smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

IMPROVE THE PRESENT" There is a tide
in the affairs of men which, if taken at the


food, leads on to fortune" Farmers and
miners should ever keep present the maxim
Of the worlds greatest poet, here quoted
Put not off till to morrow that which may
be done to day." is another maxim that
should be held ever present by all the human
family. After season of rain and warm
weather almost unparalleled in the knowl
edge Of white men in this country, we now
have sunshine and q climate like spring
Are our farmers and miners improving every
moment? or are they, like Micawber.
" waiting for something to turn up?" To
the waiting class we have only to say that
the results of their business will be small
to the others abundance will be the conse.
quence. Never lose an opportunity When
Mere IS q moment of fine weather improve it
in outdoor duties. When the weather is foul
let preparations be made indoors for the i'm
proyement Of the first favorable moment.


UNIFORM BANKRUPT LAw-The bill estab-
fishing uniform bankrupt law passed the
Honse Of Representatives without debate on
the 18th Of December. Il is believed the
Senate viii also pass this bill during the pres
ent session. The city article of the New
York Herald, referring to this law. says =
g It's passage is received with unmixed salts
faction by the financial and commercial
community, and the fact that no such bill had
been made a law long since was almost
reproach to US as commercial people"
Year: 1865

women have an idea that hight instead Of
breadth of'foreheod is sign of intellect.
The ancient Greeks did not think so, and
the types of female beauty they have left
will still continue to be the general model.
The dressing of the hair will continue to
revert to the classic style, which In its gen
eral features is graceful flowing from the
central parting to a coil behind. But the
most Objectionable feature OF the present
fashion is the prominence it gives to the
foreign origin of the hair. '''


1t is grave question whether this habit
OF artificial substitutes for natural features
does not diminish the regard for the true
and natural in everything and thus tend to
demoralize the female mind. viii not the
line between the false and the true be in
distinct? Will not an air of falsehood sur
round mental as we'll as physical develop
ments? We suggest this for the serious
consideration of women. But there can be
no question that in the minds of men the
sanctity of female mysteries is much broken
down by the prevalence of artificial sub
stitutes, and by the manner in which their
anatomical fabrication is laid bare in the
shop windows. Men cannot know but that
the object to be adored is mere idol of
hay, wood and stubble. like those mention
ed in scripture. . B.. -..t....... .


We do not make an onslaught on the
fashions OF female dress by any means, tor
generally they are graceful and elegant; and
we have exceeding scorn for those newspa-
per railers at female fashions, who could
not see the beauty of the style of bonnets
this year, and their vast improvement over
the sky-scraper fronts and stiff projecting
capes of the previous fashion. We are con-
tent that the order of nature, which in all
other animals makes the male the sex for
display and swell, should be reversed in the
case of women. Solomon, in all his glory,
did not behold women arrayed like those
which we can see upon our streets any fair
day, without care for the expense. And the
cloth of gold which used to be laid down
for princes to walk upon on occasions OF
unusual splendor, was poor display COM
pared with the sidewalks continually swept
by silks of fabulous cost, on which any man
can walk in this happy age.


1t is sometimes remarked that women are
expensive; but this is the business of those
who enjoy them, and no man is under COM
pulsion. Luxuries would cease to be luxur-
les if they were cheap. And as we value
things in proportion to their cost, will not
the expensive habits of women make them
more dear to their husbands? What bless
ed discovery if in her very extravaganza
the woman finds charm like the cestus of
Venus to secure her husbands love! What
if the more she loosens his purse strings
the tighter she binds his fidelity, and thus
the friction of his nose upon the grindstone
keeps his heart uxoriously warm!
Year: 1865

st. Paul said, the glory of a woman is her
long hair. The glory of fashionable wo-
man now seems to be in the quantity of the
hair of other people she can put on her
head. The prevalence and the pride in false
hair is striking illustration of the power
of fashion. Not long ago it was the last
resort to replace decay, and necessity to
be concealed even from ones friends. Now
women pride themselves upon the magni-
tude of the structure which all know to be
false, and there is as much ostentation in
costly hair as In costly dress.


Recently a French woman'of rank, riding
in a secluded road, was assaulted by her
coachman, who struck her over the head
several times with an iron wrench, but her
false-hair structure broke the force of the
blows and saved her from being overcome.
This is the only rational purpose we have
heard of for this appendage, but, this is
rather too suggestive. ,-a VA I'D D., r,fa,.l-,
4, Besides the1 un%holesome relations of
false hair, there is something still more sus-
picious in the materials of the frame work
of the various structures now worn, some
Of which are fitly called by unwholesome
names. These composite fabrics have run
to an extreme that must react one would
think, and perhaps the next extreme of
fashion will be style of hairso diminished
that shall give to the world assurance of its
being identical with the wearer. lrt..i


The waterfall, which, from Its name, ought
to be naturally flowing, has expanded TO
stiff stretched dcontrivance ikea pin-cushion
or snuff bladder, without grace, and
mere excrescence, like an exaggerated wen.
1t is said these are going out. For that, II
true, we are thankful. nf


This is the only specially ungracetulfea-
ture of the present style Of hair. But we
doubtif the puffs, called bysome verminous
artistic. They narrow the appearance of
the head at that place where breadth Is as
ISOLATED with intellectually. But many
Year: 1865

MEMORY IN DRowNING.-Some years ago
A. held bond against B. for several hun.
dred dollars, having some time to rum
WI en- the bond came due, A. made dill
gent search for it among his papers, but it
was not to be found. Knowing to q GER
tainty that the bond had not been paid or
otherwise legally disposed of, A. concluded
frankly to inform his neighbor B. Of its
loss, and rely upon his sense Of justice for
its payment. But to his surprise, when in
formed of its loss, B. denied ever having
given such bond, and strongly intimated
fraudulent design on his part in asserting
that such transaction bad taken place be.
tween them.


Being unable to prove bis claim, A. was
compelled to submit to the loss of the debt
and also to the charge OF dishonorable in
tentions in urging the demand. Years
passed away, and the affair almost ceased
to be thought of, when one day, while A.
was bathing in Charles river, he was seized
with the cramp, and came near drowning.
After sinking and rising several times he
was seized by friend, and drawn to the
shore and carried home apparently lifeless.
But by application of the usual remedies he
was restored; and as soon as he gained
sufficient strength he went to the bookcase,
took out book, and from between the leaves
took out the indentical bond which had been
so long missing.


He then stated that while drowning and
sinking, as he supposed, to rise no more,
there suddenly stood before him, as if it
were in picture, every act of his life from
his childhood to the moment when he sank
beneath the waters, and among other acts
was that of placing that bond in book and
laying it away in the bookcase. Armed
with the long lost document found in this
marvellous manner, A. called upon B. Of
whom he recovered the debt with interest
Similar instances might be given,
Year: 1865

TIE Pittsburg Chronicle, giving an 40.
count Of . concert in that city, says
while Mrs. Spaulding was playing one of
her beautiful Harp solos, boy in the
gallery broke forth in q series of frantic
yells. rolling over benches and conducting
himself in most distracted manner. As
soon as he could be caught and cal.ned it
appeared that his terror was occasioncd by
huge rat which got out IF its hole into
the crowded gallery, and took shelter up
leg Of the boys trowsersl
Year: 1865

A remarkable marriage occurred in India
napolis last week A lady, made a widow
some years since, was left a large amount Of
property, on conditions expressed 10 her hus-
bands will that she should marry again Why
this strange and unusual condition was i'm
posed, nobody knows. At any rate, in case
she did not marry, she was TO enjoy the use
Of the property during life, bat ON her death


it would pass to other parties. She had been


long sick with consumption, and, finding her
end approaching, she determined 10 marry in
order to secure the succession to her children.


A returned soldier, comrade Of her SOD,
consented to play the role Of busbaod in this
Singular marriage, and the lady, lying on the
bed from which she will soon be carried to the
tomb, made the responses in the presence Of
numerous Witnesses who will testify th i she
is Of sound mind, and became a lawful, we'd
ded wife. The circumstances OF this strange
story are strictly true, lust as have narrated
them Cincinnati Commercial u.
Year: 1865

NO LIsHrs.-For several nights past no
lamps have been lighted on Fifth street he.
yond Leigh. and the consequence is, that peo.
PIE VINO have to traverse that street at night
are anxious to know the reason why they alone,
OF all others, are subjected to this ANNOYING
M inconvenience TO call 1t by no haysher name
anere are at least four newspaper writers
living ON that street, and we should not he s,,r-
Prised II tpe delinquent lamp-lighters were to
hear from them one Of these days.
Year: 1865

Our advertising columnsAhow that our old friends
have not forgotten through what channel they can
most certainly reach the largest number of readers
They shall not be disappointed in their estimate of
the ubiquitous power of the DISPATCH. Wherever
the mall the express company, our special messen-
gers the city carriers, and our agents in all the
tewns and villages OF Virginia, North Carolina and
Tennessee can reach family there we are resolved
that the DISPATCH shall be found cost what it NAV
OF capital, energy and labor.
Year: 1865

wO would like to quote. Oar admiration


for,the man increases as we read Of these
incidents, aud we are sureso in like manner
does the whole country's. 1t will be long
ere the nation shall look on his like again.
Year: 1865

their veins, must be either educated, industrious
land-hodng arms bearing ,taxpaying, voting, self
protecting populations; or an untaught, indolent,
obectess DISTINGUISHED, helpless and debased pop
ulation-the subStratum of proud, restless, unre-
publican, political and social aristocracy.


rREcIPITATE ACTION ENDANGERs ALL THAT WAR HAS
GAINED


The President has undertaken, in certain of the
rebel States, experiment for speedy restoration.
Recognizing the general policy and duty OF restor-
alteration as soon as practicable, the experiment
com mands our earnest wishes for its success. By
its success we mean, not the return of the States
to their position-that they are only too ready to
debut their return with Constitutions in which
the public safety and the public faith shall be Sc
cured. We cannot conceal our apprehensions that
the experiment will fail. Bat let not the Republic
fail! The more recent sigas are that the spirit
which caused the war is preparing to fight over DO
liticaly the ground it has lost in battle. This
ought not to surprise us. Let no haste to restore
State, no fear OF rebel dissatisfaction, lead the Re-
public TO compromise its safety or its honor.


During the progress towards restoraton the na-
ton hold the State in military occupation by pow
ers resulting necessarily from successful war
This hold upon them is to be continued until this
or some Other experiment. does succeed We
need not be precipitate. The present authority,
although resulting from war, may, as we have said,
be largely exercised by civil methods and civil
functionarics, and be accompanied with the enjoy
ment of many civil rights and local municipal in
stitutions. executive and judicial. If the present
experiment fails, we may try the experiment of
building by the people from the foundations, by
means of municipal institutions oftowns and coun-
ties, with the aid of education, commerce and i'm
migration, spirit being Infused, and the peo-
pie becoming accommodated to their new relations
and so advance gradually to complete restoration.


This is but suggestion. Various methods
arc open to us Only let it be understood that
there is no point at which the rebels can defy, po
liteally, and more than they could in war, the au-
thority Of the Republic. The end the nation has in
view is the same as that for which the was ac-
copied and prosecuted-the restoration of the
States to their legitimate relations with the Re-
public. The condition ofthings calls for no linita
tions of time or methods. By whatever course of
reasoning it may be reasoned, upon whatever doc
trine OF public law it may rest; however long may
be the interval of waiting, and whatever may be
the principle resertcd TO, the friends and enemies
OF the Republic should alike understand that it has
the powers and will use the means, to insure final
restoration of the States with constitutions which
are republican, and with provisions that shall Sc
cure the public safety and the public faith.


Boston, jane 81.
Year: 1865

The recent great Reconstruction Meeting at
Fancuil Hall. appointed committee to prepare an
address setting forth the principles there discussed
for the consideration of the people. That address
has new been printed; and we present its main
points to our readers. After vivid picture OF
Southcrn politics and social condition before the
war, and a statement OF the kind oil war that was
waged the address cOntinues thus:


Let Us now, fellow citizens, look at the dangers
WHICH attend an immediate restoration OF the rebel
states to the exercise OF full State authority =
Slavery is the law of every rebel State. In some
of these States free persons of color are not per-
mitfed To reside in none of them have they the
icht TO testify in court to he educatcd IN lew
nf IN. m to hold land nd in all OF them they are
totally di>ranchised But. far beyond the letter OF
the law the spirit of the people and the habits of
generations are such ~ insure the permanence
of that state Of things, in substance IL slavery
should be abolished in form. their spirits and hab-
its their pride and passions, will lead them TO up
hold their oligarchial system, built upon deb1sed
colored population, and intrenched behind State
institutions over which the nation cannot pass IN
pea,e. Their personal relation with the coored
peoDle as masters over slaves being changed Ia
law they will look upon them in new light, as a
class to be feared and as the cause OF their defeat
and humiliation They will not tax themselves TO
give TO the freedmen an education They will not
nermit the continuance within their States of phi
iutLropc agencies for colored people from the free
States They will not encourage Northern Immi-
Grafton. with systems of small freeholds and free
labor. nor viii capital and free labor 20 there
from The free States under present auspices. Re
turning to their old arts of politics. which they are
fond of, and in which long practice has made them
expert they will seek to rcpudiate debt incurred
for the suppression of their revolt; nor can we
shut our eyes to the danger OF political comtna-
tions, to be ruled by this oligarchy and to DO its
work Ii is useless to suggest or conjecture meth
ods ard means; the spirit and motive will take
such forms as occasions may require.
Year: 1865

The ransorm of yesterday afternoon was exceedingly
heavy and SENS to have been confined almost within
the limits of Philadelphia and particularly In tho built
up part thereof There probably never was such fall
OF water in the space and same time In word,
entire neighborhoods in all parts o. the city being mum
dated from house TO house. aud cellars ny the hundreds
were speedily over flowed. Chestnut street which may
be considered of the highest grade In the centre OF
tho city, like lake Of water in many places the
aqueous element being over the curbstone The water
rushed through the basement windows OF the Continental
and the Gard House 10 30 great an extent extin
gush the fires in the engine rooms. The water was at
least seven feet deep in portion OF The basement oil the


The large restaurant at the Assembly building, Tenth
and Chestnut abuted 10 the depth OF thrco
feet All tho cellars along Tenth street, nearly 10 Walnut
came for full share Of the dcluge quite number of
them being filled even with the pavement The stable
cellars along sansom street IN the same me
driven from their hiding places II s estimated that
thousands OF these undermining animals were drowned


In the southwestern section OF the city, In the region
OF Broad and Shipper Streets the flow OF water was i'm
mense and many cellars and Easements were hlcd In
the lower grades the surface OF the city the rushing OF
the water was impctuous and for a time fears :
tertaned that an immense amount OF damage must me-
ccssarily The only material destruction that we
heard OF the bursting Of culvcr at Eleventh and
Master streets by which half the street fell In The
county culvert In Christian street. and the In Reed


n ss par the ood
mighty rush Of waters Whole sections below the Navy
Yard submerged but no damage was done TO any.
thing except the contents OF the cellars.


Steam Ere engines were brought into requsition, and
the work Of pumping out the water commenced as
speedily as possible


Tho tide was high In the Delaware at the time, and
thus the culverts emptying into that stream were
choked honcc the overflow Of the streets Besides this
the cutters In many parts Of the city pretty wei


filed with dirt and this obstruction impeded the flow Of
water We despatched corps Of reporters TO the utmos


limits Of the city, NORTH SOUTH east and west expecting


that disasters by the food might have taken place. on
about the many streams. II secms however, from al
the reports brought in that the rain light wa.
heaviest in tho southern part Of Philadelphia.


In many OF the streets raversed by the passenger carr
the water several inches above the platform, and
water on Walnut street. between Fourth and Fiji
Streets where the grade forms hollow very great
but serious damage occurred.


The rain came down for one hour steadily. Their
was no wind II Ia estimated that three inches Of wate
fell during that period being more than that which fel
during the month Of August
Year: 1865

Efforts are again being made to introduce
the camel into this country for service on the
great plains and we understand that an agent
will soon depart for the land of camels to make
purchases for Importation We warmly ap-
prove of the scheme. They would be Of the
greatest benefit throughout the length and
breadth of our enormous territory lying west OF
the Mississippi Their habits and character
adapt them to every part of ito the desert
plains this side Of the Rocky Mountains, and
the barren regions between that range and the
Sierre Nevada. Where prOvender is scarce,
where water is scare, where the qualities of en-
durance and patience, and great capacity for
labor and travel are required, there the camel
is an invaluable beast Of burden. They would
be far more serviceable, far more economical,
better fit for extensive use than are the Ox-wa-
gons and mule trains that are now employed
on the plains. And not only in the barren re-
gions we have mentioned, but in the long lines
of travel down to Santa Fe, down to Arizona,
down to Texas, and up by the head waters Of
the Missouri, the camel would be of the high
est value We believe there is profitable work
for ten thousand Of them west Of the Mississip-
pi river.


Some people may think that the Pacific Rail
road, which, it is to be hoped, will be built be-
fore ten years, will do away with the necessity
for camels. But, in reality, the Pacific Rail
road would greatly enlarge the need for them,
For what is the Pacific Railroad? A single
thin thread stretched across vast territorial
surface-a thread on each side Of which sweeps
a thousand miles of our own land, where are
many towns and settlements, many OppOrtun
ties and prospects for traffic. On the line o.
the Pacific rairoadswould be established de
pots, from which the camels would start OF
their long Journeys southwark and northward
bearing their burdens of goods and of travellers
into hundreds of little towns, far, far away
If anybody thinks that other railroads than thu
Pacific will yet thread in many directions th'
mighty regions of the Trans Mississippi, w
agree to it; but generation after generation o
camels will have lived and died before tina
happens; and when it does happen, our camel
will be of little less service to us than before
We hope. therefore, that this valuable orienta
animal will be introduced to our occidental con
tinent us we are satisfied it will prove bene
factor, civilizer, and producer OF wealth.
Year: 1865

AN UNRoMANTICC CoCRTsHIP.- years
ago, young married man left Kilmarnock,
with his wife and family, and settled in Amer
lea. He prospered in his new home up to a
recent period, when his wife took il! and died.
His family being much increased, he saw he
could not get on we'll without wife. But he
had neither time nor inclination for regular
courtship. So he wrote letter to one OF his
youthful comrades here, asking whether any
of the lasses, who used to be in the squad,
were yet unmarried, A reply to this query
was duly forwarded, which informed HIM that
one whom he had known of old was still ser
want maid in the same house-a situation which
she had kept for some fifteen years: The next
mail brought letter to this deserving woman,
who must, long ago, have given up all hope OF
marriage, If old maids have such expectations


In the letter was an offer of marriage, of;hand,
which he begged of her TO accept, and that so
warmly that refusal was found to be ,impossl,,
BILE. She, accordingly, gave up her place, and
has lust, as a matter Of fact, sailed to meet her
destined husband-Ayrshire E.rpress.
Year: 1865

F" what's the difference between good soldier
and fashionable young ladyY One faces the
now powder and the other powders the face.


Hoo cholera is said to be quite fatal, in lndi-
ana One feeder lost As hogs in nine hours
Year: 1865

vantage OF the robber that with sudden ef-
fort of desperation be broke away, leaped upon
kennethis horse, which was nearest and fed
with the speed Of the wind.


Our hero knew his horse too well to think oi
following; so recovering his sword. and gath
ering up the gold be had so nearly lost, be be-
sirode the robbers saddle which be subsequent
ly discovered to be stuffed with a large amour,
of ,reasure-and again pushed forward toward
the residence of the future Mrs. Murdock.


Not long after be had the satisfaction of
bearing that the renowned Captain Gordon
had been run through the body by some un-
lucky traveller.