smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

OUR COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM
The following articles were prepared by


us last winter and published in successive


numbers of the INQUIRER, from January


), to February ,, 1866. They were intend


ed to call the public attention to the impor-
| tance Of revision of our school law, and
prepare the way for the introduction into


the Legislature of measures looking to such
revision by our Senator, Hon. G. w.


Householder. At the request of number


Of friends of education, We republish them.
1t may be necessary to state that the calcu-
lations were all made on the basis of the
school report of 1864, before we received
the report Of 1865. The results arrived
at. would be somewhat modified, by the
report Of 1865 but as the general princi-
pies remain the same, we did not deem it
necessary to revise the figures according to
the later report


Some weeks ago, a few stray thoughts
on the absurdities and inequalities of our
present common school system, found their
way By accident into our columns. We now
propose to give the matter a more thorough
investigation hoping that our humble effort
to call attention to a subject of such vast
Importance to our grand oldCommonwealth,
will call forth and rally around our standard
wiser heads and ADLER pens than ours,
through whose instrumentality the cause of
education and the diffusion Of general intel
ligence may be promoted.


Our common school system was originally
designed, not only to equalize the facilities
for obtaining a liberal education, but also to
equalize the taxation necessary for the accom-
plishment ofthat object. The great funda-
mental principle, upon which this design was
founded, consists in the fact that the promo
ton Of general intelligence is always accom-
panied by an improEementin in public morals,
the infusion Of energy and enterprise into
communities and as consequence, increas-
ed wealth and prosperity Upon this ground
the tax upon the rich mans property, for
the education Of his poorer neighbor' sons
and daughters, was considered as fairly re-
paid mot only in the increased security Of his
person and property, but alsoin the lessened
taxation necessary for the building Of pFis
ons and the prosecution and punishment of
criminals, as well as the increased value of
his property, consequent upon the difFsion
of general intelligence. These we're fair
and just deductions, and the experience Of
many years, even in the present imperfect
condition of our school system, has abun-
dantly proven the wisdom and foresight of
the eminent statesmen who first laid the
foundation of that noble structure Our
object shall not be, to impair the system
from which We have already derived so
much benefit, but on the contrary to point
out defects and suggest improvements, that
shall assist in completing the proportions,
harinonizing the various parts, and prepa-
ring for greater efficiency and usefulness,
that which has already been the instrument
Of much good 1t is al the very foundation
ofthe structure that we find the defect, that
Year: 1866

It is considered certain that the British
Ministry are preparing bill for judicial re-
form, which they viii lay before Parliament
early in the approaching session. The
details are not known, but it is believed that
the bin win contain provisions for iensthou-
ing terms of office, for rearranging the
circuits, and for increasing the number Of
Judges. The reasons for the proposed re-
form are forcibly stated by the London Re
uie,o It says The condition of the
nation has entirely changed. yet we attempt
to make the old machinery answer The
judges still hold the assizes with little more
frequency than they used to hold them in
the reign Of Henry ILL., The courts still
sit IN 6anco at West Minister for the same
number Of days as they sat before America
was discovered, and when the commerce of
the whole country was not equal to that
which now belongs to a second or third rate
town The time has surely come for the
abolition of arrangements no more suited
to modern times than the armour of cru
sader would hare been to the combatants at
Sadowa."
Year: 1866

A HOTEL proprietor in San Francisco an
nounces that he has opened "a large read
ingroom containing FIVE hundred volumes
Of standard works, which is entirely for the
use of patrons. This excellent example
moves a correspondent to write us: what
a boon such library would be in some of
our hotels at the East ~
Year: 1866

john MoRRIssEY is now the favorite
subject for conundrums in New York. He
was some time ago compared to Daniel
Webster because he is the great ex- FOUNDER
and now it is asked why he is like lamb
because he CANDLES en- the green and
why he ought to be an influential member
of Congress, because he is heavy on the
eyes and nose.
Year: 1866

RED RIVER News. The Caddo Gazette
says that with fine weather for the next ten
days, half crop of cotton will be made. It
adds


Confidence in the labor of the freedmen
is being restored, and the lands on Red Riv-
er are commanding high prices, either for
rent or sale. As they are the finest cotton
lands in the world, and not subject TO over
flow oftener than once in ten years, capital
lists viii purchase them, being fully assured
that they will steadily enhance in value, Just
in proportion as the country RECEIVERS from
the effects of the war and the revolution in
the labor system incident upon emancipa-
ton.
Year: 1866

me as one rejecting a spirit purified as by
fire from ali the deforming consuming,
passions; traces of some of which, though
not obliterated, were so softened as clearly
evinced the final ascendancy of the spirit
ual and intellectual over the material
man.


Rising slowly and feebly from his chair,
laying aside his cloak and muff1er, and
showing forward his left foot, as if to
brace his slight, tottering body, his first
sentence was uttered with the power and
force of giant, startling and enchanting
every listener. All eyes were intently
liked upon him and every ear strained to
catch the words of wisdom as tl1ey fell. I
could not divest myself of the feeling
that was listening to one risen from the
dead, and what wonder if that radiant face
and slight form quiveriDg like an aspen,
as pouring forth sentence after sentence of
noble elequetce in rich flowing cadence
till finally reeling and almost falling into
his chair, should have been indelibly da-
upon my soul.


Eager; admiring men crowding around
him soon concealed him from my view,and
| passed out more than thankful to our
truly gentlemanly Senator for this rare
Of seeing and listening to one.
whom l deem the greatest of our living
statesmen. G. L. r.
Year: 1866

The Madison County (London) Demo
erat of the 1lth says: We learn that
one day last week the body Of very young
child was found under bridge short dis
tance from West Jefferson. tits supposed
to have been left there to perish by its
mother in order to hide her disgrace.
Year: 1866

mental principle of its constitution. This
Government was not established for the
benefit of and particular nationality or
complexion of men, but was designed BY
its immortal founders as an asylum for all
men who seek the shelter of its flag.
Year: 1866

How SHALL THE BED BE PLACED? I?
SO far as my own observations
have gone, l know that my sleep
is always more sound and refresh
ing when my head is placed to the
North. There are persons whom
| know, the head of whose beds
is to the North, and who in order
to wake early, will reverse their
usual position in the bed, but with
out knowing the reason why, be-
yond 'that they could always
wake earlier" the rest (sleep) be-
ing more broken. Ihave it related
to me that, at a military hospital
in Russia, there were some sick
patients, of high sensitive natures,
and who were rapidly recovering.
When necessity compelled them
to be removed to another wing of
the building they did not get on SO
well; in fact, prostration seemed
to be setting in; and it was found
advisable to get them back to their
former wards as quickly as possi-
BILE, where the heads of the beds
were to the North. / have heard
Of horses going blind through
changing their position from North
to South to that of West to East.
Certainly, longevity can be attain
ed by this means; but it must be
combined with healthful living,
proper rest, and exercise of both
mind and body.
Year: 1866

A GoOD ONE.-A preacher, in
advising his hearers to avoid secta-
rian bitterness, said: SIN Hin
dostan-where | have been la
boring for many years-they have
a proverb that though you bathe
Q dogs tail in oil, and bind it in
splinters, you cannot get the crook
out Of it, Now a mans sectarian
bias is simply the crook in the
dogs tail, which cannot be eradi-
Gated, and | hold that each one
should be allowed to wag his own
peculiarity in peace"
Year: 1866

Hear what practical man says
on the subject


l ironed a wagon one year ago
for my own use, and before put
ting ON the tires l filled the fel-
loes with inseed oil; and the
tires have worn out and were ney-
er loose. Iironed a buggy for my
own use several years ago, and the
tires are now as tight as when put
on. Ny method Of filling the fel-
loes with oil is as follows: / use
a long cast-iron heater, made for
the purpose. The oil is brought
to boiling heat, the wheel is
placed on a stick so as to hang in
oil each felloe, an hour for COM
mon-sized felloe. The timber
should be dry, as green timber
will not take oil. Care should be
taken that the oil be no hotter
than boiling heat, in order that
the timber be not burnt. Timber
filled with oil is not susceptible to
water, and the timber is much
more durable. / was amused
some years ago, when l told the
blacksmith how to keep the tire
tight on wheels, by his telling me
that it was profitable business to
tighten tires, and the wagon-ma-
ker will say that it is profitable to
him to make and repair wheels
but what will the farmer who sup
ports the wheelwright and black
smith say?-Ne.o YORK; Coachmq-
ker's Magazine.
Year: 1866

The difference between the Union
army during the war, and the Jac'
obin Congress now, is that the
army was not afraid to meet armed
Confederates and prevent their
approach to the capitol, while the
Congress is afraid to be brought IN
contact with unarmed citizens


The army fearlessly encountered
Southern bullets, while the Con
gress dread the encounter with
Southern brains. The soldiers
met the Confederates in the field
the Jacobins dare not meet them
in debate. The soldiery defied
death to perpetuate the Unicn


the Jacobins keep it disjointed fol
the paltry ambition Of retaining
Office.
Year: 1866

PRESERVATION OF EGGs.-Put
eggs into cask, and then fill with
tallow, warmed SO as to run, and,
being protected from the action of
the air by the mass Of tallow,
they will keep fresh any length
of time, and are SO preserved at
sea without difficulty. W
Year: 1866

Under no circnmstances must a
distillery be allowed to run until
the requirements of law and the
foregoing regulations have been
complied with; and any distillery
found running without such COM
pliance, must be Immediately stop
ped by the Collector.
Year: 1866

New YORK, March 3l.-Gai7estoa pa
pers say that real estate has greatly ad'
yanced in that city Tenements and
lots are selling for more than three
times what they have sold for within
the last ten years. Meanwhile trade is
good and the grain market is filling up
by importations of corn by thousands OF
bushels from New Orleans


The Galveston Bulletin says large
part Of three companies OF the forty
eighth Ohio regiment stacked their
arms the other day and refused to do
duty, on the ground that orders from
Washington for their muster out had
been disregarded Colored troops ar
rested aud now guard the insurgents
Year: 1866

BUFFALO y 7, March 81 News vas
received here this morning that the most
destructive fire ever known on Oil Creek
is nov raging on the Egbert aud Story
farms. The town Of Petroleum Centre
is in great danger
Year: 1866

The improvement and rapid building

 of our town for the last twelve months

 has been beyond the expectation of the

 most sanguine. Indeed, we arc fast

 assuming the fair proportions of city,

 and as becomes us, we ought to see to

 it that wc fall not back from the high

 position that we have attained. We

 have already spoken sufficiently, we

 think, to arouse the most careless upon

 the necessity of building good school

 houses; but upon this subject too much cannot be said. We must have schools

 or we can never Be more than little country village. Again, the devasta-

 ting hand of war has sadly marred the beauty of our town, the signs of which gre well nigh removed, so far as naked .chimncys and scared walls are con- 'cerned; but our streets need cleaning. Enecd grading, and we badly need pave tments. The time was when we had the best paved town in tho State; it is Enot so now, and unless this matter is attended to, pedestrians must this win ter take themud or stay at home. We think that it becomes us as citizens of 5 Des Arc to do all VIC can to add to the Ecomfort and importance of our city, and surely nothing would so improve our .appearance and conducc to our growth Eand development, as well rounded, Icleany streets, and good side walks. Eve make these suggestions hoping |that they will De acted upon.
Year: 1866



 NORTH AND SoUTH.-We wish to fur nish little practical illustration of the operation at the present time of the hostile feeling displayed at the North toward the Southern people. The New Albany CInd.) Ledger of'Thursday says:

 The unsettled condition of the South, consequent upon the unfortunate poli- cy of the Radicl Congress, is driving the best and most substantial Southern families to the westen States. Many families that had pleasantand profitable homes in the South, rather than trust the uncertain legislation of a fanatical Congress in regard to restoration, are willing to take their chances for peace and quiet in the soitudes of the west.

 In connection with this, permit us to say that within two days we have been assured by a merchant of Memphis, whose partner was in the North, with q heavy cash capital to invest, to com plete his seasonable stock of merriam disc here, he had written home that he must positively decline such invest -ment; the signs of the times were sick ening and although he was no stock jobber, gold-broker, bull, bear, or cor nercr, he intended to convert his green backs into gold as the safestinvestment. -[ Memphis Appeal.
Year: 1866

GEN. BUTLER PLEDGED To IMPEACH THE
PRESIDENT. the Republican Convention of
the Fifth Massachusetts, district, the conven-
tion which unanimously nominated Gen. But
ler for Congress. DR.. George b. Loring was
present, and made speech from which the
following is an extract:


Now that the crisis has come, now that the
President declares that there is o body of men
"called Congress, hanging on the verge of the
government, now that he is evidently bent on
revolutionary, business, the man who is put in
nomination here to-day is pledged to impeach
this President before the people of the great
Northwest. Tremendous cheering.] And I
tell you, gentlemen, he will never leave that
impeachment until Andrew johnson is called
to answer at the bar of the American people.
lApplause.J Now you will understand me
when say that you have to-day assumed an
immense responsibility, and it devolves upon
you to stand by your leader in the great crisis
OF this country; to stand by him in the busi-
ness which, it almost seems, God has given
him to do. tell you, my friends, that the NOM
inatiOn of a member of Congress in this day is
no boys play, no holiday pastime 1t is an an
nouncement to the American people Of thei1
right and power to defend their government
and constitution at the ballot box as their sons
defended it on the battlefelds and in the
swamps at the South congratulate you thai
you have put yourselves in this position, thai
you have assumed the right to say that the
government OF these United States shall bt
sustained in season and out of season, through
all trial and trOubless / am sure that the voice
of this old district, which has gone up in time
past SO strong and well for liberty, will no
quail now. am sure that the sentiments her,
proclaimed in the past by Nathan Dane will b.
your doctrine now and forever. [Vpplause.l
believe that the time has come when the prin
ciples OF government enunciated in Masachu
setts, fought for and defended for the Ia st fou


years, have got to become the principles of tn
government of the whole land
Year: 1866

ENLARGED AND IMPRovED-The Lewiston
Journal comes to US enlarged by the addition
of column on each page, and improved in its
appearance by new suit of type throughout.
1t is something over five years since the first
number of the Journal was published, as an
experiment The experimental period was
brief Advantageously located on the great
central line of travel through the State, sup
ported by the people OF q vigorous and rapidly
growing city, full Of life and energy itself from
the start, the newspaper throve and fourished
exceedingly. The culture, enterprise and poll
tcal experience of its publisher and chief edi-
tor have given character to the journal, and he
has been ably assisted. Now as heretofore the
paper will advocate the most liberal principles
There isn't conservative semi-colon on the
whole four pages. 1t is an honor to the com
munity which sustains it, to have afforded SC
generous support as to justify the outlay we
have mentioned. Mr.. Dingley also deserves
credit for devoting his legitimate gains to the
Improvement of his paper, thus sharing his
prosperity with his patrons and friends.
Year: 1866

!" /.


Those who are oppotsd TO the true Union
policy of tie country are lighting hard against
the National Union Convention to be holden
in Philadelphia next month. They are using
not only the open, bullying modes Of politi-
cal warfare, but all the arts OF political in
trigue and political thaumaturgy are brought
into requsition to save the party which has
squatted upon the broad domain Of free prin-
ciples, and which would, in the name Of lib
erty and loyalty, now put the country under
the rule Of minority. Their chief aim is
now to paralyze the Philadelphia conven-
tion-to stiae the voice Of the people there.
In proportion to their fear Of losing place
and power before certain objects Of self-ag-
grandizement have been attained by them
is the noise Of their threatenings and croak-
ings and wheedling, and their stragetic
movements upon the old party leaders who
brought the country to grief But we are
sure that their Vaccinations will come to
naught. The convention will be made up in
an overwhelming majority Of men who are
determined to go for country instead Of
party. There are indications Of this every
where. The most intelligent men Of the
South are fully aware Of the Importance of
the crisis, and are giving such expressions
as the following, which we clip from the
Richmond Times:


"But the South will not commit the folly Of
sending delegates Of notoriously ultra and
extreme sentiments to convention Of mod
crate conservative delegates. They do not
intend to rejoice the gall bladder Of Stevens
and the gizzard Of Forney by committing
any such act of folly"
Year: 1866

The following are the dispatches from Wash
ington to the Philadelphia Ledger, which have
created such stir all overthe country. Ofcourse
the government has denied their authenticity:


PHILADELPHIA, Oct. TO- The Philadelphia
Ledger has the following important dispatches:


WASHINGTON Oct. ,10.-The President has now
sent in to the attorney general the following ques-
tions and requested that response to them be re-
turned in writing: ....


First, Is the present Congress, composed of
members from Northern states alone, such Con
gress the Constitution requires, or is it an le-
gal and unconstitutional assemblage?


Second, Would existing circumstances justify
the President in sending his next annual message
to an illegal and unconstitutional assemblage, pre-
tending to be the Congress of the United States.
Third, Does that clause of section fifth of the
first article of the Constitution which makes each
House the Judge of the election returns and quail
ficaton OF its own members, give to the present
Congress the right to exclude the members from
ten States or to impose dishOnOrable or unconsu'
tutional terms on their admission?


Fourth, Does the Presidents oath of office re-
quire him to enforce these provisions OF the Con.
stitution which gives to each State an equal right
of representation in Congress. Article lst, section
ID; section Sd, article 5th last clause.
Fifth, What steps does the Constitution and his
oath Of office require the President to take in
order to secure the assemblage OF a Constitutional
Congress.


Upon the reply that may be made by the attor
ney general to the above, the President, there is
reason to believe, is determined to take his stand
The questions put to the attorney are all the
more important when taken in connection will
the bold utterance of the President at the Fittl
Avenue Hotel, declaring the present was only
an assumed Congress, and not the Congress the
Constitution called for; and also in connection


with the similar declarations, though less pointed


that fell from his lips prior to his return to thu
capital.


From these utteranees it is clear that the Execu


tive has fully made up his mind that the Thirty


ninth Congress was not legal body. He nov
asks the opinion OF the attorney general upon tn


grave and deeply momentous subject, and when


IS given he will govern himself accordingly. 1t i


not difficult to foreshadow what the response 0


Mr.. Stansberry will be. That he will chime il
fully with the opinion of the Executive, as alread


expressed there seems to be no doubt
Year: 1866

Special attention is invited to French's Yegeta-
Bile Hair Renewer. 1t will renoyate and renew
the hair in its diseased state to the natural color
and growing condition of youth, being alsn a moist
and beautiful dressing. always keeping the halr
soft and glossy. 1t is well perfumed and agreeaS-
Bile in its odor, thus atfordng delightful article
for the toilet.