smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

or VIII the Linn county Herald please
observe that we appealed from the deci-
sion to which it refers. The simple fact
tha. Justices court imposed fine oi
ten dollars, does not prove US guilty Of
the charges on the contrary, the evil
dence and law sustained us fully in our
doing Just as We did on the occasion.
Year: 1859

ALgERQuERouE, New Mexico, Aug, !


%, 1859.


Dear Colonel We are now in the
midst of the rainy season, which commen-
ces about the first of the month and con-
tinues about one month. Every afternoon
we are visited by tremendous shower,
nothing like which is ever seen i'll the States.
The aqua however comes too late in the
season to do any good, as the crops are all
gathered in before this The other eleven
months are as dry as a Congressional speech.
This town although not as large rs Santa
Fe, is considered the wealthiest in the Ter
ritory The merchants are nearly all Mex
leans, who buy their goods in the States,
and transact a large business. All tho
houses are one story high, built of mud.
neatly whitewashed both inside and out
The place is situated on the Rio Grand
river, at the mouth Of which is Matamoras
| in old Mexico, moro than one thousand
miles below here. ..
Travelling through any part of the eoin-
try, one is surprised to soc the rtimbcr of
crosses stuck up on the road, and horror
struck when he learns that each cross de-
notes the spot where some human being
was murdered. l must have seen more
than one thousand crossing from Fort Union
here The most of them were the victims
of the Apaches and Comanches, who
every little while make raid on the ranch
es, Kill every body they meet, drive off the
stock, and then away to their secure re-
treats, before force can be organized to
pursue them. A sad commentary on the
insecurity of life in the Territory.


Sunday throughout the Territory is consi-
dered more as holiday than a holy day.
Yesterday was Sunday, and at the same time
Mass was being celebrated, political meet
ing was under way, and a circus was in full
blast, all within 800 feet of each other. All
the stores are kept open, and it is consider
ed the best trading day in the week. Ex-
;stence in this country is confined solely to
the banks of the vivers. The bottoms are
all we'll cultivated, but mile or two back
from the streams is nothing but desert.


If you travel south the country i'm
proves in every respect, and as am deter
mined to see the whole of it, my next letter
will be dated probably on the southern
frontier. In a few weeks will send you
sketch of all have seen in the country,
which think you will find very interest.
ing, and until that time bid you.


o ADIOAS.
Year: 1859

The Hon. Abe Lincoln, the great Ajax OF
Republicanism. in his speech at Masonic
Hall, asserted that slavery or freedom in
both Territories and new States, depended
entirely upon Congressional action. In this
view if slavery was prohibited by Congress
sional Intervention in the Territories they
would come into the Union as free States
if not, they would come in as slave States:
He stated that neither soil or climate would
influence the determination of the question,
but the result as to whether they would be
free or slave depended entirely upon Con
gressonA restriction or non-action. This
Year: 1859

A NOVEL CoURrsHIP.-A young
gentleman happening to sit at church
in a pew adjoinin gbne in which sat
young lady for whom he had conceived
a violent passion, was desirous Of en-
tering into courtship on the spot; but
the place not suiting formal dcclara-
ton, the exigency Of the case suggested
the following plan:


lie politely handed his fai. neighbor
a bible, open, with a pin stuck IN the
following text


Second Epistle Of John, verse 5th--
@and now | beseech thee, lady, not as
though wrote new commandment
unto thee, but that we had from the
beginning--that We loved one another"


She returned it pointing to the sec
ond chapter Of Ruth, verse tenth


@Then she fell on her face, and bowed
herself to the ground, and said unto him,
why have found grace in thine eyes,
that thop shonldst take kncwledge Of
me, seeing that ] am strangerIp


He returned the book pointing 10 tue
10Th verse Of the third Epistle Of John:


'Having many things to write unto
/ you, 7 would not write with paper anal
ink, but trust to come unto you. and
speak face to face that our Joy may be
full"


From the above interview marriage
took place the ensuing week.
Year: 1859

AvARIcE --CeftaipIy seems more
like madness than a crime. The miser
is like the fool who would spend bis
life in aceuniulating lakes of pure.
cold water, on,i yet suffer thirst. What
is money but the representation Of
things sfor use and enjoyment. Then
what is the ho;irder Of gold but crazy
fellow who thinks more of the key than
to palace than all the comfort and
beauty stored IN its halls and chambers
Year: 1859

THE USE OF NoIsE.-this paragraph, from
the life Of James Watt, illustrates the humor
of the great inventor, and his appreciation
of the popular fondness for great racket.
Writing to his partner respecting one of the
first steam engines put in operation in Corn
wall, Watt says:


'Thc velocity violence, magnitude, and
horrible noise of the engine gave universal
satisfaction to all behoder whether believers
or not l have once or twice trimmed the


engine to end its stroke gently, and make
less noise; but Mr.--cannot sleep unless
it seems quite furious-so | have left 1t to
the engine man. And, by the by, the noise
serves to convey great ideas of power to the
ignorant, who seem to be no more taken with
modest merit in an engine than in man.
Year: 1859

DIsGUsTED.-The editor of the Placerville
Observer wishes it distinctly understood that
he does not blow brass horns for any iDdi-
vldual or faction but that the Observer is an
Independent paper. He says the bitterness
Of feeling and ungallant conduct of CaliforA
MIA partizans long since disgusted him with
the whole batch; and then further remarks: 4:


Were it possible for an intelligent stranger
to arrive in California just now from some
country where our present style of journal
ism was unknown, we imagine that he would
at once believe himself in the midst of Pc
nal colony where men are only estimated
according to the enormity of the villanies
which they have perpetrated. If our various
political papers are to be believed, every Off
Ger in the commonwealth, from United States
Senator down to the lackeys in the Custom
House, are unmitigated villains, thieves and
peculators. This kind of stuff ght answer
in Botany Bay, but it is supremely disgusting
amongst an honorable people, such as We
claim to be.
Year: 1859

SnAkhsPEAREs CRITICS What fortunate
thing for the true lover of Shakespeare that
he is not obliged to read his commentators
Looking at a Shakesperian note, the other
day, we observed that it was the remark of o
critic on the criticism of critic who was
criticising comment on the commentary of
a commentator upon q commentator of
Shakespeare! 1t looks like an intentional
tumble, but it is mere statement of facts.
When one gets so tar off AS that, it is time
to 90 back to the naked text (such as it is)
and stay there. The foot notes in some edi-
tons are convenience, but more than half
of them are superfluous to a reader of ordi-
nary intelligence. 1t may be doubted wheth-
er it would not be public service, if it were
possible, to destroy all the commentaries on
the great poet that were ever written. 1t
would be like clearing the barnacles from
ships bottom- Boston Post.
Year: 1859

PATTING Us ON THE BAcK-The leading At
lantic papers now take occasional flattering
notice of California, apart from her immense
and regular gold shipments. They dilate
with wonder upon the variety and extent of
her resources, as if they were just becoming
enlightened to them, which is doubtless the
case, and predict for her a great future. They
have discovered among other things that this
is bound to be great wine producing coun-
try, and that it is already exporting such ar
ticles as quicksilver, wheat, barley, wool etc.
This change from the old oblivious silence
may partly account for the large emigration
reported to be on the way hither, and was
itself occasioned by the persistent efforts of
the press of this State to acquaint the world
with the attractions and advantages of our
Pacific home. Several of the asterniournals
quote Langley's Register, which fact proves
the wisdom of the Legislative appropriation
for the distribution of that valuable work
Year: 1859

From time immemorial it has been the
custom of newly married couples, to forward
to the printer, with a notice of their nuptials,
compliment in the shape of wine and cake.
A lady of Forest Hill, as we learn from the
Courier, has recently applied this agreeable
custom to notices of births. On the occa-
sion of the advent of daughter she sent
the editor bottle of Heidsick and gener-
Gus slice of cake. Her example is worthy
of all imitation.
Year: 1859




ling to think how much some of our little
"indulgences" cost us. In the matter of
smoking, for instance, it may be safely cal
culated that few men in this country spend
less than twenty Ave cents a day, on an av-
erage, for cigars, tobacco and pipes. In
twelve months this would reach the sum of
$50, and in ten years Sole. The latter
amount would go far towards securing the
old age of an economical man against want
or if expended on life insurance policies, or
invested in land, would provide for his fam
iiy in the event Of his sudden decease with
out other means. 1t is quite probable that
most Californians average more than twenty
five cents day for tobacco, particularly the
smokers Of the weed. Then too, the ma
jority of those who smoke "drink little
now and then," and the cost Of what they
imbibe, or purchase for others to imbibe in
the way Of "treats," must be fully equal, at
least, to their tobacco expenses thus doub-
ling the above amount to 81 500 in ten years.
Surely this is worth saving not for the
mean reason that we would thus have so
much more money, but that it may be ex-
pended more usefully, that we may have
more means at disposal for the aid offriends
or needy strangers, for the adornment of our
homes, for the purchase of rational enjoy
ments, or for the satisfaction of our higher
wants. Many an aspiring soul is quenched
for the lack of that very coin which goes to
supply our daily quantum of ''the weed."-
Many an ambitious resolve has been puffed
away in wreaths of lazily watched smoke
We have heard a silver piece-our own, per-
haps-ringing on the counter of the tobac-
const or of the liquor dealer, and thought
there tolled the kncll of hope. q prom
ise, reputation. 1t is these constant drop
pings that wear away our capacity for use
fulness. Just think-a fortnights tobacco
or liquor would buy us Plato, or Shakes
peare. or Compte; would put into our
hands the history of our country; would
make US the owners of compendious cy-
clopedia; and through either one of these
mediums furnish US with mental pabulum
for a lifetime.


But then, say you, such ideas, especially
when carried into practice, are considered
rather mean economy is an unlovely thing
in the eyes of those who cannot appreciate
the motives for it; we must be men amongst
men. True, these objections to a rational
course are very powerful, apart from the aid
they afford our own perverted appetites,and
inspire those false notions of liberalty
which drive many good people away from
the path of obedience to their best impulses.
Perhaps our hints may not be altogether
unheeded however; and at any rate it is
something to even think right for a few mo-
ments, if we lack the courage to do it.
Year: 1859

A German publication has given the
calculation to prove that the distance
between the earth and the sun is annually
increasing, and attributes to this fact the
increasing humidity of our summers, and


the loss of fertility in the soil of the for.
merly most favored regions of the earth.


The vegetable and animal remains found
even within the recent strata OF the Arc
tie circle, show a degree of heat formerly
prevailed there which equalled that of
equatorial regions of the present time, and
although many ingenious theories have
been started to account for this desoia-
ton of ouce sunny region, none seems
so rational as the very obvious one of
gradual Withdrawal of the great source of
light and heat. The Egyptians, Chinese
and other nations have traditions that at
a very early period of their history the
apparent diameter of the sun was double
what it now is, and according to the ta-
tles of the German saYaDt, in the course
OF six thousand years more the disc OF
that lumiuary will have diminished so
that we shall receive but Que eighth part
of the solar influence which we at present
enjoy, the whole earth being covered with
eternal ice. 1t is now admitted by the
most orthodox school of science that the
earth and other planets were thrown of
from the sun, so that our globe has con-
fessedly travelled one hundred millions OF
miles from its birth place, and no absurd
ity exists in the supposition that it has
not yet ceased receding, though at con-
stantly diminished rate, which may or
may not reach the o point before it arr
rives at such distance as to be unin-
babitable, when following the anology of
all other known perturbations and eccen-
tricities among the different bodies of the
universe, it will undoubtedly retrace its
steps to a point much nearer than any il
has occupied during the historic period,
and so move back and forth, like nigh
ty pendulum forever, measuring of per-
haps thousands of ages at each beat. Or
perchanee, having run its course, it will
fall back into the sun-as man, who
springs from dust. returns to dust again
Ito be again evolved in the form of nsb-
ulous matter, and again condensed into
habitable globe.-Nes0banyport Herald.
Year: 1859

topped mounds which mark the poin,


from which the water runs easterly to the


Gulf of Mexico and westerly to the Pa.
ci6c. If any one has pictured to himself
the South Pass as running through some


narrow, winding, difficult, rocky mountain
gorge, he is grievously mistaken. The
road through the South Pass is the best
part of the route from Atchison to Cali
fornia; the clay has here been almost
wholly washed away and carried of, SO
that the road passes over coarse, heavy
gravelly sand, usually as compact and
smooth as the best illustrations Of the ge-
MUS of MacAdam. I never before trav-
ersed forty-fiv miles of purely natural
road SO faultless as that through the South
Pass which I have travelled to-day. But
this tract should be good for roads, as it
seems good for nothing else. The natu-
raj obstacles to constructing railroad
through this region are not comparable to
those overcome in the construction of the
Camden and Amboy.


Passing the Twin Buttes-the distance
between the mountains on the north and
the hills on the south being not less than
thirty miles, and thenceforth westward
rapidly wideniug-we run down side of a
dry, shallow water-course some five miles
to wet springy marsh or morass of 6f-
teen or twenty acres, covered with poor
coarse grass, in which are found the So
called Pacific Springs" The water is
clear and cold but bad. Perhaps the
number of dead cattle, of which the skel-
etons dot the marsh, made it so distaste-
ful to ne. At all events, could not drink
it. This bog is long and narrow; and
from its western end issues petty brook
which takes its way soutbwestwardly to
the Sandy, Green River, the Colorado
and the Gulf of California Henceforth,
toward the south and west, no bills are
visible but sandy, barren
plain, mainly covered with the miserable
Sagebush.


Twelve miles further on, we crossed
Dry Sandy---not quite dry at this
point, but its thirsty sands would surely
drink the last of it mile or SO further
south. Five miles beyond this, the old
and well-beaten Oregon trail strikes of to
the northwest while our road bends to the
south. west. We are out of the South Pass,
which many have traversed unconsciously
and gone on wondering and inquiring
when they should reach it. Seven miles
further brought us to Lsttle Sandy, and
eight more to Big Sandy, whereon is the
station at which. at 4 p. m. we 10y order),
stopped for the night. All these creeks
appear to rise in the high mountains many
miles north of US and to run off with con-
stantly diminishing volume together to
Join the Colorado at the south. Neither
has tree on its banks that | have seen
only few low willow bushes at long
interval vals-though ] hear that some Cot
tonwood is found on this creek ten miles
above. Each has bottom" or inter.
vale of perhaps four rods in average width
in which little grass is found, but next
to none on the high sandy plains that sep
arrte them. Drouth and sterility reign
here without rival.
Year: 1859

LOVE AND LOVE. MAKING. - The
power Of loving and the power OF
love, take to be two very
distinct gifts, seldom found united
in ono individual. They resemble,
the power Of thinking
and the power Of talking, and one
would not he much surprised to find
that the number of people who can
make love without feeling it, is pro-
portionate to that OF the people who
can (and willy talk without thinking.
But do not let us be savage; do not
let us be dissatisfied with these ar
rangements OF nature. Bless us all,
what sort of a world would itbe, il no
DO ~ sighed and whispered, unless
he had u passion at his heart, aud IL
nobody questioned and answered un.
less he had a brain in his head.


-[&irley Brooks.
Year: 1859

DRUM DRuMMED OUT.-Mighty is
the Drum, raising as it does lust
of glory in the Christians heart,
stirring him to slaughter, and ma
king bloodshed beautiful; sending
him forth a terrible reaper in the
fields OF carnage, and smearing him
with human gore rs earth's best
painting And yet the drum, though
beat 10y destroying angel-sounds
not so musical to us a. the painting
and snorting of the railway engine.
The piston is more mobile weapon
than tie sword; the whirl and rush
and thunder Of the train grinder,


moro truly sublime, more suggest
i've of oil that enobles man in his
purest thoughts and sympathics to.
wards his fellow, than the tramp and
measured step of glistening thous.
ands, shaking the earth they too soon
are about to deiile with fire and
ord JERRoLD. -
Year: 1859

A TIGER AT SEA.--A somewhat
extraordinary adventure was met
with few days ago, near Muilky,
which is about twenty miles North
Of Mangalore, on the coast. S,me
fishermen, starting out very early in
the morning while it was yet dark,
with their hooks and fish h.spears in
their boats, remarked something
dark in the sea, which it appears
wac outside the breakers; they made
up to it to make it out in the dark.
One of the first boat-loads Of five
called out "a cheetah, a cheet tah!"
but it was soon discover d to be q
royal tiger. They rowed close up to
it, and then another bolabored it in
the head with an oar. But it soon
turned on them, put one huge paw
on the side Of the boat, which cap
sized il, and with ono blow of the
other, fellea the poor man with the
oar. Man and tiger disappeared to-
gether least none OF The others
saw more of them. They were all
shot out by the capsizing boat, and
it was some little time before they
were picked mp by tho other boats.-
That evening the tigers body was
washed up by the waves dead, and
the next morning the poor mans
corpse, with the unmistakable claw


marks on the back of his neck. The
others escaped unscathed, with the
exception OF an awkward blow on
the ankle, which ono of them got
from the boat. What possessed the
tiger to 90 out for cruise in this


fashion, does not appear Mad'as


4theaaeum.
Year: 1859

TEE LADIES' BALL.-The ball, given by the
ladies Of Nevada for the purpose of raising
meens to protect the city from Ere, came off at
the Court House on Monday evening, according
to the original programme. Notwithstanding
q large company was in attendance, and the
ball room was somewhat crowded, every thing
was conducted in the best order, and in a man
ner highly creditable to the ladies, who were
the sole managers. The festivities were kept
up until daylight yesterday morning. The
managers have not yet got returns from all the
parties selling tickets but we learn that the net
profits Of the ball win not vary much from nine
hundred dollars
Year: 1859

THE PERILs OF THE PooR.-The terribly


cold weather experienced for two days past,


has been sufficiently uncomfortable to the rich
and wel-to-do in society; then, how unspeak-
ably dreadful it must have been to the poor I


Think Of the miserable old novels so many of
them live in; think of the thin and ragged gar
ments that scarcely cover their nakedness, to
say nothing of imparting warmth think of the
empty larder and the lack of fuel; think of the
half-starved, puny, sickly little children, crying
for what their parents cannot give them.
These are subjects and scenes to be remem-
bered as you sit around your own warm fire
sides, and bask in the smiles of domestic 10y
and plenty. And you, kind mother, as you
wrap your little child in warm fannels and
tuck up so carefully his little trundle-bed, re-
member the poor mother who has none of these
comforts for her perishing offspring. And re-
member ye all what the MASTER says:-"Inas.
much as ye have done it unto one of the least
OF these, my brethren, ye have done it unto
me-"
Year: 1859

THE CoLDEsT WEATHER IN SEVENTY
YEARS Mr.. Merriam, the weather prophet
of Brooklyn Heights, says the weather of Mon
day and Tuesday was the coolest known in
New York for seventy years. What is very
peculiar to this "cold term" is, that the most
intense cold has been at midday. Among the
pecularites of the snap, the Times mentions
the following:


"The most remarkable effects of the cold
were seen on the Bay and rivers, where a
thick cloud of steam was seen all day looking
as though thousand boilers were letting their
steam escape. The temperature of the air was
so much lower than that of the water, that the
vapor ascended from the surface as though the
Gulf Stream, with its tepid billows had sud
denly made divergence through Long Island
Sound into our harbor"
Year: 1859




The Postmaster Generalthas committed him
self to the scheme of raising the rates of letter
postage, in order that the Department may be
selfsustaining. This is movement that will
bring him more curses than blessings. His in
genuity could not combine measure to make
him more unpopular The present rates are
as high as the people will ever submit to with
Christian grace; and if certain gross abuses
were cut off, the present rates would soon be, if
not now, selfsustaining. The entire franking
system should be abolished and all matter
carried for the various Departments should be
paid for by the Government The idea that
the Postal Department must pay its own ex-
penses, is founded on but little stronger argu-
ment than could be advanced for making the
Army and Navy pay their own cost The post
Offices in the older States (some of the slave
States excepted,) are already selfsustaining,
or would be if not burdened by Congressman
and the Federal Government. This fact
proves that the present rates are high enough
We doubt if any Congress or any Administra-
ton will dare change the present rates, in plain
opposition to the views and wishes of the great
bulk of the people.
Year: 1859

The PUBLICATION OF BIRTHS has not been
customary in The Spy, but we can see no good
reason why it should not be. We are creatures
of habit; and our train of thoughts apt to run
in the common and beaten channel. Because
it has not been customary to publish births,
here in New England, great many people
have come to the conclusion that such publi-
cation is improper. But, if asked for the
reason of this belief, it would be found to rest
on anything but logic or common sence. A
persons entrance into the world, is surely as
OF much consequence as his or her marriage or
death; and we contend that the public an
nouncement of one is just as proper as the
other.


In England, Scotland and Ireland, the pub
lishment of births in the newspapers, is uni
versal custom. 1t is sanctioned by all classes
of society, and is expected as a matter of
course. To object to it, would there be consid-
cred matter Of extreme prudery.


Seeing no good reason why births should not
be published, we shall hereafter make public
all such as are sent us duly authenticated.