, and dash over the drives with
as much Donchalance as though they
were born to the whip. After 4 O'Clock
pm, any afternoon, except Sunday,
they thTO1g the park as thick as leaves
in VsllambrOsa," aud seem to. be as de-
lighted with their distinction for every
body looks at them as though fast dTiv-
ing was the highest honor that woman
could aspire TO. Women, whose bus
bands are eminent in every business and
profession, take their daily drive
with the ribbons in their own
hands, while the husbands, per-
haps, are sweltering Ia their offices
down town, or lying of for q little rest
at the club. II costs nearly as much now
TO supply fashionable woman with
horses aud vehicles for her own particu-
lar use as to keep and clotbe a family.
These ladies who show off in the park
are ladies OF fine taste in horse fiesh,
mot for nasticulatiOn, thought, and If
their husbands show any reluctance to
giving them something superior, they
are pretty sure to make tkings unpleas-
ant. No one would ever think OF ques-
tioniDg their responsibility, Of course /;
but somehow, when they get mixed up
with the demi-monde in the park, it is
not easy to tell "t'other from which, y
In dress and manner and looks they all
have rather fast air., there is not much
difference between the good and the
other sort, and unless you are well posted
you may get them confused. Mrs. Ten
forty, for instance, may drive past Mis-
DashaRAy, with whom her husband Is
very well acquainted, and they are so
much alike In their get up that you
would never suspect one to be better
than the other. But / am getting on
delicate ground and must sheer off.
Year: 1868

The following rules and hints are re-
spectfully submitted for the benefit OF
whom it may concern:


/. 1t is an improper manner of per-
forming this duty 10 nod, and for the
plain reason that the worshiper attracts
too much attention. We are everywhere
taught to avoid os,entatious display in
our worship. The Pharisees were con-
demned for praying at corners OF streets,
that they might Do seen of fmen. On the
same principle, the wOrshiper is con-
demned, for be is making too public a
display of his devOtiOns.


Nor is il proper to snore in the per-
formance Of his duty-partly for the fore
going reasons, but mainly because it is a
direct inlraction OF the golden rule. Sup
pose, for instance, that your next door
neighbor is asleep; by your snoring be
will be disturbed, probably awakened.
This is not doing unto others IS you would
that they should do for you.


3. 1t is wrong to injure ones health
while offering worship; and all ply
sieians admit that 20 sleep with the head
thrown back and the mouth wide open,
is liable TO produce sore throat and
hoarseness. Besides, flies sometimes get
into the mouth on such occasions, and
by their injurious explorations tickle the
delicate membranes and cause horrible
sternutations and coughing, which is
very Injurious to health.


4. To sleep with the head resting on
the arms OF the worshiper, and the face
buried up In the cuffs OF the coat, is the
most improper way of Offering sleep
worship. FIRST, because 1t is also ipjuri-
Gus to health, and mainly, because it is a
direct violation Of the Scriptures, which
command US to let our light so shine that
men may profit by our example. In this
case it is impossible to know whether the
Christian wOrshiper is asleep or awake.
1t is positive case of lukewarmness
neither the one thing or the other.
Year: 1868

The total eclipse Of the sun, which is
to take place on Tuesday next, will pre-
sent such a long duration of darkness
that astronomers are anticipating it with
unusual interest. From near Alden the
central line o! the eclipse extends to the
southern cUsst of New Guinea, crossing
HindoOstan, the Bay of Bengal, the
Malsyan peninsula and the Gull OF Siam
on the way and at certain places on
this line the duration Of total darkness
will be at 6:l6. At the date in question
the moon will not be more than six
hours from lis perigee, while the sun
will not be far from its sp0gee two
fold condition which increases the ap-
parent diameter of the moon, and shows
the apparent diameter of the sun, nearly
at tbs smallest Hence the prolonged
darkness. Such chance occurs but
rarely, and we cannot wonder that q
strong desire exists to make the most of
it il endeavors to solve certain highly
important questions Ia physical science.
UDluekily, the southwest monsoon will
be at its full blast on the 10Th OF August,
which, with It's heavy clouds, will render
observation either uncertain or impos.
sible, except on the eastern side of the
mountain ranges.
Year: 1868

One of our radical contemporaries svears that
Grant is not only a warrior, bat statesman-a
great statesman. Now, let it swear that Coltax
is not only q statesman, but q warrior-a great
warrior, and that will make the ticket perfect.


Word.
Year: 1868

gains enabled them to corrupt the sub
ordinates both of the Telegraph Com
pany and the press. Through those
they succeeded, sometimes, at least, in
obtaining news belonging to the press
and to private parties, which they
would sell to such operators con
Change" as are not scrupulous abeut
the means through which they obtain
anything giving them an advantage
over more honest dealers, and putting
the latter at their mercy.


1t was to break up this nefarious and
dangerous system of fraud and theft
that the Telegraph Comhany and Asso-
ciat0d Press-the Herald assenting-es-
tablished what is known as the "Com-
mercial Bureau" The experiment has
proved success.


This Commercial Bureau is no monOp-
oily. It's advantages are open to all,
upon equal terms. Each dealer in good
repute, in all the leading cities of the
Union, who chooses to subscribe for
them, is supplied, for trifling cousid-
GRAFTON, with the changing markets of
the world several times duriEg every
business day.


Nor is there the least ground for the
charge that the Telegraph Company
holds back private business in order to
forward Commercial Bureau dispatches
We happen to know that the company
distinctly declines to make any arrange
newt which shall give precedence to
that class of business, or to vary in any
way its general rule of forwarding all
business in its regular order on file, un-
less by special contract for delay, made
with the parties sending. Special ar
rangements are sometimes made with
correspondents to delay the transmits
sion of their own messages until night,
or until the crowd of pressing business
is over; but no arrangements are ever
made TO advance one class of business
over another. Neither is any unfair
ness necessary to the success of the
Commercial Bureau.


The press agents everywhere are at
least as active as private correspond
ents in procuring market quotations,
while the former necessarily have su-
perior facilities for obtaining them. So
far as European markets are concerned,
the Associated Press alone brings them
over the cable in ertensO, and the ar
rangement was adjusted with great
nicely to secure the utmost celerity. In
this matter it reckons time by seconds;
and when its reports come to hand they
are instantly deciphered and placed on
file with the Telegraph Company for
distribution to all parts of the country,
before the next succeeding cable mes
sage could reach it's address. Thus, as
will be seen. the Telegraph Company
has no occasion to delay private busi-
ness in order to enable the Commercial
Bureau, ordinarily, to distance all COM
petition, even if the high character of
its present executive head did not pre-
clude the temptation.
Year: 1868

GRAFTON, April :.
Editor Of the Register:


A number of Union soldiers (white
men) have been employed at this place
for some time, upon the National Gem
etery. Recently gang of negro troops,
"a in number, have been sent here from
Washington to take the places of the
whites. The location was comparative
ly a pleasant one, and the work lighter
than in actual service. Hence, | sup
pose, the negroes have been preferred
for "the soft place." while the whites
must assume harder and severer service
elsewhere. That kind of favOritism is
not very popular with loyal men, who
would not put the black above the
white. For one l am disgusted with
the proceeding, and hencetorth remain


A REFORMED RADICAL.
Year: 1868

Even the past very dry season, (and
the drought came very early,) good
crops were raised by very early plant
ing; and fair crops for late; but mid
season planting and inferior cultivation
produced next to nothing.
Year: 1868

An Act concerning the rights o


American citizens in foreign States


Whereas the right of expatriation
Is a natural and inherent right of all
people. indispensable to the enjoyment
OF the rights of life, liberty, and the
pursuits of happiness; and whereas
Ia the recognition Of this principle,
Year: 1868

sion, who sometimes preached a little, but had


not oeen prosperous in business, although he
occasionally INDUCED in a horse-trade In after
years he confined himself more exclusively tc
MS proper business calling, and the two. after
beinS long separated, CHANGED TO meet opposite
new and commOdious house which he had built
and called his own. Proud to show Mr.. Stevens
the proofs of his prosperity. he said, when their
greetings were over, THAT house across the
way have built-it is nine All. indeed, -
was the answer Sc but how the Lord prospers
those who desist from horse-trading aS well as
preaching l'


The crispness Of his thought. or in other
words, his facility Of painting the character Of
another IN a single expression, which Is, in fact,
but an epithet was well illustrated in the speech
IN which he called Andrew johnson. whose us
urptions be declared were not unworthy to be
compared with the tyranny of Charles / and in
any other country would have cost "a king his
head, Sc the man at the other end ofthe Avenue. -
Even his most elaborate efforts at sarcasm could
not be more severe than these single ar1n-sweeps
Of contempt, reproach, rebuke. In that re-
markable piece Of irony, his speech in the Houses
in which he pretended to defend the President
against aspersion TO his loyalty. and To proclaim
the famous 4th Of March speech "a - hoax. there
Is something so ludicrous and yet apparently so
sincere that many people believed II an honest
expression Of his convictions. ct, even in this
elaborate effort, his satire received its strength
from his epigrammatic wit, and every word that
seemed to commend the President, the rebukc Of
The IIOrld which had called him a drunkard.
the description of the cunning that had made
him "a victim by % plot so circum,tantial every
phase Of the speech was a flashing dagger Of
rcproot. But the closing words were so emil
ncntly characteristic they cannot be cmmitted
here. lie said he hld delivered the speech on
the same principle the late President had sent
in veto message To- % bin which he had already
-igned-because he hal written the veto and
thought f well done -T.iurs
Year: 1868

THAp. STEVENS RErAETTE--lt is difficult to
reproduce in print his quickneSs Of repartee and
the half playful, half reproyinc, sometimes
wholly deuuuciatory and withering qualities of
his wit Quaintnc~s, fancy. and rehuke were
strangely mingled with his words, and there
was a personality in his thoughts, whether in
Jest or earnest, that gave them peculiar force


Only three men Of modern time-Garrick,
Foote and Beau Brummell-were so much a
part Of what they said as Thadieus Stevens.
What in others would have been insuiferable
dullness was often rendered by his manner mi
mtable in pleasantly or scornful in reproof


He said Of n colleague in Congress that he was
" a man Of remarkable capacity, remarkable Ca
pacity-for drink. And although there is
nothing striking, or even fresh, in the thought
or in the words, his manner and emphasis We're
such as TO produce an inetiaceable picture Of the
man who merited his scorn. He met in the
streets an old friend who had been an Abolition
ist in the doys when Pennsylvania was alto
gether pro-Slavery, but who went over to the
Democracy at the hour when Abolitionism was
about to triumph, and enrolled himself among
the supporters Of Gen. Mcclellan for the Pres
idency. They had not met since the beginning
of the war, and this friend, who was really glad
to see him, extended his hanc in greeting. But
Mr. Stevens was oblivious to the courtesy, and
stood still in blank surprise. At length, as if
suddenly recollccting himself, he exclaimed :;
''Ah is that you? But how Democracy has
changed you - On the same day be met an
other old acquaintance Of the Methodist persua-
Year: 1868

Fruit OF GOSPEL TEACHING.-A missionary
in China, on approaching a village on the
Sabbath where no European had ever been,
noticed the stiffness that peryaded the place
reminding him Of a Scottish Sabbath. Al
most the whole of the people Of the village
had met for Christian worship, az was their
custom, and were keeping the sabbath day
holy, having been instructed in the Christian
religion by native ministers.
Year: 1868

THE PLEASURE or GIvINe.--I am
rich enough, and can afford to give
away i've hundred dollars d year. |
would not crawl upon the earth with
out doing d little for truth. / will
enjoy the pleasure Of what give by
giving It alive, and seeing another
enjoy it. When / die, \ should be
ashamed 70 leave enough for q mon
ument, If there was q wanting friend
above ground.-lPope to Swift.
Year: 1868

" ~Ah' - -~@feNAs


AS the trials of life thicken, and
the dreams of other days fade, one
by one, in the deep vista Of dlsap-
pointed hope, the heart grows weary
Of the struggle, and we begin to re-
alize our insignificance. Those who
have climbed to the pinnacle Of fame,
or revel in luxury and wealth, go to
the grave at last with the poor men-
dicant who begs pennies by the way
side, and, like him, are soon forgot
ten. Generation after generation,
says an eloquent modern writer,
have felt as we feel, and theirfellows
We're as active in life as ours are now.
They passed away as vapor, while
nature wore the same aspect Of beau
ty as when her Creator commanded
her to be. And so likewise shall it
be when we are gone. The heavens
VIII be as bright over our grave as
they are now around our path the
world will have the same attraction
for offspring yet unborn that she had
once for ourselves. aud that she has
now for our children. Yet a little
while and all this will have hap
pened Days will continue to move
on, and laughter and song will be
heard in the very chamber In which
we died, and the eye that mOurned
for us will be dried, and win glisten
with joy and even our children will
cease to think of us, and will not NFe-
member to lisp our name.