smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

SpURGEoN's NoTES or TRAvEIn-Rev. C.. II.
SpurgeOn, the celebrated English divine, recently
delivered an address, in which be gave an enter
tanning account OF his late tour on the continent.
Antwerp be considered the most religious place
on the face of the earth, in bad sense--it was
full Of Virgin Marys and superstition. He saw
articles for sale there which were horribly indie
cent and vulgar. lie blnshed TO recOlect them.
Brussels did not please him much, but a sermon
delivered in a Catholic cathedral here, did.
Throughout Belgium, the women did the work,
while the men looked on and smoked their pipes.
1t made him indignant TO see the women sweep
ing the streets aud doing all kinds of work. AS
to Bologne, he never wanted to go there again.
lie had a more vivid recollection Of what be
smelt than what he saw. Every half yard gave
something more terrible than he had ever smelt
belore-he did not know whether it was Popery
or not. At Baden he went to see the gaming
table, and thought it the most frightfgl spec tacle
be ever saw. Women sat up all night at it, lie
would warn people that the worst thing that
could happen to them there at such places would
be to win. II they lost, served them right but
if they won the devil would have them.-BoStoH
JQurHaL


"HALIo Henry, where have you been ?''
asked friend Of a siXyear- old shaver just pass
ing.


." Been upon the hill to see them pIant a man.
The little wretch had been to a funeral Sierra
DemOcrdt.


To abuse those who dare not reply, is as cow
Year: 1860

The following from The Tales of Ma
sonic Life, was committed to paper as an
encouragement to all Masons to perform
that positive and bounden duty of giving
due and timely notice to brother when
ever he needs it:


1t was about year since, | was travel
ling on a stern-wheeler from Cairo to Mem
phis, and slow and painful conveyance it
proved to me- The bill of fare was fright
fully scanty, the bedding bug haunted, the
company profigate. Gambling was going
on from sun rise to midnight, and every
hour or two fight settled the game, after
which new deck of keerds, as the gam
blers uncouthly styled them, was fotched
on, and another round began, to terminate
as before.


Among the passengers, | had observed
a young man of that gentle amiable cast
of countenance, which young men even at
this day sometimes wear, who have been
raised in pious families, under the hands
of loving mothers and praying fathers.
How such man got to the gaming table,
I have never ascertained but rising one
night awhile before twelve, after vainly at
tempting to snatch sleep among the roach
es and more offensive vermin, discovered
him there, excited with liquor, furiously
excited with the gamblers madness
worse than delirium tremens itself-and IN
a rapid process of being plucked by the ex-
perienced scoundrels around him. The
sight shocked me. was quite unprepar-
ed for it. Through my conversation with
him on the previous day, [ was confident
he knew little or nothing of cards, thing
easily enough seen, by the way, in his awk.
ward style of handling them, and that he
would not rise from that dangerous place
while he had dime left in his pocket
After standing by for a considerable time
during which dollar after dollar disappear,
ed from his pile to enlarge that of his op,
ponent's, I took chair close by him, and
leaned upon the table in real distress. a
square piece of tobacco lay there-a plug
/ think, such things are called-with
knife by it. Mechanically / took them up
and began thoughtlessly to chip the edges
Year: 1860

None are found to check the current OF re-
proach by fraternal defence.


Personal contests between brethren occur
Strikings, shootings, and murders follow


Drunkenness becomes common. Even
attendance at the Lodge, instead Of lead
ing us to proper results to learn to sub
due the passions and improve oneself in
Masonry becomes provocation to the use
of drink, and the close of the Lodge is a
signal to flock to the saloon.


Erring brethren, who need tender coun-
sci, gentle reminders, and daily encourage
ment to amend their lives and conduct, re-
ceive none of these things. They fall low
er and lower, no one extending the hand
to support them, until they fall irrevocably,
and are lost to their families and friends
forever.


Ignorance reigns paramount. The abun-
dant means afforded in these latter years
Rr improvement in Masonic science are all
neglected. The members of a society or
iginally established for the diffusion of
light and knowledge are reckless OF both


These, and others which need not be de
tailed here, are the features Of the darker
side of the Masonic picture. Some who
read this article will sigh as they recognise
this truthful delineation, and will ask, Is
there no remedy
Year: 1860

The Hon. James Brooks, senior editor
OF the New York Express, writes to that
journal from the Holy Land, as follows:


Upon my return to Bethlehem | rode by
the tomb of Rachel small building with
a whitened dome, and having within it a
high, oblong monument built of brick, and
succeed over The spot is wild and soli-
tary-and not a tree spreads its shade where
rests the beautiful mother of Israel
Christian, Jew and Moslem all agree that
this is just the spot where Rachel is buried,
and all unite in hon0ring it. The Turks
are anxious that their ashes may rest near
hers, and hence their bodies have been
strewn around the simple tomb of Rachel
The sweet domestic virtues Of the wife
have won their love and admiration, as the
tomb of Absalom, near the brook of Ke-
dron, their detestation; upon the latter
they threw a stone, to mark their horror of
the disobedient son, while at the former,
they wish, when they die, their bodies may
be inferred. Nor is this wonderful The
wife, worth fourteen years Of service as
shepherd, must have been wife worth
having. The whole life of Rachel is, in
deed, one of the most touching in Biblical
history. The sweet shepherdess has left
her mark upon the memory of man, as
we'll as her tomb The tribute to her is
the tribute to good wife, and Infdel, Jew
and Christian all combine to pay it. The
great women of the earth-the Zcnobias
and the Cleopatras, have died, been buried,
and their very place of burial been forgot
ten; but to this day stands over the grave
of Rachel, not the pillar Jacob set up, but
modern monument in its place, around
which pilgrims of every land under the
sun gather, in respect and reverence for
the faithful wife and good mother of Isra-
el.
Year: 1860

One of the religious papers has the fol
lowing strong remarks on this subject
They drive the nail up to the head and
clinch it:


Men may sophisticate as they please.
They can never make it right, and all the
bankrupt laws in the Universe cannot
make it right for them not to pay their
debts. There is in neglect as clear and de-
serving of church discipline as in steal
ing or false sweating. He who violates
his promise to pay or withholds the pay
ment of debt when it is in his power to
meet his engagements, ought to be made
to feel that in the sight Of all honest men
he is swindler. Religion may be very
comfortable cloak under which to hide; /;
but if religion does not make man deal
justly, it is not worth having.
Year: 1860

The Fasho Nines-A brisk emigra-
ton has commenced from all parts of the
State of California for the Washoe mines.
The correspondence of all the leading Cal
ifornia papers tell the same story concern
ing these mines-that the country border
ing on the Sierra Nevada Mountains on
the eastern side, is a vast region Of miner
ais, and wonderfully rich in silver aud
gold, although large number Of our peo-
pie continued to doubt the reliability OF
these accounts, which are probably exag-
gerated. The popular confidence IN
Wash@ is gaining ground The latest
discovery is new strike Comstock lead,
mile and half from Virginia City
These diggings are said to be as rich as at
the original opening of the same lead
Laborers are asking s5 per day and hard
to get at that, as all men are looking Gus
for claims Of their own.
Year: 1860

of the tobacco. While doing so, the
young man reached his hand in my direc-
ton for the pack of cards, it being his deal,
and exposed his risbands to my view. BY
the fash of the candles / observed that
they were fastened by gold studs, having
Masonic emblems-the square and COM
pass-on them, sign l never fail to see,
when within my view.


4 thought occurred to me- This is a
Mason | will warm him of his danger
So with the knife [ cut deeply into the to-
bacco, the same emblems, the square and
compass, and laying it down with the knife
before him, as | supposed they were his
property, | arose and left the table. l
could see that his eye caught the emblem
instantly, and that he understood me.


1t was curious thing to see him then.
He went on dealing the cards, but SO list
lessly and carelessly as to forfeit the deal.
He laid his forehead in his hands thought
fully, and his hands upon the table. Once
or twice he counted his little pile of mon
ey, now reduced to very trife. He got
up for drink of water, and walked in an
uncertain manner to and fro, sat down again,
played his game out, and by the evident
cooperation of his adversaries won it. Got
up again, drank, and took longer walk.
Played again and won And then, as with
power given him at that instant from on
high, he threw down the cards with start
ling vehemence, fell on his knees, raised
his hands aloft to heaven, and with mighty
voice repeated an oath that he would new
er, never, never gamble again, so help me
God


sat at his side all that night, bathing
his head in cold water; and then saved him,
[ think, from a terrible attack Of brain
fever-saved him for lovely girl to whom
he was even then betrothed-saved him to
be the father of as charming child as ev-
er sprung like an olive shoot by human
fcet-saved him to be one of the best of
fcers in one of the best Grand Lodges in
the land-saved him to become one of my
best correspondents and truest friends-a
Mason, with whom l hope at the resurrec-
ton day to rise.


Nor is this the whole story; for one Of
the gamblers, to whom the knife and to-
bacco really belonged, seeing the square
and compass cut on his plug, sat with me
all that night at my brotherly work
avowed himself, too, Mason-declared in
language more ardent than was necessary
(for under other circumstances, ] should
have called it blasphemy,) that had he
known the young gentleman was Mason,
he was essentially cursed if he would have
played game with him, and the next
morning, learning the exact amount that
had been won, collected it from the others
and restored it to him. That gambler
took step in the right direction, conse-
quent upon the rebukes, compliments and
counsels, which, combined in equal doses,
[ administered to him, and quit the river
forever, opened drinking saloon, opened
book store, became grain dealer, dry
goods merchant and made money at all
these things, was elected Sheriff of the
county, and still holds that position and
to conclude the story, | still have the plug
in my possession, with the original square
and compass cut upon it
Year: 1860

E1-An Englishman in Paris went into
a restaurant to get his dinner. Unacquain-
ted with the French language, yet unwil-
ling to show his Ignorance, he pointed to
the first line on the bill of fare, and the
polite waiter brought him fragrant plate
of beef soup. This was very well, and
when it was dispatched he pointed to the
second line The waiter understood him
perfectly, and brought him a vegetable
soup. Rather more soup than want
thought he; but it is Paris fashion, He
duly pointed to the third line and a plate
of tapioca broth was brought him. Again
to the foruth, and was furnished with bowl
of preparation of arrow root. He tried
the fifth line, and was supplied with some
cruel kept for invalids. The by standers
now supposed that they saw an unfortunate
individual who had lost all his teeth, and
our friend, determined to get as far from
the soup as possible, pointed in despair to
the last line on the bill Of fare. The in
telligent waiter, who saw at once what he
wanted, politely handed him bunch Of
toothpicks. This was too much, the Eng
lishman paid his bill and left.
Year: 1860

give me cot in the valley love,
A tent in the greenwood home in the grove,


care not how humble, for happy twill be,


If one faithful heart win but share it with me-
Our haunts shall be natures own beautiful bowers,
Our gems shall be natures own beautiful flowers,
Tho icebound the brook and snow-covered the vale,
The proudest might sigh for our home in the vale,


Then give me a cot, &c
Lov'st thou to listen to music's sweet voice.
o come to the wood where the song birds rejoice


Or wouldst thou be free to the forest repair,


The stag in his freedom bounds merrily there;
When summer is gone and the winters chill hours
Have ried the green woods and blighted the flowers
Tho bound the brook, and snow-coyered the vale,
The proudest might sigh for onr home in the vale.


Then give me cot, &c.
Year: 1860

Odometers.-The Hartford Courant
states that the manufacture of odometers,
for measuring the distance travelled by any
vehicle, is now carried on somewhat extern
sively in that city Livery keepers use
them considerably, and in many cases the
individuals who go off for drive of FIVE or
ten miles, and take twenty, are brought up
with round turn by the contrivance,
and often to their great astonishment.
Year: 1860

At the last meeting of the Philadelphia
Academy Of Natural Science, DIR. S. Weir
Mitchell made q very interesting communica-
tion on the subject Of the poison of the rattle
snakes. After adverting to the history of the
various works on venonous reptiles, he pro-
ceeded to explain the anatomy and physiology
OF the poison apparatus of the rastlesnake. He
showed first, by the aid Of maguiied drawings
OF the parts, the bony structure Of the Jaw aud
the manner the various parts were articulated
together, so as to keep the poison fang in such
position, when not required for use, as not
TO interfere with the feeding of the snake, and
then the manner in which ii was pushed for
ward and brought into the position most
favorable for striking with effect. He then
explained the action Of the various muscles by
which the fang was drawn back and thrust for
ward, and showed how one of these, while
erecting and fixing the fang, at the same time
as soon as it had pierced the animal bitten,
compressed the poison gland and forced the
poison out, either through the duct leading
through the tooth 20 the bottom of the wound,
or beside it and into the surface of the same.
He then explained the position Of the poison
gland and its duct, and showed the manner in
which this duct communicated with the one
leading through the tooth, and the manner in
which the poison was prevented from flowing
out when the fang was not erected. When the
fangs are torn away they are soon replaced by
others; indeed they appear to be regularly
shed by the animal, so that it gives no security
against a fatal bite that the fangs have been
removed.


The poison il contained in the poison gland
in considerable quantity, as much as 10 to IA
drops having been procured from a single one
from q snake about four feet long. 1t is of
pale greenish color, and its activity is not i'm.
paired by keeping for years. 1t may be swal-
lowed, if the skin of the mouth and throat be
not broken, with impunity. Its poisonous
properties are not destroyed by boiling or
freezing. After it has been dried it may be
again restored to all its virulence by again dis
solving it in water. There appears to be no
absolute antidote to it. The most successful
plan is to give some powerful stimulanr, such
as spirits or ammonia. When the spirits are
given it is necessary to keep up the stimulus
fully for q considerable time The quantity
sometimes taken without producing intoxica-
tion, is very great; in one case specified three
pints Of strong spirits were given. The Doctor
remarked, however, that at one of our military
posts it was common for the men to be bitten
by rattlesnakes SO long as the whisky cure was
used, but when different and nauseous stimu.
liant was substituted the bites rapidly dimin-
ished in frequency.
Year: 1860

RATHER NovKLrY.-We are not aware that
there has previously been 4 case on record Of a
suit for libel against an agricultural editor The
In a peaceful domain, where the personalities and
bitterness Of political and news journals are un-
known. The rule has been broken at last by an
Agrieulturalist OF New York The Complaint II
that In an article cautioning persons against In
vestment without personal examination, a DAM
aging libel on the waste lands Of Long Island
was contained, and $4,000 damages are claimed
by the plaintiffs. who interested In a portion
OF this particular tract.
Year: 1860

HANGING BY Wholesale IN TExkS.-The
Navarro Express of the 9th October says:
On Tuesday morning, the I'd inst, four re-
spectacle citizens of this county, ell men,
bers of our county court, were found hung
in the public square of this town. Various
are the conjectures as to the causes Of this
unfortunate affair. We presume, however,
that it was owing to the fact that they were
members of the cosnty court. In saying
this, we must here enter our declaration
that we knew of no conduct of theirs which
deserved such severe penalty. It is
thoSght that the presence of the Chief JUS
tice cO1h have saved them from this fate.
As we will hereafter speak more Of this
matter, we Withhold comments until further
developments shall put us in possession of
all the facts connected with this melancholy
affair.
Year: 1860

SAD AccIDENT.-Joseph Hunt and Cyrus
Murphy were terribly injured at Telegraph
Hill, Tuolumne county, Nov. lst, by the
premature discharge of blast. The acci-
dent was occasioned by attempting to force
down cartridge which was too largo for
the hole that had been drilled. The pow
dor was lgnited by the friction produced.
Murphy was terribly cut about the face,
and will entirely lose his right eye, and
both OF the unfortunate men narrowly es-
capped with their lives.
Year: 1860

THE Ten MILLION L0AN.--The bids for the
new ten million loan were opened at Wash
ingtou on the 22d of October. They
amounted in the aggregate to about ten
and half millions, ranging from par to
one and forty-one hundredths premium.
All the bids above par were accepted and
those at par are TO get pro rata amount
ef the residue.
Year: 1860

RAILROAD LAw.-The Supreme Court has
rendered q decision sustaining the railroad
law of Butte county. It is probable that
the work upon the Marywille and Oroville
railroad will be Immediately commenced.
Year: 1860

A STAR BURNT OUr.-A Russian corres-
pondentofthe London Telegraph writes thus /:


At Moscow q physical phenomenon has been
recently observed, Stich as would hare given
rise to the creation Of a whole cycle Of fanat-
ic myths in the times of the worlds infancy.
We learn from a paragraph in the leading
paper of that city, that at quarter to ten
on the night of the 1st and I'd of March, a
star to the southwest of the great bear sdd-
denly commenced to wax larger, assuming at
the same time the color Of iron at red heat,
but without the appearance Of any sparks or
rays. In this condition the star continued
until half past / i, varying in the intensity Of
its light, and attaining the size nearly of the
half moon. A little before midnight the dim
hess began to increase; and at IL o'clock the
star had entirely disappeared. In its stead q
sort of black speck was noticed BY the light
of the stars, which were untis1ally brilliant
that evening. ftretnains for the astronomers
to describe, and poets to sing, The destruction
Of the luminafy, which, for ought we know
may have been the abode of race superior
to our own.
Year: 1860

METHOD OF CUTTING GLASS BY HEAT.-
Take piece of dense charcoal, made from
box or other hard wood, and point it like
pencil scratch the glass at the place where
the fracture is to begin, with any instrument
Of of hard steel, such as the corner of file.
Light the point of the charcoal, and apply
Ing it to the scratch, proceed with pressing
il upon the glass in the direction of the in
tended fracture. The glass will crack in the
path of the burning point, and the crack
may be either in right line, Or zig-zag, or
curved, at pleasure. AS fast as the point of
the charcoal becomes covered with ashes, il
should be blown upon with the breath to
keep it red hot, or it will not heat the glass
sufficiently to produce the desired effect
The scratch made on the glass at the coma
mencement need scarcely be more than
point.
Year: 1860

The TALENT OF SUccEss.-Every man
must patiently abide his time. He must wait.
Not in listless idleness, not useless pastime;
not in querulous detection, but in constant;
steady, cheerful endeavor, always willing,
fulfilling and accomplishing his task, that
when the occasion comes hs may be equal
to the occasion" The talent of success il
nothing more than doing What y1u can do
well, without thought Of fame. II it comes
at all, it will csme because it is des
served, not Because it is sought after. II is
a very indiscreet and troublesome ambition
which cares so much about fame, about
what the world says Of us-to be always
looking in the face of others for approval
to be always anxious about the effect of what
we do or say-to be always shouting to
hear the echoes of our own voices.
Year: 1860

NEVER PLEAD GUILTY TO PovsRTY.-Credi-
tors never annoy man so long as he is get
ting up in the world. A man of wealth on
ly pays his butchers bill once q year. Let
bad luck overtake him, and his meat bill
will come in every morning, as regular as
breakfast and hungry children. Again we
say, never plead guilty to poverty. So far
as this world is concerned, you might better
admit that you are scoundrel
Year: 1860

Many poor man could build house
over his head and own it, with the price of
the cigars and tobacco he has nsed to say
nothing of the worst than useless drinks Of
beer and bad spirits, in which, from time to
time, he has allowed himself to indulge.