smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

When the world was Younger, diff
ident people had much better chance
Of success in it than they have now.
Their modesty found favor with the
wise and good, aud they were helped
along. Pliny, the greatest lawyer Of
his age, recommended quite young
men of his own profession to the pub
lie, and sometimes refused to under
take a cause unless some modest Junior
counsel was associated with him as a
pleader. Lawyers don't do that thing
now. 1t does not answer to implore
the favorable opinion of courts aud
juries; the advocate who expects TO
obtain their assent to his views must
demand it. We have popular speakers
who simply ''make a noise in the world"
Their heads are empty, but their lungs
are strong and their tongues glib. An
ancient writer on oratory says that
flushed face and an expression dashed
with modesty should secure the atten-
tion Of the audience. Alas! these
evidences of difiidence are death to
the prospects of speaker in this age.
A man who over-crows his betters is
pretty sure to take the lead. In law, in
business, IN politics-and sometimes
even in ehurch-this rule holds good.
Year: 1868

Dr.. Franklin remarks that man as
often gets two dollars for the one he
spends in informing his mind, as he
does for a dollar laid out in any other
way. A man eats a pound of sugar
and it is gone, and the pleasure he has
enjoyed is ended, but the information
he gets from a newspaper is treasured
up to be enjoyed anew, and to be used
whenever occasion or inclination call
for it A newspaper is not the wisdom
of one man or two men; it is the wis
dom of the age, and of past ages too.
A family without newspaper is al
ways a year behind the times in gener-
al information; besides they can never
think much nor find much to talk
about And then there are the little
ones growing up without any taste for
reading. Who, then, would be with
out newspaper-aud who would read
one regularly without paying for It'll
Year: 1868


Brick POmrOy1s Opinion Of
Grant and the RPpubliCam
Party-APPeal To Demo
Gratis.


From the La Crosse Democrat, Aug. Isl


Can you tell why the God-aad-
morality party nominated Grant for
President of these Uuited States!


Is any one simple enough to suppose
that they did SO merely because tbey
desired for that office a stupid ass!


No doubt they were willing to place
there a creature iusuffsrably stupid.
That is ia keeping with their profound
craftsmanship. Grant is a fit successor
of the Late Lamented in this paIticu-
lar. Mr.. Washburne can whisk Grant
around as he pleases; be can use him
for such dirty work as shall be neces-
sary. And the party can whisk Mr.
Washburne around as often as may be
necessary. Grant is made Of the
right stuff for a Republican President.
He is


A drunksrd.


A butcher of men.


A seeker after spoils.


The great national murderer,


A betrsyer.


A Fool.
Year: 1868

ExPLosIoN.-Our community was startled
yesterday morning by report to the effect
that n serious explosion, involving great
loss of life, had occurred at the Bright
Hope Coal Pits. Upon inquiry we learned
that the rumor was occasoned by an explo-
sion of kerosene oil at house near the pi..,.
The house was badly damaged and little
girl seriously hurt. Particulars have not
been received.
Year: 1868

Corn AND FLOUR REXCHANGE.-The Secre-
tary of the Corn and Flour Exchange now
publishes a circular containing the transac-
tions at the Corn and Flour Exchange and
Tobacco Exchange. 1t .is put to press daily
Immediately after the sales at the Corn Ex-.
change are over, and is ready for issue by
l o'clock. 1t is of very convenient form for
folding in letter with other correspond
ence, and is sold st three.quarters Of Q cent
Year: 1868

Can Teacher Of District School Compel a


Scholar TO write compositions2


This matter causes some trouble III the
schools of our state, and it arises as a gen.
al thing from the ignorance of parents, and
the small benefits they suppose to be de-
rived from this exercise.


There is no statute law about this mat
ter; but there is the law of custom and
the decision of the Supreme Court AT
the August Term of Washington Co. Su-
preme Court in 1859, in the case of Guern-
sey VS.. Pitkin, the court decided as fol-
lows:


"Thc teacher of district school, with
the assent of the Prudential Committee
has legal power to require of ispupils an
exercise in writing compositions in con-
nection with grammar and other studies
and to enforce such requirement"


This decision was made over nine years
ago, when this exercise in composition
was not introduced into half of the schools
of the state. Now compositions and dec
lamations are required in almost every
school in Vermont, and if the Supreme
Court Of this state were called upon now
to make decision about this matter, with
out doubt it would give the authority to
the teacher to require an exercise in both
composition and declaration, without the
assent of the prudential committee


Custom is the strongest law There Is
no law that teachers shall teach but hall
of the Saturdays, except the law Of Gus
tom, and vet no teacher can be compelled
to teach more than custom requires.


The benefits derived from writing com
Year: 1868

positions is very great, 1t is very nee.
cessary that every one in this nation should
know how to write the English language
correctly. The mental discipline is very
good. A child should learn at an early
age to express his thoughts in words. 1t
is Of little benefit for any one to possess
knowledge if he do not know how to COM
municatc that knowledge to others. Such
knowledge would be like the gold of the
miser, who is fabled to have securely lock-
ed up his treasure in an iron chest and by
chance to have lost the key.


We live in an age when it is impossible
for any one in this nation to pass through
life respectfully without knowing how to
read, speak and write their own language
correctly. The most oe children would
engage willingly in an exercise of com
position and defamation if the parents
would encourage them to do so; and the
parent who discourages his children in
these exercises, or forlds them to engage
in them, is doing them a great injury, and
ought to go back and dwell in the dark
ages, when ignorance shrouded the minds
Of the great mass of the people; or he
should deck himself in sackcloth and palm
himself off for the Wandering Jew, and
seek to gain attention and respect by his
S.


Morrisville, Dec. L.
Year: 1868

BoAsrING OF PRoFLroAcY.-The genuine
man of gallantry generally endeavors to
conceal his successes but the counterfeit
has the ineffable meanness to boast Of fa-
vors that he has never received; and TO
represent that he is an object Of adthira-
ton in quarters where be is regarded "a
nuisance.
Year: 1868

In what did the honorable obligation
consist, that made Mr.. Seymour declare re-
peatedly that he could not accept the nom
instion without personal dishonor? Was
il simply that he had stated thathe was not
a candidate, that he did not desire the nom
ination, and that he could not accept it, and
that if he should accept, after all these pro-
fessions, it would create the reflection that
he was insineere in making them?


If that is all, it would at the worst only
give rise 10 the suspicion that he had re-
fused when he was willing to receive There
is no deep aud tremendous dishonor about
that, even if il were true. But the fact
that he did refuse in the Convention, and
that the nomination was pressed upon him
with demand which would take no refusal
would exonerate him from all suspicion OF
insincerity in declining.


This was not that which constituted the
dishonor. It was that Mr. Seymour had
entered into a negotiation TO bring in Mr..
Chase as the candidate, anl that in that ne
gotiation he had pledged himself that he
would not be used as a candidate to pre-
vent the nomination of Mr.. Chase. And
vet he did allow himself to be so used
This was what constituted the personal dis
honor, and be embraced it. He was used
to defeat Mr.. Chase, after he had pledged
his honor that he would not, be under any
circumstances.


We remark this is in no spirit of dissat-
isfaction with the nomination Of Mr.. Sey-
mour 1t is intensely satisfactory TO Us for
several reasons In the first place, with
Mr.. Seymour as candidate, the Democrat
ic party goes into the contest under their
true colors. This is an assurance Of their
defeat The object of the Chase stratagem
was to use a nominal Republican to divide
the Republican party, and bring the DEM
Year: 1868

The So called Conservatives of st. Louis
had q great demonstration on Saturday
night at which their opponents were fire.
quently denounced. Among the letters read
was one from Gen. L. p Blair, in which,
after accusing the Radicals of wickedly en-
deavoring to prevent the return of peace to
the country, he thus praises the men whom
he fought to conquer:


"What civilized nation on earth woul dies
itate an instant, If the opportunity offered,
to incorporate with themselves the brave
and heroic people of the South, who's forti-
tude and endurance, in q mistaken cause
challenges the admiration and respect ofthe
world Would France or England, or any
other civilized power, hesitate to give to
such men the full and equal rights accorded
10 all other citizens Would not those ma
tions be most happy to claim as their own,
such men as Lee and Johnson and host Of
Others and to confer upon those living he
roes the rewards which genius and courage
have always commanded? Would they fail
to honor and cherish, as part Of their own
glory, the memory of that illustrous throng
of the dead led by Stonewall Jackson?
Their fame belongs to our name and nation,
and their survivors, animated by an equal
courage and devotion, and inspired by what
we hope and believe is better cause, will
hereafter contribute equally with the noble
spirits of the North to the renown Of our
great Republic"


The motive for this hattery is too apapr-
ent TO require explanation.
Year: 1868

The GerB,aHia, u Democratic journal
published in GAINESVILLE, Ohio, bolts the
nomination of Seymour and Blair, and
comes out for Grant and .Colfax. From its
announcement of reasons for this course,
we extract thefollowing


We believe it requires no bribery tor a
war Democratic, as we always consider
ourselves to repudiate that convention, was
Gen Sherman suddenly bribed, because he,
a Democrat, declared for Grant against the
New York ticket, or is Chase bribed because
he, ike me, declares there is no hope for
the Democratic ticket Il is no miracle,
nor does it require bribery, if an honest
thinking Democrat prefers Grant, with
Union Democratic principles, to man who
does not enjoy the confidence OF the land.
These are our political principles, which
we think, are settled enough; OF course not
settled, as the wool dyer Democrats used TO
say My father or grandfather was a
Democrat, l am Democrat, have been one,
aud with the help Of the Lord, shall be
one all my lifetime For principle is,
leave the party if you think it is wrong,
and go to the party which aims at right,
never pledge yourself to any party, because
il NAV fall
Year: 1868

Is there such a thing as an inheriteddis-
tast for the truth Judging from the dogged
preference for falsehood which some folk
manifest ever on occasions when reason
must tell them that veracity would serve
their purpose best, it really seems So That
a propensity to lib sometimes runs in iami-
lies is beyond dispute The sins of the pa
rents are not only Cisited upon their chill
dren, but, in many instances, appear to be
inherited by them from generation to gener-
alton. An evil twist in the nature OF a pa
rent is, we fear, more apt to be inherited
than virtue; just as physical ugliness is
more frequently transmitted by descent than
physical beauty. We do not believe howev-
er, that tendency to lie is, under any cir
cumstances, ineradicable, if taken in time.


Hereditary diseases of the flesh were once
thought to be incurable; but we know bet
ter now and charitable Christians, also, be-
lieve that hereditary moral infirmities are
not beyond the reach of moral medication.
But mendaeity must be dealt with in The
gristle a mature falsifer is hard subject.
II is next TO impossible TO school his vile i'd
iOsynocracy out of him. With children it is
otherwise. The value and importance of
truth may be 80 impressed upon them by
counsel, by illustration, by disipline, that
they will never depart from it in after life
The most untruthful child, we are inclined
TO think, may be reformed by a proper
cousre Of treatment. Mere Hogging, howey-
er, which is the usual prescription, will not
effect cure. It's only result in nine cases
out of ten, will be 60 render the recipient
more cautious and methodical in his fabri-
cations. Convince an unduthful boy rea-
son that honesty OF speech is the best policy;
that lying is not only an offence against
God, but leads inevitably to temporal deg
radiation and ruin, and you will have his
self-interest, pride, and conscience all on
your side, and may safely count on his re.
formation
Year: 1868

The New York Times denies that
Gen. Grant made the pledge to the
President that has been imputed to
him. But the National Intelligeneer
dares Grant to deny IL, promising il
be do, that It shall be- proven upon
him by men who stand as high as he
does. tt is clear that the General is
guilty of treachery, falsehood and
insubordination. This, however, will
not injure him in Radical estimation
because it was by such agencies, that
they obtained, and now retain, pow.
er. The denial Of the Times is the
effort Of a mere striker for Grant, Ia
delude the conservative Republicans,
by raising doubt Of Grants guilt,
and thus weaken the effect Of his
unmanly and ungentlemanly con-
duct.
Year: 1868

A Portland paper says that on
Wednesday all along the shores of the
bay there, immense numbers Of frozen
fish were cast ashore, chilled and dead
by the almost unprecedented cold
weather of the past winter. Such an
event has not been known for many
wears. Thousands and millions of cum
ners are piled along the frozen beach.
Year: 1868

The Santa Fe Gazette says tragic
affair occurred in a Ute camp, near
Sierra Amarillo, last week. A chief
named Chino had received lions share
of presents, and while in his tent at
night, some one Jealous of him shot him
dead. The sister Of Chino then killed
his wife by cutting open her head with
q Ratchet, TO prevent her marrying any
one else.
Year: 1868

The vane on the New York Custom
House is huge affair. It has an indi,
Gator thirty-seven feet long on the in
side of the dome and at the hight OF
over hundred feet above the heads OF
the people below, the arrow outside
which shows the way the wind blows
is made of wrought-iron, and is twenty
four f ct long, and the feathered end is
four feet and half wide and ten feet
long.
Year: 1868

An exchange remarks that John Bright
once compared certain party in Eng
land TO ono Of those singular little poo
die dogs, SO harry at both ends that when
it was set down upon the 6oor it had to
stop o moment 10 consider which end
ought to 20 ahead. Tho Jscobin negro
equality ticket is Of the Same sort The
Convention made . mistake, and took
Grant for tho head, but tho moment it
was put on tho track the Colfax end
started IF ahead, and it has been run.
ming that end FIRST ever since. The bark
all comes from the Colfax end. while the
Grant end sits down in silence-the very
Improvisation Of roticenco.-Columb bus
lKy.l Dispatch.
Year: 1868

Tho people are paying into the Treas.
ury OF the United States at the rate Of
neariS Eve hundred millions year, and
yet the public debt 10 daily increasing.
The last statement showed an increase Of
twelve millions in one month, aud tho
telegraph now tells u the statement for
October will show . further increase Of
several millions. 'Rah for Cant and Grab
tax , t.
Year: 1868

The New York Herald of this morning reports
as follows the disaster at Hunters Point
In The neighborhood of Hunters Point, l. l., In
number of years, broke cut last night, be-
tween the hours of ten and eleven o'clock
The use of the confiagration was owing to an
explosion OF naptha on board q Swedish brig
The vessel was laden with the combusIlble
material, and moment after the ex-
S'V one sheet '' of flames. The news 'edN Of the he
disaster rapidly spread, and the confiagration,
which t =, up S ahe neaXens & attracted crowds
the fire was confined to the vessel, but even
tually the flames communicated with the ex-
tensive oil works of Rookfsllows. Andrews &
Co., and Warren's Oil works, in the sheds of
which were stored some nine or ten Thousand
material stored there soon consigned them and
the buildings adjoining to destruction.


hauled out into the stream in order to prevent
further destruction, and there, after burning TO


Much Interest was manifested as to the crew,
as The rapidly with which the vessel was de.
stroy ed alter the explosion took place rendered
at the time. One of the men was picked up on
the dock, but SO dreadfuily injured from the
effects OF the explosion that he was unable to
give any information that might help in ascer-
tanning the fate of the remainder OF the crew,


The ARMAMENT was brilliantly illuminated by
the burning materials, and the flames at Times
rose so high that they could be witnessed at a


The scene among the shipping and along the
shore as the burning vessel was borne on with
the tide was quite exciting. 1t was feared
at one time that many OF the vessels might
take fire from the flying sparks and thus
cause much more disaster than had occurred
all eady.


The IRE ragged until long after midnight and
eve n at en- early hour this motn ming the sky re-
fiected the fire, which was fast subsiding.


During the prevalence OF the excitement at:
ter dRnt on the copfiagratton a man named
Thomas Kane was shot by an unknown rowdy,
who was prowltng around probably for some i'll
purpose.


1t was impossible to obtain any correst esti-
ate OF the smount of damage done, owing TO
u late hour at which the fire broke out, but
Il losses, 1T is thought, will not fall short of
g 90 600
Year: 1868

The Brooklyn Union contains para.
graph, which we extract below the Union
is in some degree the organ Of some of the
heaviest dealers in New York; and speaks,
by authority we suppose, in the statement il
makes


1--WE are assured on what seems very
good authority that meeting of the lead
ing dry goods firms Of New York was held
yesterday afternoon, at which it was regolv-
ed that they would sell no more goods to
merchants in the southern states except for
cash during the present season


This is very significant action on the part
of the perspacacious business men of tho
metropolis, and furnishes an example which
will undoubtedly. be promptly followed by
all merchants dealing in whatever business
with the southerners. It shows that the
threats Of another revolution in which the
democratic leaders have 40 literally indul-
ged the continual anarchy in which the
rebels have retained many of the southern
states The persistent determination Of Pres
ident johnson to prevent the loyal p1en from
governing the South and the rev3lutiona-
ry speeches of Frank Blair and OF southern
hreeaters who have taken their cue from
him, are having their effect on loyal mer-
chants at the North, who consides their ex-
pensive business interests, the preservation
of tho country and their financial security,
of too great value to be hazarded among a
people many of whom still owe largely on
goods sold to them years ago, and who
have shown that their loyalty 70 their obli-
gatiens TO the country cannot be relied
upon any more shan their loyalty to their
obligations to their fellow merchants.
Year: 1868

The "chivalry' Of the South has, by bla-


coming its own pretentions, cheated many
into believing that it is high toned and
keenly alive to the characteristics of spir-
ted and brave gentlemen. But the truth
that many of its traits are those Of the bull
ty, the trickster, and the assassin, has
during and since the war become evident
TO not few, who once were deluded and
deceived by its arrogant and plausible as
sumptions. The South has had and has its
men of worth but they are not among its
blusterers its FORESTS and the like of
them Just now Wade Hampton is the
foremost OF the frothy demagogues and
reckless brutal rebels. In a late speech he
said "he had sheathed q sword which he
trusted bore no mark of shame or dis
honor A correspondent of the New York
Times, commenting on this brazen asser-
ton, tells the following story


In the first battle Of "Bull Run, this
man, as you know, commanded the Black
Horse Cavalry 1t so happened that his
position ut one time placed him within
short shooting distance Of Col Cameron
commanding the Seventy ninth Highlan-
ders from this city, and knowing him to
be brother of Simon Cameron, the then
Secretary Of War the time, place and cir
cumstanees gave him the opportunity to
assail the latter in very vulnerable point,
and in the spirit of Southern chivalry he
called for a rifle and shot the Colonel dead
One would suppose that an honorable"
foe, high toned gentleman" would have
allowed the chances of war to take the life
Of this man, instead of bringing him to
death in that peculiar personal animosity
and the ferocity Of temper and hate of the
North, oftentimes so characteristic of South
ern educated men, In olden times-in
days of cbivalry-it was not an infrequent
occurrence to decide the wager of battle by
personal combat between leaders Of oppos-
ing forces but then each had chance for
his life. In this case it was simply hot
blooded murder. Now, this exhibition Of
chivalry is q melancholy comment on Wade
Hampton's remark that "he sheathed u
sword which he trusted bore no mark of
shame or dishonor." / have never seen
this incident of history refuted but if it
can be- so far as Wade Hampton is con-
cerned, let it be done-there will be one
crime the less off his soul When the body
of Col Cameron was taken away by the
rebels, it has been stated over and over
again, that Beauregard was appealed to on
three several visits to his camp by the Sis
ter of the Colonel before he would allow it
to be delivered up.
Year: 1868

The Nashville Christian 1dcocdte is the
organ of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, Church whose ministers and pa
pers denounce the ministers and PRESS OF
the NJ. e. Church as secular, political,
&C., Sc, without measure Now, see how
this pink of consistency condemns him
self in the same thing which ho allows. =
The Western Christian Adcoodte shows up
the strange Inconsistency of the Nashville
Adrocatc in the following remarks and quo
tation


KUKLUX DEFENDED.-We were aware
that the papers Of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church South were failing to condemn
the outrageous conduct of the lawlcss ruf-
fans. STYLED the Kuklux but we were not
prepared for the defence OF this organiza-
ton by the Nashville Chrtstldn AdrOedts,
of the 18th instant, from which we clip the
following. The 4dUocate evidently intends
TO be understood that this is a political or
ganization rendered necessary by the exist
ence of @loyal leagues We doubt not that
if we had said the loyal leagues were
necessary because of the Kuklux outrages,
the Nashville AdCOcafe would have charged
US with meddling with politics. We are
panied to see this defence of what all know
to be an abomination to civilization, IN a
paper called Christian


As to the Kuklux, we do not know a
man that belongs to the order, or the prin-
ciples and rules to which they are sworn,
fit DO an oath bound clan We have been
informed that its members meddle with no
one for his political views. Of one thing
we are well persuaded, the citizens Of Ten
nessee want no more war--they are willing
to abide by the stipulations Of the surren-
der-and If there were no restriction OF the
franchise, and no military surveillance IN
the State, there would be no occasion for
Kuklux clans any more than for loyal
leagues and no one, whatever might be
his physical or political complexion, would
suffer harm Of any sort except such as
might result from the legitimate use OF the
ballet, We have made three visits to Maury
this summer, and have had intercourse with
citizens from all parts Of the country, and
we have felt it our bounden duty to state
what we have written in the premises.