smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860




The following extract from DR.. Hares'
Arctic Boat Journey" will be read with
interest al the present time, when the wri.
ter's proposed Polar Expedition is one OF
the topics of the day:


"The dogs were fastened BY their long
traces, each team being tied to a separate
sake. They were bowling piteously.-
Having been exposed to all the fury Of the
storm, with no ability to run about, they
had grown cold; and, as their masters
told us, having had nothing To eat during
thirty six hours, they must have been sav .
agely hungry. One Of them had already
eaten his trace, but we came out, fort1.
nately, at the proper moment to preyen,
an attack upon the sledges.


Leaving the hunters 10 look after their
teams returned 10 the hut. The blindinp
snow which battered my face made me
lnsensible to everything except tbe idea
OF getting out Of it; and thinking Of nc
danger. vas in the act Of STOPPING to
enter the doorway, when . sudden noise
behind me caused me 10 look around, and
there, close at my heels, was the whole
pack OF thirteen hungry dogs, snarIine.
swapping, and showing their sharp teeth
like drove Of ravenous wolves. 1t was
fortunate that l had not got down upon
my knees, or they would have been upon
my back.


"ln fact, so impetuous was their attack.
that one ofthem had already sprung when
1 laced round. caught him on nv arm
and kicked him down the hill The other,
were for moment intimidated by the
OF my movement, and at see
ing the summary maLner in which their
leader had been dealt with: and they
were in the act Of sneaking away, when
they perceived that l was powerless 10 do
them any harm, having nothing in nv
hand. Again they assumed the offensive;
they were all around me; in an instant
more and l should be torn to pieces. 4
had faced death in several shapes before,
but never had / felt as then; my blood
fairly curdled in my veins. Death down
the red 'hroats Of pack Of wolfsh dogs
had something about it peculiarly un-
pleasant. Conscious OF nay weakness
they were preparing for a spring. had
not time even to halloo for help; to run
would be the readiest means Of bringing
the wretches upon me. My eye swept
round the group and caught sight Of
something lying half buried in the snow,
about ten feet distant. Quick as q Cash
l sprang, rs l never sprang before or
since. over the back Of huge fellow who
stood before me; and the next instant l |
was whirl'ng about me the lash Of long
whip cutting to right and left. The dogs
fetreated before my blows and the fury Of
my onset, and then sullenly skulked be-
hind the, rocks. The viii ip had clearly
saved my life: there was nothing else
within my reach; asd it had been dropped
there quite accidentally by Kalutunah as
he went down to the sledges."
Year: 1860

The Scientific american gives the fol.
lowing exposition of the way 10 tell the
time Of night by the stars:


Take a keg or barrel hoop, or hoop of
wire, and divide it into twenty. four equal
spaces, marking the dividing points for
four points. Connect the opposite hour
points by lines Of fine twine draw across
The diameter Of the hoop. Hang the ap.
paratus against north window, and place
the eye in line with the middle hoop


where the wires cross each other) and
the North Star.


Now any Of the Fixed stars in their
daily revolutions about the pole, will pass
from one to the next in an hour. Let us
select the nearest point in the "dipper"
alpha, Ursa Major) for the hour on our
great clock of the heavens. Place the
eye at such distance from the apparatus
as to bring this star just within the hoop,
keeping the centre Of the hoop in line with
the North Pole. On the fifth of March.
the star Alpha Ursa Major, will be on the
meridian, directly over the North Star,
and consequently in line with the upper
veriicle wire Of our apparatus at 12
O'Clock, midnight and as it passes from
one wire TO the next in an hour, If it is
seen in line with the first wire at the right
Of the vertical one, the time will be IL
O'Clock: if in line with the second wire at
the right, 10 o'clock and so on. While
If ii has passed The middle, and reached
the first wire at the left, the time indicated
is | O'Clock /; the second wire, O'Clock;
and so on.


This star, in common with all other
fixed stars, comes to the meridian about
four minutes earlier each night or day,
Consequently, on the 9Th Of April, i: will
reach the vertiele wire at 10 O'Clock at
night, and the other wires at correspond
ing times and this variation continues at
the rate of two hours in each month
throughout the year.


From this description the mode will be
readily understood Of telling the time Of
night by the stars without the aid Of an
instrument. We require to learn Two
stars-the polar star and that one Of the
pointers which is the nearest one 10 it
to remember thatthis latter star is directly
over the North Star on the 9th of March,
and comes 10 the meridian two hours
earlier than on the preceding month";
As the star revOlves around the circle in
"a hours, it will of course, revolve one
fourth the distance 10 5 hours, being Of
right angles to the meridian six hours
from the time it ia on the meridian, and
at an angle Of 45 degrees three hours
from that time.
Year: 1860

CONSOLATION FOR THE UNFORTUNATE DEv.
oTEEs OF WEALTH AND FAsHIoN.-When
Cardinal Wolsey was asked why he did nol
live in less state and give more to the poor,
he replied that what was given to the poor
was just eaten. drunk, and got rid OF in q
base manner, with nothing to show for IL,
whereas the grandeur Of bis establishment
and retinue was an ornament and q gain to
the world, elevating and improving all DO.
holders.
Year: 1860

The SKY AN INDICATOR OF THE Wealth
ER.-The colors Of the shy at certain
times afford pretty sure guild ance Of the
weather, and the British Board of Trade
has thought we'll enough of the following
simple weather maxims to publish them
for the use OF sea-farrg men: Not only
does a rosy sunset presage fair weather,
and a ruddy sunrise bad weather; but a
bright yellow sky in the evening indicates
wind; pale yellow, wet a neutral grey
color constitutes favorable sign in the
evening, an unlavorable one in the morn.
ing. The clouds again are full of meaning
in themselves. H their forms are soft,
underlined and feathcry, the weather will
be fine if the edges are hard, sharp, DEF.
mite, it will be foul. Generally speaking,
any deep unusual hues betoken wind or
rain; while the more quiet and delicate
tints bespeak fair weather.
Year: 1860

The following article we clip from tho Do.
corah Republic. 1t is very true. II is tho
home advertising that tells for the benefit Of
place, east. 1t is not the foreign or Patent
medicine advertisements, but the local advcr-
t;sements that tells for place. When
paper is filled with those, eastern men at Z
glance see that tho place is o good, lively
business point. Some Of our merchants
should take the hint. Read the article


The village or the county newspaper, is q
reflex of the village or county, and il tho ono
is composed Of live business mer-is, ia
short, good business point,"--thc columns
of the newspaper will show it and people
abroad will Judge Of the village or county in
this way. A stranger forms HIS cstM,atc OF
a place sooner, and, in nine times out Of ten,
more accurately in this manner, than he can
in any other way. l1"


AS we understand it, the business Of 4 ID.
cal newspaper is to keep its readers posted,
firstly, in all matters, Of local interest thst
can be obtained, and are interesting to the
community in which II is published. After
that resume Of the general news follows


These are the main points but in grow
ing State like this another item comes into
the consideration. The newspaper not only
circulates in its own county, but is sent back
to the east, and made to become an cmbassa-
dor, urging the claims Of its location upor,
those who are looking to the vest as possible
to be future home. In such cases the cdi.
tor may be ever so eloquent over the advan-
tagcs Of his locality and re-rcpcat all the in
duccments that can be held out to settlers, -
they will have no effect if the paper itself
shows that business languishes, and the citi-
zens give the paper only a halfway support.
These tell more for a place or a country than
all the words in Webstcr's Dictionary set up
cndways once week for ten years can do. -
We get papers every week that tells us plain.
ly, the fact that business is dead in the places
where they are published; and we get others
whose advertising columns are an induce.
ment to settlers Of the most potent character.
Year: 1860

tains themselves are formed of it an
mingled with silver; and am now fitting
out small party under Mr.. Sohon, to ex-
anime the extent of a coal deposit recently
discovered contiguous to our line. WbO
can say what mineral wealth yet lies en-
bedded in this range Of mountains, which
have been regarded as the great barrier to
continuous travel across the Continent!-
Washington Territory needs a thorough
geological examination by some person not
only competent to the task, but whose la
Dor would prove his pleasure. Congress
itself has not been uumindful Of this, but,
with foresight and liberality worthy Of
high commendation, did appoint geologist
and appropriate funds for geological exam
ination. But where shall we find the re-
suits? | should like very much TO see
George Gibbs, Esq, take hold Of this mat
ter with his well-known ability and energy,
and thus add new volume to the history
of Washington Territory. Cannot some
thing be done by the Territory itself at the
next session Of its Legislature, to have the
country geOlogicalIy expIored2 Aside from
any direct action in the matter on the part
of either the General or Territorial Gov
ernment, am sanguine to believe that the
explorations of the Northwest Boundary
Commission, and other parties now in the
field, together with the large and able
corps of Civil Surveyors under Colonel
Tlton, will do much to develop truthfully
the geology of the country from the Rocky
Mountains TO the coast.


Hoping then, that the enterprises and
movements now on foot may be fraught
with benefit to all, and with my thanks for
the interest you have thus far evinced In
the success of our progress, believe me,


Truly, your obedient servant,


JOHN MULLAE,


Lieut. us. A.
Year: 1860

A BEAUTIFUL AND APPROPRIATE GRAVE
sToNR.-A very beautiful grave-stone has
Just been prepared at Hartford, Conn.,, for
the grave of young girl in Alabama. I'm
der the projecting moulding at the top of
the stone is bird-cage in relief with bird
escaping through the open door. The cage
is made in bars not so large as pipe-stems,
and every detail is wrought out with the
incest delicacy. The face of the stone under
the cage is as smooth and level as any other
portion, though there is no space wider than
half an inch through which TO work upon
the marble. The cage appears so fragile that
one dares hardly to touch it, lest it might
crumble to pieces.
Year: 1860


Mother, you told me, when the bell tolPd solemnly


and slow,
As we saw the mourners weeping, and old Robins


funeral go,
That the churchyard, then so dreary, so Aewerless


and cold,
Was the last home of the weary, the rest place for


the old;
So did not fear for long, long time to pass the


tombstones by,
For knew was not very DID, and thought could


not die
But, mother! meath the dark yews where we saw


his funeral pass,
saw, oh such little mound, half hidden in the


grass:
And could not get it out of mind, and when my


prayers said. Hat .sne9
thought of the cold, cold churchyard, and that


little narrow bed.
And then knew that such as l, Death sometimes


takes away, Tr
And if were not good, too might in the church


yard stay;
And pray God will not let go in the cold, cold


grass to lie,
Because love you, love you, love you so do not


want to die.
Year: 1860

The sun had gone down in clouds the
night before, but contrary to expecta-
ton the next morning was clear and
beautiful; and though the dew drops
still hung heavily upon the leaves, they
but added to their freshness. Through
the uncut forest lay their route-and
after the deep feelings of emotion at
parting with the bride for the first time
were somewhat quieted in the bosom
of Harry Margan-his eye drank in the
beauty of the scene around him, and he
indulged in one of those reveries to
which the bouyant heart of youth, as
well as the more serious one of mature
age is often subject. AS he rode along,
sometimes brushing past the unyielding
branches of the sturdy oak, aud then
bending easily the graceful willow, he
traced resemblance in his own mind
between the trees of the forest, and
mankind in general. s'Now this giant
oak" thought he, is like a great man
firm, lofty, magnanimous, amid all the
vicissitudes of life. The pine, which
preserves it's verdure even through the
wintry SHOWS, is like the good and vir-
tuous whose characters remain unblem-
ished amid all the temptations of the
world. The willow, is the emblem oi
affection-bends beneath the storms ol
misfortune, and points to the grave as
the only refuge from care and sorrow


The locust, which sheds its leaves ere
autumn, is like the sanguine hopes Of
youth, so quickly blasted, even in theil
spring while those whose verdure
changes to the scar and yellow leaf are
like old age-the dull, cold winter o.
life, when its gay scenes have ceased
to charm. And what is to be my fate
like the oak to bear unfinching what


ever may betide-or to be overthrow
in the midst of high antisipations, and
die unhonored and unknown. "But
4 Thomas" he exclaimed, reused from


his sollloquy by perceiving a suddel


termination to the direct path, "we ar


In complete labyrinth here. How


are we TO ind opening through thl
dense forest -, Fo
Year: 1860

the ribs, as will sometimes happen, thia wound
will not be fatal.'


E'It is fatal, said tho wounded man, with a
sudden effort. ''Havp been waiting for this
stroke so long, and shall il fail TO do Its work
when it comes 1t is fatal he gasped again
sand shall debut not here"


have to relate horrible and Incredible
thing, which, impossible as it seems, is yet
true.


The German locksmih started up from where
he lay, pushing aside all those who stood a
round him with an unnatural strength. His
body swayed Tor an instant from side TO side,
and then he dartcd forward. The crowd gave
way before him, and he rushed from the house.
He tore along the streets--the few people whom
he met giving way before him, and looking az
ter him with horror as he flew along-hs
clothes cut open at the back, blood-stained and
with death in his looks Not one pause, not
an abatement in his speed till he reached the
inflrmarY, passed the man who kept the door
and up the stairs he few, nor stopped till he
came to bed which stands beneath the win
dow and across which the shadow OF a cypress
falls when the sun begins to set.


1t was the bed on which his friend had brea-
thed his last.


II must die herc,' said the German lock-
smith, as he fell upon it. at is here that l
must die"


And there he died The haunting thought
which had made his existence living death,
was justified. The presentiment had come true
at last; and when the thunder-clouI which had
hung so long over this mans life, had dischar-
ged IFS Dol: upon his head, it seemed TO us as if
the earth were then lighter, for the shade had
passed away.


Is death the name for a release like this q
Who coaId look upon his happy face, as he lay
upon tha: bed, and say so


II was not the end OF life-but the begin
ing.
Year: 1860

Do understand the counsel for defendant.
asked very fat Western juror Po say that he
is about TO read his authorities, as against the
decision just pronounced from the bench eBy
no means, responded the counsel Aforesaid
Il was merely going 10 show 10 your honor, by
a brief passage | was about to read from book
what an internal old fool Blackstone must have
BEEN sAy,ay said the Judge not little
elated and there the matter ended.
Year: 1860

Is RELIGION BEAUTiFUL.-Alwaysl In the
child, the maiden, the wife, the mother, reli-
gion shines with holy benignant beauty of
its own, which nothing on earth can mar
Never yet was female character perfect without
the steady faith of piety. Beauty, intellect,
wealth they are all like pitfalls, dark in the
brightest day, unless religion throws her soft
beams around them to purify and exalt, maxi
ing twice glorious that which seemed all love-
liness before.


Religion is very beautiful, in health or sick
ness, in wealth or poverty. We can never en-
ter the sick chamber of the good hut soft music
seems to float on the air; and the burden of
their song is, "Lo, peace is here"


Could we look in the thousands of families
to-day where discomfort fights sullenly with
life, we should find the chief cause of unhap-
piness want of religion in woman. o, religioni
benignant majesty high on thy throne thou
sttest, glorious and exalted
Is religion beautiful? We answer, all is
desolation and deformity where religion is
not.
Year: 1860

Now is THE TME.--aNot yet" said little
boy, as he was busy with his trap and ball;
awhen grow older I will think about my
soul.n


The little boy grew to be young man.


"Not yeti said the young man; III am now
about to enter into trade; when see my busi-
ness prosper, then shall have more time than
now"


Business did prosper.


HNot yet" said the man of business; tiny
children must have my care; when they are
settled in life, shall be better able to attend
to religion"
He lived to be a grey-headed old man.
"Not yet" still he cried ~ shall soon retire
from trade, and then shall have nothing else
to do but to read and pray"


And soon he died he put off to another time
what should have been done when child
He lived without God and he died without
| hope.-O6serger.
Year: 1860

When reflect, as l frequently do, upon the
felicity have enjoyed, sometimes say to my
self that, were the offer made to me, l would
engage to run again, from beginning to end,
the same career of life. All | should ask would
be the privilege ofan author, TO correct, in
second edition, certain errors of the first
Franklin.
Year: 1860

it is said makes no reference to CaliguIa-) }
There is DO date Oh the coin visible, but
the great probability is that it was struck
during the lifetime Of him whose "image
aud subscription" it bears.
Year: 1860

legislation they had no right to be legislators, and they ought therefore die or resign [Laughter.] Having now discussed, ne feared at undue length, these two essential qualities of statesmanship, patriotism and Tn, teoritv he deemed 1t unnecessary to dwell particularly upon any other qualities named in his opening, and he would therefore touch them rapidly.

 Our public men were, if anything more de- fcient in moral courage than in patriotism and honesty. There wa little or no manllness ln tie councils of the )untry. Inconsistency ot purpose was the bale of our stateslnen II there was no other screw loose, this was alone sufficient to subject them to shame in the eyes of the world. In the matter of eloquence he admitted that our statesmen were great ct, this eloquence, in the main, lacked conYlnc- ing power, copiously brilliant as It was. Inc elo0uenee of our statesmen was Clceronlan, rather than Demosthenian. Thus, however brilliant they were as speakers, they were Wo- fully deficient in the art of persuaslveness, and he believed there was more power Tn the mute integrity of an honest man i'll Congress thanin all its eloquence. There were compar- atiye}v few of our statesmen who understood that their profession was a science as well as an art. But few of them had any adequate knowledge of the laws of nations, or diploma cy. Compared with the statesmen of any other first rate nation, ours were the merest tvros. the most utter ignoramuses, and sue oeeded. when they did succeed at all, like the quack practitioner of medicine, by the charl- ty of nature In short, our socalled states manship was political charatansm and hum- buggery And if the American people ever expected to improve upon this state ofthinss, they must educate generation of statesmen. Let them do this and all would be we'll and do it they must, or perish as a nation.

 But he was done. He had told some plain, perhaps bitter truths; but he had been hon. est 1t might be more pleasing to assure his audience that all was moving smoothly and elorously on but if he did, he should be guilty of treason to his own soul and to them We were encompassed by the most threaten ing dangers. Already the gangrene was making its appearance upon our political car cass and unless there was intcrpostlon on the part of God or the people, the end must be speedy and disastrous On the other hand however. if we were but true to ourselves, this country would become an oasis in the desert of nations, and d refuge for all who would es- cape from anarchy and despotism
Year: 1860

She had been told that God made all the stars That twinkled up in heaven. and now she stood Watching the coming of twilight on, As if it were a new and perfect world, And this were its first eve. How beautiful Must be the work of Nature toe child In its first fresh impression. Laura stood By the low window. with the silken lash Of her soft eye upraised, and her sweet mouth Half parted with the new and strange delight Of beauty that she could not comprehend, And had not seen before. The purple folds Of the low sunset clouds, and the blue sky That looked so still and delicate above, Filled her young heart with gladness, and the eve Stole on with its deep shadows and she still Stood looking at the west with that half smile, As if a pleasant thought were at her heart. Presently, in the edge of the last tint Of sunset, where the blue was melted in

 To first golden mellowness, a star

 Stood suddenly. 4 laugh of wild delight Burst from her lips, and, putting up her hands, Her simple thought broke forth eEpressiyely- "Father, dear father, God has made a star.'
Year: 1860

POTATO CRoP.-The potato crop of Iowa, for the present year, is reported to be truly astonishing. The yield in some instances comes upto 400 and 300 bushels to the acre, and the general average is not much less than 200. The quality of the potato is better than usual and far exceeds the best raised in any country we have ever visited. It is not un- common to find them weighing pound each, and some that we have seen weighed three, four and five pounds. Not a sign of rot or impefection has been discovered. So plenty and cheap are they, that for the past week many loads have sold at ten cents per bushel No danger of starving in Iowa at these figures.
Year: 1860

THE PULPIT. Henry Ward Beecher eloqnently
and justly inveighs against the pulpit, that ''sa-
cred mahogany tub, or rectangular box, which
looks like a barn swallows nest plastered on
BEAM and he tells the following anecdote -
+" The wonder is that anything is ever DONE
Daniel Webster is reported to have said that no
lawyer would risk his reputation before jury
if he had to speak from a pulpit, and that he
considered the reviving of Christianity in spite
of pulpits one of the evidences of its divinity
We do not vouch for the.truth of this as an an
ecdo.e, but we endorse it as truth in phios-
ophy."
Year: 1860

CHoLIc IN HoRsEs.-A correspondent of the
Southern Field and FTeside says:


noticed in the last number of your paper a
cure for the choic in horses contained in letter
from Mr.. Thurmond of Athens Permit me sir,
to give you one much more simple and conven-
lent. 1t is simply to pour cold water on the
back of the animal for fifteen or twenty minutes.
Pour the wat,r on from the withers to the loins.
SO as to run profusely over sides and stomach.
have seen it tried in fifty instances. 1t will
give almost entire relief in one hour.