smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1864

Ii there is any one kind of vanity more


essentially silly than another, it ia the pride


OF birth We pardon the veteran who per-


petually relates his story Of foughtcn Geld


and glory won; we excuse the diplomat


who speaks of giving peace to the world ;


and we even palliate the vanity which is


engendered by the possession of q fine


form, beautiful face or musical voice ;


but our gorge rises against the BOBBY who


delights in proclaiminig the questionable


honors of his descent from long Hne of
titled freebooters, strong armed fillibusters,
or, worse still, land owning nobodies. For
the bumptious air Of the latter class, we
cannot afford anger. 1t would be laugha-


bic if it were not SO contemplate. To the
aristocracy of good deeds and unsullied
reputation, we willingly defer, but to the
multitudinous assemblages of gilded igno-
RANGES, (sometimes they are not even giided)
we yield no foot of ground. In trade or
in agriculture, this aristocracy is most
absurd affair. Bar iron looks down on ten
penny nails; fortyrod in the barrel casts
a witberins glance at whisky in the glass !;
the keeper of an eating house considers the
cook very low; even the mule -bestridine
wagon boss SCOTS at the muleteer,' while the
planter shrugs his shoulders at the farmer
OF quarter section. Wherever we see an
attempt to enact the big Indian, we put
down the actor for ninny. Not to men
tlon the trifing deyiations from the seventh
commandment, to which aristocratic fami-


lies have ever been liable, if history is to
be relied on, and which may vitiate (oh,
horror,) the stainless pedigree of a Fitz-
phlunky or Vandermon; the mere fact
that great men seldom have great sons is
certificate that, like the potatoe, your high
ly descended spoon has the best part of
him under ground. Worth constitutes the
true nobility. lie who serves his country
men best should enjoy their respect in the
highest degree; but, with Pretenee, upon
whose crooked shoulders accident has
pitchfcrked gilt jerkin, may Providence
grant us one fair dealing, and no more.
May we be permitted to buy him at our
price and sell him at his own. The hand of
the decent mechanic is worth the shaking.
The stout fist of the tiller of the soil gives
a manly and welcoming grasp, but the
white veal Of your two fingered dandy
would sicken the stomach of a man, if the
lisp and imperfect speech of the creature
did not act as counter-irritant. "He
who makes two blades of grass grow where
but one grew before is a benefactor Of his
species," but he who rests his claim to
honor On tine celebrity of dead man is
like crooked line in mathematics, the
sooner he is rubbed out the better, even
Tor appearance sake.. IT, E-.7z .r ..-Yr
Year: 1864

youth and maturity arising from the baneful habits
of s.f-ahusc. 10 which j. added observations OF
Female Disease and other interesting matter Of the ut
most importance the married ami those contemplating
marriage, who entertain doubt Of their physical ability
enter that state. sent 10 any address In sealed wrap
per. on receipt OF ten cents OF four stamps


We devote entire time and attention 10 the tire al;
Of The varous private diseases treated Of In pri-
vste report Our DpenSsry the only Institution OF
kind In America which has been taoshed by special
charter ard this fact should preference the
various quaoks 81 doubtful character 10 be foun in al
Year: 1864

A GREAT COMET Predicted. The follow
ing, says an English paper. Is an extract of a
letter just received from Melbourne Professor
Newmager, on a three years scientific visit
shall come so close as to eudauger this, our
earth; and should it not attach itself Jas one
globule of quicksilver to aDo,her) nor annihilale
US, the sight will be most beautiful to behold
During three nights We shall have no darkness,
but be bathed 10 the brilliant light of the
blazing train" Bully
Year: 1864

GEN. GRANT AT THE PRESIDENTS LyvEg-
At a recent levee at the Presidents mansion
in Washington, Gen. Grant was present, and
was of course the great attraction Every body
was delighted Says an eye witness) at bis diff
dence and soldier like bearing. Neither the
President nor any of the Cabinet, except
Stanton, had ever seen him before. He had
never before been in the White House He
was frequently cheered by the guests in the
East room. He blushed like a girl. The
hand shaking brought streams of perspiration
down his forehead and over bis face. The hot
room and empreSSement of the crowd, and the
excitement of the occasion, swelled every vein
on his forehead. He looked more like soldier
in a hard fight than a hero in a drawing room
He had lost the key of his trunk, and so came
TO the levee 10 his rough and ready travelling
uniform, a good deal the worse for wear, but.
after all, quite characteristic.
Year: 1864

YOSEMITE VALLEY.-Senator Conness has
introduced a bill into the Senate to grant and
forever cede to the State of California all that
tract of land known as the Yosemite Valley. in
Mariposa county, having length of Is miles,
and width of one mile from the edge of the
chasm or precipice on either side The Yosemite
possesses some of the boldest and most pictur
esque scenery on the globe, and will become
the resort of travellers from all nations when it
is known that region of such uuequaled
grandeur and sublimity is accessible. Travellers
who have visited Europe, and afterwards been
on a tour of this California region, agree that
it eclipses the ipest scenery of the Old World.
1t is to be hoped this bill will pass Congress
Year: 1864

A messenger who left the headquarters of
Gen. Grant as late as O'Clock last evening has
arrived here to-day.


He stStes that thOre was no fighting up to
the time he left, except the affair early in the
morning, announced in the REPUBLICAN extra
this forenoon.


The fact that fighting is not going on iS no
evidence that the army ls not at work. People
must be patient, and not expect great move.
ment, such as Gen. Grant is about to make,
can be accomplished in day, especially when
the elements are opposing.


More brilliant achievements await the gal.
liant men now marshaled under Grant than
they have yet won.
Year: 1864

A Troy paper states that at the very moment
when Gen. Wadsworth fell on ths Geld Of bat.
he' extensive preparations were being made to
celebrate the marriage OF his only son with one
OF the most accomplished and beautiful ladles
Of that city,
Year: 1864

Last night there were nearly eight thousand
wounded soldiers at Fredericksburgi all Of
lOhom are TO be brought away in boats, immO-
diately, by order Of the Secretary of War.


Persons having friends among the wounded
at that place will not gain anything should they
go there. The proper course for them is to
wait until the wounded arrive here.
Year: 1864

OUTRAGEoUs.-We observed 4 negro in mar
kes this morning with lot of imported early
vegetables, for which be was charging from
three to four times Es much Is the retail prices
Of the same articles in the Augusta market
during the present week. This We know from
personal observation. Why is it that our citi
zsns will thus suffer themselves to be imposed
upon The rascal ought to have been driven
from the market place, and his vegetables dis
tributed among the various hospi!sls.
Year: 1864

TIMELY Discovery "A gentleman recently
WsHt into tho sfice of the Mobile Register 70 sd-
yertise his lost pockei-bOok. The advertisement
was written for him and he put his hand in his
pocket to get money to pay for il, when 10 he
pulled out thu pocket book that was not lost
Year: 1864

At Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Wed
nesday, Mr.. Gilmore edmund Kirke")
delivered lecture in which he described


his interview with JEFF. Davis, during a
late visit to Richmond, and the substance
of their conversation on the terms Of a
peace. The following is a report of Mr..
Gilmore's remarks:


Invent to Richmond with the Rev. Col
onel Jaques, and went with the hope Of
making negotiations which might result
in a peace. If we should succeed, we
thought that the consciousness Of having
served our county would pay our sx-
penses. If we failed, we might still serve
the country by letting the people of the
North know what was the reason OF our
failure; for 1 went with propositions on
the basis of which I might have made
an arrangement for peace with Mr.. Da-
Wis, and if we were unsuccessful it would
be useful for the country to know what
propositions were rejected. We went to
Richmond in an ambulance, and were
three hours on the way after we entered
the rebel lines. We entered Richmond
at 10 O'Clock, and planted our white fas
in the very heart of the rebel capital
We were taken to hotel and shown up
to mo. 6l," shabby room with some
fine furniture in very bad order. Wewere
provided with supper and directed how
to apply for an interview with the Presi-
dent. The next morning we directed q
note TO Secretary Benjamin, asking an
interview with the President, and were
invited to sail upon him, when We made
an engagement to meet the President
that evening, which was Sunday. On
meeting our engagement, we were shown
into the State Department, where we
saw Mr.. Benjamin, small, plump, black
haired, black eyed man, seated in his usu-
al place, and at his right pale, thin man
dressed in suit of darkish gray, with 8
mouth and chin expressive Of the Eeat-
est determination.


We told him simply that we came with
out official authority, and knowing the
opinions of our government, to see on
what terms peace might be made. Mr..
Davis replied, quietly, withdraw your
armies from our territory and peace will
follow of ITSELF" We told him that the
Northern people would never agree to
any plan which did not include the es-
tablishment of the Union. Mr.. Davis
said that we could never live in peace
The North had shown such bitterness
between the two sections that we never
could have peace in this generation. We
then urged upon him that twas his duty
to use every effort to put an end to thi
monstrous bloodshead. he acknowl-
edged this, and declared that none of the
blood shed in this war could he lay to
his own charge. They, the South, were
not Sighting for slavery; they were
Year: 1864

fighting for Independence and indepen-
dence or determination thev would have.
We then tried to show him that the posi-
ton of the rebel armies was such that it
was better for them o::give up the con-
test while they could do itvith honor;
but he was unwilling to admit that his
armies were in such a desperate position.
He laid the blame of the barbarity of this
war entirely upon the North, utterly ig
noring the instances of rebel barbarity
which we brought to his. notice. then
had considerable conversation with Mr..
Davis, in which I directly offered him
the terms which had been authorized to
suggest but as he did not show any dis
position to meet nae, will not state them
explicitly. These terms will be gives
through the newspapers in . short time.
Tn ey were, in. general, entire abolition, a
general amnesty, no conhscation, the
debts of the South to be ignored, the
debts of the, general government to be


borne by the states. Mr.. Davis declared
that such terms could never be accepted


BY the Southern people, and rather than
submit to them they would strike their
whole property, and their national sxis-
tencs.
Year: 1864

The Secretary Of the Treasury has made
an appeal to the people for loan of two
hundred millions of dollars. This ap-
peal, although responded to promptly in
some sections, has been received with q
different feeling in some others. This, it
seems to US, Is grave mistake. TheGoV-
ernnent is in debt, and it must have
money to pay the soldiers in the field,
the sailors on the ocean, and to meet the
current daily expenses incurred. Con-
gress has made the appropriations. 1t
will never do for the people who owe the
government to say that individually they
viii not pay the debts contracted by their
assembled in Washington.
This is reputation is disgrace the world
over. If the people think that tbe mon
ey which has been appropriated has been
squsndered recklessly, if they believe the
war might have been avoided with the
exercise of ordinary wisdom, or. conduct
ed with more energy and more success
they have the remedy in their own hands,
and that remedy is to change thsirrepre-


sentativss in Congress and select new


President. The remedy is not repudia-


ton, or to even falter in the prompt pay


ment of the debt already Contracted
Every individual in the State has per-
sonal interest in the discharge Of every
obligation contracted, and to sustain the
credit of the government above even a
suspicion. The payment of our debts Is
a question quite outside Of the ordinary
political discussions We are living un-
der system of written laws. We are
nation of freemen, each one of which
las direct interest in ths Government,
and if Il fails. the failure win more or
less reflect upon the wisdom and patriot
ism of each and every one in the commit
nifty. We may differ widely as to the best
policy to accomplish certain end, which
all ardently desire, but when that policy
has been decided upon, and obligations
contracted, it is the imperative duty of
every one to sustain the Government, so
as to enable it to meet promptly all its
liabilities. The ruin of the government
financially is the prostration of every in
diyidual in it. If the government
bonds will not sell, what are State and
city and county or individual obligations
worths What security is of any value, it
we have no government to enforcs obi
tions.


If these views are correct, there is 10
one thing more important at this time
than to sustain the credit of the govern
ment. This can be done with ease If the
people will but invest q small portion Of
their surplus in government securities.
Year: 1864

There is no implement so essential to
farming operations, and no one to which
so little attention is paid as a glindstone.
Formerly they were made with ma llet
and chisel, of all shapes, except perfectly
round; with square hole. rsrley, if ever
placed in the centre, and of every imagi-
nable grit, from the fineness inmarble to


the coarseness of pudding stone, and


and varying in hardness from that of sal
mon brick to a Quincy granite. lnthose
days it was quite an event in farmers
life to hang the grindstone," and re-
quired all the mechanical ingenuity of
the neighborhood to do it properly, but
now, any boy can hang a grindstone in
five minutes without the possibility Of
eranking it.,and with the certainty that il
will run true without dressing off.


The best grindstones are now made BY
machinery. which renders them mathe-
matically true, and the grit being selected
only of the best quality, the getting Of a
good one is reduced almost to certainty.
The ordinary square cranks have been
superseded by those made on the self ad-
justing principle, which consists OF
round shaft ION which a screw is cut and
two plates which are screwed together
with bur so as to suit any thickness Of
stone, which by pressing against the sides
of the stone, (instead of being wedged in
to the eye,) prevents any possibility of
splitting the stone, while at the same
time, it causes it to hang perfectly true
on the crank.


Another improvement is in the use CT
a single wheel friction roller, instead Of
the ordinary double one, thereby redue-
ing the friction just ons-half, and en-
abliAg the farmer with the use Of tred-
die, to grind any small tool without call
ing off some one from his work to turn
the grindstone."


No grindstone should stand the weather,
as it not only Injuries the wood work, but
the SUMS rays harden the stone so much
as in time to render it useless-neither
should it run in water, as the part remain
ing in the water softens SO much that it
wears away faster than the other side and
many g "soft place" in stone has risen
from this cause alone, and not from any
inequality in the grit. The proper way
is to allow the water to drop on the stone,
as it is needed, either from cast iron wa
ter cup, or, (what answers very well) an
old white lead keg, supported above the
stone with spile near the bottom, which
can be driven in when not needed, and
if kept filled with water will last long
time. Finally, the stone should not be
allowed to get tout of round" as no tool
can be properly ground unless the stone
runs true; if it should become uneven,
get some one to turn il, and with nail
rod raze it down until it becomes perfectly
round. Greasy or rusty tools should be
well cleaned before grinding. or they will
choke up the grit. If this should Occur,
little sharp sand and water on board
and kept against the stone while turning,
Will clean Il Of and sharpen up the a.4t
Year: 1864

a good deal of shaking of hand and merry


making. Everybody must tell him the


news; and he in return must tell every


body his adventures on sea and shore.


He has probably seen the sea-serpant-


at least, merimade. a whale, the ele-
phant in his own country, or the Grand


Mogul. Undoubtedly, the lengsst yarns
are spun on Cape Cod which are spun any
where in this country. And be it OBJ


served that the Cape Cod man, Is let
him go to whatever part of the world
may, sure to come back. His local
tastes never die out. and wherever he
roams, at every step away he drags a
lengthening cable. If he run a packet
between Boston and some other Of our
principal seaport cities. he does not re-
move his family to town; but the mo-
men, he gets on shore, hies away to the
Cape. He does not like the air of the
great cities, and cannot really feels at
at home anywhere that there is not sand
under his feet, or even a little Of it run
ming over his shoe quarters.-AackaTS
ne,s book, From Cape Cod TO Dtzis"
Year: 1864

.We do not believe the Creator ever
built up this republic TO have it torn down


sn.h is the faith Of the loyal people Of
the whole country; but it should be re-
Numbered that ''faith without works Is
dead" The Creator helps those who
help themselves. Hercules looked down
from the clouds and bid the devout bsliev-
er arise and clap his shoulder to the
wheel So in this contest for Union
liberty and progress. Faith is necessary.
to inspire effort, and the amount Of the
effort is the measure of faith. II We
work and give and fght for the great
cause. we shall soon come of more than
conquerors, for we shall find all our earth;
Iy blessing greatly increased. On the
contrary, # We fail through sluggishness
or narrow selfshnsss, We shall lose alL-
So that in respect to our faith and works
it will be fulfilled that ''to him that hath
be given, and from him that hath not
shall be taken away that which he hath.
Year: 1864

The Detroit Free Pres tells the follow
ing story;


"At the first battle of Bull Run there
was a soldier by the name Of Wilson, who
like many Others on that memorable oc-
cssion, struggled away from his command
After walking or rather running Tor ss'-
eral hours he becameyery much fatigued'
and after taking good precaution that
there were no rebels either within sight
or sound, he lay down to sleep by the
side of a fence and slept sweetly and
soundly during the night. Late in the
morning when the sun was near mid
noon, he woke to find himself in q
strange land, and perhaps among the
bittersst enemies of the country But
the demand of hunger soon Eilenced the
voice of prudence and caution. Seeing
mansion on hill in the distance, sur
rounded by parks and meadows, orchard
and evergreens, artificial fountains and
natural streams of clear running water,
in fact, everything to show that it was
one of the first class old Virginia planta-
tions, the house of courtly elegence, our
soldier, tired, with weary step and q
fainting, famishing heart, knocked at
the door of the mansion. He was cor
daily received, fer the old Virginia
planter was faithful among the faithful
few. He remained lcng enough to re-
cruit his wasted energies and get inform
alton as to the most direct route to Wash
iDgton. But the name of the young SOL
dier was not forgotten by. the plan ter
nor his. manly bearing and his genial
temperament. The soldier re-enlis ted
in another regiment, and at the second
battle of Bull Run was severely though
not dangerously wounded. He was ia
ken to the hospital at Richmond. His
old Virginia friend learned of his i'll
ness. He sent to the hospital and OBJ
tanned an order for permission to take
him to his own home. he was removed,
when thro' the kindness of the planter
and the attentions Of his daughter, the
young man gradually recovered. A ten
der regard sprung up between the young
lady and the young soldier, and to cut
very short the turn in the story in such ca
ses made and provided usually takes,
they were betrothed. The soldier re.
turned to his northern home on furlough


While here he learned of the sudden
and severe indisposition of her who was
soon to become his bride. he hastsned
to her side and buried her corpse. The
old man before many weeks had elapsed
told the young man that he intended to
make him his heir, that he had no child
rem left, and no relatives, except those
who were in rebellion, and that he should
now share with him his estates. He at
once gave him a deed to . considerable
property in Chicago. The young man a
few weeks since visited that modern mir
acle and Babylon combined, and found
that his little Chicago fortune would 70
alize the handsome sum of S200, 900, be-
ing offered $50, 900 for a single block to
which be had fallen heir. But this is
not all in the strange and eventful story.
The old man has but recently died,
leaving all his fortune to this young
Union soldier, which is now known to be
over sSOO,OOO.


This 'ower true tale we know will
sound like fiction; but had not the facts
come to us well substantiated, we shonld
not have given them. m.publicity."
Year: 1864

Corn has undergone an increase because Of the
short crop Of last year, and oats probably on ac-
count Of their having been more extensively sown
in view of the demands of army contractors; but
the other cereals, with the exception Of buck
wheat show marked decrease, which affords an
unpleasant commentary on the withdrawal Of labor
from tie farm to the battle field. Tho need in
which we stand Of recruits to fill up the broken
ranks OF our army Of agricultural work.
men receives q practical illustration In this
which calls for serious consideration. Encourage
ment should be given to the diffusion OF the popu-
lation, and the stream Of immigration constantly
flowing to our shores should be diverted as much
as possible from the seaboard cities TO the interior
Short crops mean reduced exports and high prices
for the necessaries Of life.


The course OF the markets for gold and stocks
yesterday and to-day have given those who came
fresh into Wall street after the result of the Pres-
Dental election was known, thinking that steady
rise lay before them taste of the uncertainties
OF speculation at the present time. rise Of four
teen per cent in gold yesterday, followed by fall


OF more than twelve per cent to-day, indicates
degree Of feverish sensitiyeness which sets all cal


cuatons at defiance. There was more sub.
stantal reason for the fall than for the rise both
resulting from the caprice OF speculation,
Influenced in the case by opinions
founded upon an event, and In the other
by o false report itself perhaps originated for
speculative purposes. This suf1ced, with the as
sistance OF the bears" to create something like
"a scaren Tomorrow the shuttocock Of the
hour may rise instead Of fall, only 70 yield
again TO similar epasms, and make the
value OF the currency moro uncertain
than the weather. This may be pleasant
for spectators, who succeed in catching the
market 10 their advantage, but II works grea,
evil In the constant disturbance Of values; and the
control the price OF gold which the specu.
lators In the aggregate possess, produces Q
degree Of popular distrust and anxiety which
would otherwise have no existence. The
necessity, therefore, for re-organiziag the
national finances on sounder basis than that OF
more than nine hundred millions OF currency, tho
total amount emitted by the Treasury and National
and State banks, becomes more apparent with
svsty days experience. 50 long - that evil re.