smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

A FUSNY ANEcDoTE.-Gen
Slocum, in his lecture on the "Mili-
tary Lessons of the War" tells the
following story in his reference to the
battle of Bull Run:


The influence of our officers over
the men, and the state of discipline, IL
best illustrated by an incident which
occurred on the field in the heat of
battle. An officer, who has since be-
come very prominent and we'll
known throughout the country, was
then in command of u brigade OH the
right of our line, While riding over
the Fl I'D he discovered soldier con-
cealed in hole in the ground which
was Of just sufficient dimensions to
afford him shelter. The General
rode up To him, inquiring as To his
regiment, and ordered him to join it
at once. The man, looking him full
in the face, placed his thumb upon
his nose, and replied No you don't,
old fellow, you want this hole your
self -
Year: 1869

One great change that has taken
place in the usages and course OF
business Is In the lessening difference
between the amount of the trade OF
different seasons of the year. This
fact has hardly yet received the re-
cOgnitiOn it deserves, and people still
talk of the spring and fall trade just
as they did ten years ago, when ev-
cry considerable merchant came to
the city just twice year, and all at
the same time, to buy enough goods
to last till his next semi-annual visit.
This is not the way now, every body
knows and that it will never be the
way again, we think we will show
before this article is done. Let no
one hope again to see the large or
ders an 1 long credits-for they go to-
gether of the "gOOd old times :"
they ;-re gone forever, and we at
least have no desire to see them
back again.


The spirit of modern improve
ment is responsible for the change
by means of railways andtelegraphs;
of splendid illustrated price lists, and
numerous circulars !; of travelling
statesmen and newspapers and more
perhaps, tlian all of the cash system.
Instead of large orders every spring
and fall bought at long credit. we
have smaller purchases made all
through the year, of such goods as
are from time to time needed, to be
paid for in cash, thus making
a steadier and more healthy trade.


During the war credit was to a
great extent abolished, and since, in
this part of the country, has been
looked on with no favor. AS a matter
of course, in this state of things,
people only buy as they are able to
pay for their purchases and as few
are able TO pay eachfor a six months
supply-and those who are able do
choose tO-they buy little more at
the spring and fall than at other
seasons. Price lists and circulars,
and every convenience for ordering
by letter just when he needs the
goods, make this to the obvious in
terest of every merchant. Beside,
travellers are going over the country
all the time, and it is well known
that goods can very often be bought
cheaper of them than at the office
from which they come. The ease
and cheapness with which goods, es-
pecialiy of the more valuable kinds,
can now be sent in small quantities
at any season, by express of fast
freight lines, is another considera-
ton that has aided to produce this
change. TO so fine system is all
that reduced, that there is little
more trouble in sending case
of goods thousand miles, it may
be, then there is ia sending letter.
Il The Iron Age.
Year: 1869

From the Lafayette Qndl Courier.


A young fellow, who resides in
Knox county, had for some time
been paying his addresses to young
lady at Nincennes, made a prOpoof, !
of marriage and was accepted. In
accordance with mutual agreement
made by the parties, they went to
that city to get married. The young
man left the girl at the hotel to go
and get the license, aud a minister
to marry them. In due time he re-
turned with two men, one of whom
he introduced as Baptist minister,
who asked the couple if they were
ready, and, on receiving an aflirma-
tive answer went through the mar
riage ceremony. The honeymoon
went s'merry as a marriage-bell'
until the next day, when the happy
couple arrived at the girls mothers,
when the gay deceiver informed the
object of his deceit of the true
state of affairs aud bid her adieu.
The fiend of this gross and glaring
outrage is permitted to walk the
streets of Vincennes with a boastful
air as if he had subdued an empire,
while the physician of the outraged
girl So . that she Is lying at her
Year: 1869

In Pennsylvania the question oi
women holding office is about Ia be
given practical solution, without
touching at all upon the ground TAX
Ell by those opposed ta,or indifferent
about woman suffrage. Miss Maria
l.. Sanford. a young lady WHO has
been teaching q public school i'll
Chester county, is urged for County
superintendent of Common Schools.
There is nothing in the laws of that
State preventing woman from
holding the office, and she is strongly.
supported for the position.
Year: 1869

gull struck its talons into fish
Oh the Potomac, the other day, but
vas unable either To bear il away ON
account OF its weight or to loosen
itself from its prey. After Il long
struggle the bird Was exhausted,
Year: 1869

In Pennsylvania, to furnish poison
to any one with the purpose of en-
abling him to commit suicide, Is 10
become an accessory before the fact To
a murder in the first degree, aud the
Year: 1869

In the o. S. District Court in Bankruptcy
yesterday the petition In the case OF IathrOp LudngOn
Il Co have their large dry goods iObbing firm, which
failed last December TO be declared bankrupt fled


In the U. S. District Court, in admiralty, yes
terday the case of COugh ct al. agt. The Brig Birdie
came up. This is suit by the owners OF the steamtug
William Fletcher TO salvage for having. as they
aege saved tine brig Birdie which went ashore at Far
ROckaway, Long Island. the 5th OF March, leCo The


belants alege that the brig abandoned, and that
both the brig and her would have been total loss
had not the tug gone her assistance The answer OF
the claimants admits that the brig went ashore and that
taken off by the tug, but denies that she was
abandoned that there any danger OF her being lost
that the services Of the tug solicited or needed
After the libel and had been read, the case was
adjourned TO the 18th inst.


In the Superior Court, Trial Term, yesterday,
before Judge Barbour the Of Henry T. ROmers agt
The East HI yer Bank decided. Henry ROmerts the
plaintiff complains OF the East River Bank that he de-
pOsted with them package containing $4,000 In United
them ultimately the $4,000 bonds gone. The de-
fense was that the package sealed package, OF the
contents OF which the officers OF the bank had knOU
edge, and that the plaintiff had repeatedly drawn and
replaced this package. ROmerts himself seemed 20 have
doubtful character from some testimony that was
given. The Jury found for the plaintiff, but
added TO their verdict recommendation that
President of the bank shOud be censued for his loose
OF doing business. Chief Justice Barbour said
that this unusual thing IN civic case and seemed
call for comments from him The banks In the
turned without receipts he himself had done so, and
other persons had told him the thing. This
doubtedy loose way IN business, but itWas the usual
Year: 1869

HE RIGHTS OF COLoRED CITIZENs-AN EN-


LIGHTENED JUROR.


In the Court of Common Pleas, Trial Term,
yesterday, before Judge Daily the jury in the Of
Jacobs against the Atlantic Navigation Company, dlsa-
greed standing from the time Of going out TO the time Of
their discharge ten orpanR and two for the defendant
1t rumored that the objection Of Of the two to the
plaintiffs that he did not wish to be com
PEELED to marry his daughter to a Niger"
Year: 1869

A funny story is told of the second
raising of "a meeting house in Connecticut,
when a young man was called upon to
deacon an appropriate hymn. He repeat
ed, in clear and solemn voice, the lines :


Except the Lord doth build the house


The workmen toll in vain
Which were sung by the people with
usual solennity, when the rogue gave out,
with equal seriousness


Except the Lord doth shingle in


Twill tumble down again.
Year: 1869

Stephen II. a lad about Is years of age,
son of c. P. Reno of Iowa Hill, while
going from Ford's Bar to Pickering's Bar
on the North Fork,a few days since, dis
covered large deer below. the trail,
standing behind bush, and partially
hidden from him. On the spur of the
moment he picked up rock and hurled
it at the unsuspecting animal, which took
effect on the head and brought it to the
ground. Then with the quickness of
thought he sprang upon his prey, and
with another rock beat it on the head
until life was extinct. The deer after
being dressed, weighed SO pounds. We
must say bully for him.
Year: 1869

SUcKERs.-A Chicago paper tells how
the men of Illinois came to be called
suckers" The praries were wide, the
tramps long, and at times water scarce.
The crawfish is a cold water animal under
all circumstances, and where he lives at
all, he bores for his favorite liquor if he
can get it on no easier terms. The habit
alton of the happy erawfsh is never out
of water, in which sits the crustacean
damp aud cheerful The early thirsty
prairie traveller coming to one of the
crawtish holes, even if the surface of the
low soil was baked and parched, knew
that here was water, and the adjacent
reeds-perhaps he carried one stuck in
his hat-band-furnished the ready means
of drawing on the stock of the crawfsh


So they came to be known as 'ssuckers"
Year: 1869

WHAT NERVE DoEs.-An ounce of pluck


IS worth regiment of men, A little nerve,
coolness, pluck and decision have carried men
safely through difficulties unsurmountable. In
all probability no person possess nerve to to a
greater degree than do bank robbers and per-
sons of that class, who live not by hard labor,
but by their wits, and operations which pro-
ceed from boldness. Not long since man
stood in Wall street Bank with bag in his
hand containing $4,000 in gold A gentle


manly looking man with his hat Off and said
to the one who held the gold, "Lct me heft it
III guess within half an ounce of its weight"


The person addressed mechanically handed
the bag to the applicant, who at once ran out
doors, and was lost among the crowd, while
the loser of the gold never saw it again. On
seeing him with his hal off, he thought him a
clerk in the bank. A gentleman standing by
saw the thief remove his hat and hang it on a
hook, when he too supposed it to be some one
connected with the bank, and said nothing.


Some years since, person entered the I'm
porters' and Traders Bank, New York, in
broad daylight, took off his coat, put on dus-
ter, stuck pen behind his ear, and then walk
ed deliberately past clerks, tellers, and cashier
and pushed the president aside, who stood
talking with some of the directors entered the
vault, helped himself to the largest package of
money he could find, and walked out unmo-
Tested, no one suspecting that anything was
wrong till he was off and out of sight.


A few months ago, in New York, hearse
drove 10 the door of mansion A genteel
young man rang the bell and inquired for the
man who lived there, but he was down town.
He said the hearse containeda coffin in which
were the remains of the daughter Of the occu-
pant of the house, who had just died at school
in Connecticut The servant of the house had
heard nothing of the matter, but helped the
driver bring the coffin into the parlor, and at
the suggestion Of the young man who said he
was teacher sent one of their number to the
gentleman's place of business to inform him of
the sad news. The teacher remained in the
house to tell him the particulars, but when the
man arrived the teacher had gone, and about
three thousand dollars worth of jewelry, kept
in bureau caskets, had gone with him. The
coffin was opened, and found to be filed with
a beech log.
Year: 1869

Angry words are lightly spoken
In a rash and thoughtless hour
Brightest links of life are broken
By their deep insdious power.
Hearts inspired by warmest feeling
Meier before by anger stirred,
OFT are rent past human healing


BY a single angry word.
Poison drops of care and sorrow,
Bitter poison drops are they,
Weaving Tor the coming morrow


Saddest memories of to-day.
Angry words oh, let them never


From the tongue unbridled slip
May the hearts best impulse ever
Check them ere they soil the lip.
Love is much too pure and holy


Friendship is too sacred far,
For moments reckless folly


Thus to desolate and mar.
Angry words are lightly spoken,


Interest thoughts are rashly stirred
Brig htest links of life are broken
BY a single angry word.
Year: 1869

YOUNG lady whose scholars were about
to separate for a long vacation, felt anxious
to say something to them that might lead
them to try end live good aad useful lyes.
So she talked very earnestly to them about
The future that wss before them. telling
them how much more valuable and upright
honorable character you'd be TO them !ban
wealth or fame. When she thought she
had deeply impressed with them the impor.
,aucs Of the good name which Solomon
says is better than riches, shs said Nov,
boys. waat you to tell me what you most
~snt to Save when you grow TO be men.
Think moment before you answer" Up
came several hands, aud she called on the
t'.t boy Tor bis choice. 'Wbissers : shout
cd the boy with such emphasis that it put
an ettscsual stop TO any further questions.
Year: 1869

FIsKE, JR.--James Fiskc, Jr., has written a
letter to the New York Sun, which duplicates
Corbin, President Grants brother-in law, as 4
leading spirit in the late gold speculation. The
proper way to dispose of this matter is to call
Fiske hard names. Such is the course adopted
by the partizan dalies of this city, which seem
under the impression that they are indebted TO
the iorbearance of the President for being per-
mtted 10 exist. The public perhaps will not be
satisfied with abusing Mr. Fiske. He is u bold g,
able, and INSCRIPTIONS speculator but he acts
in his private capacity, speculates on his own
money, and is answerable only to the law and
public opinion for what he does. Bat with Cor
bin it is different He would not be anybody f
he was not the Presidents brother-in-law. Ifhe
specuates it i on his position as a member OF
the Presidents extensive family, and upon Sc
cret information he is able to get possession Of.
Fiske states that Corbin was in the movement
before Fiske knew of its existence and that Cor
bins represent Ia ton OF influence he could bring
to bear in favor of the project, enlisted other
men of means and capacity into the scheme.
Fiske also states that he had repeated interviews
with Corbin and wife, and that he visited Wash
ington at the time of the panic in Wall street.
These are serious charges and as direct as they
are serious. If they are not true they can be
disproved. II they are true it is well for the
people to know it and we hold that they
are rather indebted to Mr.. Fiske or the informa-
tion. If the administration through its official
and unofficial representatives. is in the field as q
speculator in gold and bonds, the fact ought to
he proclaimed without regard to the head there
by covered with thorns-- Golden Era.
Year: 1869

A LITTLE boy, after listening to sermon on
the necessity Of being born again, returned home
much affected and said 70 his mother: Il don I
like that sermon; and ma, don't want to be born
again, for who knows but might then be q gal.'
Year: 1869

The question of the existence OF an open


polar sea in the ice bound north has many
disputanis, pro and contra. j. The views


held by many writer's are for the most


pert speculative; yet, if the declarations
OF those Arctic explorers who penetrated


farthest to the north and brought back
some definite information relative TO the
scenes with which their perilous researches
brough. them in contact, are to be receired
as worthy of our confidence, some credit
must be given to the opinion that an open


polar sea does exist. Capt. Parry, as early
as 1920, penetrated to nearly $50 north
latitude, and found, not an unbroken field
of ice as would be at so high a latitude,
but seperate foes, with more or less open
water between them. The damage sus-
tanned by his vessels amid this floating
ice induced his return. Parry found the
temperature along the western shore OF
Spitzbergen unexpectedly mild, even rain
falling nos and then. DR., kaEe, in 1885,
penetrated little beyond SIS, and found
evidences sufficient to warrant him, in his
report of bis expedition to the Navy De-
partment of the United States. to state
that he had discovered a large channel to
the northwest, free from ice, and leading
into an open and expanding area equally
free from ice. This open sea he states he
beheld from promontory $40 feet high,
and to use his own words, "a gale FROM
the northeast of fifty four hours duration.
brought heavy swell from that quarter
without disclosing any drift or other ice
The statements of Parry and Kane are the
most definite of Artic explorers on tho
subject of an open polar sea. But even
were its existence fact, the impossible
ity of its use for naval purposes is appa'
rent on account of the dangers surround
ing its approaches.-Fron "Auswers to
Correspondence" in Phreno1og'cot Joarts-
al for April. -
Year: 1869

A WRITER in the St. Louis Republican
has introduced the following style of biog-
raphy: 'Robert Dexter-King Of the
New York Ledger and editor of the Turf.
He has circulation of 2:15, and can trot
his mile inside of half million of SUBJ
scribers, on ten cylinder track. All the
distinguished writer's in the country trot
for his paper. He learned the at of
printing when he was colt, and by dint of
perseverance. linked with native busi-
ness tact, and athorough knowledge of the
value of advertising, under the saddle and
to harness, he has in his maturity become
millionaire. He is perfect gentleman,
seventeen and one half hand high, of a
rich, glossy color and faultless symmetry
He may be seen almost any day when the
weather is fine, trotting around the Ledger
Office, or writing editorials in the Central
PARK"
Year: 1869

4 NOVEL Motive Power "A few days
ago, as feet of fishing vessels were lying
on one # the banks with which our coasts
abounds, their boats wandering from place
to place in search of good fishing ground,
they encountered large shoal OF sword
fish. The men on board of one of the
boats struck" one of them, and as they
were hauling him in, he came, in his gy-
rations, full at the stern of the boat, run
ming his sword, several feet long through
the skull ll-hole. at the same time disengag.
ing the iron from his body. Quick as
thought one of the stalwart mariners seized
the sword, and getting astride OF it, held
it firmly. Meantime the fish, by the
action of his tail used as propeller, urged
the boat forward at good rate of speed
until she reached the vessel to which she
belonged, her head fortunately being in
that direction when he made the attack.
The novel scene was witnessed by all the
members of the fleet, who greeted the
strange performance with cheers and
shouts of laughter.
Year: 1869

Hands that are brown, and hands that ar


white
Clasped each other in love to night;


And the brown are going to Go and dare,
And toll for the hands that are small and fair
The brown will grow browner day by day
Toiling beneath the suns fierce ray,
And holding the plow from morn till night
To save the hands so soft and white.
Rye, oats and wheat the brown will throw,
And many an acre with corn will SOW
That the owner of hands so fine and fair
May never know a want or care. ~ d.
Out of the pathway OF life will be torn
The thistle, the briar, and the thorn,
By great brown hands so loving and kind
That the white may only roses find.
Year: 1869

IT is said Summers effort to make
the Alabama British question the is
sue this fall, has proved a failure
The other radical issues having prov
ed also failures, the wonder is now
what hobby they will find to splurge
and yelp on this fall.
Year: 1869

TuE CABLE The Secretary of State has ad-
dressed note TO the British Minister and TO
the French Charge de Afaires informing them
that the bill which passed the Senate last win.
ter, and only failed in the House for want OF
time, and which provided that no foreign cable
should he landed on the shores OF the United
States without the consent OF Congress and
without provision Tor reciprocity in the Use
thereof by the respective Governments eonnec-
ted by such cable. unquestiona bly, embodied
the sentiments of Congress on this subject, to
which their attention is respectfully called.
This now is also in accord with the recent opin-
,on of Attorney General Hoar, who held that,
although the State of Massachusetts, had given
consent to the landing Of such cable, yet it was
void until the consent of Congress was obtain
3D. Therefore, though the French cable may
be landed at Duxbury during the present month,
its operation is not certain for some time. This
Cable Company is exclusively French in its
control, and it is stated that one provision in
lts charter requires wire to pass into the
ruileries Congress will undoubtedly Insist
upon reciprocity in the use Of the cable between
ibe g. s. and France.
Year: 1869

SAN FRAEcIsco, May lO.-The formal COM
pietion Of the Pacific railroad was announced
IN this city at 1l45 a. m to-day, by the ringing
OF the City Hall bell and the firiEg of fifteen
lnch gun at Fort Point TO both Of which the
telegraph wires had been connected, and
which were Iung or fired at the moment of
driving the last spike. The news created great
enthusiasm in the interior cities and through
out the State The first invoice OF Japan teas
by The Pacific railroad was shipped to-day for
St. Louis. thus inaug uTating the overland trade
with China and Japan.
Year: 1869

~The Methodist Bishop Simpson has ON
several occasions expressed himself strongly
TO the effect that the tide OF drunkenness And m
morality, especially in our great cities. cannot
De stopped until the ballot rs given 20 women.
AT the Methodist Conference in Richmood In
dana this sentiment was received with great
cheering.
Year: 1869

CoNJURKR SHOT.-A German coniurer in
Paris recently came to grief rather tragIcally.
One OF his tricks is TO load q pistol and ask
some one among the spectators TO fire IL at him,
when ne produces the bullet in his hand. Un.
fortunately he left the ramrod IN the barrel and
on the pistol being fireo at him, il went right {
through his body. infiicting a dangerous
wound. The ramrod passed clean th rough his
chest, coming out al the back, and passed
within line or two OF the top Of the right
lung. This professor Of legerdemain Is one
DIR. Epstein. He loaded the pistol himself
Year: 1869

we would have acted under such cir
cumstances. Better leave Judgment
to Him who can read both the mind
and the heart, and whose will direct
ed the avenging bullet. None other
is without sin, and who will dare to
cast the first stone?
Year: 1869

TRUE TO THE GRAY.


Br PEARL RIVERS.
cannot listen to your words,
The land is long and wide;
Go seek some happy Northern girl
To be your loving bride.
My brothers they were soldiers
The youngest of the three
Was slain while'fsht;ng by the. side
OF gallant Fitzhagh Lee : -
They left his body on the field,
(Your side that day had won y
soldier spnrned him with his foot,
You might have been the one.
My lover was soldier,


He belonged to Gordon's band;
sabre pierced his gallant heart.
Yours might have been the hand.
He reeltd and fell, he was not dead,
herseman spurred his steed.
And trampled on the d, ing brain,
You might have done the deed
hold no hatred in my heart,
No cold, unrighteons pride:
For many gallant soldier fought
Upon the other side
But still cannot kiss the hand
That smote my country sore,
Nor love the foes that tramped down
The colors that she bore.
Between my heart and yours there rolls
deep and crimson tide
My brothers and my levers blood,
Forbids me be your bride.
The girls who loved the boys in gray,
The girls to country true,
May ne'er in wedlock give their hand
To those who wore the blue
Year: 1869

According to the report OF the
Secretary of State, the total valua-
ton of Massachusetts at the present
time is twelve hundred and thirty
million four hundred and ninety
eight thousand nine hundred aud
thirty nine dollars.