smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

The policy Of tie Republican party is to
pay all these bonds in gold to convert all
the currency now outstanding, and all the
indebtedness of the United States into
these bonds; to pay interest in gold tor
this enormous sum, whatever it may De,
and to extend the time within which the
Year: 1868

numerous dealers in government securities. who are
obliged to keep constantly certain amount OF bonds
on hand.


stock OF government bonds can never be very large
and they will also serve to refute favorte argument
OF the leaders OF the democratic party who in order
to gloss over the reputation measures OF their plat
form-f. e., taxation and redemption in greenbacks-
pretend that only foreign capitalists will he the sur
ferers II their schemes should succeed


We have shown that the heaviest loss would fall
upon our own citizens, and particularly upon the
working part OF population, to which class ex-
clusively belong all the bonds held by our savings
Year: 1868

that human lips are capable of. A man


must either bs ignorant of what the opera


is, or must have brought to its hearing a


laseiyious nature, to hold such an opinion.


lie granted that many did not enjoy the


opera; he felt sorry for such people, be-


cause they did not know the exquisite


delight of which, from lack of musical


culture, they we're deprived. But such
people should simply say they did not


Ike It. Ii was sorry religion that
would reject the opera on the sour grape
principle. Then, as to the dresses, these
were conventional; but as to the ballet,


be admitted that the women who con-
sented to take part in such spectacIes
were not tt companions for our sons and
daughters. He had no word of endorse
ment for their character. But it might
be remarked that wherever there was a
noble and lofty sentiment uttered on the
stage, it met with the marked approval
of the audience. The music of the opera
would be lost to the world, as it could
not possibly take any other form. It
would, in his opinion, be sensible thing
if congregations would make it a stipu-
lation when they engaged their ministers,
that they should accept season ticket
to the opera, to cultivate their taste in
musical matters.


The abuse of anything is the spirit of
evil brought to it. A Sister of Charity
might go to the bedside of a sick man.
and dress his wounds with the spirit of
an angel, or the passions of a harlot.
" To the pure all things are pure" To
the lascivious eye and adulterous heart,
there is only lasciviousneess and adultery
in the world. When man speaks of
the prevalence of domestic infdeI;ty, and
says that our young women are not pure,
it is only his dark soul that throws its
shadow over modern society. So to the
pure, the opera has pure lessons; it is
only to the depraved already that it min
listers to depravity. Just where use ends,
abuse begins, The liberality of abuse
is no argument for the disuse of any
thing. Yet this was the logic of the
popular churches; we are not to use
cards, or go to the play or the opera, be-
cause these things are abused As well
might we say we ought not to wear clothes,
or live in houses, because these are
abused. The proper way to meet young
man was not to forbid the drama, but to
forbid him to use it to feast his eyes on
vulgarity anywhere. The duty of the
Church, then, plainly is to raise no false
standards in morality for this begets
two evils: it makes religion irrational,
and hardens the conscience of the young
man who must have pleasure even though
it should be against his conscience. It
is the duty of the Church to make
logical definition between moral right
and wrong, not fictitious one. 1t is its
duty, first of all to make men pure in
heart; to teach them never to abuse
privilege, but so to use natural instincts
as to earn the blessing of God and hu-
manity, and so that the memories they
carried with them should be filled even
as picture gallery with the things that
we're of good report, pure, gentle, sweet,
noble, long-sufering, patient and kind.
Year: 1868

At a certain crossroads in the State
Of Alabama stood small grocery, or
whisky shop previous TO the rebel
lion, where 'bust-head and "chainlight-
ing were dealt out to the thirsty IN
washed. at FIVE cents a drink or twenty
cents a quart. The presiding genius of
this delectable institution was one Bill
Skies, who, among various other pets,
had a domestioated crow, as black as the
ace of spades. This crow had learned,
among other things, orepeat quite plain
ly the words, Damn youP which he of
course heard frequently used in the
grocery. During the prevalence Of a
knockdown and drag out fight one day,
the crow was frightened from home and
flew off into the woods never to return.


About three miles from the grocery
was a settlement meeting house-an old,
tumble-dOwn affair, only used on certain
occasions when "cireuit-rider" happen
ed that way. Into this building went
the crow, taxing peaeeable possession;
and two days thereafter the church was
thrown open for preaching, and large
crowd assembled, among whom was a
very old lady who was compelled to use
erutches in walking, who took her seat
in the front pew, and was soon deeply
absorbed in the eloquence Of the preach
er. The reverend gentleman had hardly
got under full headway, and commenced
laundering his anathemas at all grades
of sinners, when a hoarse, croaking
voice from above uttered the ominous
words


damn you?"


The preacher and congregation looked
aghast at such profanity, and each peer
ed into his neighbor's face in vain to
detect some sign of guilt Quiet was at
length restored, however, and the SER
mon proceeded but ere ten minutes
elapsed the ominous Damn you - again
electrified the audience, and Just as the
preacher cast his eyes upward in search
for the delinquent, the crow few down
from his perch, and, lighting on the
Bible, calmly surveyed the terrified
crowd, and gave another dOleful croak:


Damn you p


The effect was electrical Giving one
startled and terrified glance at the in
truder, the preacher sprang from win.
dow, carrying sash, glass, and all nth
him, and set off at a break-neek pace
through the woods, closely followed by
his horror-stricken congregation, who
had piled out of the building pell-mell
after him. In the general scramble the
old lady with the erutches had been
knocked down in the church, where she
lay, unable to rise and on observing
her the crow, who was after something
to eat, few down beside her, and, cock
ing up his eye at her very knowingly,
cracked out:


damn you p


The old lady eyed him savagely for
few moments, and then burst forth in
tone of reckless defiance:


"Yes and damn you too 1 had moth
ing to do with getting up this Methodist
meeting-and you know it.


The poor old soul had mistaken the
crow for the devil, and concluded to
if possible, the wrath of his
Satanic majesty by denying all eomph-
city in that affair. The world IS full of
just such people.
Year: 1868

NEW ORLEANS, March 7. 1868.
To the Citizens Of New Orleans:


The recent depreciation OF our city currency
has caused great suffering among the poor and
laboring classes Of our people, and has also
seriously inconvenienced the retail trade Of the
city, especially in the public markets. This gives
me great solicitude, and calls forth this my pro-
clsmation. And hereby solemnly express the
opinion that there is no good cause for this de-
probation Of our city notes and for the alarm
which has been thereby created. A few plain
facts will justify my assertion: The total indebt
edness of the city of New wOrlesns is. in round num-
bers, only fourteen millions Of dollars, which is
less than that of any other city Of its size in the
United States. This fourteen millions includes
the amount Of city currency now in circulation,
which is only about four millions Of dollars, show
ing reduction of half q million since Novem-
Der /, 1867.


Now for the security OF this four millions Of
dollars every house, store, and foot of land within
the corporate limits of New Orleans, amounting
ing to assessmenf stands Bsd&sed & for the redsmp-
tion of the same, and the city treasurer informs
me that the amount in circulation is being rapidly
reduced, and not increased, as has been falsely
stated. nft


Inc causes OF the present depreciation OF the
city currency are not difficult to determine. Il Is
well known to me that class Of designing men.
who have been disappointed in their political aspi
rations have sought to injure the city credit aud
thereby bring the present city government into
disrspute, and who are resolved to ruin the city
they cannot rule 1t. Nor can the fact be disguised
that those designing men have worked upon the
fears Of our marketmen and retail merchants to
accomplish their wicked purpose against the poor.
II is also equally true that there Is large class Of
men in every city whose business II is to promote
fluctuations in the currency thereof, and who
snass thereby great wealth. Nor can | refrain
from the expression Of opinion that the recent re-
pudiation of State by military order has had
q depressing effect upon the finances of our city,
and created the fear that similar order might
follow as TO the city currency but In which fear
do not share. And am informed that the gas
company, cotton presses, founderies, etc.. de-
msnd national currency for What they DO, but pay
their employees in the city notes, which they pur-
chase at a large discount.


Having glanced at some Of the principal causes
Of present financial difficulty, ] now assure the
good people of New Orleans that the finance COM
mittees Of both branches Of the Common Council
are maturing a plan to relieve our present en-
bsrrassment, and now call upon all merchants
grocers. and marketmen who are willing TO aid in
the laudabe work by receiving the city notes at
par 10 inform me of the fact, and will officially
announce the same TO the public.
Year: 1868

The latest atrocity perpetrated by the revo-
lutionist bandit, Leon Chavez, on the plains
of Jalisco, is recorded in letter February
29) from our special correspondent at Browns
vile, which we published yesterday. The
details are almost incredible. Chavez and his
band had previously attacked and taken Tepatit-
Ian, carrying off thousands of dollars and all
and other wealthy people. A subsequent SINH
lar assault was made by them on the town Of
Zapotlanejo, but proved unsuccessful, and they
left for the mountains. Not long afterwards,
however, they returned to the plains and
attacked, took and burned part of the Coli
milo plantation buildings, robbing all the
people and killing the overseer. Thence they
went to Matatlan, but the armed men of the
place outnumbered them and they were obliged
to retire. After disappearing for several days
large number of them, with their faces
Masked falling by night upon q gay dancing
party in the San Pedro gardens, seized and
carried away six beautiful daughters of
the wealthest families. The next morning
one of these unfortunate victims was found
in the same gardens "a raving lunatic her
hair had been shaven, her breast cut open and
her person violated. She was nearly naked.
On her was found letter from Chavez saying
that unless two hundred thousand dollars in
gold was sent to his camp in the mountains
west of Guadalajara all Of the other FIVE
ladies would be similarly treated. The money
was sent, and after Chavez received it-and It
had to be carried to him on mule with
single servant-he and his companion fiends
fell upon the ladies and outraged them They
then tied them on to mules and left them in
charge of the servant who brought them the
money


Such is our correspondents account Of this
revolving outrage. 1t vividly illustrates the
wretched internal condition of Mexico
Afflicted by chronic revolutionary mania,
what hope remains that the grievous political
and social disorders of this unhappy country
can be otherwise cured than by the remedy
which the leaders OF the Northwestern con-
federacy are said to recommends pro-
tectorate from the United States2' Such a
protectorate, extended oyer the entire territory
Year: 1868

tive about the vexed question as to whether
Mr.. Whiting Is compelled to remove the snow
as well as the dirt, and decides in the negative;
but he does not think that the streets could be
better kept. The Corporation Counsel also
agrees with Mr.. Schultz that no contract could
be devised sufficiently large or minute in its
details to meet all the varying exigencies of
one winter in New York. In this case what Is
to be done? Clearly to have the streets
cleaned without any contract at all, but by
responsible parties who will be held account
able for the proper performance of their duties.
The Commissioners are evidently at variance
In their views upon the matter. The con-
tractor wants to throw up his contract, and
Recorder Hackett thinks that there is no law
to make new one and deplores the idea Of
releasing Mr.. Whiting under the circum-
stances. 1t was insinuated in the testimony of
Mr. Whiting that several people were partners
or had an interest in the contract to Devoe
Il Knapp, and the name of Horace Greeley
was mentioned as one Of them. It is hardly
credible that Mr.. Greeley had anything TO do
with SO dirty a job. The testimony, to say the
least, is interesting, but it will not clean the
Streets
Year: 1868

The progress Of the investigation concerning
the condition of the streets and the Whiting
contract continues to eucidate some interest
ing opinions and to extract some curious facts
from the horrible piles of filth and snow that
barricade the sidewalks. There appears to be
a serious difference Of opinion as to the fidelity
with which Mr.. Whiting has adhered to his
contract. Peter Cooper thinks that he has
performed his duties faithfully. Peter and as
many of the Citizens Association as half a
dozen carriages could accommodate rode
around the city in the last hot season, and
were astonished at the cleanly condition of
the streets. For himself and the Association
he would say that the streets were cleaned
according to contract; and with this dictum
we suppose the people ought to be satisfied,
because Mr.. Cooper, as is well known, drives
his ancient wagon as assiduously as any man
in the city through all its highways and by
ways.


Mr.. OGorman, speaking as q lawyer and a
Commissioner of the Street Cleaning Board,
does not profess to know much about the con-
tract because II was made in the days Of his
prsdsGsssor, g9Ap 7. Peyslin, byi he v posi-,
Year: 1868

The Cotton Market and Cotton Prospects.


The extraordinary rise in the price of Ameri-
can cotton within short period shows two
things-frst, that cotton spectators had made
incorrect calculations as to the crop; and,
second, that with all the efforts of British and
other manufacturers to do without or to substi-
tute something else for the long staple article
get along without it, We see now that the
real or pretended estimates of the amount Of
last years crop were too high, though the cot
ton spectators and manufacturers were en-
abled, under these false estimates, to bring the
price down to ten cents q pound, and even
lower. The planters of the South generally
were in such pressing need of money that they
were compelled to sell at this low and unre-
munerative rate. Still, those who could afford
to hold their cotton back from the market did
not sell, and it is believed there is a consider
able amount yet in the hands of the planters or
parties in the interior of the Southern States.
The latest news from Texas shows that large
amount, and much more than was expected, is
now coming out of that State under the stimu-
lation of higher prices, now ranging from
twenty-five to twenty-seven cents pound.
Looking, however, to the necessities of the
cotton manufacturers everywhere for our long
staple article, it is not likely the price will 90
down much, unless there should be better
and an unusually good prospect of crop the
present year.


What, then, are the prospects for the present
year? 1t is rather too early to form correct
idea, though preparations for planting have
commenced in the most southern part of the
cotton region. As general thing the neces-
sites of the planters and of the negro laborers
will stimulate exertions to raise a large CROP
The rise in the price lately, and the fact now
demonstrated that the manufacturers of the
world cannot do without considerable guam
tity of American cotton, will have similar
effect in stimulating production. We learn,
too, from Texas and some other parts of the
South, particularly from Texas, that the pros
pect of large crop the present year is very
good. This, however, is not general, and is
not true probably, with regard to the northern
tier of the cotton States for in these latter the
people are turning their attention more to the
cultivation of cereals. But with all the draw
backs to cotton culture, as the disorganized
state of labor, the political condition of the
South, and the disheartening future for the
Southern whites, we still think that with favor
able season good crop win be produced, and
that, too, with reasonable expectation of
remunerative price. There are not likely to
be hereafter such extreme fluctuations in the
market as have been experienced with the crop
Of 1867. The planters ought to be encouraged
to work, therefore, and the spectators should
be warned against unduly bulling or bearing
the market, either upon the basis of the crop
on hand or upon that about to be planted
Year: 1868

of Mexico, might prepare it for ultimate
annexation to our great republic and insure
the development of the wonderful resources
with which nature has endowed it. The whole
civilized world would rejoice at . consum-
nation SO devoutly to be desired
Year: 1868

NEw Goops. Il Van Buskirk
ere oct with new advertisement. They
keep q good assortment of everything in
their line. aud are in constant receipt of
nsw goods. We are glad to lssrn that
they are doing q handsome business. for
they spare no efforts to accommodate the
public. Call and see them, and examine
their stock.
Year: 1868

reflect that sound mind and body are the most
necessary @ requisites 70 promote connubial hap
piness Indeed, without these the journey
through life becomes weary pill grima4ge; the
prosp ct hourly dArkens to the view, the m'nn
becomes shadnwed with despair and t!lcd with
the melancholy reflection that the happiness OF
another becomes blighted with your own.
Year: 1868

Sparks Of FIRE we're scattered all about
the deck aud the steersman was killed
BY the shock. Every one on board felt
violent shock like that of q galvanic
battery, but none Of the crew were in
jured except Sales, who was at his last
gasp picked up His body showed no
marks, but appeared to be blackened,
and some six or seven hours after de-
composition set 10 and the poor fellow was
buried over the side. He was young man,
about twenty-.hree, and q smart seaman.
The 6re-ball apparently travelled with
the wind, which was from the southwest,
and when it burst the fash was so in
tensely brilliant that the steward, who
was lying in his berth below, declared
that he saw the fire through the seams Of
the deck. The cabin at the same mo-
ment was filled with smoke, which
blackened papers lying about Captain
tombstone says that the discoloration Of
the paint was like that produced by
smoking the ship with charcoal. A
peculiar and indescribable smell was
perceived for some time after the sx-
plosion, and quantity of fakes like the
SCOT from a steamers funnel were scat.
tered about. Captain Milmsn states
that on his last trip to Sydney q fireball
was observed passing ahead of his ship,
about one am, on Monday, the 18th.
Il travelled in horizontal direction from
northwest to southeast. Apparently it
was 80 near the ship that the officer Of
the watch altered her course 20 avoid it,
uhap n hnrst and for fhe moment the
whole heavens seemed to be in blaze OF
light, aud at the same time there was
terrific thunder. Lightning and thunder
continued at intervals throughout the
night and next day Tuesday, until
about half-past eight o'clock, when the
weather cleared up
Year: 1868

Wendall Phillips says, in the Anti
Slavery Standard of last week, that Con-
gress should make a constitutional
amendment providing that no State
should make any distinction among its
citizens in regard to civil or political
rights or privileges-the right to suffrage
or the eligibility to efice-on account of
race, color or previous condition, and de-
clares the constitution will not be perfect
till sex is included in this enumeration.
Year: 1868




New and very pretty spring sacks are
made of soft. light colored cloth, almost
white. with rererS turned back from the
throat and faced with black, blue or pur-
pie velvet The lower edge is finished in
points, bound with velvet and stitched on
to the straight edge of the sack The
points and the rererS suggest a good method
of freshening up an old light cloth sack
for spring wear at very little trouble or
expense.


Velveteen is getting rather common
from So per yard it had been reduced to
S1.25; but there are very stylish cos
tunes made of it, the prettiest of which
are trimmed with chenille fringe of the
same shade of color and fire gilt buttons
The under skirt is plain, the upper skirt or
Jacket or scarf edged with fringe, and the
side straps for looping up the upper dress,
front of dress or jacket ornamented with
fat gilt buttons. Upon brown or blue the
effect is very good.


For young ladies there is the promise of
a revival of the "Colleen Bawn," one of
the prettiest outdoor garments ever intro
duced. 1t consists of single or double
OdDC VI bdiuit, SdihSlCi III thO tShtlO anu
ornamented with rosette 1t also COM
pletes charming suit for little girls.


The Redingote, literally great coat, is
still worn, and is so convenient as well as
stylish that it can hardly fail to become a
universal favorite. \ ridingote may be
made of silk or velveteen, and requires
only band of the same material upon any
old skirt to complete the suit. Buttons
down the front, and wide sash to tie it
in at the back, are the only trimmings re-
quired.


LINEN DRESSES.


Among the very prettiest and best of
the spring goods, are beautiful linens in
fine stripes and small diagonal checks.
They are extremely delicate and cool for
summer morning dresses, and very durable
besides. They are also very charming for
childrens skirts.


There are also English prints in small
delicate patterns, of Hoyle's manufacture,
such as have not been seenhere since 1860,
selling for twenty-five cents yard. During
the war. the few goods left over of this
kind sold for seventy-fve cents per yard.