smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1867

The Evils Of Poverty.


On the above fruitful theme, Rev. DR..
Bellows, recognized ~ among the most
profound thinkers of the age, delivered
in New York the other evening Iectua
of which the Herald gives the following
summary:


After commenting upon the evils Of
poverty, and the difficulty of relieving it
in such n manner as to avoid iniuring
either the sclt-rcspect of the individual
assisted or the general interests of society
by encouraging Incidence and sloth, no
said that community of property was
possible only upon system which
compelled and obliged its members to
toll for the common veal, and such a
system must of course always he on an
extremely small scale. The grand solic-
itude of civilization should I've not so
much to strive for an absolutely equita-
bic distribution of wealth as to stimulate
and increase its production. 1t was im-
possible that distribution should not in
the future take ample care of itself, but
the necessity for the constant production
of wealth, as well rs the benefits aris-
ing from its increase, were of far higher
and more immediate Importance.


DIR. Bellows then reviews the various
instincts implanted ia our nature which
prompt lis to accumulate wealth, such
as the love Of prosperity, the fear of
hunger, dependence and inferiority, do
mcstic affection and the sense of self-re-
spect, and said that until incentives to
industry more potent than these were
discovered, he believed no very great
improvement could bc made upon the
present practically successful system Of
society which held every man response
bic for his own support, and guaranteed
him the enjoyment of his own earnings
DIR. Bellows closed by presenting the
following brief summary OF the princi-
pies embodied in his discourse. First,
society is a divine institution resting
upon principles inherent in our nature,
the tendency Of which is, by the play of
human passions, affections and intelli-
gcnce, to develop the just production and
best distribution Of property; second, all
direct interference with its operations is
perlous, and justified only by necessity
and is then to be managed with the ut
most circumspection, and as much a.
| possible in the direction of natural laws
and motives; third, universal labor
physical, mental and morals the
highest law and permanent condition of
social well being and individual growth;
fourth, all public or private charity
which has for its end the helping out of
! Gods providential law ''in the sweat Of
| thy brow shalt thou earn thy bread !" and
| il justitiable only rs a temporary policy:
fifth, the relief of poverty, though indis-
pensable to the instincts of humanity.
and the claims OF religion, is the chief
obstacle TO the cure and extinction of
poverty; it is therefore to be pursued
publicly and privately only as a nccesa-
ry evil; sixth, all public institutions and
private charities are to have their useful
ness graduated and determined by the
extent to which they promote, and the
skill with which they avoid interference
with, the great law of labor.
Year: 1867

a stock for Virginia enterprise would find a
home market and even in these times it could
hardly fail to command the capital required.
6. Upon the whole begin to feel convic-
ton that this great enterprise must 60 on under
some auspices and in some form or other The
line when completed will have such advantages
OF distance, grades, curves, climate, local bust
ness and through connections, that it cannot
much longer escape the attention of sagacious
capitalists as a railroad merely, and its impor-
tance as the best and shortest outlet for the
great products of the West seeking the eastern
markets will command the interest of all en-
gagged In that great commerce The road will
be built, and if fairly and justly managed it
must do more to build up every Virginia in
terest than any thing that has been done in the
way OF internal improvement, or than all that
has been done put together. It should not,
however, escape the attention of our people
that the control of such line is an object to
be struggled for, and that already there are
symptoms of a movement haying in view that
object, and looking to connections which may
go far to deprive us of the chief advantages of
the work. | hope the people of Virginia will
be wise in time, and will secure not only the
first fruits but the great harvest to be expected
from this long hoped for improvement.


/ find / have written you at greater length
than | intended. [ know the interest you feel
in the subject, and you know that never tire
of talking and writing about it.


Yours truly,


JOHN B. BALDWIN.
Year: 1867

A father once related to his children the fol-
lowing story The governor of an island was
once called to appear before his king to give an
account OF his stewardship. Those friends in
whom he most confded, parted with him at his
house; others went with him to the ship, while
many in whom he had placed but little trust,
and whom he scarcely recognized as friends,
much to his SURPRISE escorted him on his journey,
went with him to the kings throne, there spoke
for him, and secured him the favor of the king.


80 man, continued the father, ''has on
earth three kinds offriends, whom he only learns
to know Alright when he is called to leave this
world and render his account to God The first
OF these-gold and lands-remains behind the
second.ofriends and relatives-go only to the
verge OF the grave: the third-his good deeds
land, and are with Christ his advocate before
the throne and purchase for him favor and
pardon. How foolish is man to prize so little
here what will constitute his wealth hereafter.
Year: 1867

| LEXINGTON, VA. May ~, 1901.


My DEAR SIR-The documents relating to
the Covington and Ohio railroad which you
had the kindness to send me, give the pleasing
assurance, as far as [ have been able to exam
inc them, of the practicability Of completing
that great work. The cautious estimate of Mr..
Whitcomb, superintendent of the Virginia Cen
trail Railroad, gives the cost Of finishing the
road to the point Of steamboat navigation on
the Kanawha at S., 700, ,00O-and he shows
very satisfactorily from the steady increase of
receipts which has attended every extension of
the road that the company can undertake the
work, and pay out of its net revenues the in
terest on the amount required for each addi-
,tional stage of the road besides the interest on
rs present debt When the road shall reach
the point of communication with the steamers
from the Ohio, there will be such a large and
increasing business, that think there can be
no doubt that its completion will be ensured to
any point desired and with maximum grade
of less than 80 feet per mile, what mountains
OF merchandise can be transported from the
western rivers to the waters Of the Atlantic J
Taking Cincinnati as the centre of this trade,
the transportation by this route will not only
be shorter in miles as stated in the reports than
the more Northern routes, but will be the
easiest, and will meet with the least Interrupt
ton in winter, and the freight over the road
can at all times be landed at points accessible
to ocean steamers When these facts are
known, there will be, | hope, no difficulty in
procuring the requisite funds, as capitalists can
feel assured Of the payment Of their interest and
principal.


Wishing every success to the road,


am, with great respect


g Your obedient servant,
Year: 1867

1.-The undersigned appeals in behalf of the
starving people of South Carolina-his native
State-to the farmers and all other persons hav-
ing corn for sale in the Valley and the adjacent
country, to sell and deliver to him their surplus
corn at the earliest practica6lemoment. It is i'm
peritively necessary that corn should be gotten
to these people at once in order that they may be
saved from actual starUation, they failed al
most entirely in corn crop themselves and sup
plies from other sources are cut off by the almost
unprecedented condfaon of the country roads and
the interruption of Railroad communication by
the washing away of bridges, &c.


This appeal is not for contributions: propose
to pay the market price in cash upon the deliv-
cry of the corn, and will hope that humane
people will not horde up the necessaries of life
from their furnishing countrymen Much gooc
bushels by each farmer, if he cannot deliver more


ap2-VSV copy If w. NJ. POOLE.
Year: 1867

Truth is an eternal element. 1t is an essence !:
ne must press it to his soul it must be spiritual
life, and rule all his thought and actions. Truth
must ever be with him. Only in this way can
he be natural. Only so can he resemble the
Redeemer. To be unlike God is to be unnatural.
lis true, opposites exist. Light has its shade,
cold is opposite to heat hate is antagonistic to
love. Truth is opposed to error But with one
path, one genuine course remains for him to
follow. 1t is the path of right, of truth, of
justice, of love, and of unswerving fidelity to
God. Only so can the soul live out its noblest
attributes, and harmonize with the purposes of
the Creator. Moral purity can alone qualify us
for the mission.
Year: 1867

The other day, in a union prayer-meeting at
Chicago, a stranger arose and said that some
three years ago an infdel and his family moved
'trom one of the Eastern States to the West. and
settled In a small town in Iowa, few miles
from the Mississippi River. Sabbath desecra-
ton, profanity and RIGHTEOUSNESS were so awful
ly prevalent that about one year ago the infidel
and some OF his neighbors became alarmed at
the condition OF society and commenced the
inquiry: What shall we do to secure our chill
dren from the dreadful influence of the place?
They came together in council, and among other
means which were proposed to interest the young
and draw their minds from the evil around
them, was that of Sabbath school. and to the
great astonishment of the infdel, he was chosen
the Superintendent of the school, He was no
Christian, he said his father was a leading inf
del, and he had imbibed the same infdel notions.
but he felt that some means should be used to
check the fearful tide of sin in the place: and,
as he had committed himself to do any thing
which should be necessary for a reform, he would
not decline any post that might be asked of him,
and he would do the best he could. The school
was organized with an infidel Superintendent.
From fifteen In number it had increased to two
hundred, Its present attendance A deep re-
hglous feeling had been awakened In the school.
and some Of the children had learned to pray'
and were fervently praying for the school and
its Superintendent. The eyes of the stranger
filled with tears as he said, That Superintendent
stands before you -
Year: 1867

Calamities are no just reflection upon the
wisdom and goodness of Almighty God for as
He appoints the rod in His mercy, so does He
likewise furnish his servants with mighty con-
solations and supports, suitable to their circum-
stances. And they who submit to the cross as
becomes them, reap large and glorious fruits by
sowing in tears. III
Year: 1867

HF The circulation of the SPECTATOR is
about as great as the combined circulation
of both the other papers published in this
place, and has as many subscribers in this
county alone as are contained in the whole
list of either of the other papers.
Year: 1867

Every Minister of Christ must have been often
saddened by the tendency of men to postpone
present duty. Proerastination characterizes all
classes, more or less strongly, in whatever per-
talns to their immortal interests. Some, because
they are not fit; some, because they imagine
that circumstances hereafter will be more favor
able, and all because they are not now ready,
are allowing day after day and year after year
OF their precious and ever r-shortening season of
PROBATION to pass away unimproved Multitudes
OF this class readily confess their obligations to
discharge this or that duty, but they are not
ready. to discharge it. Death is constantly
thinning out their ranks; and death-beds, full
OF bitter unavalhng regrets, often warn them.
But still they do not deliberately and serionslv
set themselves to do what they know they ought
to do without delay. When aciU they be readv9


Here is man who has for years hesitated to
take decided and consistent stand as Chris
tan professor. The vows of God are upon him.
He assumed them voluntarily. He knows that
ne cannot shake them off. He is not a trifer;
there Is nothing IN his external character that
gives decided lie to his profession; he is reg
ularly IN his place IN the sanctuary, perhaps also
In the room OF conference and prayer. But he
has never attempted deliberately and in humble
reliance ON God to take an open and active part
In the discharge of known and obvious Christian
duty. Ask him why he has not done this. and
his lnvanable reply isl do not feel rea3y to
do it.. All, yes, my dear friend, I understand
you, but will you answer this question,-When
will you be ready?


Not far distant from me is an inquirer after
salvation, His mind has for years been tenderly
impressed, and tears of solicitude often steal
unlimited, down his thoughtful face. Again
and again has he been urged to go to Christ at
once. He always wishes he was ''ready'' to 90,
but has not yet been ready Ifthis article should
meet his eye, will he ponder this question:
When will you be ready?


Yonder is man who says he has never felt
any special anxiety upon religious subjects. He
peheVeS In the reality and necessity of religion,
knows he must possess it or perish, and means
to seek it before he dies, but he is not ''reaoy'
now.


That he is not ready now is, alas, too evident;
but, If had his private ear, l would like to
propose for his consideration that important
question when will you by ready:
Year: 1867

81. Upon the return of a pupil, after
any absence, the parent or guardian shall
give in writing an excuse, stating the
cause If it shall have been sickness of
the pupil, or necessary attendance upon
sick member of the family, or death in
the family, or absence from the city for
some mgant reason, in either of such cases
the absence shall be excused and so mark
ed in The register. . edE


So. In every case Of absence of a pupil
for more than 5 half days in 4 consecu-
tive week, without satisfactory excuse to
the teacher, for any other. cause than those
permitted above, the absentee shall with
out exception or favor be suspended from
school, notice whereof is to be given in
writing to the parent or guardian of the
pupil, and to the Superintendent, stating
the facts of the case, and no pupil
thus suspended shall be re-admitted until
the beginning of the next term, unless by
a writtdn order of the majority of the
members Of the Board filed with the
Principal. r-.


SO. Pupil shall be excused for absence
not exceeding two quarter days each week
for the purpose Of taking lessons in such
branches of education as their parents
may desire, provided, arrangements for
snch absence be personally or in writing
made by such parent with the Principal
Of the school. s. sa3e


60. Every scholar who is times tardy
in two consecutive weeks, without giving
an excuse satisfactory to the teacher,
shall be suspended from school, written
notice of which shall be Immediately Civ
en- to the parent or guardian and to the
Superintendent. 5e;. !.
SUSPENSION FOR BAD DEpoRrMENr
81. In all cases where the conduct and
habits of pupil are found injurious tc
associate, it shall be the duty of the Prin-
cipal to suspend such pupil from school
| 81. Any pupil who shall willfully OF
maliciously destroy or injure any school
property whatever, or when the damage
is done accidentally, fail to pay for the
same, shall be suspended from school.
| 6S. Any pupil guilty Of disobedience
to teacher, or of gross misconduct may
be suspended by the Principal of tht
school ..5... ar. r.


Ga. In all the proceeding cases of sus
pension, written notice shall be given tc
the parent or guardian and to the Super
intendent, and any pupil suspended BY
virtue OF any one of the above rules car


be restored only on such conditions as tht
Superintendent shall determine.


| 65. Whenever any parent OF guardian


feels agrieyed by the action ofany teach
| er, it shall be his duty to give information
Year: 1867

-'Do let me have your photograph y
said dashing belle to a gentleman who
had been annoying her with his atten-
tions The gentleman was delighted, and
in short time the lady received the pic
ture She gave it to the servant, with
the question. 81 "Would you know the
original If he should call?" The servant
replied in the affirmative. "WeH, when
ever he comes, tell him [ am engaged"
Year: 1867

z. They shall at the close OF every
school month transmit to the Superinten-
dent table stating how many days SER
vices each Of their assistants have render
ed during the month, and also how often
they may have been tardy or absent from
the two weekly teacher meetings. -.
Year: 1867

assert that ten States are out of the
Union. Still you declare no policy.
The people ask you for speedy settle
ment of our national difficulties on the
basis of peace and concord, and in place
of this your only plan seems to be to
place millions of the people of the Union
under the iron heel of u military despo-
tism. AS we have said before, like your
leader, Phillips, you are powerful to
destroy, but powerless to build up. In
your mad zeal you have neary destroyed
the Government. We, the Democracy,
now stand ready to assist you in knit
ting together its ragged ends, and we
want you to do something If there is
any virtue in you.


Mr.. MCAMANT.-As Andy John
son is tailor and is willing to assist
you, il will not need any help from us.


Mr.. CHALFANT.-And johnson
is trying to patch it up, but you will not
allow him to do it.


Mr.. Speaker, in the latter part of my
remarks have diverged somewhat from
the legitimate argument on the amend-
ments to repel some charges which are
being continually made in this Chamber
against the Democratic party, charges
which have no foundation in truth, and
which have been time and again repell-
cd.


In conclusion, Mr.. Speaker, If it were
not for the monstrosities which are ev-
cry day brought forth, should feel as
sured in saying that it cannot be posi-
BILE that Pennsylvania will ever give her
sanction to these proposed mis-called
amendments to the Constitution.
But as it is have no such assurance. l
confess that l have strong fears that
they will be adopted, fears which leave
but little room for hope of their defeat.
But be the result as it may, my vote
shall be recorded against them. And
while live / shall point to the record
of that vote as an evidence of my 10y
atty, Ito use much abused word,) to
the Constitution which our Fathers gave
us, and to the Government which they
established. And depend upon it, there
is day coming, when, if these amend
ments are adopted, the curses of a ma
ton will fall upon the heads of their
projectors.
Year: 1867

Find fault when you must find fault,
in private, if possible. and some time af-
ter the offence, rather than at the time.
The blamed are less inclined to resist
when they are blamed without witness
Both parties are calmer, and the accused
person may be struck with the forbear-
ance of the accuser, who has seen the
fault, and watched for private and pro-
per time for mentioning it. Never be-
harsh or unjust with your children or
servants. Firmness, with gentleness of
demeanor and regard to the feelings,
constitutes that authority which is always
respected and valued If you have any
cause to complain of servant, never
speak hastily; wait, at all events, until
you have had time to reflect on the ma
ture Of the offence
Year: 1867

81 know not the day ofmy death. GEN. xvii
know not when; but this know,


That it will surely come to me,
The day which comes to all below,


Which every child of earth must see;
For o'er his spirit none has power,


To keep it, in that last dread hour.
| know that shall watch the sun,


As have watched him many a day,
In gold behind The hills go down,


Gliding with splendor all the way
| shall not see him set again,


Yet this l shall not know cen then.
Some night l know the shades will gather,


The dusky shadows deeper grow,
The silent stars come out together,


The last that shall see below
No voice from out that distant sky,


VIII warn me that my end is nigh.
Some Spring time, shall mark the trees


Grow daily greener DER my head,
And, in the autumn, | shall feel


The dead leaves rustic meath myrtread-
Nor know next autumn's winds shall come


To strew the dry leaves on my tomb.
And there will be a darkened room,


And they will catch my laintest breath,
And silence, and a gathering gloom,


VIII fall from off the wings OF Death
shall not hear the muffied tone,


The silent whisper, - He is gone"
And they will gaze on the pallid face,


Then shut it out from the light forever,
And bear me forth to my resting place,


In the shade of the hill beside the river
| shall not wake at its noisy gushing,


Nor ever list to It's swollen rushing.
Bot when this last great change shall come,


Is hidden from us-and lis best;
If we-were ready for our home,


1t matters not how soon we rest
Death Will be but the end of sorrow,


Drawn from an endless, heavenly morrow,
Year: 1867

Buy homestead out of your first earn
ings, not alone for the physical comforts
and economy that it insures to you, but
for its domestic and social influence
Old and familiar, is that thought, "There
is no place like home," it cnfolds truths
that, to a parent, are next in Importance
to his religion.-The house shelters YOU
and your family from the cold, the rain,
and the obztrusive gaze of the world. a
true home does this and more 1t holds
within its walls genial soil where are
matured all those principles and senti-
meuts which go to make up the beautiful
child, the useful citizen and the true
patriot. How important, then, that such
a home should be fixed and permanent.
1t to any cause more than another is to
be attributed the reactions of domestic
and sociaities in modern society, it is the
absence of those influences which exist
only in a fixed home. 1t is living in rem
ted houses, hired rooms, and hotels, tenn
porary and often cheerless retreats, where
everything that pertains to the free hold
is another 's-where every improvement
you make loses its interest, from the
thought that it is yours at the will of an-
other. The very idea that You own the
soil you tread on, that by your labor one.
spot has been acquired sacred to your,
rights, your tastes and interests, begets
feeling of independence Bayard Taylor,
describing an extended view from a high
mountain, says that feeling of regret
came over him as he remembered that
but Que foot of all this broad earth was
his. To man of family, the purchase
of hmOestead is the first step to inde-
pendent manhood.
Year: 1867




A curious Illustration of this is found
in an anecdots told in lecture by Mr..
Spurgeon. a minister lived opposite one
of the deacons Of his church. a report
got abroad that the minister had been
seen to beat his wife, and the minister
was brought before deacons meeting.
There the minister said that he had traced
the spreading of the report to the dea-
cons daughter. The good man, the dea-
con, said he would not have spoken, but
his daughters name having beeen men
toned, he must thea state that when he
was going to bed on a certain night, he
did see (through the window blind of the
lighted room) the minister beating his
wife, and heard her scream. The minis
ter was non plussed; but lie requested
that his wife be sent for and questioned.
When she arrived she explained the
whole matter. She said: "Don't YOU
recollect there was rat in the room that
night, that it got on my dress, that you
got heightened, and took up the poker;
that l could not stand STILL and ran around
the room, you running after ME with the
poker. This is the explanation to the
whole affair" Well then, the lecturer
would remark to his hearers, the next
time they heard story against good
man, let them say at once, There is
rat at the bottom Of it, | know" and that
some simple explanation may account for
the whole thing.