smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1867

THE EFFECT OF MARRIAGE.-Doubt-
less you have remarked, with satisfao-
tion, how the little oddities of men who
marry late are pruned away speedily
after marriage. You have found man
who used to be shabbily dressed, with a
Luge shirt collar frayed at the edges, and
a glaring yellow silk pocket -handker-
chief, become a pattern of neatness,-
You have seen man who took snuff cop
iously, and who generally had his breast
covered with snuff, abandon the vile hab-
it. A wife is the grand weilder of the
moral pruning knife. If Johnson's wife
had lived, there would have been no
boarding up of bits of orange peel, no
touching all the posts in walking along
the streets; no eating and drinking with
disgusting voraeity If Oliver Gold
smith had married, he would never have
worn that ridiculous old coat. Whenev-
er you find man, whom you know little
about, oddly dressed, or talking ridicu-
lously, or exhibiting eccentricity of man
ner, you may be sure he is not married
man for the little corners are rounded
off, the little shoots are pruned away in
married men. The wife's advice is the
tiller that keeps the ship steady. They
are like the wholesome, though painful
shears, nipping off the little growths of
self conceit and folly Fraser's Magazine.
/
Year: 1867

THE HEAD TURNED RoUND.-A crazl
man was found at grindstone sharpen
ing large butcher knife, and now an(
then examining the edge to see if it wa
KEEN s.5


What are you doing here?


Don't you see? sharpening this big
knife"


Yes, but what are you going to dc
with it when sharpened?


"Cut old Ben Browns head off, to be
sure


/" What. you won't kill him will you p


/" Oh, no. I'll only cut his head of
and stick it right on again, hind side be-
fore, just to let the old follow look back
on his past life 1t would take all the
rest of his life to review it"


What queer idea the lunatic had in
his mind. And what if it were so, that
every man when he reached certain age
had his face turned round, and was oblig-
ed to spend the restiof his days in looking
over his past life Wouldn't there be
strange sights. Sund4y School Times.
Year: 1867

r The Wheat Crop this year, it is antici-
pa ted, will be the greatest crop of that grain
ever grown in the United States. careful
analysis of information from all the States
shows that the total acreage in wheat is 10 to
Is per cent. greater than last year. In ma
iority of the States the breadth of winter
wheat is quite as wide as usual, and that of
spring wheat much greater The reports of the
condition of the crop show that lis much bet
ter than last year. and the harvest is esti-
mated at 2O0, ,o00,0 600 bushels.
Year: 1867

aa- Forty thousand wax candles are light
ed instantaneously by Il single match at the
Royal Palace in Berlin. The wicks are pre-
viously connected by thread spun from gun
cotton, on lighting one end of which all the
candles are lighted simultaneously, and thus
the whole of the seven hundred apartments of
the palace are illuminated at once. This
method of lighting by electricity has for some
time been in use in Philadelphia; but only, we
think, in connection with gas-burners.
Year: 1867

Writing about improvements reminds
me that farmer does not always think
of what is needful and may be done
when leisure times occur, and it recalls
to my mind the practice of large aud
successful farmer, who at his death left
his affairs in prosperous condition, and
his premises in complete order. His
neighbors often wondered at the ease
with which he conducted his operations;
he never hurried, but the right thing
was always done at the right time and
his work never Jagged. Much of the
Improvement he made was in odd spells
when the routine Of regular farm work
was broken by rainy weather, or after
finishing the work on q crop, and while
waiting fer another to get to the proper
stage. He kept large slate hanging in


the kitchen where all his workmen could
see it, and whenever . job occurred to


him it was noted on the slate. For in
stance, some of his entries ran thus:
"Make gate for the brook lot;n "Clean


out the open ditch in the wheat field:n
LAY new floor on the scaifold over
the barn 6oor;;n "Rury the large stone in
the middle lot;" sect some whitewabd
trees to mill for making garden pickets;n
"Plant shade treeo along the roadside;;n
''Dig the alders out of the fence corners
and look after the wild mustard that
came up where the threshing machine
stood in the field last year, In this way
his slate was filled, and if leisure half
day occurred, his men all had plenty OF
work; and if the master happened to be
absent, the slate told the workmen what
to do. After time it was his custom to
lay cut the days work on the slate each
evening previous. and when job was
finisksd the record was erased. To get
the slate clean was the ambition of the
workmen.-[R Rwal Nsw Yorker. =
Year: 1867

A Lively skirmish.


To use a familiar expression, the
DEVILS own filalaloo" was kicked up on
Market street, near Quincy, last night
about eleven o'clock. just before the
demonstration took place, belligerent
and noisy gang rushed down Quincy
from near Fourth, with many hostile
gestures and vociferations. They first
paid their respects to an individual who
was crossing Market, but were kind
enough to conclude that he wasn't the
man they wanted, favor for which the
writer of these lines is deeply obliged.


Passing up Market street, they found
some foemen worthy of their muscle,
and in q few minutes the most delect-
able muss we have witnessed for many
q day was in rapid progress. Soon the
victory turned in favor of the attacking
party, and from the midst of the mud
and slush of the street lot of pros
trate humanity was calculating murder
with an emphasis that would have done
honor to vender of clans. The
agonizing cries continued until "the
air was thick with anguish" !"
[We are not sure about the propriety of
the quotation, but it's one we've just
learned, and we've concluded to risk
it. The combat thickened on ye brave
but beaten pugilists until flesh and
blood couldn't bear it any longer, where
upen flesh and blood withdrew with a
velocity that soon won the trace for the
swift, and left the battle to the strong.
The guardians OF the city's peace ap-
peared at this stage of the proceedings
and secnred the materials for "a pretty
dish to set before the King" of the. Po-
lice Court this morning.


ITO be continued in our next,
Year: 1867

The Pittsburg Commercial and several
other city papers, failed to appear on
Yesterday. According to the standard
of ony cotemporary they must "submit
TO be adjudged deficient in newspaper
enterprise" They will doubtless feel
seriously rebuked by the example of q
highly progressive journal. We shall
next look for Sunday edition from
Onipcy street.
Year: 1867

No article should be used in supplying
bedding for domestic animals that will
not become good manure. Old. leaves
from the forests, refuse straw, salcdust,
and, indeed, every article that will abb
sorb the urine, is of value for this pur-
pose. A shed, or other building, conye-
niently situated, should be provided for
the storage of the litter. In supplying
bedding to animals, care should be taken
not to give more than is actually neees-
ssry, as more would not contribute to
their comfort, but the reverse. When
it has become foul or saturated with
urine, it should be at ence removed to
the manure heap, and its place supplied
with fresh and clean material Every
morning and evening, sprinkle gypsum
over the floors, or a little pulverised char
coal. These articles viii have q power
full tendency to correct any unpleasant
smell by absorbing the putrid gases aris-
ing from the excrement Of the animals.
By this means very important saving
may be effected at comparatively small
expense. 1t is a law ofnature that every
thing that has once been inspirited
by the identifying principle of life, shall
in some way become subservient to the
purposes of vegetable reproduction; con-
sequently the refuse of the vegetable
world is all valuable when appropriated
in this way, and capable of producing
highly important results.
Year: 1867

The Cabinent had stormy session of over
two hours to-day, and President johnson
had occasion to exhibit all his nerve and
forbearance. This he is said to have done
In characteristic style. An issue was made
by Gen. Grant on the wording of the Presi-
dents order removing Sheridan and Sickles
from their commands Gems. Hancock and
Candy are directed, when necessary to o
faithful execution of the laws, to exercise
any and all powers conferred by acts of
Congress on district commanders This
was intended to spike Gen. Grants guns
and prevent repetition of clause five in his
late Instructions to Gen. Thomas, in which
he directed that officer to execute such
orders as he might find in force in the Fifth
Military Department until altered or con-
celed by the General Commanding, viz
Gen. Grant. When the Cabinet met to-day,
Gen. Grant entered another protest, con-
tending that to him belonged the power to
direct what orders should or should not be
executed by Department Commanders and
that he hoped there would be modification
OF the Presidents order in accordance with
his view of the subject proceeding to argue
that what had been done in those Depart
ments should be allowed to stand until al
tered or cancelled by himself; that if not
checked in advance the new Commander
might be induced to undo much that had
been done, to the great detriment of the
public welfare. During these remarks of
Gen. Giant, President Johnson kept perfect
ly quiet, but as soon as the former had con-
cluded, Mr.. johnson, with much animation,
replied that he was surprised to hear the
proposition as he had been surprised to see
the 5th clause in the previous instructions
issued by Gen. Grant. The President frankly
admitted that his purpose was to prevent
any attempts to nullify any part of the Re-
construction acts; that those acts expressly
empowered the District Commanders to ex-
ercise all powers which in their judgment
were necessary, and all acts were valid until
disproved. The proposition of Gen. Grant
was to deny these Commanders the powers
expressly conferred by the law, and thus to
that extent actually annul the Reconstruction
Act. To this the President said he should
not assent. These acts should be enforced
faithfully, and in all their parts, as long as
he was responsible, under the Constitution,
for faithful execution of the law. The
President spoke with great animation and
firmness, and although very plain in terms,
yet entirely courteous. He remained un-
shaken in his purpose to have his orders, as
issued yesterday, carried out to the very
letter. Washington Correspondence Boston
Post.
Year: 1867

The Wilmington Journal learns that q
company has been formed in that city for
the manufacture of wine from native grapes.
A gentleman of much experience in grape
culture and wine making, is one of the prin-
cipal partners. We wish the company great
success. Pure wine is hardly obtainable in
these times, and he who aids in the manu-
facture or introduction of a genuine article is
a benefactor.
Year: 1867

had well nigh over come him that afternoon.


40 Augusta, il was your prayer that saved
me" he said as she clung shivering 10 him.
Ard, knesling down, they thanked God, and
The lesson Of that day made them each better
man and woman for the rest Of their lives.


The next week Warren Ross gave up his
house in the city. sold most Of his furniture,
paid the larger part Of his debts, and went 10
live in cottage in the country, and lie and his
wife were happier here than they had ever
been in their city home.


Dear reader, We have fallen upon hard nd
trying time, and men are sometimes subject
ed to fierce and terrible temptations. Fraud
and embezzlemeni from sources most confi,ied
in, they tell us, was never go frequent as dr-
ring the last few years.


Let Us remember the lesson which the time
teaches, and also remember that the house
buildcd on the rock is the only one against
which the winds and the storm will moi pre
go.
Year: 1867

The cannon were belching their last


Ger the fields where he routed were flying
And shouting persuers strobe fast


Through the heaps OF the dead nd the diving
Wars rage was beginning to wane,


The fierce cared no longer to strike;
And the good stopped to soften the pain


VI victors and vanquisLed alike.
A yellow-haired Austrian lad,


Lay at length ON a shot -furrowed bank;
Ne was comely and daintily clad


In the glitiering dress Of his rank
Not so white, though, his coat as his cheek,


Not SO red the sash crossing his chest
AS the horrible crimson streak


Of the blood that had welled from his brcast
His foes approached where he was laid,


10 bear him in reach Of their skill:
But he murmered, "Givc others your aid;


BY our Fathcrland let me lie still"
At dawn they Same searching again.


10 winnow the quick from the dead;
The boy was set free from his pain,


And his faithful young spirit had fed.
AS they lifted his limbs from the ground,


10 hide them away ont of sight,
10 under his bosom they found


The flag he had born through the fight.
He had folded the silk he loved we'll.


Lest shread should be seen at his side:
TO wave it in triumph he fell


10 save it from capture he died.
The head Of the stearnest was barred


As they gazed on the shet-rlver rag,
And the hand Of the hardies. spared


10 make prey Of that Austrian flag
Ger The tomb of their brother they bowed.


With prayer for spirit as brave;
Ana they gave him flag for a shrond


In his narrow and nlmeless grave.
Year: 1867

HALL RoBBERIEs.-A correspondent in
the city is in great trouble about the loss
Of his fourth cloak-not this winter, but
during the last four winters. His luck is
bad indeed. An overcoat is dear friend !;
a protector from the chill blasts of winter,
and a constant associate whose company is
most agreeable. To lose this friend, to
have the tender ties and alfectionate rela-
tions between the owner and it severed by
the ruthless robber, is pitious and painful
event. The sentimental feelings ofthe occa-
sion were fully INDUCED in by the loser in
this case and, in the desperation of his
crushed and outraged sensibilities, mental
and physical, he begs us to warn every
body not to leave their cloaks in halls
neither their hats nor anything that is
theirs. "This is the only sure way now"
he, "for the good old days Of etiquette
and honesty have passed away, and all
things have become horribly new."


Our unfortunate correspondent gives
another bit of information that will still
further excite the public sympathy and
add force to the warning. The morning
after his loss he had to pay out his last
dollar for new cloak.
Year: 1867

DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS. = Spencer
Smither, well-known and highly esteem
ed old colored bricklayer of this city, when
on his way home through the severe snow.
storm on last Sunday night, fell into tho
gully on Eighteenth street above Clay
street, and was severely wounded about
the face and head, producing injury to tho
brain, which resulted in his death yester-
day morning. His funeral will take place
from the Third-street Methodist church
this afternoon at 2 O'Clock.
Year: 1867

SUPREME Court OF APPEALS, WEDNEs-
DAY-SAwYER Us. CoRsE.-This was an ac-
tion in the Circuit Court Of Alexandria by
John D. Corse against Frederick p. Saw
yer, the contractor for carrying the mail
between Washington and Alexandria, to
recover damages for the loss of letter
containing sum of money, put into the
mail at Alexandria to be carried by way OF
Washington to Richmond. The facts were
argued, and are substantially as follows !:
SAWYER, the contractor, employed Archi-
bald Fleming to carry the mail, who was in
charge of it when the loss occurred.
Fleming, on that occasion, received from
the post-ofiice at Alexandria two mail
bags, one larger than the other, each con-
tanning mail matter, the letter being in.the
smaller bag. The river being obstructed
by ice, the mail at the time was carried on
horseback along the turnpike to Washing
ton. Fleming placed the bags on the sad
die, the smaller bag under the larger, sat
on both, and proceeded on his journey, but
had not gone more than two miles from
Alexandria when he missed the smaller
bag containing the plaintiffs letter, 1t hav-
ing slipped from under him without his
perceiving it. He Immediately returned
| to the post-ofiice along the route he had
travelled, and made dlligcnt search for the
said mailbag, but was unable to find it, oil
though it was still daylight and it has
never been recovered. Fleming had been
employed by various contractors to carry
the mail between Alexandria and wash
ington, and had always been faithful and
careful agent. Under previous contrac-
tor he was sworn faithfully to perform his
duties, but took no oath whilst employed
by Sawyer.


The contract between Sawyer and the
Government provided, among other things,
that he should take the mail and every
part of it and deliver it at each post-office
on the route and into the post-otiice at
each end of the route, and if there was no
Office where the carrier stopped at night,
to lock 1t up in secure place at the risk
of the contractor, and also to be answer
able for the person to whom said contrac-
tor should commit the care and transporta-
tion Of the mail.


The case argued did not find whether or
not there had been negligence.


The Circuit Court gave judgment Tor
the plaintiff for S5ss, with interest, and
Sawyer obtained Supersededs to the Court
Of Appeals.


Judge Joynes delivered an opinion, in
which the other judges concurred, In which
it was held that Fleming was not an officer
of the Government, but the agent Of the
contractor, and that the contractor was re-
sponsible for his acts. But it was held that
as the case argued did not find whether or
not there had been negligence, the court
could not infer it and therefore the judg-
ment was reversed and uenirs de nouo
awarded.
Year: 1867

THE AGRICULTURAL SCHooL-RIcHMoNp
CoLLEGE.-The Committee of Schools and
Colleges of the House of Delegates have
under consideration the question of what
disposition shall be made of the Land
Funds given By Congress for the endow-
ment of an Agricultural and Mechanical
school. Yesterday morning General Wise,
and Mr.. A. r. Holiday addressed tho
committee in behalf ofentrusting the estab
lishment aud management of the school to
Richmond College. Mr.. Holiday spoke
first, and made very powerful argument
in behalf of disposing of the fund in this
manner. General Wise began his argu-
ment, but did not conclude before the
committee rose. The arguments in behalf
of locating the Agricultural and Me-
chanical school near this city are very
strong, and were employed by these gentle
men TO the best advantage. IL to be To-
Gated here, the Richmond College is the
highest institution Of male education in
the vicinity, and is conducted with. very
decided ability and skill. 1t would pro-
badly make as good use of the means for
the carrying out the objects of Congress in
the appropriation Of the means of endow-
ing such schools in the different States as
any other institution in the State.


The amount likely to be realized from
the land appropriated to this State will not
probably exceed s25O,OOO, the interest on
which will be $4,000. This latter sum will
be the annual fund for the support of the
school. 1t is not large, and will have to be
most judiciously managed to obtain from
il the benefits that it is intended to confer.
Therefore, the best disposition of it for
economy and efficiency will be to entrust
it to some college already in full operation
and in high standing. In this way all ex-
penditures for land, buildings, &C., would
be avoided, and the school could at once
90 into operation, or as soon as the fund is
realized from the sale of the land.
Year: 1867

How TO GROW CUCUMBERS.-A cor
respondent tells MoOre's Rural Ncrc
Yorker how to raise large crop of Gu
cumbers on a small territory. Spade
up plot ten or twelve feet in diameter,
as near the back door as practicable;
take All old barrel, both heads ont, and
sink one end of it six inches in the cen
tire of the plot; fill the barrel nearly
full of yard manure, any kind, pound it
in well; plant row of seed six inches
from and quite around it, and direct the
kitchen girl to empty her dish water, at
least once a day into said barrel, and
you will soon have cucumbers at whole
sale. No bugs or other insects hum
about this.
Year: 1867

The Fortieth Congress convened in
extra session on Wednesday. The pro-
crrdings, so far. indicate that Radical
ism is rottiug a. the season advances,
the hot weather having in this case
abOnt the same effect as upon other
kinds of carton. The treatment of the
Kentucky members is fair illustration
of the measures for which the illustri-
Ons rump is prepared. All bnt one OF
the COngressmeif from that State are,
for the time being, denied their seats,
because they and their constituents are
not ia perfect political accord with
the dominant party. This is about
what was TO be expected from a
Congress convening under the procla-
nation of party managing committee.
Congressional history affords no prece-
dent for snch cOnvocatiOn, and the
action Of the men assembling under
such authority is equally independent
of rule and example. 1t is doubtful il
the people of America can get down
much lower than the position from
which they can look calmly upon such a
mode of assembling the National Legis,
lature. CongresS il now held to be the
supreme power of the land; the acts OF
Congress are framed and passed by the
Radical majority; the Radi-
cal majority in turn is con-
trolled by its majority in
caucuses; this majority in caucus, again,
has its divisions: and so notice the
depths, step by step, until We descend
to 4 few Radical leaders who form the
fulcrum of the Congressional system of
government. By this caucus and Con-
gressionsl machinery few men control
the tiestinies of the nation. The exalted
Importance of Congress as the head and
front If the Government, is indicated
by the following sentence from lead
ing article in a recent number of the
New York Tribune:


The country mnst protect the men
who are in peril because of their devO-
ito. to Congress r.


The "coaairy" must sustain the men
who are devoted to Congress" The
converse of this proposition used to be
regarded as expressing the correct idea,
but these are Gays Of Radical "pro.
gress,r and now instead of Congress
protecting men in peril because of de-
vution to the country. the country plays
the secondary part and is called upon
to protect men in peril because of their
devotion 10 Congress. -t-