smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

THE HEIGHT OF CooLNEss.-A story is
told of man who insured in London one
thousand cigars, valued at goo, against
fire and water. After the lapse of six
months he made his appearance at the in
surance office and den anded his money.
as the cigars had been all burned.


"But not on board the vessel, sir, y
said the secretary, 'for she is IN dock
now"


'Yes, on board the vessel; | smoked
them, and therefore burned them all my
SELF and the insurance says against fire. .


The secretary seemed taken aback, but
told the smoker to call again next day
He called at the appointed time, but was
met by the solicitor of the company, who
told him if he did not relinquish'his claim
he would be prosecuted as one who know
IN -llv and wilfully set fire to goods insured
by TIE company.
Year: 1865

y New York correspondent gives the
following brief sketch Of ,he habits of the
wealthy William B. Astor


No bank clerk on the salary of $1,000
a year goes to his bank as regularly, or
works as many hours. as William B. Astor,
who counts up his S40,000,OO0. His lit
tie one story office, a step or two from
Broadway, on Prince street with its iron
bars, making it resemble police prison,
is the den where he performs his daily toll,
and out Of all his wealth and labor gets
only "his victuals and clothes" He at
tends personally to all his business, knows
become due, pays out every dollar, makes
his entries in his own hand, and obliges
his subordinates to come to him for infor-
nation while he docs not 90 to them. He
generally comes down in the omnibus at
an early hour of the day and remains
closely absorbed in business until clock.
lie rarely takes exercise, and finds his
pleasure i'll the closest attention to busi-
ness A friend of mine rode to Washing>
ton with him in the same car from New
York lie neither spoke nor got cut Of
his seat, and hardly moved, from Jersey
City to Washington. He usually leaves
his Office at 5 clock and walks slowly up
Broadway to Lafayette place. He is over
six feet high, heavily built, with decided
German look, small hazy eyes, as if he
was half asleep, head round as pumpkin
and about as destitute of hair lie is ex-
cecdingly hospitable, and in the 'season'
gives a dinner to his friends weekly, at
which the richest viands on services Of
gold and silver are presented by liveried
servants to his guests
Year: 1865

1t is significant that the first battle Oh
the question of negro suffrage has gone
against the African The people of Col
orado have Knocked the negro suffrage
clause out of their state constitution by a
vote of about five to one. This is in ac-
cordance with the former teachings of the
republican leaders, when they said that
the territories must be reserved for the
enterprise of free white labor. Colorado
has donc well She has refused to de
grade herself. She has declared that her
government, at least, shall be white
mans government.
Year: 1865

Before this hat was made,


King George was on the throne,
Our Fathers all were rebels then,
And fought with Washing eton,
The Tories cheered for old King George,
The Revolution through,
Al Dragged about their loyalty.


Ere this old hat was new.
When this old hat was new.


The sons of that base crowd
Revived the cry of Loyalty"


And beloved it aloud:
The Government our fathers made
For them would never do,
And they have tom its bulwarks down
Since this old bat new.
When this old hat was new,


There was no public debt.
No greenbacks took the place of gold.
No millionaire had yet
His pile of Seven Tnirtes spent,
On which no tax was due:
But each man fairly paid his tax,
When this old hat new.
When this old hat was new,


Elections still were free,
And every man was thought to have
A right to liberty:
Arrests were made 10y course of law.
Trials were speedy, too,
And Seward rang no little bell,


When this old hat was new.
When this old Lat was new,


THIS lan] was in lis prime.
Nisccgenation was untaught


In all this happy cline.
And white folks then were tho't us gOoC
As Sambo. Cuff. or Sue,
But things have sadly changed about
Since this old kat was new.
When this old hat was new,


The poor white man was free,
And every year bran new boy


Could dandle on his knee:
But now, for every child he has,


He's taxed till all is blue,
But things, tell YOU, were not so,
When this old hat was new.
When this old hat was new,


Gold dollars did abound,
And not a stamp in all the land


Could anywhere tie found:
But now you dare not kiss your wife,
Unle-c you stamp her, too:
But things tell you were not so
When this old hat was new.
Year: 1865

The New York Volunteer Institute.
INFANT SONS OF DECEASED SOLDIERs--MILITARY


DISPLAY AT COOPER INSTITUTE.


large audience present at the Cooper Institute on
Monday evening" to attend the benefit given to the young
cadets Of the New York State Volunteer Institute The
boys OF this military school the Of deceased sol
diers who have fallen in the present war; and Colonel
Young and his lady have devoted themselves to the
ing and ed cation Of these young orphans whose natural
protectors have been sacrificed in defence OF the country


At eight O'Clock General HALL forward and intro
duced the young solders who marched the stage with
the military precision Of veterans After performing all
the evolutiOns Of infantry drill in that would
do credit TO the gallant Seventh regiment Professor by
nard of Boston, treated the audience to very no
music the piano, which drew forth well meri.ed
plause.


Mr. JoHN NJ HARRINGTON then called upon, and
delivered very eloquent and patriotic speech In behalf
OF tho orphans for whose benefit the entertainment
gotten up.


The CHAIRMAN then suggested to the audience that
collection should b. tax up and the audi fpoudcd
very handsomely than 800 being collected which,
together with the receipts Of the evening will b. applied
by Colonel Young to the benefit Of the children under
charge


The Colonel intends, bfore returning 10 Niagara to
give exhibition in Brooklyn which will doubt add
largely to the receipts Of his present IN this part of
the State These boys appeal cry strongly to the SYM
pathes OF al patriotic men, and II Is only necessary to
lot the fact be known TO hearty response from
the citizens Of New York and vicinity.
Year: 1865

MARCH 1.-Dexter H. E.Ile Smeon Leland Tho
plaintiff in this action a gnest at the Metropolitan
Hotel in November 1868 During the night thief en-
tered his room, and carried Off gold watch and chain
valued at four hundred and thirty dollars and pocket
book containing eighty five dollars Upon investigation
appeared that entrance the effected by
means Of a false key The plaintiff believing that the
hotel proprietor liable made claim upon him the
value Of the stolen property but Nr Leland refused
accedc to tho demand for the that the plaintiff
nogaed comply with the printed rules OF the house
in -. Ing his door unbolted.


Mr. Follet upon taking tho stand testified that the
robbery effected while he asleep In bed; his
watch han sng the OF q chair and hs money
deposited in his bureau. He had locked tho door
before retiring for the night but In tho morning found
II open and his property gone. Upon being cross
examined he admitted that he neglected TO comply with
the rules Of the hotel In leaving his door unboed This
rule requiring doors 70 be bolted from the inside
posted up in the bedroom


The jury rendered verdict for the plaintiff assessing
the damages al $435.
Year: 1865

Editors Of Free Pres:


Many citizens have been
waiting with much anxiety to know what action
our Git authorities are about to take in refer
ence to a modification Of the City Charter. IN
regard to our Schools


A City Charter with no provision for the man
agement Of schools, was probably never before
heard Of; and this deficiency was sufficient to
have defeated the adoption OF the Charter, and
would probably have done so, but for the prom
Use Of the special friends Of the Charter that
they would propose and urge an amendment
that should amply provide for the schools.
1t j. understood that this matter is referred to
. Committee. and undoubtedly they will attend
to it, but the session Of the Legislature is close
at hand, and uothing is heard of this very i'm
portant matter.


doubt whether the Committee are aware Of
the intense anxiety with which their action j.
awaited.


Whether public meeting or meetings Of the
citizens would assist the Committee, is for them
to decide.


1t is Of the first importance to the City rs
bearing upon it's reputation and its prosperity.
as it is to those who have children to educate,
that Burlington should have a school-system
that will secure quality of ta1ation-permanen-
cy in direction and mans,ement-perfectnes, Of
graduation-thoroughnes of culture, and con-
venience Of access to all.


II seems strange that matter tf so great con-
sequence should have excited 50 little notice.


Yours, A.
Year: 1865

Many of our readers will recollect that
shortly after the battle of Antietam. one
Colonel Thomas NJ. Key. of tine staff of Ma
jor Mcclellan. was asked by some one, why
the defeated rebel army was not followe dup
vigorously, instead of allowed to take their
own time and convenience to retreat into
Virginia. His answer in substance was that
1t was not the game to beat the enemy too
severely; bot rather to keep the matter un-
decided TIL a compromise could be made
which would leave slavery untouched. For
that disloyal declaration, President Lincoln
ordered Key to be dismissed from the service,
and the loyal sentiment of the Nation ap-
proved. Key was from Ohio, and lie has
just been put in nomination by the Ohio
Democrats for Judge of the Supreme Court.
What could be more eopperheady?
Year: 1865

OF the million and half lately dispensed
in paying the returned soldiers, in Burling
ton, we understand that over thirty thousand
dollars has been left with Colver 4 Turk, in
exchange for clothing This Is a good thing
for those enterprising dealers, and equally
good for the soldiers, who doubtless got the
worth Of their money. The sales Of clothing
by our other dealers have also been very
heavy.
Year: 1865

On Horeb's rock the prophet stood


The Lord before him passed;
A hurricane in angry mood


Swept by him strong and fast;
The forest fell before its force,
The rocks were shivered in its course


God was not in the blast;
Twas but tbs whirlwind of His breath,
Announcing danger, wreck and death.
1t ceased. The air grew mute-a cloud


Game. muflling up the sun;
When. through the mountain, deep and loud
An earthquake thunders on;
The frighted eagle sprang in air.
The wolf ran howling from his lair,


God was not in the stun;
Twas but the rolling Of His car.
The trampling of His steeds from far.
Twas still AGAIN, and Nature stood


And calmed her ruffed frame:
When swift from Heaven a frey food


To earth devouring came;
Down to the depth the ocean fed;
The sickening sun looked wan and dead;
Yet God filed not the fame
Twas but the terror of His eye
That hghtened through the troubled sky.
At last voice all still and small


Rose sweetly on the ear,
Yet rose 50 shrill aud clear, that all


In Heaven and earth might hear;
Itspoke of peace, it spoke Of love,
1t spoke as angels speak above


And God himself was there
For oh it was a fathers voice,
That bade the trembling world rejoice.
Year: 1865

PoIsoNINGs IN WASHINGTON. The New
York Daily News has long article giving
list of the prominent assassinatons ofmen in
power mentioned in history. 1t says of a
somewhat recent event in our own history


The National Hotel poisoning, at Wash
ington, Immediately previous to the inaugu-
ration of President Buchanan, in 1857, is too
recent and too wildly impressed on the
memory OF our people to require more than
brief allusi0n The President escaped, ow-
ing 10 the circumstances that although he
room d in the hotel, his meals were brought
to him from outside. But several of his en-
inent political friends were terrible sufferers,
and barely escaped most agopiZing death.
Among these was the Hon Robert j. Walk
er. who endured physical torture FIR months
afterwards, and was brought to the brink of
the grave. lhe total number of those who
actually died from the effects Of the poison
was nearly one hundred. and comprised
| both ladies and gentlemen from many differ
ent STATES. The number of sufferers who
/ were finally restored. after untold misery
was five times great. The drug used was,
probably, arsenic, scattered through the salt
and powdered sugar used at the table. A
bitter controversy arose at the time, it being
to the interest of some parties to make light
Of the poison theory" but secret papers
in the Department of State, if published to
the world, would set that question at rest for
ever. At this distance of time there are few
who do not fully believe the worst and many
who read these lines may still retain the
most painful assurance in their own phvsi-
cal Systems that Lucrezia Borgia had found
imitators male and female, on Pennsylvania
! AYenue.
Year: 1865

SAYS the Carson Appeal; The long per
formance of the chivaric extravaganza, has
ended in a screaming farce. Punch and
Charivari viii portray the essence and pink
of all modern chivairy deeked in bonnet and
shawl and gown waving back the " mudsills
of the North with a rusty dagger. The
satire of Cervantes was doomed to eclipse at
the hands of jeff Davis. The days Of knight
errantry are ended in the United States
southern chivalry is henceforth the laughing
stock of the civilized world. While mockiog
at its calamity, let US permit it to rest in
npace.
Year: 1865

Chloride of lime has frequently prov
ed a sure thing to drive rats away
from any place infested by them. An
ounce of it, scattered in the place
where they come to feed, or wrapped
in "a bit of muslin and put in their
holes, where it acquires dampness, pro-
duces gas that is not offensive to
man, but is to the rats. If chloride of
lime is moistened with muriatic acid,
and placed in drain, vault, or cellar,
and closed from the air little while,
the rats will depart, because it will be
death to remain. This is also good
disinfectant, and will for time cure
the effluvia of dead rat One appli-
cation of dry chloride of lime to rat
holes has driven them away for a year,
when renewal of it started them
again.
Year: 1865

Women do not transgrcss the bounds
of dccorum so often as men but when
they do, they go greater lengths. For
with reason somewhat weaker they
have to contend with passions some
what stronger besides, female by
one transgression, forfeits her place in
society forever if once she falls, it is
as the fall Of Lucifer. 1t is hard, in
deed, that the law of opinion should
he most on that sex which is least able
to bear it but so it is, and if the SEN
tence be harsh, the sufferer should be
reminded that it was passed by her
peers. Therefore, if once a woman
breaks through the barriers of decen-
cy, her case is desperate and If she
goes greater lengths than the men,
and leaves the pale Of propriety fur
tier behind her, ii is because she is aware
that all return is prohibited, and by
none so strongly as by her own sex
We may also add, that as modesty is
the richest ornament Of woman, the
want of it is her greatest detormity
for the better the thing, the worse will
lever be its perversion ; and if an an
gel falls, the transition must be to dc
mon.
Year: 1865

Mrs. Davis, wife Of the rebel chief


is reported i'm such straits as to require
the aims of her friends. So says the
Richmond Times. This may be the
case; but it is more probable that
her friends put forth the report to Gre
ate sympathy for herself and her "much
injured husband" If so, it is a good
dodge. But we do not believe a word
of Mrs. DIS poverty or suffering. If
she wants money, she knows where to
get it I; at the hands of Jef7s bankers
in Europe, where he is known to have
ample means stored away for rainy
day. As it is unlikely that he will ev-
er have occasion to use more money
than that which will be necessary to
fee his counsel, he should allow Mrs.
Davis to draw on his friends in Eu-
rope, and not compel her to subsist on
the uncertain charities Of the world
There is too much of this putting up
the necessities Of these naughty and
insolent rebels, who aided i'm forcing
civil war upon the country. Every
day there is some appeal made to the
northern people in behalf of some
southern community, Charleston, for
example, where it is touchingly said
" delicate ladies are compelled to go to
the washtub, or attend the cook-pot."
Assuredly this is dreadful state Of
affairs In the eyes of some people, North
as well as South, but we do not ina
gine it will kill the delicate ladies to
rub out their handkerchiefs, or make a
delicate mutton stew for their dear,
delicate bodies. Our Northern ladies
can do all this when needed, without
grumbling or crying, and we never
heard of it being injurious to them.
But lazy people don't like it. When
Southern women stop their whining,
become Industrious, and cease their
sneering at the Government, they will
feel better and more independent
Year: 1865

aud our own will become so onerous
that the poorest classes will be unable
to bear it. Perhaps this may be the
object of the rebel politicians who are
agitating the subject. Our approach.
ing Congress will of course legislate
severely to prevent this but the adj
rninistration could materially aid the
movement by insisting upon provision
being made by the State Conventions


against the assumption of the debts"
Year: 1865


Oh what is lifeS with the joys and smiles
That brighten its opening hours
With youths gay dreams and enchanting wiles
As fresh a the morning flowers
Full soon the glow Of the trusting heart
Shall yield To the wasting blight
And hope, like the rainbow's hues, departs
Away from our dazzled sight.
Oh, what IL life when strength aud might
--a OF manhood have toled their way
Up the mount of fame b. it, starry height,
Where beams Of honor lays
The stately barque from the billow crest
l. hurled to the gulf beneath
Aud the falling star with dark unrest


Yields up its roseate wreath.
All, what Is life when our years are passed,
And our heads are white and hoar,
But sunbeam trembling in the blast
On dark and desola,c shore
Or a flower, whose leaflets all are strown
From their native stem away,
without one tint To recall the flown
Or tighten its wintry day.
Year: 1865

A Missouri man went TO the war,
leaving a wife and two children. He
was given up for dead, and his sup
posed widow became wife and
mother again. The FIRST husband lately
returned safe and sound /; the two hus-
bands and the double wife calmly talk
cd the matter over. and it was left for
the woman to decide whose wife she
would be. She chose her first love, aud
her /" Philip Ray" took his children,
bade his wife good bye and started
for the South.
Year: 1865

Mr.. SILAs CONVERSION, SIR:-You
will do well not to write any more
such traitorous language to a soldier
in this company. You lowlived dog.
Who is keeping up this war? The
traitors in the North, you and your
party. The war is coming to close
and you Will reap your rewards after
tine soldiers get home. Henry is
with your friends prisoner. How
he is treated, you may judge from
the way they have treated our men
heretofore.


From true soldier, in for the war,
in for freeing tue negro and in for
exterminating traitors, bo,h in the
North and South. TYPO.
Year: 1865

you dress your legs and feet IN such
a way that they shall get their share
OF blood. In the coldcst season oi
the year / leave Boston for q bit of .
tour before the lyceum-g going as far
as Philadelphia. and riding much in
the night without on cvercoat: but I
give my legs two or three times their
usual dress. During the coldest
wether men may wear, in addition to
their usual drawers, pair of chamois
skin drawers with great advantage.
When we ride in a sleigh, or the
cars, where do we suffef9 In our
legs. of course. Give me warm LEGS
and feet, and I'll hardly thank you
for an overcoat'


MY dear madam, have vou q
beadaehe, sore throat, rafpitation
OF the heart. congestion of the liver.
or indigestion? Wear one, two. or
three pairs of warm wooden stock
ings, and thick. warm shoes, with
more or less reductioa in the amount
Of dress about your body, and you
will obtain the same relief perma-
nently that you would derive tempo
rarily from warm foot bath.


i must not forget to say that a
thin layer of india-rubber cemented
upon the boot-sole will do much to
keep the bottoms of our feet dry and
warm"
Year: 1865

hoOney OdlIla CO.. OllO,


SIR:-Enclosed, I send you your
letter addressed to Henry Coverston,
soldier in company A, of this Regi-
ment. As he is a prisoner in the
hands of as vile traitors as yourself,
he is not permitted to read it. The
letter was opened by n officer of the
company, sor the purpose of answer.
ing it. You will find his answer at
the bottom Of the letter, and sir, the
tone of your letter is a speaking
picture of your character You
have the impudence to say to him
land for the purpose of discourage
ing him. that there is no hopes of a
speedy termination of this war, until
the present Administration ceases to
control it, and that the National
debt is getting to be enormous, and
that the South cannot he conquered,
and no peace until they are admitted
by the European powers. Sir you
know that you lie. when you write
this slang to soldier. There is not a
man in the Regiment but knows bet
ter than this stuff you write. We
look upon you, as our worst enemy
and not worthy the name of an
American citiz en-, much less the name
Of an "Ohioau." We are satisfied
Year: 1865

sent US for publication by the Officer
whose name is attached. We publish
them more for the purpose Of show.
ing the feeling Of our soldiers to
ward the party to which Nj. Cover
stop, evidently belongs, then for any
other. 1t is too late in the day, fol
any good to result from such letter.
as Mr.. Coverston's. Ou1 soldiers
know better. il he does notI


Neither European recogriton moi
copperhead sympathy win ksave the
Confederacy from ruin, and they are
wilfully blind who won't seS it.
DEcKMBEa 2dt7se4.


DEAR SrR:--After such along de-
lay, 50 long perhaps that you have
come to the conclusion that 1 was
not going to write to you, but let that
be as it may the receptions of this
will stop all doubt on that subject.
You requested me to ascertain il
possible, if you could be accredited
to the State of Olio.. l done every
thing that 1 could to get VOC cred ted
to Springfield township Isent your
name to the Provost Marshal, com
pany and regiment, certified to by
the trustees of the township. thu,
such was the fact, and received in
answer that you must send a certifi
cate from your captain, before he
could allow you any credit. So il
appears that it will be very doubtful
OF you getting a bounty from the
State OF Ohio. You express a wish
thar the war was over, but sir. Won
are aware before this that our wishes.
yes indeed the wishes of all o, cd
and patriotic citizens who love the
Union more than the negro, will not
he respected by Abe Lincoln. The
prospect is very good for the war to
last four years longer. Their is in
my opinion only one thing that will
stop the war, and that Is the erecogui-
ton OF the Confederacy by the great
powers of Europe. Whether they
will do so or not will not venture
to say. Our future prospects are
gloomy in the extreme. Alread your
taxes are more than double with q
national debt of 5000, 100000 of
dollars hanging over us and increas
ing at the rate of three millions per
day. Should the war continue for
four years longer, which in all prob
ability it will, the debt will be so
great that it will be an imposslbility
for the people to pay their taxes.
then a revolution will follow, and
with it anarchy and desolation, will
sweep over the land until our once
happy and prosperous country will
be as naught.


We have our old fashioned winters
here again, rain, rain, rain, then for
a day or two very cold, then rain,
rain, rain again and you may guess
that we have some mud too, every
thing in and about Rodney is after
the old fashion. / am well at the
present, and hope that this letter will
reach you in the same condition,
please write how you like soldering
and pardon me for neglectlng to
write for so long. Please accept nv
good wishes that you may survive
this horrible war.


l am very respectfully your friend
and relative.