smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866




WEEv1L-The Contra Costa Gazette says:
ut is said that the export of old barley from
San Francisco is almost entirely suspended.
from the fact that lots heretofore shipped
have been found on arriving at port Of des'
tinalion, to be much injured by weevi. 1t
has not been generally known that this in.
sect bad found its way to our granaries, but
inquiry disclosed the fact that several of the
warehouses at San Francisco swarm with
the vermin, a sample of which we lately bad
an opportunity Of inspecting, in lot Of
barley just removed from one of the said
warehouses, and were told that some of the
granaries on the Alameda shore were also
infested with them. A friend tells us that
they are not the weeviI, so destructive to
grain in the East, but they more resemble
what is called the hide bug, and possibly
may have generated from hides stored in the
warehouses. But, be this as it may, they
are capable Of doing much injury, and few
persons should be willing to risk storing
their grain in houses infested with them, as
probably many Of the city warehouses are
and all should be careful, too, about intro
ducing them through seed, or other grain
from such storehouses."
Year: 1866

A CONSCIENTIOUS DUTCHMAN.-One Of
the most conscientious Dutchmen ever
known was a porter in a commission house
in Cincinnati, and sometimes sold goods if
the proprietors were absent. lie was good
salesman and pretty good judge of money
but in one of bis sales he took in very sus
picious looking five dollar bill, and when the
book keeper took it to the bank, the bank
refused it, and pronounced it spurious, but
said it was an excellent imitation. The
book'keeper returned it to the porter. and
told him 10 return it to the party Of whom
he received it. About a week aflerward, the
book keeper, thinking he had time to see
the party and get another note, asked the
porter if he bad returned the spurious W.
"WelI," he said, "dat man vat gave me dat
bill didn't come round already, and some
DAYS tink de bill vas goot, and some days l
tink de bill vas bad: SO Won Of dem days vot
I tink it vas goot l passed him out.
Year: 1866

pared for anything, saw the ugly head
of hooded snake, the dread cobra di ca
pella, the most poisonous of all deadly
reptiles, come slowly forth, with its spec
tacled eyes fixed steadily upon the strange
musician, who began to retreat backward
slowly, a step at time, the snake follow
ing him.


When at length, in this manner, he had
drawn the hideous creature some ten or
fifteen feet from his hole, he suddenly
squatted down and began to play more
loudly and shrilly. At this the serpent
raised itself on its tail, as when about to
make its deadly spring, and actually COM
menced dancing motion, in time with
the music, which was continued for about
Ia minute, when the charmer gave me the
signal to strike. Guarded and stealthily
1 advanced near enough for the blow and
then struck, cutting the reptile in two
and sending its head flying to some dis
lance I never took life with better sat
Iisfaction. E1l


Whatever deception there might have
been about the juggler's tricks, ,.there wa
certainly none about the snake, for | have
I its skin still in my possession. l gave
the man a couple of gold mohurs, and HI
went away perfectly satisfied, wishing my
excelleucy any quantity of good luck. ]
was perfectly satisfied, too, and would
not have missed seeing what did tha
day for ten times theamount | paid
Year: 1866

IF the poor house has any terrors for
you, never buy what you don't need. Be.


fore you pay three cents for jewsharp,
my boy, ascertain whether you cannot
make just as pleasant noise by whistling,
for which nature furnishes the machinery.
And before you pay fifteen dollars for a
figured vest, young man, find cut whether
your lady love would not be just as glad
to see you in plain one that costs half
the money. If she would not let her
crack her own walnuts and buy her own
clothes. When you see man, paying
FIVE dollars for Frenchifed toy, that q
philosophic Yankee baby will pull to bits
in FIVE minutes, the chances are five t.
one that he'll be poor enough to realize
how many cents there are in dollar, and


if he don't, he's pretty sure to bequeati
that privilege to his widow. When ,
man asks you to buy that fer which yc,
have no use, no matter how cheap it is
don't say "yes'' until you are sure tha


some one else wants it at an advance
Money burns in some folks pockets, ami
makes such a pesky hole that everything
that is putin drops through, past finding
Year: 1866

Boys, if by few earnest, heartfelt
words you may be induced to keep
clear of vice now fearfully preva-
lent in this country, it will be worth
more to you than large present Of
money. We refer to the use of<pro-
fame language, 1t is almost the only sin
that has neither excuse pleasure nor
profit. Offensive alike to God and good
men, it. makes vitiated taste, a want
OF refinement, and a disregard both of
virtue and the. feelings of others. In
stead of relieving the passion of anger
as some declare, it only strengthens ii
by giving it expression. fit be urged
that it is a habit difficult to be broken,
this is confession that disregards oil
right has become settled part Of the
character No boy old enough to know
the meaning of words utters his first
oath without shudder; If by repetition
he is able to swear without compunetior
it is not that the sin is less, but because
his own sense of right has been blunted


the crime and its penalties are the same


But the habit can be subdued. Scarce,
lly a boy or man viii use profanity il
the presence of his mother; then if he
W i'll, he can restrain it at other times


Let every boy respect himself'too much
to yield to this habit, but to rebuke
profanity wherever heard, by expressive
silence and good example, if not BY
| words
Year: 1866

There was never time in the history of
our country when, in the struggles of its
two leading parties, one was more clearly
right and the other more clearly wrong than
the present. Upon the triumph of the 10y
al policy depends not only fhe welfare and
protection of the interests of the North and
the preservation of the public credit, but
the regeneration Of the South. The white
Unionisfs and the freedmen of that section
have everything to fear and nothing to hope
from the re enthronement of the rebel lead
ers in power. We cannot ignore their
claims upon our friendship without display-
ing base ingratitude and unstatesmanlike
disregard of the future In shielding our.
selves from the domination OF traitors we
are also shielding them. The animus of tho
Copperhead organization is plainly to wreak
vengeance upon the men who quelled the
rebellion, and to WELD all the political pow
er they can acquire in such a manner as will
most efectually punish the faithful defend
ers of the Republic. But it is impossible
that an intelligent and patriotic people will
entrust the control of the Government to
its enemies
Year: 1866

The first party to reach the summit Of
Mount Mansfield, in Vermont, this year,
went up on Thursday, the 18th ultimo.
The road up the mountain for the first
three miles was filled with snow from
three to five feet deep, and near the sum
nit it was ten feet deep
Year: 1866

1t was a wise law of the ancient Jews,
that the sons Of even their wealthiest men
should be obliged to serve an apprenticeship
TO some useful occupation, so, that in case
OF reverse of fortune, they might have some
thing TO fall back upon" The same still
exist in Turkey, where every man, even the
Sultan himself, must learn trade. How
fortunate would it be now, had it been a
law in this country Would to God had
a trade :" is the cry Of thousands Of re-
turned soldiers North and South, who find
themselves ruined in pocket, with no imme
diate prospect of gaining a livelihood. 1t
should teach parents that whatever else
they may give their sons, they should give
them good trade. One of our cotempora-
ries most truthfully remarks that a popular
idea mong our people is, that all of their
sons should adopt clerkships, and the adop-
tion of the business Of bookkeeping as q
means of obtaining their livelihood, and
every effort is made to give them an educa
ton TO that end.


So far as the education Of their children
in the science Of keeping proper accounts
is concerned, the idea is good one, as every
young man should have a sufficient knOwl
edge to manage his own books, should he
ever embark in business, but to make book
keepers and clerks of all our boys is a
grand mistake. Better place them in a
workshop, mill, or foundry, where they can
learn independent trades, which, at all
times, will secure for them employment, and
the pecuniaIy compensation for which will
be at least as much, if not more, than the
business of accounts. We earnestly advise
all parents to teach their sons trades, no
matter what, so that it is an industrious
pursuit; and let us ia the future be spared
the pain of seeing so many stout, able
bodied young men out of employment, and
seeking situations where the pen can only
be used-Erehanqe
Year: 1866

= REooLLEcTIoNs OF THE REVOLUTION
Sally St. Clair was beautiful, dark eyed
Creole girl The whole treasury of her
love was freely poured out to Sergeant JAS
per, who, on one occasion, had the good
fortune to save her life. The prospect of
their separation almost maddened her. To
sever her long ietty ringlets from her ex-
quisitely formed head, 20 dress in male attire,
to enroll in the corps to which he belonged,
and follow his fortunes in the wars un-
known to him, was resolution no sooner
conceived than taken. In the camp she
attracted no particular attention, except on
the night before the battle, when she was
noticed bending over his couch like good
and gentle spirit, as if listening to his
dreams. The camp was surprised, and
fierce conflict ensued The lovers were
side by side in the thickest Of the fight, but
endeavoring to turn away lance aimed at
the heart of Jasper the poor girl received
it in her own, and fell bleeding at his feet
After the victory, her name and sex were
discovered; and there was not dry eye in
the corps when the body of Sally St. Clair
was laid in the grave, in little green shady
nook that looked as if it had been stolen
out of Paradise, not far from the river
Santee.
Year: 1866

The RIGHTS OF EDIToRs.-The libel suit
of McCabe VS.. the proprietor of the N. Y.
Sunday Mercury, has been undergoing
lengthy trial, and has come to result thus
stated:-The Court held that an editor or
reporter is not legally liable to prove the
absolute truth or accusation which may be
embodied in a fair report Of proceedings
before legal tribunal, and that it is suffi-
cient justification to show that the facts re-
ported have transpired as narrated. If the
decision were otherwise, every conductor
Of newspaper could be forced at the will
or caprice of litigant to become the plain
tiff or defendant alluded to in any report
which might appear in his journal, the &C
curacy Of which might be questioned. The
ruling thus decides that an editor is q mere
publisher of actual occurrences, and cannot
possibly assume in law the position of a
ltigant in cases which he reports, and of the
merits Of which he must necessarily be
wholly ignorant.
Year: 1866

We clip the following from rtle
True. Communication, paper puo-
ished in Baltimore.. We can testify
that it is the prevailing spirit in the
Old Dominion. They are still hold
ing on to the dead carcass Of slavery;


Mr.. EDITOR: You will allow sub
scriber to say a few words through the
columns of, your paper, concerning
the good and loyal citizens OF one OF
our adjoining counties, village bear
ing the initials of A. H., which ranks
among the first class cities Of the far
and sunny South. But for the nara I
tive a gentleman employed by the
Pennsylvania f. R. Association. went
to.the place above mentioned for the
purpose Of establishing school for
the benefit Of colored children. Hay-
ING arrived in town, he repaired to the
best hotel in the place, stationed on
principal thoroughfare of this pleas
ant and beautiful village, and made all
necessary arrangements for board and
lodging, went out in search of some
place to commence his business. Dur
ing his absence the facts Of his inten-
tions were ascertained, and. hence in
dignations Of the landlord, There
fore, upon his return to the hotel, he
was informed by the clerk of this
fashionable place of resort, that he
could not get board there that he
would have to go somewhere else, for
if he intended to put himself on
level with negroes, he was not fit to
be with white folks but as for the
id niggers they did not care q
cent about them, he, might take them
and 60, but that they did not mean to
hare anything to do with any white
man who would condescend to mingle
with the negroes, or who would use
any means to advance their education,
or even promote their moral habits.
My private opinion is, that President
johnson will have matters settled in
hurry if he trusts to such people as
these to do it. Mr.. Editor, how
strange and astonishing it is to see
how ungrateful the Southern whites
are, after enjoying the fruits Of negro
labor for nearly two hundred and fifty
years; they are unwilling that we
should breathe the same air, or tread
the same, soil, upon which we have
been forced to remain and submit to
all their. unkind and inhuman treat
ment, without saying a single word
in defiance This, however, is most
confined to the poorer class, but all
we ask is Education and lawful pro-
lection, and with our efforts and
Northern benevolence, that. will be re-
quired, for our inclination and sus-
capabilities to learning far supercedes
theirs, and cur means of knowledge
are quite abundant, for we have plenty
of schools andt teachers according,
and new schools dre rapidly springing
up through the surrounding country,
besides the Board of Education Of this
place has given us teacher, for which
we are truly grateful The schools
are in progressive condition. We
have children among us who never
knew letter prior to Lee 5 surrender,
who now read very well, and some
few whose emphasis is excellent.


r.
LynchJurg Korch /, 1866.
Year: 1866

A statement appeared some time
since in the Philadelphia Ledger.
usually very reliable paper, that the
President had addressed TO tie Attor-
ney General a series Of questions in
dicating that an issue would be made
with Congress as to its constitutional
ity. The report was telegraphed all
over the country and had the effect to
run up at once the price Of gold. The
report has been officially contradicted
by the Attorney General in dispatch
to a friend at Cincinnati, in which he
says there is not word Of truth in
the statements, that no such questions
were asked by the President The
fact that this fabrication of the gold
gamblers shook the markets of the
country, and seriously affected the
value Of Government securities, shows
the unsettled condition of affairs and
the want OF confidence by the Radicals
in the success of their measures.
Year: 1866

A sensible, practical farmer, says the
Massachusetts PlOCmdn, told us the
other day that he had often noticed
that calves would thrive better on milk
that was not rich in butter than on
what was called very rich milk. That
is fact in accordance with what we
recently stated, the nutrative clements
of milk reside chiefly in the caseine.-
If you have a COW that gives particu-


larly rich milk and one that gives a
quality poorer in butter, it is better, in
every way, to feed the calf on the milk
of the latter. The calf will thrive bet
ter, and you will get more butter from
the milk of the first COW. 5<. lu
Year: 1866

Gayety and frivolity, and hardi-
hood of style at variance with the mod
esty of quieter life, are characteristic
of war times, and are apt to leave their
taint atterward upon the constitution
of society. The feverish rapidity of
the public pulse creates raging desire
for excitement; the ordinary social
pursuits are belittled by the tremen.
dous events Of battle and SIEGE and
domestic enjoyment, with its sweet
tranquility, is made irksome by the
delirium of action. Under these in
fuences, the repose and gentle mien
OF high breeding give place to the dash
and flash of cloud" vulgarity. The
men of society acquire the air of weak
and inadequate Blood tubs" and our
"Queens OF Society" are felictous
combination of fine lady in wealth and
washerwoman in manners. Let any
person OF taste glance at the prevailing
mode-the air, manner, and style of
drcss-and ask him or herself, in the
sacred privacy of the inner life, whether
this picture is overdrawn. There are
no more beautiful or queenly women
on earth than ours take one of them,
bedizened with the feathers and brass
trumpery of modern adornment, and
Pocahontas in her native wilds, with
all her eagle feathers and wam-
pun, if called to compete, would have
hid her head in Intellectual despair.
There is no cultivation among Amer
lean women; yet any Of them would
as soon talk Choctaw as speak on any
topic requiring thought or education
Our men, sharp and shrewd in bust
ness,-directing the labor of hundreds
of artisans, or measuring their tape
with critical exactness, ARE suddenly
afflicted with softening of the brain in
female society. 1t is not that men and
women in society talk only the badi
mage of the ball room. Even this has
its uses the light play of wit and fan
cyis no more to be despised than the
heavy artillery of thought. One ought
not always to talk Johnsonese any
more than he should always fire Co.
lumbiads to bring down ducks. The
smooth-bore discharges of the CONVEX
sational Columbiad in the one case, are
as unfit as those of his brother, of
more noise than execution, in the
other.


But, in Minerva's name, what wit
or fancy is there in the remark that
"Major Blankhead does look lovely
in his new uniform" or "Miss Pink s
dancing is divine?"


il, The lack of conversational talent,
however, need not make one unhappy
beyond the power Of consolation: For,
have We not Congress and our Execu-
tive to fall back upon?


., So of the evil of over dressing
There is no breach of the moral law
involved in the wearing Of tinsel, and
flowers of huge diameter, however it
may outrage the laws of Ooprect taste.
If our lovely women will dress like
Pquaws, we can only submit and adore.
Year: 1866

real danger to be apprchended, because
the military and power of the Govern
ment is not only feared in those States,
but L think it is ample to put down
any serious demonstration.


Q. Is this information from differ
ent sources each independent Of the
other?


A. Yes, sir.


Q. So far as you are informed,
what are the nature and objects of this
organization? .t


A. To embarrass the Government
Of the United States in the proper ad >
ministration of the affairs ofthe coun.
try, by endeavoring or making strong
efforts to gain very important conces
slons for the people of the South, and
if possible to repudiate the National
debt incurred in consequence Of the
rebellion, or to gain such an ascend
ancy in Congress as to make provis-
ions for the assumption by Congress
OF the debt incurred by the rebel Gov
ernment. Also, in case the United
States Government can be involved in
foreign war, to watch their opportu-
nifty and take advantage of the first
that occurs to strike for the independ-
ence of the States lately in rebellion Z?


Q. Do you know of any person of
influence implicated in this movement?


A. have not ascertained that any
persons of influence are implicated in
it, and will further state, in justice
to the people of the South, that / know
many men who were prominent in the
rebel army who I believe are now
honestly trying to become good citi-
zens of the United States. They have
been paroled and have applied to the
President for pardon and are awaiting
his decision. They have set them
selves to work quietly to earn an hon
est livelihood in some practical and
peaceful manner, thereby setting a
good example to the other people of
the South. .'..
Year: 1866

D@We publish the following poem
at the request Of a young lady of Car
roll. We do not understand that she
intended it to be considered as her own
composition but any rate it is a beau
full piece of poetry, and we'll worthy
the place we give it.
Year: 1866

Il u
1 OFFICE OF THE VALLEY RAILROAD,


Staunton, April 25th, 1866


We wish at once to push forward the Line o.
Railroad which is to connect the Potomac with
the Virginia and Tennessee Road To do this
we need to have stock taken in the Valley to the
extent of


ONE MILLION OF DOLLARS.


This we propose to have done on the following
terms: Two per cent. of the amount subscribed
to be paid in so soon as called for; thirteen pei
cent additional, to be paid within the next three
years. the remaining eighty-fve per cent, to be
paid within the next ten years.
If this amount of Stock be promptly taken on
these easy terms we can effect negotiations which
will enable us to have its remainder taken abroad
and which will enable us at the same time, te
on the Bonds of the company payable In ter
years.


1t is unnecessary to say anything in regard t6
the vital Importance of this great work. Every
property holder within reach OF the Road appre-
ciates it.


1t may be proper to state, however, that cir
cumstances are more favorable now to the con-
struction of this work than ever before, or prob
ably than they will be hereafter. We have al
COMPETENT CORPS OF ENGINEERS
to locate the Road from Harrisonburg to Salem
They will commence operations early In May
Let our people aid IN earnest, and we can prom
se them the speedy completion of an improve
temptation for the advancement of our interests
The commissioners in each county will ope1
books of subscription at once and are earnestly
desired to have the stock subscribed promptly.


M. G. HARMAN President,


nav 9-tf of the Valley Railroad.