smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

SILENCE IN NATURE-It is remarkable and very instructive fact that many of the most important operations of nature are carried on in unbroken silence. There is no rushing sound when the broad tide of sunlight breaks on a dark world, and floods it with light, as one bright wave over another falls from the foun- tain, millions of miles away. There is no creaking of axles or grooming of cumbrous machinery as the solid earth wheels on its way, and every planet and system performs its revolution.

 The great trees bring forth their boughs and shadow the earth beneath them; the plants cover themselves with buds, and the buds burst into flowers; but the whole trans action is unheard. The change from snow and winter winds to blossom and the sunshine of summer is seen in its slow development, but there is scarcely sound to tell of the mighty transformation. The solemn chant of the ocean, as 1t raises its unchanged and its unceasing voices, the roar of the hurricane, and the mighty river, and the thunder of the black -browed storm; all this is the music of nature-a great and swelling anthem of praise, breaking in on the universal calm. There is lesson for us here. The mightiest work in the universe is the most unobstrusive
Year: 1861

Is THE SUN GROWING COLD AND DARK There are now more spots in the sun than have been seen before for many years; some of these are visible through smoked glass to the naked eye. Several stars, some of them of great brilliancy, which from their ascer. tained distance, must have been as large as our sun, have totally disappeared from the sky, and the question has been raised among the astronomers whether the light and heat of the sun are gradually fading away. As this would be accompanied by the destruction of all the plants and animals on the earth, it is rather an interesting question. The suns light and heat are diminished by the dark spots at the present time about one per cen tum. TScientifc American.
Year: 1861

THE LEGACIEs OF PAST AGEs.-The three principal bequests which men receive from the past ages are, SCIENCE and the me- chanical power 1t confers HISTORY, which, in exhibiting the sequence of events, affords materials for the philosophy of experience and the INSPIRATION emanated from the lite rary monuments of past habits of thoughts and feeling The first is a certain legacy. The use made of the second depends upon the degree of intellectual activity with which the receiving generation is endowed. The efficacy of the last depends upon the degree of moral life continuing to pervade the minds of mankind for nation, although alive to the investigation of causes and effects, may sink into such state of moral darkness and stupidity, as to be unable to perceive any meaning in the memorials of former genius. When this takes place, the noblest compost tors appear to be onl y rhapsody of words, because the feelings which ought to cores pond to them have no longer any existence. Helvetius or Halbach would probably see nothing but dreary blank in the pages of Dante or Milton and for the same reason, in the society in which they lived the highest works of art would be valued only for the mechanical merits of their execution.
Year: 1861

A NEW ENGINE OF WAR-It is related that among the preparations for repelling the threatened attack on the Brooklyn navy-yard were twelve large steam boilers, with which were connected number of powerful pumps and fire engines, well-supplied with India rub Der hose, to lead to any or all parts of the yard. Steam being constantly on, the pumps and engines were always ready to throw terri ble streams of scalding water over an invad- ing force. This powerful weapon of defense, not heretofore known in warfare is proposed by Mir. King to be applied to all Notifications and steamships of war, so that taking by storm or boarding would be impossible
Year: 1861

ASHAMED OF YOUTHFUL EFFORTs-Gen- eral Morris. of The Home Journal, discovered an unpublished poem by Edward Everett, a few days ago, and wrote to Mir. Everett re- questing permission to publish it. Mr. Eve rett in his reply gives good anecdote of Web ster which We do not remember to have seen. It is better than the poem and we give it:

 It is many years since 1 saw the trihe to which you alude, and 1 do not know how 1t would strike me now-I fear not favoraby for its reproduction. 1 remember to have heard Mr. Websters having said on one occasion, that he was strongly inclined to commit mur- der. On inquiry into the cause of such re- markable frame of mind, 1t turned out that the intended victim was gentleman who had in his pocket what was supposed to be a un- ique copy of a juvenile oration of MT. Web sters and, as he had declined giving it ur on request, the idea above mentioned had crossed Mir. Webster's mind, as the only way of suppressing the youthful performance 1 do not threaten to murder you if you drag this youthful sin of mine to light; but you can make such improvement as you think best of the anecdote
Year: 1861

THE CHINESE OPPOSED TO IMPROVEMENT. During the destruction of Yeun-ming- eun, the soldiers came upon two peasants that had been sent to the Emperor of China by Lord Mccartney, from George III-a State coach and two twelve-pounder howitzers-complete in every way, and in very good condition and repair; yet, strange te say, with these guns in their possession, they have never made any endeavor to improve their own field artillery carriages. Shot and shell were even piled close to the guns in the coach house in which they were found
Year: 1861

 Once his way poet took Through deep and dewy glen; Write about me in your book Cried the red-breast, cried the wren, Twittering low from every bush, Chirping loud from every tree, Cried tho pewet, cried the thrush, Cried the black bird, write of me! Sing about my eyes, my wings Mine is but a humble boon So they cried, the silly things, Crossing each the others tune. But the poet, sign of grace Giving not, by look or tone, Turned into a shady place, Where daisy lived alone. All her modest shoulders hid In a vail of leaves or grass, Dropping either snowy lid, Sat she still to see him pass. Then the poet, with a quill That some eager bird had shook Downward, all against her will, Wrote about her in his book.
Year: 1861

TIE SUSTENANCE OF PLANTs.-Plants, as we'll as animals, have their peculiar tastes. Cut off the supply of phosphate of lime from a field of corn, and it will not grow. You can easily do this by planting the same land with corn for three or four successive years, and your crop will dwindle away to nothing, unless you supply the ground every year with as much of the mineral as the corn takes away from it. All plants have the power of select ing from the soil of the materials necessary to their growth ! and if they do not find them in the soil, they will not grow. It is now a familiar fact that when an old forest of de- ciduous trees has been felled, evergreens will spring up in their places. The old oaks and beeches, as any observer will discover, pass their last years in repose, simply putting out their leaves and bearing a little fruit ever year, but making hardly any new wood. An oak may attain to nearly it full size in spread of branches, in its first two hundred years longer in state of comparative rest. Itseems to grow no more, simply because it has ex- hausted too much of the material for its nour- ishment from the grounn around its roots At least, not oaks, but pines will germinate in the same soil-pines, which having other ne cessities and taking somewhat different food find supply in the ground, untouched by their precessor. Hence the rotation of crops so much talked of by agrculturlsts.
Year: 1861

SECESSION AT YALE.-The Yale College boys raised Palmetto flag on the alumni tower of that institution, on Sunday, and bar ricaded all approaches to the top of the build ing. This was done in retaliation of the SUD- posed insult offered by persons who employed negroes to wear the secession cockade before the Southern students
Year: 1861

PROVERBS FOR THE PEopLE.-Happy is the man who has no new boots; his corns shall seldom trouble him.

 Happy is he who cant get trusted; he shall have no bills to settle.

 Wise are they who refuses to learn how to write; he will be like lighthouse on rocky coast.

 Be kind to those you know are ungrateful this will prove you to be disinterested

 Lucky are they who always act like scoun- drels they are sure of a stone house to live in, and an elevated station in life at last

 Happy are they who always have to go on foot; they do not ride the same road with the beggar
Year: 1861

EFFECT OF THE ECLIPSE ON THE ARABS. The Arabs generally received the announce ment of the late solar eclipse with credulity but when they, saw the prediction fulfilled they affected indifference, in order not to ac- knowledge the superiority of the Europeans But celebrated marabout, we'll known fol his hostility to France, had taken upon him self to declare that the prediction of the chris tians would come to nothing, and that there would be no eclipse. When the eclipse came on, the crowd turned reproachtul glances or the marabout, who assured them "the sur would not be covered entirely" but woulc continue to shine. When the luminary was completely hidden, the enra5ed Mussulman: began to throw stones at him, and would have killed him had he not succeeded in making his escape
Year: 1861

I AM OFFERING MY ENTIRE STOCK UT | Dry Goods at Cost and ten per cent. Every body is invited to call and see for themselves; My goods are inferior to none in this market, anu my object in selling off at cost and carriage IS v enable me to replenish with stock which Will U' bought exclusively with cash.

 nov3-tf LEVIN HARRISON
Year: 1861

"In the coastwise and boeksding duties Of
the navy, it has been not untrequent that iugi-
tives from insurrectionary places have sought
our ships for refuge and protection, and our
naval commanders have applied to me for in
struction as to the proper disposition which
should be made OF such refugees. My answer
has been, that, if insurgents, they should be
handed over to the custody of the Government;
but If, on the contrary, they were free from
any voluntary participation in the rebellion,
and sought the shelter and protection of our
flag, then they should be cared for, and EN-
ployed in some useful manner. and might be
enlisted to serve on our phblc vessels, or in
our navy yards, receiving wages for their labor.
If such employment could not be furnished to
all by the Navy, they might be referred to the
army, aud if no employment could be found
for them in the public service, they shoIld br
allowed to proceed freely and peaceably, with
out restraint, to seek livelihood in any loyal
portion OF the country. This have considered
to be the whole required duty, in the premises,
OF our naval officers"
Year: 1861

CaMerenss Frank Talk at spr1ngh field.


During his recent visit Of inspection to the
Government arsenal at Springfield, Msssachu-
tetts, very large number Of citizens called
upon Secretary Cameron ut the hotel, desirous
to obtain his views upon questions connected
with the prosecution Of the war. He spoke
to them very freely and frankly. He said to
them that he intended, SO far s. lid In his
power, to prosecute this war With all the 7igor
and power Of the nation. He believed that
we had at the head Of our army young Cen
era1 Of great ability, and one In whom the
people cou1d repose confidence. He could
not speak Of what General Mcclellan propos-
ed to do, a. his business - Secretary Of War
~as to furnish men and munitions, aud to
trust the disposition Of the troops to the Gen
ecs1 in command.


Ar. Cameron spoke Of the cauae Of the war,
sod said that everybody understood what had
produced it; it uas the diseorddFat clement Qf
Sldxry. In regard to that institution, he be-
lieved that the end of the war would be the
end of slavery, unless the rebels returned to
their duty and their loyalty


The Secretary, in the course Of the conyer-
eation, further remarked that in fitting ont
the expedition which had so recently sailed
for the South, he had directed that an extra
quantity Of arms should accompany the forces
and that the commander should place thest
| arms in the hands Of AMI MEN who nigh
| offer to use them. He had no doubt tha
plenty Of men would be found, even in Soutl
Carolina, who would be willing to fight 70
| the cause Of freedom and the preservation Q
the Uoion4 Il. this bezief he .oouzd see that an


other epeditioa that might hereafter go So.st


sho.t1d take sufficient as1ns to enable those eoh


desired to fight to take the field in aid Of th


Union cause.


The viaTE Of the Secretary were receive


with the greatest qualification. The Wat an


the Government were vastly strengthened /


the heart Of Massachusetts, By Simon Camel


on's free talk with the people Of Springfield.
Year: 1861

CHILDREN of any age can now have their pictures
" taken perfect, as We have built Room expressly
for their Groups of Children also taken frAc-
ton of second, IN clear weather. Mothers need not
now have the trouble TO take them Gallery dozen
times, and at last put up with caricature, If they
will but go once to


feb1S-u HUGHES PREMIUM GALLERY
Year: 1861

You cannot go into the meadow and pluck
single daisy by the roots without breaking
up a society Of nice rel ations and detecting
principle of most extensive and refined
gravitation. The handful of earth that fol-
lows the tinny roots of the little flowers is
replete with social elements. A social cir
Gle has been formed around that terminating
daisy. The sunbeam and the soft summer
breeze came whispering through the tall
summer grass to join the silent concert The
earth took them to the daisy gem; and all
went to work to show that daisy to the sun.
Each mingled in the honey of its influence,
and they the wee canny thing with an ali
msnt that made it grow. And when it lifted
its eyes toward the sky they wove soft
carpet of grass for its feet. And the sun
saw it through the green leaves and smiled
as he passed on; and by star light and by
moon light they worked on. And the daisy
lifted up its head one morning while the sun
was looking; 1t put out its silver trimmed
diadem, and showed its yellow petals to the
stars And it nodded to the little birds that
were swimm ing in the sky and all of them
that had silver lined wings, and birds in
black, gray, and quaker brown came. and the
querulous blue bird and courtesying yellow
bird came and sang coronation of that
daisy.
Year: 1861

twists about the velvet table cover with
his pen-knife, and makes epigrams, if he
had American habits he wonld put his feet
on the official table. He sees no one there
but the majority-that is to say, his faithful
friends.


Count Cavour is not an orator, in the
French sense of the world; he is one, rath-
er, in the English sense He has difficulty
in speaking, because he does not wish
to say word too much "a word which has
not the exact force he wishes to give. He
does not speak for the Chamber but for Eu-
rope He has solid, connected and lucid
manner Of reasoning; he always touches
the heart of the question, and if he is not
always right, he at least never falls into
plattudes and common-places.


sum up the diplomatic is a giant the
administrator is inferior to the diplomatist
the man is an antithesis. You can never
rest in an undetermined attitude towards
him. You must either obey or rebel against
him. He does not let himself be led by his
friends he does not count his enemies. -
He is the intellect of Italy in her foreign
relations; he is her heart in her home af-
fairs. He is the soul of the cabinet, which is
identified with him. "ss a5
Year: 1861

EP There old farmer who kept a
large poultry yard, and had one hen who, not
content with her proper sphere of action, was
continually endeavoring to crow. At last, af-
ter repeated attempts, she succeeded in making
something like a crow. The farmer was taking
his breakfast at the time. and hearing the noise
rose and went out, and discovered the author of
the curious attempt He soon returned, bearing
in his hand the growing hen, minus her head =
There said he, /" I'm willing hens should do
most anything, but | amt willing they should
crow. Cocks may crow as much as they
please, but hens shall not; it's setting a bad
esample'
Year: 1861

The famous traveller, Captain r. F. Burton, of
The Lake Regions of Central Africa" which
the n. 7. Home Journal proaounces " the most
complete work of the kind ever given to the
public-" Captain Burton discusses the different
races OF East Africa at great length and with
great ability. The Home Journal thus sums up
BIS observations:


hen the sun has dashed the dew from the


as the elder boys drive the herd to pasture,
- a1nnt returnzsiH sunset The elders even
at this early hour, devote themselves to steady
drinking. They talk, laugh, smoke, sleep,
gamble. Gambling is passion. They will first
sell their property, and then sell themselves
negro viii stake his aged mother against a COW,
which appears to be the value attached to the
old lady. At one o'clock dinner, the great
event of negro life, comes Off The negros
whole soul is in his stomach. The meal is his
meditation by day and his dream by night The
human animal is rayeroas after flesh Any
living thing, clean or unclean, will suit his pal
ate Fish is comparatively despised. Smoked
zebra is a favor;e dish, and Captain Burton
speaks enthusiastically of the flavor The me-
grocs differ with Swift's islanders in refusing to
crack the egg either at the little end or at the
big end; this probably arises from a religious
prejudice, whether indigenous or imported it is
impossible to say. They cluster like flies round
sugar and if any falls on the ground they would
rather eat an ounce of earth than lose single
grain. of course, the East African eats him
self into state of torpidty. When he re-
ylves, he chats, plays, smokes and chews as be-
fore. In the cool sunset the women fetch tieir
water from the well, and then gather together in
little groups. As for morality. neither the word
nor the thing exists among them the idea of
perfect bliss is total intoxication all day, and
total insensbility all night. Their wants are
few and simple; the fertility of the country has
cursed them with exemption from labor.


And yet we find thousands of fanatics and
mistaken philanthropists who think it tremen-
dous crime to take these people from their pre-
sent bestial condition and place them within the
reach not only of civilization, bat of Chris
tianzation; and who look upon man as a
monster who thinks it not only unwise but un-
christian for this Government to spend mil
lion of dollars every year in protecting the mis-
erable savages of Africa in the possession of
their admirable freedom, (7) while thousands of
our own poor are permitted every winter to
freeze from lack of clothing and food 1t does
seem to US that if it is constitutional to spend
money to befriend the savages of Africa, who
have no sort of claim upon US, it must be
lief of the thousands in our northern cities, who
every winter are dependent upon free soup
houses for the food necessary to sustain life.
Year: 1861

HINT TO GARDESERs.---The latest invention
is an instrument to prevent poultry from
scratching up the gardens tits something like
long spur attached to the hind part of a
ROSTERS leg. The instrument is so arranged
that when the fowl is about to scratch the earth,
the spur catches in the ground before the foot
has fairly descended, and obliges it to bring its
foot down quietly and harmessly in front OF the
place where it aimed at. The yl thereupon
tries the other foot with like suit. 1t keeps
on trying, and, before it is aware of it. the ma
chine has walked it right out of the garden.
Year: 1861

We occupy the principal part of our pa
per this week in the publication of the Con-
stitution of the United States in full. We
have thought proper to do so in order that
our readers may see its provisions, and also
see that its most sacred principles are vio-
ia1ed every day'by men cazfEg sssemseIves
Union men.


The Constitution is the Union. We
had no Union before the Constitution was
adopted; each State was an independent
sovereignty, acknowledging no superior on
earth, and to form a Union the Constitu-
ton was adopted; by it the Federal gov
ernment was adopted, and by certain
grants of powers which it might exercise,
and with positive prohibition TO exercise
other powers. This Constitution has been
nullifed by the President and his adhe-
rents, and still they say they are Union
men. Those who are trampling upon the
Constitution are disunionists. There is
no such thing as Union without the Con-
stitution and those who violate the Con-
stitution cannot be Union men.


How those who have sworn to support
the Constitution can openly advocate the
most outrageous violations of it, we are
unable to understand, unless they believe
that Lincoln has the power of absolving
himself and them from the obligation of
their solemn oaths.
Year: 1861

GETTING EvEN.-A good looking bachelor,
who for some years has been ''scudding under
bare poles," has lately been conftihga widow
at Red Dog, the latter having beautiful set
of teeth, manufactured by the dentist. 1t
appears that the twain had misunderstand-
ing a day OF two ago. and as the bachelor
was about to abruptly take his leave; the
widow told him there was a dead mule on
his road, and advised him to take along a pair
of shears and cut off enough Of the name
to make a covering for his bald pate. He
told her he would do so, and at the same
time would take n mallet and punch and
knock out new set of teeth for her.-Dem-
Ocrat
Year: 1861

Poison OAK.-A friend has furnished us with
the following recipe for manufacturing cure to
the hateful malady produced by poison oak,
which, he assures us, is neve4-failing remedy.
We publish it for the benefit of those who are or
may be thus afflicted Make strong decoction
of manzanita leaves, and apply it upon the por-
tions of the body affected by the poison, as warm
the patient can bear it. The decoctfon can
be applied with sponge or linen rag. Our
friend says he has used it himself frequently,
and never knew it to fail in producing speedy
cure.
Year: 1861

Hair TOnic.--To persons residing in warm eli:
mates, this compound will be invaluable as specific
in retaining to the skin healthy action aud neutral
iZing any of the evil effects which by continued
frequent perspiration must cause to the hair.


To children, or the youngest infant, it may be used
with the greatest freedom for However thin weakly
the hair may apparently be, by the of this
pound all irritation will be allayed


This tonic is more particularly recommended for
storing grey hairs to their original color and with few
exceptions it acknowledged to be nfalble but in
all it is acknowledged to be superior to Ike pre-
parations how in the market.


This is no hair oil for simply geasig the hair. but
chemical preparation free from grease other inju
rious ingredients.


Manufactured and sold at the drug store of S T..
Watts Marysvlle and sold by traders and druggists
throughout the State.
Year: 1861

A PREACHER, whose text led him to


speak of the prophet Jonah, among other
things, said: ~ am of the opinion that
Jonah was a cleanly old man, neither
smoking nor chewing, from the fact that
the fish retained him SO long in his
stomach. If the fish had swallowed the
house where we arc worshiping he would
no doubt have vOmited himself to death" "
Year: 1861

The Troy Times says that a man was
fined ten dollars by the Court in that place
for kissing married lady, and add :: "it
may be well to state, for the sake of the
girls, that there is not any law against
kissing them!"