smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

An association has been organized with
an office in New York, for the purpose Of
combining the interests in favor Of the
passage of a national bankrupt act. The
object is to secure the speedy passage of a
bill to provide for the relief of honest but
unfortunate debtors, and the equal and
just distribution Of their property among
their creditors to whom it justly belongs,
and allow the debtor to commence business
again free from claims he could not pay.
A uniform system OF bankruptcy is con /.
templsted by the constitution, and at no
time in our history has one been more
needed than now the business world be-
ing still crowded with the wrecks Of 1857
and 1850. A wise and judicious act can
be framed which shall meet the wants Of
the public and secure them against fraud
While detached efforts TO induce Congress
to pass a measure Of this kind are likely
to fail, vigorous and united effort will sue
ceed. Those interested are Invited to Join
the association and aid in pushing on the
ball
Year: 1863

FAST DRIvIEa.-Itiss is fact that we have
an ordinance against fast driving. We make
the statement with some degree of positive
noes, although to those who notice with what
imPunity this practice is carried on in our
city, to the imminent danger Of foot pssssn-
gers, there might seem to be good reason for
doubling 1t. Only yesterday, at the foot Of
Superior street, two men were knocked down
by passing buggy driven at full speed. The
authorities must look after these offenders
and moderate their exceeding rApidity.
Year: 1863

Shareholder Driving his Slaves 10 n Re


cruiUinE 0h1ceF.


The Baltimore correspondent Of the
New York Evening Post writes:


"A Shareholder in Dorchester county,
in this State, recently said to his slaves,
that they had his permission to volunteer
in the army, but requested them, when
they had made up their minds to 20, to in
form him, and as they had driven him
many time to Cambridge, he would him
self drive them in his carriage thither on
this important mission. Sure enough,
they needed his request, and he drove
them to town in his carriage on their way
to Baltimore, after fitting them out quite
liberally. Last Friday, he came to the
city and went out to Camp Birney TO get
his certificates for the three hundred dol
lars substitute money for each slave, and
to grant his obligation to free them when
the State laws would allow him to do 90.
They met him as affecdonately and de-
monshatively ss sons would meet father.
But this is an isolated case In the dark
field Of slavery"
Year: 1863

The Woodstock Standard remarking on
the statement that the quota of this state
under the draft would be 1000 men SAYS:


We have reason to believe that there is
some foundation for this report reg garding the
quota OF our state, which the governor has
been informed by the proper authorities vii
ne taken to I'LL Hp our regiments in the field
instead of being created laio new regiments.
1t will require, however, to fill up the cd
regiments to the maximum standard. over
four thousand men. The number from which
this two thousand is to be drafted is probably
about fifteen thousand, as eighteen thousand
OF our forty-seven thousand militia are al
ready IN the service, and something less than
one-haif OF the balance will be enrolled in the
second class. This will take about one in
seven.


The conscription act provides that the draft
shall be made by congressional districts, or
that each congressional district may be di-
vlued inte six sub-distrcts. La this manner
injustice is likely to be done to many towns
in our state which have hitherto furnished
more than their actual quotas. Take for in
stance the town of Rutland, which has ex-
Year: 1863

DEsERTERs from Lees army say that
the rebel soldiers are becoming barefoot,
and that apprehensious are felt by their
officers that great suffering will enSue
this Winter among the troops unless
the blockade of Charleston, through
which port most of the foreign goods
have reached the Confederacy, is raised
speedily.
Year: 1863

The Boston correspondent Of the New
Bedford Standard thinks this war hos
not done its perfect work at,the North
until white and black cap freely drink
at the same bar, ~ 2tt'Hss Y 'j SHI
Year: 1863

BRAIN WoKK.-No man after middle age, If he hopes to keep his mind clear, should think of working his brain after dinner, a seas on which should be gwen up to enjoyment The immediate result of postprandial labor IS always inferior to that produced by tue vlgor- ous brain of the morning. When mental labor has become habit, however, we know how weak are the words of warning to make sui ferer desist and we are reminded of the an swer made by Sir Walter Scott to his physi- clans, who in his illness foresaw that his mind would break down unless he dessted from brain work As for bidding me not work,

 said he, sadly. "Molly might as well pat the kettle on the fire, and then say, now don boil.' It must not be supposed, however, that We wish to dcprecate even severe mental labor; on the contrary, well organized brain demands exercise, and like the blacksmiths arms, flour ishes on it.sWe believe that pleasureabe brain work can be carried on to an almost hmltless extent without injury. A poet in the full swing of his fancy, a philosopher working out some scheme for the benefit of humanity, re- freshes rather than weakens his brain. It is the hard, thankless task work which teals and frets the fine grey matter of the cerebrum It IS the strain and anxiety which accompanies the working out of great monetary transactions which produces that silent and terrible ramot liessiement which gradually saps the mind ol the strong man and reduces him to the condl

 ton of an imbecile.- CornhW Magazine.
Year: 1863

CONCERNING MnK.-A curious custom pre- vails among the nilkmen of Mexico, it is said, of driving their heards about the streets, and milking them to order, :" in large or small lots to suit the purchasers. The live animals themselves are driven from door to door of tho different regular customers, where they are milked, and there is regular stand where the transient patrons are supplied, by milking into the vessel in which they take it home; Besides drove of calves, with the cows all muzzled, running and bleating after them, there is gang of goats and asses driven along, that people may always suit themselves a!ss tastes-for which there is no accounting. It is impossible to derive the reason or origin Of this mode of vending milk :; unless it arose from the natural villainy of the people, and their dstrust of each other-it being pre- ventiye against adulteration, and of their dis posing of quality of milk inferior to that represented. This plan has at least the merit which attaches to honesty and fair dealing.
Year: 1863

A gentleman recently from the South, who was at one time afflicted with the malady, wish es to give publicity to the following receipt for curing fever and ague: To one-third of tum. bier of rum, add the juice of one lemon, and sufficient sugar to make it palatable.. Drink the dose upon the first appearance of chill, and keep amply provided with warm clothing. He states that even one dose is usually sue. cessful, and is positive that perseverance, with this medicine will drive awsy all symptoms oE the disease. He wishes the above published for the benefit of mankind in general, and for fever and ague patients in particular. An ex- change says it has seen similar mixture used frequently, but never before knew what they took it for.
Year: 1863

A TRUTHFUL AND CHEAP BARoMETER.-Take clean glass bottle and put in small quanti

 ty of pulverized alum. Then fill the bottle with spirits of wine. The alum will be perfectly dis solved by the alcohol, and in clear weather the liquid will be as transparent as the purest wa ter. On the approach of rain or cloudy wealth CT the alum will be visible in faky, spiral cloud in the centre of the fluid, reaching from the bottom to the surface. This is cheap, simple and beautiful barometer, and is placed within the reach of all who wish to possess one. For simplicity of construction, this is altogether superior to the frog barometer in general use in Germany.-Rural Neac Yorker.
Year: 1863

How NATURE COVERS UP BATTLE FIELDS Did tell you ever, among the little things one is always seeing in these shifting war times, how saw on the Bull Run battle field, pretty, pure, delicate flowers growing out of empty ammunition boxes, a rose thrusting up its graceful head through the head of a Un- ion drum, which doubtless sounded its last charge for retreat as the case may have been) in that battle, and cunning scarlet verbena peeping out of a fragment of bursted shell in which strange cup it had been planted Wasn t that peace growing out of war? Even so shall the graceful and the beautiful ever grow out of the horrid and terrible things that trans pire in this changing but ever advancing world. Nature covers even battle grounds with yer dure and bloom. Peace and plenty soon spring up in the track of devastating cam paigns, and all things in nature and society shall work out the progress of mankind and the harmony of Gods great designs.
Year: 1863

There is world of beautiful meaning in the following rather liberal translation from Free vile t As the clock strikes the hour. how often We say time fies,' when 'tis we that are passing away"
Year: 1863

ANoTHER HERo.--An incident of the
siege OF Washington ia given in letter
from a Massachusetts, officer, from which
il is copied in the Post. When the pilot
of the steamer Escort was shot in the
head, he grasped the tiller for twelve
minutes steering his boat beyond the
Rebel battery, exclaiming that if he
could only take Gen Foster safely by be
was willing then TO die. He accomplish
ed his will aud nobly perished in the
gallant performance of his duty Bystoa
Journal


A cause that can rally around il such
heroic defenders is not destined TO per-
ish. Every example like this is a pro-
test against encouragement aud faint
hoartedness. In abandoning ourselves
to despair we insult the memories OF the
gallant dead. In sealing their loye fer
the Union with their lives, they set an
example which, il we fail to follow, will
brand US as towards everlastingly.--
albany (N ~ Journal
Year: 1863

DEATH OF REBEL GENERALs.-It is often as
serted and truthfully that the rebels surpass
us in generalshlp. and that they owe their
success thus far in resisting our arms mainly
to the ability of few men who have espous-
ed the confederate cause. Among those who
have shown themselves most deserving of this
oommondation was Stonewall jackson. lie
was one of the very small number who have
during the war shown themselves not sim
ply appointed to command by the govern
ment but able to fill and to honor tho. place
to which they have been assigned Stonewall
jackson was not surpassed in executive ahili-
ty by any fighting general in the field Gene
raj Lee in his note to jackson at the time he
learned that he zas wounded, hardly does
more than express the general sentiment
when b. saws Il had rather it had been my
self than YOU" Jackson had won from
friends and foes liberal Acknowledgements of
his ability. and was recognized as one OF
those men who possess real military genius
Adapted to eli a subordinate position only,
he could yet fll that position better. and was
perhaps more relied upon by the general COM
msnder, than any other man in the Confe-
derate army


In the death of Jackson and Van Dom,
the Confederates have me; with a serious
loss, and one which will Re felt during the
continuance of the present struggle.
Year: 1863

Nk>I IfiSI. A.. NAY IL
E5itorf o0 The Free Pres:


You may be glad to hear a vorl from
this locality, as much Of the interes, Of the war
is now centred in Eastern Virginia. /, is but
little that can tell Of a recent date. hut that
little may contain an item or two thst you may
make available. You viii notice by consulting
a map Of this section that West Point is situated
between the Mattapony and Pamunky rivers,
just where they,unite to form the York river
1t is a little village Of the Virginia stamp and Of
no great pretens.ons. There arc here should
judge, without taking the trouble to count,
about dozen or possibly fifteen dwelling houses
and other cdifces to match them. When We
made cur way here, coming up the York
river from Yorktown, We found here a
rebel guard, about in proportion to the size Of
the village. Three gunboats came in advance Of
us and as they approached two or three COM
pauies Of rebels made very hasty retreat They
were lot quick enough however 10 entirely es-
cape a surprise, for our tays took several prs
oucrs. This succcss, together with our sool for-
tune in getting pigs and poultry from the yi.la--
ers rendered cur first impression Of West Point
rather favorable than otherwise


How lcns We are 10 remain here @. what part
Of shy general movement We may be carrying
cut. | avn sure 10 not know, and doubt if
anybody docs,-unlcss 1t msy be oi59srs h yh in
command. The facts as they appear are simply
these We number about ten thousand men and
have three sunboats lying in the river near by,
to aid Us if We need them. We are fortifying
ourselves as if against an a:,lck. There Is no
evidence however that ! know Of, thst an At
tack will be made upon us-beyoni the assump-
ton that the rebels may come at any time.


T.
Year: 1863

CorrER ToKFNs.-The Y. Y. Post says Of
these nuisanccs that there is reason to believe
that not less than two hundred different
kinds have been manufactured in New York
alone; and correspondents complain that
cngravcrs and die-siukers are so busy with
this work they have not time for lesiti
mate work They arc not worth quarter
Of what they Tass for; and they are put
forth by Spectators, who are making a large
profit by this totally irresponsible coinage.-
These tokens pass for a penny; they cost the
ingenious makers at most thirty cents per
hundred; the profit on venture Of say
hundred thousand is, therefore, very consid-
cradle.


OF course no one is responsible for their
exemption, and by and by there will be
general refusal to take them.
Year: 1863

Fort Sumter was so much damaged by the
bombardment Of April 9TH as to render it almost
untenable On Withdrawing from the conflict
one Of the captains said that, that face Of Sumter
looking toward the city was very seriously dam
aged; that several Of the embrasures were de
stroyed, and that several shells burst in the
mates. This statement was eorroborated by the
pilots. They considered the greatest damage
done to that face. The eastern face can be very
distinctly seen from where We are now stationed,
anil have time and again scanned il closely
with glass. and could see two Of the middle
tiers OF the casemates knocked in, and on the
lower tiers heavy shot or shell knocked of large
portions Of the embrasurcs, and Of course entered
the casemato. In several other places there arc
large holes in the wall very distinctly seen


As soon as our iron-c,ad feet withdrew from
within the bar. staging or scafolding was erected
by the rebels On the two sides spoken Of, and
since that tizs they hare tssu very busy repair
Year: 1863

From tic effects Of exploding less thai
three thousand pounds Of Sunrowder in
cartridge factory IN New York on Monda.
night, i, would almost seem that an ezplo
sion ot large quantity cr powder IN tn
vicinity # a rebel town or Fortress Nigh
be used prohtahly os an appliance Of war
The following account Is from the New Have
J0urH1'
Year: 1863

OF all the evidences of creation wisdom that
are furnished by the structure of the human
system there is none more impressive than
the wonderful adaptation of the several Or
gans to each ether. If man wishes to throw
a stone so as to hit any small object, he will
strive In vain to accomplish his purpose by
considering the proper motion to give his
hand, and his best course is to fix his eye
up on the object and then let his hand adjust
its motions TO the line division. lfthe nerv-
Gus energies are exhausted, the eyelids drop
to shut out the light and thus aid in bringing
on that strange state of sleep by which the
vital powers are Sc mysteriously restored. If
by violent exercise the slow fre that supplies
heat to the system is urged 10 too rapid COM
bustion, the pores Of the skin fall open, and
a copious perspiration carries off the supera-
bundant caloric. When the bag, that is pla-
ced in the center of the system to hold the
nourishment which is constantly required to
keep the several organs in action, becomes
empty, a craving of hunger urges renewal
of the supply. And the sensation of thirst
Is the efficient means provided by Nature for
obtaining the proper quantity of that liquid
IN which the various viseera are constructed
to operate.


The adaptation of the sensations of hunger





shown in the craving for particular kinds Of
food in particular circumstances In the Arc
tic regions it is necessary that large
amount Of heat should be generated in the
system, and, consequently, large supply of
food must be taken in the stomach. Nature
makes provision for this need by causing the
appetite to crave enormus quantities of fat.
We recently read an account of the Esqui-
maux belle who ate a talow candle for des-
ert. and DR.. Kane while in the Artic regions
found that he and all his men preferred Wal
rus blubber to any less greasy diet. In the
topics, on the other hand, the system requires
the generation of little heat internally, and
Graves simply grains and fruits.


A few years ago it was the universal prac-
tice of physicians TO deny fever patients a cup
Of cold water to cool their parched tongues,
but larger experience and more careful OBJ
servation has taught that here also the indi
cations Of Nature are more to be trusted than
the teachings ofthe schools, and the inexpres-
sibly grateful administering of ice has super
seded that cruel deprivation from moisture
by which many helpless inyalids have been
tortured to death.


1t is true that the cravings of the appetite
are to be controlled by the lesson of expert
ence. There are fatal poisons which have an
agreeable taste. We have intellects as we'll
as palates, and if experiment proves that any
agreeable food is injurious we must abstain
from its u5e. But until we have made the
trial, We can have no safer guide in the Sc
lection Of our food and drink than the natur-
al demand of our appetites.
Year: 1863

In extent Java is about seven hundred
miles in length, aud it varies from eight to
ono hundred and forty miles in width. Its
AREA is less than twenty thousand square
miles The face of the country is more or
less broken by mountains, but the soil gene
rally is rich and productive. The products
are rice, sugar, coffee, pepper, spices, and a
proeusion of the finest tropical fruit. Coffee
is cultivated to as great perfection as i'll al
most any other part Of the world. 1t grows
upon large bushes, and the grains OF coffee
are formed two in a berry about the size of
our common plum The skin of the berry is
about as thick as that of the plum, and the
color, when ripe, pale scarlet.


The bush is very productive. Every branch
is loaded with berries, which grow two in a
place on the opposite side of each other, and
about an inch and a half apart. When ripe
the skin bursts open and the grains of coffee
fall out upon the ground; but more gene
raj way is to spread something under the
bush and shake the coffee down. After the
outer skin is taken off there remains kind
of husk over each kernel. which is broken off
latter being well dried in the sum by heavy
rollers. The coffee after this needs winnow-
ing in order to be freed from the broken par
ticles of the husk. 1t has been said by some
writers IDlE UlS puSl Win G--bttIGT VIII lOl
average more than pound of coffee


Black pepper is also raised to some extent
on the Island of Java; but Sumatra, which
lies Just across the straits, is by far the most
celebrared for this commodity. Her pepper
is. perhaps, the finest and most abundant of
any one country in the world. Black pepper
grows on vine very much like our grape
vine The pepper grows, and looks when
grown, very much like our currants. There
is this difference, however, the surrant has
each its own distinct stem, but the pepper has
not. every grain grows hard on to one COM
mon stem, just as each grain Of Indian corn
does on the cob. The color of the pepper,
when first ripe, is almost q bright red, and
changes to the dead black by being exposed
to the heat of the sun.


The white pepper is nothing more than the
common black with the outer skin taken off
1t is first soaked until the skin bursts open,
which is then rubbed and the grain dried
The white is not considered so pungent as
the black, though it IS nicer and more expen-
sive, as more labor is necessary in order to
prepare it.
Year: 1863

The following is extracted from the cores
pondenee of the Philadelphia Sunday Mercu-
ry,


The amount of tyranny practiced by off :
= : themselves often OF subordinate grades
.--.9ie voianteer service. is very great, and it
makes ones blood boil to hear instances of
it.


| know the army code is necessarily rigor-
Gus, and that orders must be offered, and dis
obedience to them punished. But when pun
ishment is degraded into rereRge it ceases TO
be retormdtory, and only results in an embit-
tered feeling Of hate, with the determination
to pay off the old score when the time comes


Old men have been tied to trees with their
arms up over their heads for hours. and when
taken down were so exhausted by the unnat-
tural strain that they have had to be rubbed
TO bring them TO by their indignant fellows
A more iudicious punishment would have
made it evident to the men them5elvos that
they had done wrong and would have also
made them feel ashamed Of their conduct
1t would, too, have prevented their comrades
from feeling that sympathy for oppression
which is SO contagious, so powerful, and of
tentimes SO dangerous.


There is not a shadow of doubt that our
officers have been picked OUT and shot by
their own men ON the battle field in number
less instances, to crafty private grudge. A
staff othcer IN conversation with me on
this very subject, stated that he had been
informed by surgeon. who had gone over
the battlefield of Antietam, that ''he found,
to his great horror and surprise. that nearly
all the officers killed were wounded from be
hind !" Alas what heavy reckoning,


Speak kindly to soldier, and it goes at
once to his heart. 1t brings back to him, as
with a flash of lightning, his home, where he
was loved and treated as man, not as a
machine.


had occasion. few days ago, to ask per-
mission about crossing part of a camp that
was guarded from entrance. The soldier on
guard was very courteous in his manner Of
refusing me, and, as started or my circuit
of a round to reach the place for which | was
aiming / thanked him for his ciy;lity, as
any other decent man would have DONE


He looked at me in fixed amazement for
moment or so-then said. 'Sir, it is not often
we hear anything like that it io lcng time
since | have been thanked for any thing /
have done -


The practice of making ''spread eagles"
of men-a sort of modern crucifixion-and
other similar degrading kinds of punishment.
ingenious as they may be, in my humble
opinion do greatly more harm than good.
Year: 1863

20, PAPA Doeter March had such hard
work topull mother 5 tooth out" Had he my
son n Yes, see him try first with his
pineers. then he put his mouth right close to
mother and pulled it out with his teeth -
Year: 1863

We learn that the leaders Of the Dem
Ocratic party 10 this county, are engaged
IN circulating petitions for the passage Of
law against the influx of negroes into
this State. The main object is to alarm
the folks with the idea that the blacks
will pour into our State in immense bodies
under the Proclamation Of the President,
while the truth is, the tendency OF that
document is to draw the negroes South
Instead Of North 1t will be time enough
to pass laws against the iufux Of negroes
into the State when the cou,rabands
actually make their appearance within our
borders .WHOntan.