smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

For the benefit of numerous class of
ambitious men who aspire to become
popular lecturers, I send you few items
of mv experience. I went to Southern
Illinois to get sOarted as a lecturer. L
told my hotel-keeper that it was my first
effort in the lecturer-line, that l did not
care for money If 1 could only get star
ted. was unfortunate on that occasion
either in my subject or my audience
Nv subject was, The urgent necessity
for the Immediate revival and thorough
reorganization of the Know Nothing
party" My audience we're all Irish. l
got started.


Being advertised by the ., ua-de- plume
of the q Fat Contributor" my audience
is sometimes disappointed in the size of
the lecturer. Such was the case in a
town l visited in Minnesota last summer.
Nv audience was small, owing to the
public being suddenly and severely in
disposed-they were indisposed to come
to the lecture. My audience, in fact,
consisted of but one people. He was a
gentleman. 1 began my discourse,
" Gentleman and Ladies'" but changed
quickly to Respected Sirl Before l
could proceed any further my audience
arose Indignantly to its feet, as one man.


I inquired the cause of the Interrupt
tion.


"Sir," he said, "the audience is dis
appointed in the size Of the lecturer"


Well, my dear Sir" said I, " the lee
turer is disappointed in the size of the
audience, and if you will not say anything
about size, won't"


He allowed me to proceed, and at the
conclusion was so well pleased that be
urged me to stay another night, when he
promised me much larger audience
He could not come himself, but would
send his wife, who weighed two hundred
and sixty-fve pounds. l didn't stay.
1 have had good deal of money in my
houses at one time and another er-gener-
ally in the pockets Of some wealthy man
in the audience. always come home
with money, however I borrow some to
come home with.


I have had some large houses. The
LARGEST house I had was at Louisville
XIV That house must have been two
hundred feet long, ninety feet wide, while
in height it came pretty high-took al
the receipts to pay rent. A Louisville
editor said a good thing about me. He
said "The Fat Contributor lecturec
last night to a small house. His style
resemble Artemus Wards, but he has
not the case and grace of Artemus before
an audience" As though lecturer
could be at his ease before an audience
Year: 1866

WE may observe, in passing, that the
most prosperous of ourcountry exchanges
seem to be those that give most attention
f. the local news of the counties in
which they are published. The weekly
country paper can not expect to compete
with the city daily in fullness and fresh
ness of general news, and editors make
grave mistake in examining their columns
with mass of matter which most Of
their readers have had in more complete
form in the dailies. But, in respect to
local news, they have a field in which
the city paper does not come into compe
tition with them. The affairs of coun-
ty, such as the transfers of real estate,
proceedings in courts and before magis-
trates, and the multiform social enter
prises educational, religious, political
and industrial, may seem trivial to an
editor whose head is filled with grave
cogitations on the state of the country at
large, and whose eyes are intently fixed
on the crowned heads of Europe. But
trivial as they may be, they interest the
people of his own locality, and they will
support, without particular appeal, any
paper in which they are certain of find
ing a record of such things. The coun-
try paper should be a complete reflex of
the community in which it is published /;
a local history issued in weekly volumes.


The value of the country press is ma
terially diminished by too great devotion
to political matters, and pOnderouS dis
cussions of political questions. Nine
out of every ten of the country papers
that have gone into bankruptcy, because
the people wouldn't take the paper, have
died of too much politics. It is very
convenient for an aspirant for office, who
wants to 90 to the State Legislature or to
Congress, or whose ambition is confined
to the pickings and stealings about a
county courthouse, to have his organ to
play his own tunes and discourse his own
music. But if he succeeds in controll-
ing the county paper, he does so at the
expense of the prosperity of the paper
itself. He gets his Office, perhaps, and
the editor gets-the satisfaction Of hay
ing helped him into it.


There is some county printing and ad-
vertising to be done-amounting in all
perhaps to 81, 200 or $500 year, and
to secure this, some country papers that
we could name, will fight and squabble,
and " sling" very dirty ink eight months
out of the twelve. Why not cut loose
from the politicians and their patronage,
assume an independent course, publish a
paper that the people will like to read
that they can't help reading-brim-full
of local news, concerning schools,
Year: 1866

TnE Erie Observer very truthfully says it
is a common thing to hear Republicans boast
that they are a majority of the people Of the
Union. The statement is false. The Re-
publican is minority organization, always
has been and always will be. In the North
it dominates by a few thousand merely, while
the South is a Unit against It. .Of the whole
people Of the United States fge-eighths at
least despise its principles, scout its pretenr-
ions and misirust its headers. The fact is lost
sight Of by many that instead Of being any
longer a government Of the majority, our ina
stitution are at present moulded, and our
laws enforced by usurpiug minority.
Year: 1866

The following in relation to the mining
prospects of Calaveras, we extract from the
stockton Independent Of November 27th


We rejoice to learn that the prospects are
so encouraging now that the town OF Angels
is likely soon to rise to position second In
mining and commercial importance to no
town in Calaveras county. The Old VIM
ters' claim, situated nearly mid way between
Angels and Altavslle, is again yielding rich
ly likewise the Old Hill claim, little fur
ther south, on the same range. now ranks
among the rich mines in the county. There
are number df Others in the same neighbor-
Year: 1866

PETROLEUM IN lTALY.-Recent accounts from Leg
horn relate that there is general rise in the price Of
foreign articles imported there and especially in pe
troleum. of which the consumption is said to be so
large in Italy that the supply is not equal to the de-
mand. The price has so much increased lately that
companies have been formed at Turin and Genoa for
working and purify ing the produce of the petroleum
springs which exist in Parma ana Calabria.
Year: 1866

COMPLETE CLOTHING HoUsE.-Wo take great
pleasure in calling the attention of readers to the
conspicuous advertisement of Messrs Smith. Bros,
& CO.. No. 10 West Baltimore street. We speak what
We know when say their present stock of clothing
cannot be exceiied. We commend this firm to the
favorable notice Of all who may want goods in their
limo. They sell at small profits, and deal on the
sauare with syerybo2y
Year: 1866

quiet In ire country than esisist this me; eyebody u at
work; order things has sprung such prosper.
lty expected 20 SEQ IN this country am 5sp 70
trouble with they have all 10 work mAnfuyi
they give impetus TO trade that we mover before had


Similarly glowing accounts como from candid persons
who recently travelled In Texas There s, however
a difficulty In getting Information this subject nom
the ordinary cotto authorities OF tho South which looks
well for prospect The difficulty would certainly not
exist f very unfavorable reports could conscentiousy
be sent


Pr ConfrdA person extensively engaged In business
Georgia reports that tho cotton crop OF tho State
will be small but those OF and will be large
The business Of the cities the coast Ii constantly IN
creasinR.
Year: 1866

oiu be r to erese polticaI pocev and therefore, in
my opinion to have abolished the authority Of tho oil
garchy and have placed the political power Ia the
hands Of the blacks would have left the colony In worse
position than before confess should look with great
alarm at proposition 70 place the political power In tho
hands Of those who WELD the physical force OF tho
colony. From all the evidence brought before me am
persuaded that there popularity In the blacks which
will prevent their improvement; they arc people OF
great industry, although doubtless very excabe, and
having certain fanlts that In tme will disappear but
they capable when placed In proper circumstances
Of earnest and perscvering industry.
Year: 1866




A large number of petitions have been
received within few days by members OF
Congress, from citizens of Pennsylvania
and New England, asking for an incress-
ed duty on foreign wool


JEFF. DAVIS TRIAL.
The published statements that prepare
tions are being made in the United States
District Court at Richmond for the trial
of JEFF Davis, are untrue. The Court can
not convene until certain legislation has
been gone through with. The House Ju-
dietary Committee hold out intimatisns
that that they will very soon submit their
report on the subject to the House, and
recommend at the same time the proper
steps to be taken. Legislation looking to
the more perfect organization ofthe Court
is not looked upon as of an &c post facto
character.


THE RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
had another meeting yesterday and agreed
to report another lot of testimony on Mon
day next. There are sbJur twenty wit
nesses whose testimony is quite volumi-
Rous, and though it has been all taken on
behalf of the Presidents policy, it is fully


damaging to that policy as any that has
yet been offered, probably none more so
than that of Mr.. Stephens, who is still
welded to the State right of secession, and
who, with his people, still believes that
Ley lad a right to secede, and still have
that right. Among the witnesses are ex-
Provisional Governors Sharkeyan john
son; and among the military officers is an
affidavit from General Sheridan, not very
fattering TO the reconstructed Texans.
Stephens testimony alone is about four
columns in length.


PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT


Among the most prominent PROPOSE
tions under consideration by the Commit
tee on Reconstruction is one presented by
Hon. John A Bingham. 1t is in the
form of an amendment to the Constitu-
tion, and is as follows


No State shall pass or enforce any law
which shall impair or deny any of the
privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States nor shall any State deprive
any person of life, liberty or property
without due process of law, nor take pri-
vate property for public use without just
compensation, nor deny the equal protec-
ton of the laws TO all persons therein, and
Congress shall have power to- pass all laws
which shall be necessary and proper to
carry into execution this provision"


This, in connection with his amendment
guarding against any future payment of
the rebel debt, which has just passed the
House, is thought by Mr.. Bingham to COW
er all the conditions necessary TO the ad-
mission of the Southern States to repre-
sentation in Congress, provided, of course,
that the Representatives shall be able to
subscribe to such oath as Congress may
prescribe.
Year: 1866

Robaek's Blood Pills are undoubtedly
the most valuable OF all the Catbartic Pills offer
ed to the pubHc-operating by virtue of special
affinity for the mucous membrane of the bowels;
b5iDg sugar coated they especially adapted for
the use Of children and are unluestionably one Of
our most satisfactory csihsrtics and should be in
constant use in domestic practice. ap16
Year: 1866

WASHINGTON, Airil 18th 1866.


Ist- officers Of the regular army when
mustered out Of service under commissions
as volunteers, will be allowed .ull pay and
allowances Of their grade in the regular
army during the time they are authorized
to delay joining their regiment or corps
consequent to their muster out of the vol
unteer service, except in cases where they
receive leaves Of absence in ordinary form
on their own application, when the usual
regulations will apply which govern pay
and allowances of officers on leave.


I'd. Such officers when not furnished
transportation in kind, will be allowed
mileage from the place where they are mus
tered out of the volunteer service to the
station Of their regiments Or companies or
Year: 1866

VINO Ruxa THAT BELL ?-The incident recited
in this article from the Boston Recorder, occur
red during last Winter;


THAT there is sleepless Providence watch
ing over all the affairs of men, and often. by
special agencies, bringing to light, as In the
flash of a moment, the crimes which they COM
nit. finds additional confirmation N an event
which has recently occurred in this town, ana
which merits more permanent record than
mere passing thought. young man belonging
to one of our most respectable families, but who,
from his irregular habits had been strongly sus-
pected of being guilty of criminal ofenses, and
had been once under arrest for passing counter
felt currency and escaped by forfeltng his bonds,
one Sunday night a few months since, broke IN
to a store at Hazardville, Connecticut and load
ed wagon, which he had previously stolen and
drawn to the door, with various ki"ds OF mer-
chandise.


He then entered the stable and attempted to
lead out a valuable horse owned by the man from
whom he had stolen the goods, intending to har
ness it to the wagon, aud make off with his booty


in the stiffness of the night, when he thought no
eye could see and no ear hear him. just at this
moment however. the bell from the village
church-tower struck out an alarm loud and clear
upon the night air, startling the inhabitants from
their slumbers, who, supposing it to be an alarm
of fire. rushed into the streets, and caught the
thief, with his plnnder, before he had time to
escape from the village.


The ringing of the bell however, was mys-
terry But upon inquiry, it was ascertaned that
the sexton, in ringing the bell for the church
service the day previous, by seeming accident,
turned it up and set it, that he could not pull
it down with the rope, and not having the key
to the beltry door, he was obliged to let the bell
remain in that position. Just in time to detect
that youthful criminal it came down without
human help, and sounded that midnight alarm
After his arrest, goods were found in his posses
sion which were taken from store in Thomp
fessed that, with the aid of accomplice, he
had broken into the store, and stolen several
hundred dollars worth of merchandise. The
owner of these goods had formerly employed
him as clerk in his store. Thus the ringing of
the bell without human hand, brought several
criminal offenses to light, and arrested the Of
fender in his dishonest career"
Year: 1866




OF oUaIIrIc ATOMS DISABILITIES ELEcroRs-


SEC 10 Every white male citizen of the Unit
ed States. and every white male citizen of Mex
leo who shall have been elected to become cit
izen of the United States under the treaty of
peace exchanged and ratified at Queretaro, on
the 3Oih of May, lS4s, of the age OF twenty-one
wears who shall have been a resident of the
State six months next preceding the election, and
the county or district in which he claims his vote
thirty davs shall be entitled to vote at all cleo
tions which are now or hereafter may be author
lied by law.


SEC. H. For the purpose of voting, no person
shall be deemed to have gained or lost resi-
dence by reason of his presence or absence IN
the service of the United States, nor while en-
gagged in the navigation Of the waters of this
State or the United States, or of the high seas
nor while student of any seminary OF learning
nor while kept al the alms-house or other asylum,
nor while confined in any public prison.


SEC. r. No idiot or insane persons, or persons
convicted of any Infamous crime shall be entitled
to the privileges of an elector.


SEC l3 crime shall be deemed infamous
which is punishable by death or by Imprisonment
in the State Prison.
Year: 1866

NEw PAPER.-In few days fierce radical
paper to be called the Times is going to issue
here The little Tribune, which for a time prom
ised well, is dead. 1t was spicy and radical
The old Flag still holds out, and of late has
started almost anew 1t is predicted that the
Times will kill it, but it has a terrible hold, and
will not let go yet awhile. The other papers
cannot be relied upon for anything but trash and
treason-San Francisco Correspondence.
Year: 1866

TRUTHFUL UTTERANCEs.-A writer in the New
York Independent thus expresses great national
truth -. There is one lesson that it seems must
be burned into the nations heart and brain be-
fore it will be realized. That is that the institu
ton of slavery not only depraved the hearts of
the masters but it also perverted the understand
ing. The great truth is yet to be received that
no man, reared up and educated under that in
huence, is capable of acting and reasonn
Alright. 1t is true you may hear announced the
highest sentiments of honor and the most elo-
quent invective and denunciaton from southern
lips but where will you find that honor which
in practice is fidelity, honesty, and evincing
regard for the rights of others, or that sound
logical argument starting from true principles
and coming to solid conclusions, in all the south
for the past fifty years? Calhoun voluble
speaker, rapid thinker, and a most skillful de-
batter. But he a sophist, and his scphistry
has been the ruin of his advocates.


Our President johnson is indebted to that
school for all that he has, and for all that he
wants. The same egotsm and self-conceit which
characterizes southern men, and the same So
phistical reasoning, blinds him. God is teach
ing us, through him as illustration, that no
southern is rorthy or qualified TO guide the af-
fairs of our great nation. The lesson we have to
learn is, that men whose hearts and minds have
been perverted by sustaining great wrong-a
crime against God and humanity-can never be
relied upon. Having no principles, and acting
upon expediency only, their pledges and promises
cannot bind or hold them. Their interest directs
their honor, and their professions OF yesterday
no more control their actions OF to-day than yes
terday's wind directs the course of the snip 10
day. Men Thus taught and schooled can never
exalt our nation to the greatness and influence
which our glorious institutions qualify US TO
hone ~
Year: 1866

Love AND ToorHAcHE.-lf you put two persons
in the same bedroom, one of whom has the tooth
ache and the other is in love, you will find that
the one who has the toothache will go to sleep
Year: 1866

4 VERY CURIOUS ISCiDEyT.-The Baton
Rough A,luocdfe relates the following strange
incident of the fight az Port Hudson.


That our fire not without effect was
evident to US from the manner IN which their
batteries kept shifting position. On one occ-
aston this change of quarters was brought a
bout by thenselfs in rather an unusul mann
er. Captain Coffin having received instruc-
tions to be very economical in the use of his
ammunition, had loaded and aimed his "a
pound gun, and leaving it to wait for the
enemy to show themselves, he sat down be-
hind the parapet and became engaged in con-
versation with some other officers. Sud 1rnly
he heard the report Of his guns discharged
aud looking up with some anger, supposing
that his gunner had touched her off without
waiting for orders.


He saw, from the recoil Of the gun and
from the smok, lowering over the vent, that
the gun had been fred, and yet the Slow
match was quietly burning in its position.
and not a man was standing in the battery.
Just than an officer oflight artillery, who had
observed the whole affair, called out to Capt
ain Coffin that the enemy had fred his gun.
On examination 1t proved to be so. A par
rott shell or shot had come right over the
gun aid grazed it on the upper part of the
scratch. The friction which thi IS produced
had been sufficient to igite the prf ming pow
der at the vent, and discharged the peace. 1t
now appears that the projectile could not
have been thrown truer than it was, making
its way directly into the battery from which
the shot had come, and the FEEDER al gunners,
probably supposing that we had got exact
range and intended opening upon them, linn
bered up, and speedily changed their locali-
Year: 1866

From the Warrington Correspondence Nashville Eopub


.r r+ Hczn Banner.


You remember Robert Lincoln, son of the
late President? He was geh herally liked
here as an amiable and Intelligent gentleman,
not quite equal to his father in ability, but of
superior culture. A story is just now current
in which his name is so freely banded, and
30 universally that, feeling that all the parties
are of public notoriety, there may be no inn


propriety in alluding to it. Nearly two years
ago, SO the story runs, Robert fell in love
with young lady, whose father was at one
time out of Office and out of money. To be
in this condition at Washington IS next to
being convicted of forging Government
bond or murder IN the first degree, and the
idea of marrying the lady in that condition
was not to be thought OF. So the amiable
Robert set about mending the matter, and
made desperate effort to procure the pro-
posed father-in-law seat in the lower House
of Congress. He failed in this. however. and
was at dead halt, when l4ckiy member
of the Cabinet died. Here was a vacancy.
and the lover, speeding on the wing. of pas
sion. amt rous, flew to the President and
stated the whole case to him, with great
frankness IL like your way Of doing things,
Beh,' said Mr.. Lincoln, "and if possible. |
will work the thing for you To cut q long
story short, he did work 1.-THE brokers'
down politician became a member of the
Cabinet the young alliance was sool convert.
ed into . leader of fashion; aud all went
sweetly as q marriage bell toward the we'd
ding Fay. Blu; tn. adage never fail. to hold
Its own, and in this, as in every other case,
the course of true love did not run smooth.
The hand of the assassin in.erposed. The
young gentleman found himself bereft Of
father, OF fortune and of place at one fell
swoop. On the other hand, the member ere
ated by his interposition, had experienced Il
change Of fortune; for. having shutfied his
cards skIlfully, he was just returned a Senator
IN Congress The lady wavered, the nuptials
were postponed, and finally, as a vision of
gay career and better match began to fit
across her beautiful blue eyes, she resolved
that she was not so much in love as she had
been, and she broke off the engagement ALTO
gether. tell you the tale as it was told to
me.
Year: 1866

DETENTION OF TRAIN.-The night north
ern train on Saturday night was detained
by the locomotive running off the track
near Sixth street. The work of getting it
on again was considerable, and occupied so
much time that it was deemed safe to await
the arrival Of the 81 o'clock train from
Washington. Consequently the train did
not leave until o'clock yesterday morning.