smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

On one ofmy visits to Mr. Jay when speak
ing of Cobbett, and his strong prejudice
against many persons, especially Quakers-
for whom Mr.. Jay entertained great respect,
so much so th,t he sent me to Quaker's
school, where l was the only scholar not of
that psrsuasion-I related to him the follow
ing anecdote, which 1 had from Cobbetts
own lips, as illustrative of his prejudice
against Quakers, whom he unjustly regard
ed as liars:


"I was," said he, "while residing in Long
Island, in America, acquainted with a we'll
disposed young gentleman of large fortune,
whose only fault was the habit of swearing
such habit that he often declared that he
would give half his furtune to get rid of the
habit.


This desire came to the ears of the Quaker,
who thereupon had an interview with the
young gentleman, and said, 81 can cure thee
of that bad habit" whereupon the youth
caught hold of the Quaker's hand and gave
it hearty shake, saying, "How can you per,
form that miracle?'


The reply was, 81 can tell the have
heard that thou art going to travel this day
for period of six weeks; thou art jus
my size nobody will know thee thou shall
come to my house, put on the cooked hat, tn
coat without buttons, the knee-breeches, ant
the shoebuckles, and thou wilt find that tn
strangeness of the dress will have such an el
feet on thee when thou art going to talk, tina
1t will restrain thee from swearing-as tho
perhaps knowest, my friend, that we Quaker


never swear"


The young man cheerfully assented to tn


proposal, and accompanied the Quaker to h


house, where after changing his clothes, b


took his departure in the garb of Quake
and went his way rejoicing.


The period of the young gentleman's tor
having elapsed, the Quaker all anxiety star
Year: 1859

We suppose that all musical people will shrug
their shoulders with incredulity when we tell
them that his voice has the compass of five
octayes, vet such is the fact that he demon
strated to this company. OF course the low
est notes are gutteral, and the highest falset-
to; but the falsetto notes are pleasant and
good, and the gutterals true tones, and as
musical as such tones can be. We are not
sufficiently versed in musical terms to tell
what his lowest note is, but it is the lowest
note in the piano, arranged upon the usual
scale-or TRIBE c, as he calls it. His chest
mes may have more power, his quality is no
better, while in his lower notes he goes clear
down 'out of sight of Carl Formes altogeth-
er. We can give no idea of this voice by
any comparison, for we have never heard a
voice with which to compare it.


OF course, with such voice as this, the
owner is tempted to try tricks. The most
interesting of these was the application Of it to
seven purposes. He began by singing, in a
delicate soprano, the first lines of ''Oft in the
Silly night" then, as he proceeded, he slid
into the alto, then into the tenor, then into
the base, and then into the ''double base"
an octave below. This finished the tune,
when he rose, and, turning his back to the
audience, executed some most excellent feats
or ventriloquism, and wound off by initiating
an old fashioned spinning wheel so perfectly
that the assembly was thrown into roars of
laughter. He usually accompanies himself
with melodion, to which he has added a
swell of his own invention, that produces all
the effects of the swell in the organ. One of
the most delightful of his performances was
a solo on the cornet, he playing it with one
hand, and accompanying himself on the pi-
ano with the other. Upon this instrument,
and in this way, he played few airs with
great sweetness and taste, and executed some
very difficult variations.


The instrument itself has been the subject
of his improving hand, but in what respects
we do not know. Add to all this, he plays
the guitar and other instruments, and is a
leader and teacher of bands He seemed to
take great deal of interest in explaining his
steam engine to the company, and to be
thoroughly yersed in mechanical matters.


This mans name Is W. A. earns. He was
born, we think, in one of the Western States,
and has lived where he could get chance
He is Of medium height, thick-set modest In
dcmeanor, interesting in conversation, and
has received an education in some asylum fol
the blind, for which he appears undoubtedly
grateful. He is now engaged in the invention
of some means by which the blind may bt
enabled to have their regular newspapers ,anc
if anybody can accomplish SO benevolent ;
result he will do it.
Year: 1859

A lady was anxious to make her husband
present on the occasion ofhis birth day; and
as it happened to fall in winter, she thought
comfortable morning gown would be most
useful acquisition to his domestic comforts
So she went to shop and purchased fine
Persian pattern merino and well-wadded ,mor-
ming grown. She had forgotten the exact
hight of her husband, but to make sure ofits
usefulness she thought best to purchase one
rather too long than too short. The day
was rather wet her husband returned in
the afternoon from his Office, and she present
ed with the new article of comfort and he
fancied it a great comfort after he had put
off his wet clothes. But it was too long
about ten inches too long. ooh, never
mind, my DEAR" said the affectionate wife
IL can easily shorten it to suit you"


They had party in the evening; they were
very merry. After they had gone to bed,
the wind was making such noise, and the
rain so dashing against the window, that the
lady could not sleep; her husband however
slept soundly. She rose without disturbing
Year: 1859

The Springfield Republican gives the fol-
lowing account of the triumphs of a blind
genius now living in Ludlow, Mass, but who
has spent portion of his life in Ohio:


He is young man, twenty-four years of
age, who has been blind since he was two
years old, and who does not remember that
he ever saw. The circumstances which at
tend the loss of his vision are almost too
horrible for belief, yet we have no reason to
doubt them as they have been related to US.
His widowed mother married a drunkard,
and the step father conceiving a spite against
the child, undertook, when intoxicated, to put
his eyes out Going further in his diapolc-
al purpose, he was about to thrust a red hot
poker down his throat, when the frightened
and desperate mother interfered and preven-
ed it. The child was then thrown down cell
lar, where he lay all night, taking a cold
which so far aggravated the succeeding infla-
nation of the eyes, that the sclerotic coat of
each were burst. OF all this, he has no me-
mory, and blessed thing it is for him. At
nine years of age, he lost his mother, and in
that loss became perfectly frlendless. From
that day to this, he has mainly taken care OF
himself, and now, although cheated by rascal
ly agents, and laboring under every possible
disadvantage, has money at interest.


Now let US see what this man has DONE
tie is a mechanic and knows every part OF
steam engine as we'll as if he could see. He
IS an engineer, and has not only charge o


stationary engines but has run as an engineer


on the Mad River Railroad in Ohio o


course he ran with lookout, and between


the look out and himself he had arranged


series of authorizations of language, so tina


he could learn from him the position of an,


object on the track, instantaneously. He wa


engineer, let it be remembered, Of passen


ger train What is more remarkable thai
all is that he has made beautiful little stear


engine with his own hands, so small that h


can carry the whole of it in his pocket, an


get up steam at pleasure. This might we


be considered accomplishment enough for or


blind man, but this is but beginning.


He was great genius for music, and po
scsses a voice which, in many characteristic
: is without doubt the most wonderful voice
: the world. On Tuesday evening OF the pr
sent week he was invited to a private hou
; IN this city, to give an exhibition of his abb
: ties, and few musical men and women we
invited to hear him, all of whom will bear te


timony to their astonishment and delight
Year: 1859

DIR. Holmes, in his scientific contributions
to the last Allantic Monthly, says:


The next European war will send us ste.
reographs of battles. 1t is asserted that a
bursting shell can be photographed. The
time is perhaps at hand when flash of light
as sudden and brief as that of the lightning
which shows whirling wheel standing stock
still, shall preserve the very instant of the
shock of contact of the mighty armies that
are even now gathering. The lightning from
heaven does actually photograph natural OBJ
iects on the bodies of those it has just blast
ed-so we are told by the many Witnesses
The lightning of clashing sabres and bayonets
may be forced to stereotype itself in still
ness as complete as that Of the Stumbling tide
Of Niagara as we see itselfPictmed'
Year: 1859

- At the grave of Humboldt the United
States were represented not only by our Min
lister at Berlin, but by representative from
each State of the Union, gathered for that
purpose at Berlin from different parts of the
Continent.
Year: 1859

A correspondent from up the country in
forms us that in the event of the nomination
of Gen. Wagner for Congress, by the Demo-
cratic State Convention, Mrs. Swisshelm, edi-
tor of the st. Cloud Democrat, has signified
her intention to be an independent candidate
for the same position, and that she will invite
the General to take the stump and canvass
the State with her. We hope the General will
receive the nomination. Messenger.
Year: 1859

L5- Alderman Hu6bcl, in bis or
gan, the Gazette refuses the devise Of OLD
clothes, which We made to him, and very
ungratefully advises Us to keep them, as
we may need them TO pawn for few
grains Of common sense before spring"


II the Alderman knows Of any person in
this city who i in the habit Of exchanging
common sense for old clothes, we wonder
why he has not long since "spouted" all the
worn out clothing, which he could beg, Dor
row or steal He had better accept our old
clothes and take them to his uncle" at
once He will never have another oppor-
tunity to make a trade for common sense,
Year: 1859

The QUESTION SETTLED.-There is
probably, now, no doubt whatever, that the
Cedar Valley road will be built The great
object for which the people have been talk
ing and voting is to be brought about But
there seems to be little spirit manifest


just now, as to who shall build this much
desired road There are two companies in
corporated for the purpose, and both are, Of
course, confident that they shall get hold Of
the job. One thing is sure. We want that
read built; the public is anxious to have it
put under contract as soon 8. possible, and
we only hope that one of these companies
viii hurry up as soon as possible and get to
breaking ground as soon IS practicable.
There are hundreds Of men now in the CITY
who are now waiting and watching for an
opportunity to go to work upon something
that will afford them steady employment.
We are glad that there seems to be SO much
anxiety and rivalry in the ma ter-it Is IN
the right direction and is of that character
that viii result in lasting benefits to our
place Get ready % soon ~ convenient
gentlemen, and commence the road-one
road win answer ths purpose - well - .
dooen.
Year: 1859

EE BY advertisement it will be
seen that the printers of Davenport. are go.
ing in for good time at the Bur,is House
on the 18th, which is the anniversary of
the birth day of Benjamin Franklin. the
American printers patron saint The prin-
tiers of our city-those who belong to the
craft, number some thirty or forty, and we
do not know of more industrious, intelii-
gent and competent body of craftsmen-
Davenport printers do some of the best, if
not the best printing in the State, We are
sure they are second to none.


The evening Of the 18th will be one of
considerable circumstance, at the Burtis
House. Not only will there be an excellent
supper served up in the Franks best style,
but there will be . dance and a general
good time.


We hope the entire occasion will be in.
teresting to ALL
Year: 1859

CHOICE FLoUR.-IIous ekeepers will
be glad to learn that Shields, at the corner
OF Second and Harriaon streets, keeps the
very best grade. OF flour that can be found
in this city Be sure and leave your orders
with him if You want prime article.
Year: 1859

IMPORTANT GGEsTIoS.-Since j,
has been established that time is money
We advise ali who have legal papers Of any
kind TO draw uP. TO come to this office and
purchase some of those neatly printed
blanks, which We have constantly on hand
ID. I. 1.-THE MEMBERS Of the Da-
yenport Typographical MON are hereby
notified that there viii be q special meeting
held this Saturday evening at half past
seven o'clock, in the III MON Hall


By order Of the President.


G N CEANE Sec'v
Year: 1859

E Local items were not flush YES
terday The probable cause Of falling oil
in local matters was tie very bitte- cold
weather. People did not ike to come out
and distinguish themselves, or do anything
of Importance.
Year: 1859

NJ The business of Lawrence has been
better during the last month, than during
any similar period since the first settle
nent of the town. Although money has
been exceedingly scarce, yet there have
been large sums expended here for goods
to be taken TO distant parts of the Terri.
tory. Ifa complete supply of merchan.
disc can be kept on hand all the time
and judiciOus system Of advertising and
helping each other to business shall be adopt
ed, without trying to cut each other'i
throats, we may expect heavy trade t,
this place in future.
Year: 1859

rT Gov CHARLES ROBINSON is talked
If as candidate for Congress, should the
BigSprings Convention conclude to run a
man.-WydndOH Aryus.


That is all news up this way, and yet
we do not know Of any person who would
be liable to draw a bigger vote, or who
would labor more earnestly to advance
The real interests of the people of the Ter
Htory than be would. His active efforts
last winter to advance the railroad pro-
ects of the Territory, will give him a
strong hold upon the property holders oi
Kansas.
Year: 1859

'iNHi 'iS " "ohlhSloi titkl l6lenrdnh.

 HE ABDUCTION OF AN ARKANSAS GIRL. About two years ago we gave an account ot the abduction of white girl, who, it was said, resided in this State. It was stated that she had been persuaded to leave her residence by person who represented that he had received instructions from her friends Tn California to take her there yia New Or leans. Alter being detained in that city for some time. she finally ascertained that she had been sold as slave, and made her case known to the keeper of the parish prison at Carrolton through whom 1t was made public. We find in the New Orleans Mirror of the 27th ult., the following arti cle, which refers to her:

 An interesting case was tried in the fifth district court about week ago: A pre- tty brunette, about + years of age. call ing herself Alexina Morrison, had been sold to James W hlte, negro trader in this city as slave. About eighteen months ago she ran away and sought protection as q white girl ill Carrollton, and suit for her freedom was instituted forthwith. At the trial of the case in Carrollton. the iury fail ~ ~ "S "N py q tlidllSe Ol penue he case was transferred to this city. The trial m the fifth district court occupied three days and as scientific experts were unable to hnd any evidence of African descent in the girl, verdict establishing her status as q free white glrl was rendered by the lu1y - It was set forth in the pleadings that she had been kidnapped from her home in Ar kansas and sold into slavery A good deal of enthusiasm was manifested around the court room in favor of the girl, and col lection on her behalf was at once made. 1t Is likely that the decision in the case will be followed by suit for damages and if it can be made to appear that the person who pur chased her had reasons to suspect that she was free, he will be heavily mulcted in the premises y
Year: 1859

n an age remarkable for Z" wars, and rumors Of
wars" of intrigue and blood shed for good reas-
oning and bad conduct for sound rules and corrupt
manners when virtue fills our heads but vice our
hearts when those who would persuade US that
greater hurry TO go there than others, but put ON
the livery of the best masters only to serve the
worst in an age when modesty herself is more
ashamed Of detection than Of delinquency when
independent Of principles which to depend !; and
free thinking not in thinking freely, bun in being
frse from thinking in an age when patriots will
hold ANYTHING but their tongues-keep anything
but their words-lose nothing particularly except
their characters !; to improve such an age must be
difficult-to instruct such age must be danger
Gus, In an age like this call the attention OF
he public to-
Year: 1859

A SENSIBLE MANA school mas ter,
who had an iDtolerable habit of talking to
himself when alone, was asked by a neigh
tor what motive he could have in talking
To himself. Jonathan replied that he had
two good and substantial reasons in the
first place, he liked to talk to sensible
man in the next place, he liked to hear a
sensible man talk.
Year: 1859

MASTER OF PAIN.
Vl A few dozen bottles of this remarkable


Medicine, which cures almost every description of
pain. instantaneously as if by magic. On hand


and for sale by w B. HEARD
Year: 1859

A PRIVATE PLEASURE TRIp.-A month ago
company of eleven ladies aud gentlemen of
Buffalo, N. y. started upon a pleasure trip TO
the South, taking a novel mode of travelling
They have large coach like an omnibus, in
which they travel, and carry with them tent
sufficiently large To accommodate the entire
company, and camp ont much after the gypsy
fashion, though in better style They arrived
near Biadensburg a day or two ago, and
pitched their tents near the toll-gate. Yester-
day and to-day they have spent in visiting the
public buildings and seeing the sights in the
metropolis. 1t is the plan OF the company to
spend ten months in this trip, 2nd they de-
sign to winterat some point ON the Gulf coast.
Wnsk Star
Year: 1859

HID IN BoILER.-One of the convicts in
the cooper shop at Auburn IN. " prison, was
missing OIL Thursday noou, and notwithstand-
ing vigilant and careful search was made he
was not found until he had been absent forty
two hours. The whole prison yard and shops
We're thoroughly searched without avail. FL
naily it was determined to examine the large
boiler i'll the cooper shop, when 10 and behold,
1t was found that the convict had taken up his
quarters inside. The boiler had a large guam
tity of water in it, in which the convict had
lain tortytwo hours. During that time he had
only one ration OF bread to eat 1t was sup
posed that he might have taken refuge in the
chimney, into which the furnace to the boiler
discharges its smoke, and for the purpose OF
driving him out, if there, Il fire was kindled
under the boiler. The convict says that when
the water began to grow warm, he had serious
apprehensions that hot scald would be his
portion,
Year: 1859

Good Ord.r.--The city continues unusually
quiet, and the police, therefore, have very little
To do except look after the streets and cutters
and keep them in order. We heard an intelli-
gent ply ysician remark, yesterday, that the gem
eral health was SO very good, that it would be
this particular time.
Year: 1859

GARIBALDI AND THE FRENCH EMPEROR
II was thought, at first that the terms of the
Villafranca peace would be as unsatis sfactory
TO Garibald as to every ybody else and that
therefore, the gallant old patriot would refuse
to lay down his arms, but keep on fighting for
clamation he is said TO have issued to his SOL
diers is genuine, that anticipation is not likely
TO be realized. The proclamation-probably
owing TO bad transation--is not very clear as
TO the future,-but, as to the present, it Is suf-
ficiently definitive to show that sacquiesce' is
the word. There is not murmur OF reproach
against the French Emperor; but, on the con-
trary, a warm expression of gratitude, as well
as TO 1.-THE heroic French nation, whose sons
wounded and mutlated still suffer on the bed
of pain, for the cause of Italy, Garibaldi
thus shows that he is resolved not to be a
rebeI.-or TO act a part which might place him
in a false position before his country, without
gaining any advantage for that country.
Year: 1859

Soya.-These delicious birds have made their
appearance in the James river marshes and
Will soon be i'll shooting order The wild oat
on which they feed, is very luxuriant, and will
ripen and fall in a short time if the weather
continues as at present OF course, the birds
are poor at this time, Us they always are after
their long flights; but with good feeding, will
fattcn rapidly.
Year: 1859

PRETTY STATE OF DAgKEyDoM-Natiye
Haytians have TO procure passports when they
wish to travel in the country, as well rs the
white foreigners. So also. the country people
when they wish to come to town. No market
girl can leave her home or commune TO sell
her produce in the city without first procur-
they have to pay The object of this regula-
tion is said to be To prevent stealing
Year: 1859

RAILROAD COLLISION IN SARDINIA.-On the
"Victor Emanuel, railroad there was very
bad accident near the station Turin. TWO
trains, going at full speed, ran against each
other One of them had Sandman battery
on board, the other a corps of French infantry;


fifteen soldiers were killed and sixty wounded
Poor fellows, that had to meet such misera-
bic fate, just after they had got safely out OF
such bloody war!
Year: 1859

FIGHT WITH SfIARK.-A shark four feet
long was captured at the ferry landing, near
Charleston, s. c., Monday. in the following
unusual manner, as described by the Mercury:


An able e-bodied, and, it would seem. n fear
less negro, was shrimping in small canoe il
shoal water, within some thirty yards of the
shore. The shark, in his course of travel, look
ing for his breakfast probably, got between the
boat and the shore and the negro seized the
idea Of forcing the hungry monster out OF his
element. Suiting the action to his thoughts
he jumped into the water, not quite knee deep
TO drive the shark ashore. But the shark would
not be driven so easily, and finding himself iii
close quarters, he made a bold stroke for deep
er water. In passing. the negro made a grab
at his tail =; but SGgabO had not reckOned on the
encounter which followed, for the force and
velocity Of the fish brought Saaa60 down, and
the two lay founderlng in the water for some
minutes. Notwithstanding the advantage
which the shark had of lighting i'll his own
element he was not "A match for the negro
who brought him VIGOROUSLY TO the shore
During the contest, the shark made several
bites at the negro, but succeeded only in dam
aging his clothes to some extent.
Year: 1859

Nor So.-Somc of our cotemporaries are
amusing themselves with the following ex
tract from the Sacramento correspondence of
the San Francisco NATIONAL


A good deal of amusement has been crea-
ted here, caused by the report in the Union
of speech made at the Bolts banquet
While many looked upon the report as being
verbatim, and admired some of the brilliant
sayings there made, it proves that there was
no reporter there at all, and the whole thing
was gotten up by person who was not pre-
sent.


The astuteness Of this correspondent will
be considered wonderful when we state that
the report of the proceedings was uer6atim et
hterdtim, and prepared by two of the best
short hand reporters in the State, who were
present during the sitting. One cotemporary
is so much exercised with the idea of the
Nationals correspondent that he exclaims
with great profanity: GLOW despicablc is
such damnable humbuggeryl


We hope it will take back the profanity, if
it does not the implied censure.-lSac Union.


We take both back but what has the cor
respondent of the National to say for himself
under the present phase of the case?