smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

Happy Family.


Brant l. Gardner have a large rattlesnake
in a box at Georges Office. In the box are
three mice and devil a bit will his snake
ship touch them; the little fellows run all
over him. sit on his head, approach his
mouth and behave sociable but he does not
seem to recognize them. Do snakes, in
confinement, ever eat9 We are told by
those who have kept them all one summer
that in no instance while in their possession,
were they known to eat. We have no
work on snakes and therefore we cannot tell
how long they would live without food-we
know very we'll that it would be good
many years before they would get nything
good at our hands.


Speaking of snakes reminds US that this
town is represented by some Of our ex-
changes as abounding in them. Iti tisproper
to say that the toaon is not favored with
them to any great extent-citizcns do not
carry clubs along the street to dispatch
them with, nor do we build our houses on
poles, as in India, to prevent their crawling
into bed with US, but they are plenty on
the bluffs around us and no child should b.
permitted to 60 there for strawberries with.
out having the feet we'll protected-if they
will 60 barefooted, a burying of another sort
will probably be the next expedition which
their parents will send them on. Whisky
or alcohol in some shape, is the only
specific yet discovered; onions held to the
wound and frequently renewed-tobacco
chews applied, bandages tightly bound
above the wound are beneficial in prevent
ing rapid circulation of the uirus, but the
best remedy is to pour down all the liquor
the patient can hold. 1t takes four times
the usual quantity to make on impression.
Every family should have gallon Of whis-
ky in the house during a season of the
year when accidents of this kind are pro-
bable.


A stranger was here few days ago and
hearing a party of gossippers relieving
themselves of snake stories, he related an
instance Of man in Pennsylvania who
killed thirty i've full grown rattlesnakes in
his own garden during one summer. Bill
ly, of the American said "that is great
country, but it is not equal to the vicinity
Of McGregor. A family out here on the
bluff has paid attention to shaking for two
years past and now they have large bu-
reau- drawer full Of the rattles alone, and"
(the stranger began to move off at this
point of the story "they find the rattles of
great use-so soon as a snake comes within
hundred yards of the house, the drawer
begins to play its music and the monsters
outside hearing the alarm given by the
caudalities Of their deceased friends, sneak
of to the busiest!
Year: 1861

To the Democracy OF Clayton County


Gentlemen 1T is proposed by mum.
Der of gcntlenmen of both political parties
and citizens of this county, that for tho
nomination of County and Legislative can
didates to be voted for at our fall election,
we send delegates from each. Township
composed of an equal number Of each Po-
litical party to County Convention to be
held at Elkader, on the 22d day Of August
next.


This call was presented to me but al
though approved Of it, thought it best
not to sign it without consulting the other
members of the Committee, some Of whom
have since seen, as well as other old and
reliable members Of our party, and it seems
to be the unanimous feeling among them
to bury the partizan in the patriot during
our unfortunate struggle for the prepetua-
ton of the Constitution and onr national
existence. In doing this it is not necessary
and we do not propose to abandon any OF
our time honorcd political principles, or to
support the Administration Of Mr.. Lin
coin politically: but we do propose to
stand by our national flag without refer
cnce to who may be the standard bearer
for the time being, and aid in striking down
the ruthless hand that would dare to desc
crate it.


hope therefore that my Democratic
brethren will heartily cooperate with their
Republican nchgbors in each Township in
selection of delegates according to the plan
proposed by Judge Price and others; the
proposition is liberal one, and one in
which all true patriots can heartily unite
for the time being. D. Bacon
Chairman Of Co. Dem. Com.


July 9Th, 1861.
Year: 1861

FELLow ClrlzExs.-We have seen the burial
Of all partizan feelings beneath the ringing
shout Of patriotism that is waited upon every
breeze, by the great uprising voice of the peo.
Pile, of the north, proclaiming to all the world.
that the Union Of these States is imrerishab.e !;
and in order to preserve this patriotic union Of
people in support OF the Constitution, and the
restoration Of the Union, we propose fellow
citizens. to lay aside all political partizanship
until the close Of the war and the restoration
OF the Union, and recommened the rallying Of
all political parties in our county, around the
common banner Of our country, in aud under
the broad name Of the Union, and for the pur.
pose of recommending candidates for the public
offices. to be filled at the approaching election
by the exclusive votes OF the people of Clay
ton Co.


We recommend the holding Of UNION
CONVENTION at Elkader, on Saturday the
22d day of August next, at O'Clock, P. NJ,
to be composed Of delegates from the different
Townships of the County. representing in
equal parts the two great political parties Of
Year: 1861

ew~Two or three drops Of saturated So.
luton of camphor IN alcohol, put in half
an ounce Of soft water, forms u mixture
which will revive flowers that have begun
to droop and wilt, and give them freshness
for long time.
Year: 1861

Love up n Ladder.


jolly young fellow, who once on time,
To third ory window had ventured TO climb.
To court his Dulcina.- trim lit tie maid,
But compared with her beau, of inferior grade,
Was told by his .sma" she sorry to know
She'd q who could stoop so uncommonly low
''Indeedv' said the yonker, swell now declare
can't on my conscience agree with You there!
I don't call 1t stopping, my worthy old teacher
When climb up thirty foot ladder to reach her!
Year: 1861

This mode Of calculation would give brandy Of second
proof 81 3k two and half for each degree
OF strength above the degree by which the strength Of
nrst proof Indicated similar calculation for some Of
the other proofs gives rate Of duty which very in
convenient from the number Of decimal figures Ia ita
rate which is not exactly correct either from the nature
Of the fraction.


The Secretary recently decided 10 levy duty ou liquors
sn another end convenient Instead Of as
certaning the Of duty to be levied on the higher
proofs by making proportion Of the degree of strength
for the required proof the degree Of strength for first
proof and the duty gallon first proof liquor he
decided levy cent for each degree strength above
the strength Of first proof sprituous liquors and two
and half cents for each degree of strength above the
strength Of first proof brandies The Of duty
ahen, readily be sscertaned by multiplying tho de
Of strength by for spruous liquors. by two
and half FOR brandcs The standard degree for first
prccf is now so degrees instead Of 30 110 degrees
Year: 1861

UNION PRAYER MEETING AT BARNUMs-The Christian Al
lance is to hold Union meeting at the lecture Of
tho american Museum, this evening at half past
O'clock to pray for the of hoe and
peace with all tho nations Of the EARTH The meeting
will open with the well known hymn


Before Jehovalis awful throne,
Year: 1861

We by distinguished naturass that the eagle wont to
weigh precision his ability withstand without
injury impending storm If in the gathering and
benn Clouds he desces the signals OF too for his
he his broad and aboc e
where his proud altitude he has only os do"n with con-
sciousness of safety the of turmoil below


suggests beautiful lesson 1t is true of the moral
of the natural world world Of Storms of trouble
often threaten in the of
thy And when they the question: How We
meet them momentous interest The great
have never Too many among those who profess to
have happiness that
they must beneath the cloud and bear the storm the best
thew can But they have less wisdom than the eagle


touching simplicity does Jesus unfold the way Antci
Mating the trials be his friends he directs their
upward your heart be troubled believe in God be-
eye also in me- my Fathers house mansions it
were not so told you place for
And go prepare place viii come again and receive
Won INTO myself: where am there be aso."


The Saviour his disciples meet the storm soaring
above it. Like the eagle rather the lark soaring and singing
the cate Of heaven should rise the pinions Of Christian faith
to region of serenity and This Jesus invites him to do
And of all men the last when the dark clouds gather
and mpend finger beneath them sheteress and exposed


Oh Christian the approaching take warn
ing and if you SAFE find peace and rest to spirit
while it RACES, soar aIoft - -
Year: 1861

a few weeks since, when passed
through your city, the crisis was thicken-
ing, aud since that time it has continued to
grow thicker and blacker, and if the result
ofthe contes hast chilled Uimean the bat
tie fought at Manassas) and dispirited you,
how much more heavily must it have fall
len onsthe lovers OF the stars and stripes
in the Southern States, and how much
greater must have been its tendency to dis
courage the Union mem there. But 1 tell
you that if the sullen, smothered Union
feeling of the South has receded, it is like
thesmothered fires of YesuTius, which only
fall to gather more lava and more heat,
that when the time comes they may. burst
out with the more destructive fury. When
the time comes in which the smothered
sentiments of Southern Union men shall
burst forth they will visit destruction up
onthose who have exiled them from their
homes and devastated their property
Manassas should but stimulate you to make
such demonstration as will teach traitors
both North and South, (forfI 1 tell you that
you have them here) that there is power
in this government sufficient to preserve it
from destruction and that you are deter
mined that the Union shall be preserved.
Year: 1861

SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF YousG WoaAs.-Shortly
after II clock on Sunday night the watchman aboard
the steamship Philadelphia lyingat the foot of Morton
street. N r., heard splash in the water, and looking
out saw woman in the dock. He procured assistance
and eventually succeeded in rescuing her, but not till


life was extinct. She made no attempt whatever to
help herself when a rope and then chain were
thrown out for her to grasp. Deceased was young
woman about 20 years Of age, and had dark hair She
was dressed in black velvet waist calico skirt, shoes
and white stockings. pawn ticke. was found in her
pockets but nothing was discovered by which she
could be identified. The Ninth Ward Police seem to
think deceased was intoxicated at the time Of the
occurrence. The remains were conveyed to the Sta
ton House and the coroner notified TO hold inquest.
Year: 1861

CENTRAL PARK.-There are about 900 men now
employed at the Park and it is the intention Of the
Commissioners To continue the wok during the season,
if the money is obtained with which topay the men.
Year: 1861

Custom M-HorsK.-Thers were about forty arrivals at
the Custom House yesterday. Several vessels came
in ballast but the aggregate receipts were more than
double those of most days during last week.
Year: 1861

gsn y man that does not know / ow 70
be bad, doe. not know how to be good.
Men say that when bad man becomes
good he IS apt to be a very good man. 1t
j. SO but being bad has nothing to do with
it An energetic man is as energetic in
goodness a in evil.


The man that has bottom force, power
penctrates every part of his nature, when
he becomes good it takes the royalty of
that force into his higher nature though
before it was only his baser.
Year: 1861

BGs~ While it Is my intention to pre-
serve the strictest economy and account
ability. | think the last dollar should be
expended and the last man armed to bring
this unholy rebellion to a speedy and per
manent closc-Secretary Of Var.


There is the right kind of grit 1t is
lust about what we said last March
Year: 1861

SECRETARY CAMERON MODIFIED. The
first report printed as that of the Secretary
Of UGr, 1t appears is not that OF the Sec
retarv, but only that of Simon Cpmeron.
The President has overruled him. The
report as officially delivered and published
has on the subject of contrabands what
follows "onlv that and nothing more


at is already Il grave question what
shall be done with those slaves who are
abandoned by their owners on the advance
of our troops into Southern territory, as ut
Beaufort district in South Carolina. The
number left within our control ut that
point is very considerable. and similar
eases viii probably occur What shall be
done with them Can we afford To send
them forward to their masters. to be by
them armed against US. or used in pro
ducing supplies to maintain the rebellion
Their labor may be useful to Us: Withheld
from the enemy it lessons his military re
sources, and Withholding them has no ten
dcncy to induce the horrors of insurrec
ton, even in the rebel communities
They constitute military resource anG
being such, that they should not be turned
over TO the enemy Is too plain TO discuss
Why deprive him of supplies by block
ate, end voluntarily give him men to pro
duce supplies The disposition to be m. dc
of the slaves of rebels after the clio = OF
the war can be safely left to the wisdom
and patriotism of Congress The repre-
sentatives the people will, unIucstiona
bly,, secure TO the loyal Shareholders every


r@ht to which they are ctitlcd under the
constitution of the country.
Year: 1861

The OLDEST REcoED The oldest of all
records of which we have any knowledge
was written upon a swif.-hyine ray Of
light Sir William lIcrschci estimate /
that some of the nebule which ware
fai.tly visible by means Of his forty-foot
reflector were 80 remote that light occu-
pied two millions of years in coming from
them to rs. Consequently we see the
nebule, not as they are now, but as they
were two millions of years ago. Looking
in the telescope we are reading the very
oldest OF histories Since the nabu e had
the form It presents to us-Since the ray
of light started forth to convey the intelli-
gencc of this form, races of men have
advanced from barbarism to civilization
and have written voluminous histories,
which have mouldercd into dust: and vet
the light bears its shining record across
the ages, as bright as when it was so GU
rlously written upon the fvin@ ray.
Year: 1861

II Owing to the fact that the members elec- Ited to the convention have been made the messengers to bring the vote for the con ivention to the capital, we have not received lEfull and perfect returns by the mails H Enough however has been learned to justify Ius in the belief that the convention has sbeen carried by large majority The sovereign people of Arkansas will meet in Iconvention on the 4th day of March next, Ito consider their grievances, and to take Isuch action as they may deem the necessity sof the case requires.

 E Tho complexion of the convention will sbe about what we thought and predicted FOver thirty of it's members will be for i'm hnediate secession from the Union, over twenty will be for secession when all pros lpects of justice in the Union shall have vanished, and not more than fifteen have Ebeen elected who are for unconditional sub- omission.

 Is Under the circumstances, when it is re- hnembered that this question of secession shas never before been presented to our peo- lple, their action we regard as in the highest lHegree honorable to the State Had the whole subject been brought up before them two or three weeks ago, and been fully and Ably discussed, there is now no doubt but fhat the voice for immediate secession Iwould have been overwhelming. \ We look upon Arkansas as already a Emember of the southern confederacy. She fs, in heart, if not in fact The convention

 to assemble here next 4th day of March Twill but reflect the will of large majority Fofour people when they take her out of the IEpresent Union and make her member of N the confederated States of America. D yIhere may be few who will oppose this |kstep because they prefer the northern to the southern republic-and there may be a Few more who, fearful of responsibility, Pnay desire to postpone and delay, but a

 Large majority of the convention will be for at once vindicating the honor of the Estate by placing her, where she ought to

 be, along side of her sisters of the South.

 The people of Arkansas are not vacil- Hating, time-serving people. The recent Ielection has vindicated them from this stain. They have not taken council of those who

 would wait for the action of the border

 slave States. Feeling themselves compe-

 tent to manage their own affairs, and pos

 sessing the independence to rely upon their eown resources, they have acted for them

 selves.

 In less than twenty days Arkansas will

 be with her sisters of the South, an honor

 ed member of "The Confederate States of

 America" Nine times nine cheers for Ar Kansas.
Year: 1861

In recent visit to the beautiful grounds occupied by the Arsenal, formerly belong ing to the United States, the idea forcibly suggested itself, that this was of all oth- ers, the most appropriate site for military school. Would it not be we'll to apnro. priate it to that purpose if the State secedes, and if the Union by any unlocked for con- urgency is preserved, would 1t not be well to retain the place by the consent of the United States? It would be given up to the myrmidoms of Lincoln very reluctant ly, for we want no bayonets to over-awe the capital, and to jeopardize the lives and fortunes of our citizens. If, however, we remain in the Union, the Arsenal sbould be converted into a frst-class military institute, such as the State needs at any rate, and let the place still remain militia " depot for U. $. arms, to be guarded by officers and cadets of the school

 An institution of this kind would not only be an ornament to the State, but would be quite an acquisition to the city. Arkan- sas 's sadly deficient in educational facili. ties. We belong to that class who think the State can do nothing so advantageous to her citizens as placing before them the best means for educating the youth of the land. Especially should she resort to every means for moulding public sentlnent after

 Cr.

 great central school or schools, is like ship without rudder. There is no radia- ting centre from which common, cultiva- ted public taste, and a united public senti- ment, may overspread the land, binding the northern and southern and the eastern and western portions together in the bonds of school boy affection, and harmonizing the discordant feelings that too perceptibly mark the different portions of the State towards each other in the halls of legisla- tion. We know of no enterprise so easy Accomplishment, which promises so much to the State of Arkansas as the establish ment of a good central school, and we be- lieve that the genius of the western people is peculiarly fitted to military discipline and the prestige of a military institution. To this subject we will recur hereafter and give it more thorough discussion.
Year: 1861

We have been watching closely in order to see what policy will be foreshadowed by Lincoln and Seward as the hour approaches for them to assume the reins of govern ment. A few days ago he addressed the citizens of Indiana iu a short but carefully elaborate speech. Of it the Day Book piquantly remarks:

 " MT. Lincoln has delivered his first speech, and with verdancy equal to backwoods attorney. undertakes nterrogatiyely to define the difference between coercion and enforcing the laws. Mr. Lincoln is in state of blissful ignorance, if he supposes that the people of the United States did not know beforehand that the coerconists rest all their arguments for civil upon the right to en- force the laws in the withdrawing States Where has the northern sectional president been that he has not heard the arguments pro and con, on this subject? His speech is open declaration of war against the South, and will be so regarded. He goes to Washington declaring that he will initiate civil war, that is if are permitted to interpret hls evaalve interrogations to be his sentiments, as they undoubtedly are.''

 There can be no doubt that the policy which Mir. Lincoln and his party would adopt, if they could, is coercion. To play the Jackson is his ambition, though an empty treasury and the determined attitude of the seeding States may force him to consider the cost of civil war, and to re- sort to stratagem and diplomacy to accom- plish the purposes of his party. His arri- val in Washington at this time, while the peace congress is in process of incubation, and a strono conSarvativa in nAroroo :, ,.u4l cred around the capital, may and doubtless will give tone more or less to his inaugural, and impress it with some commonplace promises of concession and justice, but how hollow and how deceptive must be the pledges of fanatic or a demagogue, for one or the other Mir. Lincoln must be.

 But suppose the inaugural promises con. cession and compromise, it then becomes an interesting question, how much depend ence is to be put in the extorted pledges of black republican president, whose mani fest policy will be to rivet his letters and stamp the genius of his party upon the country? A respectable portion of the South will put but little faith in such pledges. The seeded States we may safely assume will regard them as the dictates of cuhpipg and diplomacy, more dangerous to the freedom and independence of the Sonth than the besle blast of war or the openly avowed primer sles-ef-saA-ahelitie-.-, party. But that portion of the South rejoicing in the sobriquet of "middle States" so re- gently disgraced by the conduct of Tennes- see, will probably be gulled by promises no less fair than deceptive, and will still cling to the efete forms of the constitution and union, until the future shall reveal the faith lessness of fanatical demagogues, and time shall educate them up to full realization of their ultimate destiny. The events of the next two weeks will determine the po- sition of Arkansas, and we will soon know whether the loyal people of this State are to be deceived and decoyed into the meshes
Year: 1861

slavish submission, for that would be "the fruitful parent of this brood of woes;" but by separate State secession, and by co-ope- ration with our southern brethren, after ward in the construction of a new confeder- tion. Our political salvation depends upon the union of the southern States, for united South could bid defiance to the world. The only way to obtain union of the South by immediate secession and cooperation afterwards. Our duty is plain, let us procrastinate no longer.