smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

A MOST ingenious and mischievous trick
was practiced in the First Market yesterday


Some young men, having persuaded neigh
boring grocer not to kill a rat which had
been secured the night previous in large
wire cage, proceeded to purchase the largest
melon that could be found in the market 1t
was Immediately split open, great care being
taken to divide it with as much precision as
a large case knife and skilI(ul hand could
accomplish. The luscious, juicy pulp was
quickly removed and devoured, the live rat
deposited within, and the two halves so neat


y and decately united with wooden pins,
that the most practised eye could not dis
cover the joint. The party then seated them
selves beside pile of melons, and anxiously
awaited customer, having put the melon
vender in full possession of all the particu-
Iars, and apprizei him of the mode in which
ihe joke was to be carried out. They did
not wait long for a customer. In less than a
minute negro approached, and priced the
tempting fruit. "Fiftp cents choice" was
the response. Here's one just as large as
any'in rhe pile, said the guardian of the rat
melon, (which you may have for a quarter,


if you will promise to eat it here, and give
me a Slice" The proposition was no sooner
made than accepted, money paid, and the
melon taken possession Of Borrowing
huge knife, the darkey squatted over his bar
gain, and at one vigorous thrust severed the
melon. Out jumped the rat, landing in the
negro's bosom, and up jumped the darbey
(c!apping his hand over the rat,) and put off
at the top of his speed. The crowd follow
de, and such cheering, laughing, hooting, yell


ling and hurrahing, as was heard from the
market-house to the bridge at PocahOntas,
never fell upon human ears before. The rat
had litearally gnawed himself through the
thick shirt of the darkey before the alright
ed ebo could sufficiently recover from his
surprise to ascertain what were the mysteri-
Gus contents of that watermilTon," as lie
pronounced the word-PeterSburg Express
Year: 1865

The true explanation Of the prevailing ex-
travagancT in costume is that women dress
for one another.


In other words, they dress for eyes which
can appreciate the material and estimate the
cost Of every separate article they have on.


l. is quite true that many men care as
much Tor, and are as competent to give an
opinion on the appearance of their wives, or
sister. or friends, as any number Of female
acauaintanoes but the grounds upon which
the two classes Of critics will base their sew
eral judgements will always be distinct, and
the conclusions themselves not unfequently
quiet opposite.


Ask married woman to tell you who is
the best dressed girl at ball, and you will
hardly ever find them agreeing in their an
swer. Go step further, and compare the
costumes which have been selected and you
will discover almost to a certainty that the
woman has singled out the most expensive
dress in the room, whereas the man has sim
plv asked himself which Is the most becom-
ing. The one has. suffered herself to be so
impressed by the richness Of the material
the elaborateness OF the embroidery, but
eostliness Of the trimmings, that in the end
she has found it simply impossible to leave
these things out Of the calculation. The
other, happy in his ignorance, has looked on
Year: 1865

er heard Of in-the,whole course of hu-
man legislation. Why, sir. if this bill
vas passed into q law, It would disgrace
Cromweils Tump parliament or any
other body OF decent and honorable
men. 1t would, Mr.. Speaker, depopu-
late half Of our entire State, and leave
the balance dissatisfied and ruined


Why, sir, it is monstrous to think of
thirty thousand men in State whose
population equals two hundred thous
and free men. l say it is monstrous, it
Is madness for thirty thousand men 10
assume the entire control Of a State
whose population numbers over two


hundred thousand free men; what sort
Of government would that be- Men
talk about free government, a govern
ment by the people, and advocate
such a measure IS that proposed by
the minority of your committee.
What sort of christianity is this
l can upon gentlemen in this House to
psuse and consider what they are do
ing, Mr. Speaker, before they plunge
US into irretrievable shame and ruin;
for, as | before remarked, sir, our gov
eminent is q peoples government and
not a tyrant s government That being
the fact, is it not destroying the gov>
eminent sir, to destroy three fourths of
the power that made that government,
and must sustain that government?
Those men, sir, under the provisions of
this bill must become slaves, or suffer
which is even worse than slavery.


With such q population so dissatisfied
and so detected, what can be the fate
of our beloved State? 1t is plain, cir,
1t must come at once under military
rule, and is a despotism, and, sir, when
all these evils come upon them, | will
wash my hands and say as Plate did
when he delivered Christ to be cruci6ed,
the sin is upon your head and not
nine And, in conclusion, Mr.. Speak
ar, l will warn this House again, sir, to
beware what they are doing, look out
that you do not run afoul of the policy
of the General Government, and wreck
again your ship Of State upon the same
rock that the rebel ship was so COM
pletely wrecked and Justly ruined, and
l Will go further, Mr.. Speaker, will
say that ] will submit sir, to whatever
this body does, but, sir, l will appeal
to the loyal people Of the State, who
are the source Of all power, and viii al
ways do justice when you give them p
chance at the ballot box. Mr. Speak
er, ] will Yield the floor.
Year: 1865

For the purpose Of facilitating the lators Of
the mixed commission, each government shall
appoint secretary to assist in the transaction
OF thoir business and to keep record Of their
proceedings, and for the conduct Of their busl-
nesa said commissioners are authorised to make
all necessary Tules.
Year: 1865

On our hrst page to-day will he found an
important speech, made by General BurLER
in Now York. uion the vital questions pre-
'suting themselves to tho country now that
rebellion is SquelchcJ.


A most eloquent and pithy address from
RALPH WALDO EXEUsoS, upon tho character
Of the late President, and other interesting
matter will also be found in our outside
columns.
Year: 1865

A number Of the. citizens Of Rich
mond have been in Washington for
several days with the object of call
ing on the President as delega ton
in behalf Of themselves and others
concerning pardons.


A few days since sclf,constltuted
committee visited the White House,
and were addressed by the President
in a friendly way with the inquiry
where they were from.


A member of the delegation in a
pompous style replied, "Wc are
proud to say that We are from the
city of Richmond"


The President remarked that he
did not see any occasion for pride in
that fact, and turning his back direct
cd his attention to some other mat
ter.


Thus ended the interview.
Year: 1865

We find the following for produc-
ing the gloss on shirt oosoms, con.
cerning which we have been ques-
toned by a lady correspondent:


"Take two ounces of gum arabic
powder, put it in pitcher and pour
on it pint or more boiling water
according to the degree of strength
you desire-and then, after having
covered it, let it stand all night---in
the morning pour it carefully from
the dregs into clean bottle cork it
up and keep for use. A tablespoon
ful of the gum water stirred in a pint
of starch made in the usual manner,
will give TO lawn either white or
printed, n look OF newness when moth
ing else can restore them after they
hayo been washed.
Year: 1865

their critical state arising from thc
horrible suffering which they had
gone through during the fifteen days
they had been tossed about in the
boat. TlIcy at length were refreshed
by some slccS and they gradually re.
covered Nothing could exceed The
kindness which they received on
board the Naturalist, 1t seems that
the boat was seen by passing ves-
sci since arrived in London, on the
day after their own ship foundered,
but it being thought, as represented,
that they might be pirates, the slip
sailed away without rendering them
help. At that time the whole of the
sixteen men were alive in the boat.
Year: 1865

In place of the extra copy for a club of Ten
we will send the Old Guard for 1865, ii prcfe rret
or 81 worth of any of our publications. We vii
do the same in the case of Clubs OF Twenty thai
90 to one address
Year: 1865

To the objection that negro suffrage implies ne.
gro social equality the Frankfort Commonwealth
promptly responds


Negroes have voted in the South, and yet were in
no sense advanced to an equality with the whites
In every Southern State except South Carolina, the
right Of suffrage was originally exercited by all
freemen." The original constitutions of Delaware
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia
make no mention Of color, or distinction between
white and black, in their provisions as to who may
vote. Till within comparatively few years. negroes
voted in Tennessee. In Maryland they voted un-
til ls33 and in North Carolina as late as 1885,
Now, did this advance them at all in the scale of
equality Were the schools in those States thrown
open to them? Did they visit in gentemens par
lors? Was amalgamation any more common in
those days than it Is now2 We hope noti Was
there, in any sense the equality" Of which the op-
position is now so Extensively talking and with which
they are SO pertinaciously insulting the common
sense and decency Of the people Not a bit of 1t.


In Pennsylvania colored people voted till 1s3s.--
Yet in that State negro has not the same privil-
eges that he has here in Kentucky. In Connecticut
the negro voted till 1917, and yet he had not at
tanned an equality sufficient to preserve for himself
the privilege. In New York the negro if he hos
the requisite property qualifications may vote now,
but he has scarcely advanced one step in the scale
of equality Not even near enough to have the
property restrictions removed in his case, when II
was removed in 1926, as far as il applied to the
white voter
Year: 1865

large company of Sunday children call
cd upon the President the other day, and showered
him with flowers He made them a speech saying
good many pleasant things, the following among
others


Never feel that you are superior to your more
humble companions and comrades Instead Of try
ing 10 humble them and make their condition lower,
your pride should be TO elevate them to the standard
you occupy. Sometimes one may come in rags, and
begrimmed with dirt but beneath the rags and the
dirt jewel may be found bright as any yet dis
covered, and the humble individual may develop
that which would prove as bright an ornament as
the jewels of any crowned head. All should under
stand this, and that even those who have no means
can al least make an effort TO be good and great
In this matter he (the speaker was an agrarian-
such an agrarian as would elevate and estimate all
in proportion to their virtue and ..s,it Intrinsic
merit should h~ uase upon which oil sL-.iI
stand. He would pull none down, but would ee-
vate al-level upward, not level downward. His
notion had always been that the great mass Of the
American people could be elevated. If all will be
elevated, we may become the greatest and most ex.
alted nation on earth.


My little daughters and sons said the speaker
give me your attention while say, honestly and
truly, that II / could inform you of something and
put that into immediate effect, which would tend to
the elevation of you all, l would be prouder of il
than to bo President forty times. Applause. Here
is the Executive mansion and yonder the Capitol
of great nation, and you look to those who make.
and execute tho laws, persons sublime and grand,
But just think for moment. You are the crop be-
hind us. All those buildings, and all of this Gov
ernmcnt, will, one day pass under your CONTROL and
become your property, and you win have to put in
force and control the principles of government of
religion, and humanity. And let all boys consider
every mothers son Of them laughter] that each
one is born candidate for the Presidency. Laugh
ter and applause.] Why not, then, commence at
to educate yourselves for the Presidency? And
he would say to the little girls that while they could
not be Presidents they born candidates for the
wives Of Presidents Laughter. While each lit
tie boy may feel hes candidate for the Presidency
each little girl may feel she is a candidate for
Presidents wife; and each should commence at once
to qualify himself and herself morally intellectually
and socially for such high positions
Year: 1865

Mrs jefferson d, Wis, on the 18th Of January,
1861, sent an order to firm in Boston for black.
mixed waterproof clo,k, with hood TO draw over
the bonnet. The cloak was cut in the form of a
SACK with the pockets cn the inner side. Button
holes we're made all the way down the front Of the
garment, which Lad double breast, and was trim
med with dark pearl but ons. This order for an ar.
ticle Of wearing apparel, which may have formed
the chief part Of the disguise worn by JEFF. Davis
in bis attempt TO escape, will be sent 10 the great
Chicago Fair
Year: 1865

NorHISg can be easier than the payment Of our
national debt If judicous measures le taken for the
development Of the whole of our mighty resources,
A thrifty American citizen can stand eight or ten
times as heavy taxation as British French sub
ject for he makes eight or ten times "a much money
~ they.
Year: 1865

The Legislature and Negro Testimony.


One Of our city Journals in the excess
of his zeal against negro testimony, shows
entire ignorance of the provision of the
act on which he comments and uninten>
tionally, no doubt does gross injustice to
the members Of the House, who voted for
the bill. He states that according to the
law passed white man can prove his
case only by white tetimony, but the mes
gro can use both white and black witness
ses' The bill is not liable to such an ab-
surd and ridiculous construction, and we
hope our neighbor will read it carefully
before penning another diatribe against
the gentlemen who voted for its passage.


According to the fourth section of the
act, as it passed, negroes are competent in
all civil cases between white men and ne
groes, and, of course, can be examined
and summoned for either plaintiff or
tended to cases where white men are both
plaintiff and defendant, because this was
not necessary to protect the rights of the
negro.


THE limitation on negro testimony was
adopted by the House to satisfy the pre-
judices of the party of which our neigh
Dor is the leader, and to diminish oppo-
Eitiou to the section.


Equally unfounded and gratuitous is
the charge that this vote was obtained
through the dictation of Federal officials


We have too much respect for the
Legislature to suppose for moment that
they would sacrifice their convictions Of
duty to crafty officials or dignitaries of
any kind. They came here to legislate
for the welfare of the State and to further
its prosperity. Especially was it their
duty to aid in the work of restoring Mis-
sissippi to the Union, and relieving their
people from military government.


The question of negro testimony in
many counties had not been considered
In the canvass, and members came here
undecided. Many were prejudiced against
1t, but on a full and thorough discussion
changed their minds and supported the
measure from a conviction of its Justice
and propriety. The man who from false
pride of opinion, or for the sake of pan-
dering to al unworthy prejudice, refuses
to change hiSvote when convinced of
his error, is not only dangerous legisla-
tor, but utterly devoid of statesmans hip
or patriotism.
Year: 1865

Eay-As we were sitting in our Office
yesterday evening at the unghostly hour
of nine,


"su 7deniV there came tapping.


AS of some gently rapping,
and a gentleman with POLITICALLY long
hair entered; showed us his cane which
bore upon its head the simple initials
-. N" and informed Us that he was the
fortunate ownerof both cane aud initials,
that he ways a philosopher, and would
speak in jackson this morning at 10
o'clock at the Governors mansion, and
stated that as he was pressed for time at
Brandon, he chose not TO be detained by
the cars and walked on. He is certainly
remarkable character, and his address
will undoubtedly prove curiosity. A
notice left by him is crowded out for
want of space.
Year: 1865

Ny DEAR.-An expression used by
man ana wife at the commencement of a
quarrel.


lady excused her extreme love for
diamonds and other precious stones by
saying, "They are the only bright things
which never fade on earth"
Year: 1865

A great many people seem to take
pleasure in charging all sorts of wild ids
osyncracies upon South Carolina. That
gallant state, populated by brave and
noble people, is as little amenable to al.
legations of the kind as any common
wealth in the land The only thing that
can be justly urged against her, which
the altered circumstances of the times
warrant even by remote implication, is
that she led the van in the recent terri
Bile struggle, fought heroically and un-
fiinching from first to last, and never
Welded until
Year: 1865

The season has row arrived when persons
who mediate change OF business will have
occasion to advertise Personal and other
Property at Public Sale. No better medium
can be found for presenting their Goods 10
the public than The Cecil Wing. Fc+ print
ing Hand Bills of Public Sales, we have a
new and splendid assortment of Job Type
and are prepared to do all such work in the
neatest style, with despatch, and on the most
reasonable terms. Terms for such work cash
or very short credits.


Persons having Farm Stock, Household
Furniture, ETC.. will find it to their advantage
to give US Il call.
Year: 1865

anttslavery men who has not feared to dis
charge his whole duty in the pulpit and 1T
tho ballot-box, and will ever ably advocate
the right, leaving the results to the Dis
penscr Of events. He leaves large circle Of
VAIN ft1fnds
Year: 1865

To obey promptly, to do the very
thing that is commanded-how very
rarely do children understand the i'm
portance of those things. An illuslra-
ton Of the Importance Of such obedi-
ence has just been given in the Bcr-
lin papers, which relate the following
incident that lately took place in Prus-
sia -" A switchman was at the juno
tion Of two lines Of railway, his lever
in hand, for train was signaled.
The engine was within few Sec, n Is
ofreaching the embankment, when the
man, on turning his head, perceived
his little boy playing on the rails Of
the line the train was to pass over.
With a heroic devotedness to his du-
ty, the unfortunate man adopted u
sublime resolution. Lie down., he
shouted out to the child but as to
himself, he remained at his post. The
train passed along on its way, and the
lives Of one hundred passengers were
perhaps saved But the poor child !!
The father rushed forward expecting
to take up only corpse but what
was his joy on finding that the boy
had at once obcyed his order? He
bad lain down, and the whole train
had passed over him without injury.
The next day the King sent for the
man and attached to his breast tho
medal for civil courage" aH@
Year: 1865

The Richmond Times insists that
"we must adopt plans for bringing in
emigration generally, for it is quite
evident that the negroes do not mean
to work. Some other labor must there
fore be procured, and that at very
short notice, or this country, the
noblest the sun shines upon, will be-
come a wilderness like Jamaica" We
have not heard of any negro refusing
to work. Most certainly there are
ten white men fed by the Government
as paupers for one negro. The diff
Guilty of the Times is not that the negro
refuses to work, but that he will not
work for the white man. Nor do we
blame him. Let the white man work
for himself. The negro will not bother
him.


The allusion to Jamaica gives us an
idea of Southern argument. That
Island is in a great part controlled by
negro labor, and Instead of being a
Wilderness" has more wealth, more
real happiness and prosperity, great
er number of small, well-tilled farms
and comfortable homes, and more
generally diversified intelligence than
Year: 1865

The Katydid is grasshopper--that
is, it belongs to the grasshopper tribe.
Its shape is quite curious this in
consequence Of its wings, which take
the form of sharp ridge somewhat
like a pod, the wings incasing almost
the whole body, which is rather blunt
and thick in comparison with the
wings which extend beyond the insect
nearly double its length. II is Of a
pale grass color, wings and all. ln-
stead of hopping in the grass. it lives


in the trees, generally in the tops.
Night is its gala time. All night it is
busy, calling to it's mate the malo
does this. This call is the Katy
did mote about which SD much is
said and sung. The imitation is not
a good one. Instead of three notes
there are often four or five and when
number Of these insects are together
they make night hidcous.
Year: 1865

We look in vain through the South.
ern States for public schools. Igno-
rance sits enthroned where the flowers
bloom i'll midwinter and waste their
fragrance on the desert air. Why is
this SO? The riddle is easily read.
The educated man will think, and, if
his heart is educated, he will feel
and "out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh." Surely,
then, that same policy that made it a
legal crime to educate a slave must,
in the inexorable spirit of its theory,
oppose the education of any and every.
body who, per possibility, may become
the friend of the slave; the people of the
South having resolved to perpetually
persist in holding on to this institution,
pursued political plan to prevent the
spread of popular education. Can any
man fail to see or fail to feel that any
institution, the interest Of which must
make such exactions, is bound to be a
country's curse? Lycurgus, who was
a great and good Grecian law-giver,
in his day and generation, insisted
that children are the property of the
State. There is but one use to which
the State can put children; that is, to
educate them. Intelligence is Heav
ems rarest gift to earth it is the
attribute that gives man a claim to an
affinity with angels and that State
is false to its most sacred trust. as
well as to her most vital interest, that
fails to develop all Of her moral re-
sources. Had wise system of popu.
lar education been adopted at the
South at the same time it was at the
North, that section might not be
to-day, as it verify is, without the
light of a single great mind to guide
it through the dark wilderness of its
troubles. Attribute, if you please, the
degradation in which is found buried
the Southern mind either to jealousy
of education or the seifshness of afflu-
ence, and still it is the institution Of
slavery that causes it.
Year: 1865

The robbing of the Concord Mass.
Bank of two hundred and eiRhty-five
thousand dollars in money and bonds


already noticed in this paper was
perpetrated in broad daylight. The
Boston Post says the bank was loca-
ted in the second story of building on
the most public street of Concord. Du-
ring the absence Of the Cashier at din
ner, q period of less than an hour, the
bank was entered and the safe open
ed by keys. The funds were then ex-
tracted and the doors relocked. Moth.
ing was broken, but the bank was
nearly moneyless. There is an insu.
rance Office on the lower floor of the
bank building. the occupants of which
heard footsteps in the bank, but sup.
posed that arrangements were being
made for the directors meeting which
was to be held at three o'clock. No
clue had been obtained as to the rob-
ber, though it was obvious from his
movements that he was some one well
acquainted with the bank and its in.
ternal arrangements.