smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

We copy these paragraphs from the
Houston iniou:


To allow tie frauds and intimidation OF
the Democracy which prevailed in this
election to go unpunished. is compoundins
with crime. and unless the Republican party
acts promptly and decisively with these
malefactors. ii must not be surprised to find
a certain measure of censure attached to
itself.


Allegations OF fraud can be made and SUBJ
stantiated against the Democracy in every
county throughout the Third District, and
the same, We believe. can be affirmed of
the other districts. This. of course. will
debar the governor from giving certificates
of election to any of the Democratic can
didates. excepting. perhaps, in the case of
the Second District, which has always been
Democratic.


1t is frightful thing to contemplate. that
many reputable men among Us are privy to
the damnab.e outrages being perpetrated
over the State by their active elnissaries,
the Ku-klux. This murderous class has
upwards Of five hundred thousand mem-
bers throughout the Southern States. and at
any time, by day or night, Republican is
liable to be suddenly done for. 1t is the
government duty to take hold of this mat
ter at once. and place its power for evil
upon free people beyond any possibility
of commission
Year: 1871

The Ascension Leader says of the levees:


This is a subject of vital importance and
one that interests all. and the faint hope
heretofore entertained By US that the leyee
company would take the matter in hand
and push the work vigorously through is
now dispelled. for if it had any such inten-
ton i: would have commenced ere this.
There is but one remedy and that is for
planters and Others who are interested to
take the matter in their own hands and see
what can be done. We have studied to find
and suggest some available plan by which
this may he accomplished. and can think Of
but one, and that is as follows: Let the
planters organize themselves into an associ-
alton. each member subscribing and pay
ing into the hands Of the treasurer. to be
elected by them, and the work let out by
contract to the lowest bidder, under the SUI
pervision OF a committee to be appointed
by them. to act in conjunction with SINH
lar committee to be appointed by the police
jury. and as soon as the Legislature meets
they certainly will not refuse to reimburse
the amount expended by special appro-
priation. We are satisfied of one fact, and
that is that no time is to be lost, and that
waitin. for this notorious humbug, known
As the levee company. is waiting in vain.
and if the planters do not set to work them
selves the water will certainly be upon us
before the levees are built. and then all will
be too late. We urge this matter to the
immediate attention Of all interested and
trust that something will be done.
Year: 1871

1t did not require the late improvements
in the Phoenix restaurant and chophouse to
establish David Bidwell's fame as man of
enterprise and taste. Yet no one who takes
a look at the neat arrangements, the tidy
tables, the piles Of oysters, salt and fat" :"
the stylish range, where broil, bake, q
stew and fricassee can be done to a turn
almost in one and the same minute, without
coming to the conclusion that he does
everything Well His Academy of Music,
his fountain of cooling drinks, his restau-
rant or his saloon, either is sufficient to
make any man famous; but, all together,
do not more than satisfy the ambitious Bid
Year: 1871

The cane in this parish still retains ;ts
promising appearance. The weather is pro-
pitious and to the weather its fortunes are
now wholly committed. If that remains
favorable until the cutting is finished, we are
confident that the planters of Terrebonne
parish will have no reason to complain.
At present all necessary preparations for
taking off the crops and getting machinery
in order are being actively pushed forward,
Year: 1871

The signal officer on duty here fayors us
with the War Department weather map,
giving the state Of the Thermometer at 6:43
A. NJ. yesterday at the principal points in
the country, the state of the thermometer
and barometer, velocity of wind and miles
per hour. and references indicating whether
the weather is clear, fair. cloudy, rainy or
snowy. The map is valuable for daily
reference
Year: 1871

Letter Of Governor Warmoth.
The following letter from Governor
Warmoth will be read with interest:
Stair OF LOUISIANA, }
Executive Department,
New Orleans. October 10, 1871.
| To the Police Jury parish of -.


GESTLEMES-I am convinced that the
Louisiana Levee Company to whom the
Legislature, contrary to my advice, gave
the contract for rebuilding and maintaining
| the levees Of the State, will not be able to
comply with the expectations of the public
in time to prepare for the autumn and
spring lise in the Mississippi river, l had
hoped. until within a few hours. that the
arrangement said to have been made by
the former stockholders, with capitalists
at the North, would have secured an
advance Of money in anticipation Of the
collection of the tax provided by the char
ter, and that such work as might be neces.
sary to protect your parish from overflow
would have been done, but this hope has
been dissipated, and it now rests with the
parochial authorities, with such aid as can
give them, to take measures to protect
in so tar as can give it to yOM, 10 do such
work as may be necessary to save your
people from overflow, and the Legislature
will, have no doubt, devise means TO reim-
burse your parish for the expense incurred
in the work.


have directed the chief engineer to en-
ploy such assistants as he may deem neces-
sary to direct and super wise the work done
under your authority. advise you to call a
meeting Of the planters Of your parish, and
others interested in this matter, and lay the
subject before them and obtain their advice
and assistance.


Tie chief engineer will have the work
necessary to be done marked out, and will
take care to see that it is properly executed,
and will lay your claims for reimbursement
before the Legislature for its action.


will do everything in my power to help
you. desire to hear from you. on the sub
ject, at your earliest convenience.


H. C.. WARNOTH.


Governor of Louisiana.
Year: 1871

Hart. Ryman & Barney's minstrels gave
sufferers, and they had splendid pro
gramne and an excellent house. The receipts
added materially to the Chicago relief fund.
Tonight . new bill, and an excellent one,
will vary the minstrel entertainment, to
the delight of those who will go to the
Academy nightly during the stay of the
minstreis
Year: 1871

LEATHER CANSoS.-The Cuban patri-
OTIS have invented curious cannon OF
leather as q substitute for the metal field
piece, which they are unable to obtain.
The barrel OF the gun is about three feet
and half long, and is made by stretch
ing stout, well-dressed leather in soak
ed state upon mould four inches in
diameter, and sewing the edges with
cords of the native pita de coroIo, which
has great tenacity. When dry another
thickness OF wet leather is stretched upon
the first layer, and four more are subse-
quently added. The breech is made OF
hard wood, and the chamber is often
lined with tin. These guns fire from ten
to twenty rounds before becoming unfit
for use, and are usually loaded with
stones, through the absence of grape
and canister. They have done consider
able execution, and are lightly transport
ed in pairs upon the shoulders of q
man. When used they nre laid upon
the ground and pointed Mt short range
upon an approaching column.
Year: 1871

Before trust again to thee,


Or place my hand in thine:
Before let thy futura give


Color and form to mine;
Before | peril ALL for thee
Question thy soul tonight FOR mo.
break al slighter bonds, nor feel


shadow OF regret;
Is there one link within the mast


That holds thy spirit yeti
Or is thy faith as clear aud free
As that which can pledge to theel
Does there within thy inmost dream,


A possible future shine,
Wherein thy life could henceiorsh breath,


Untouched, unshared by miner
II so-at any price or cost
OH tell me now, ere all is lost.
Look deeper, still. fthou can'st feel


Within thy inmost soul
That thou has kept 8 portion back
While | have staked the whole,
Let no false pity spare the blow,
But in true mercy tell me so.
Is there within thy heart need


That mine cannot fulfil;
One chord that any other hand


Could better wake or still?
Speak now lest some future day
Ny whole life Wither and decay.
Lives there within thy nature hid


The demon spirit, Change;
Shedding q passing glory still


On all things new and stranger
It may not bo thy fault alone,
But shield my heart against thine own.
Could'st thou withdraw thy hand one d,r


And answer to my claim
That Fate, and that to-day's mistake


Not thou-had been to blameg
Some soothe their conscience thus but tho,
Oh! surely thou, wilt warn me now.
Year: 1871

The question of civil service reform is
destined, at no distant day. to be one of
the leading questions in the politics Of our
country. Already the people are talking
about it and writing about il, and the time
is evidently near at hand when they will
make themselves heard. We will never
know how much the prosperity of this
country has been retarded within the past
quarter of a century, by having bad or in
competent men in Office. The world does
not have the same, respect for our system
OF government that it would have had, had
we always been free from dishonest and
incompetent officials People cannot ven
crate and respect as they otherwise would
laws that are enforced by a dishonest exc
cutive, or construed from the bench by q
drunken debauehee. -u .lr


Every one admits the Importance of the
reform sought. No one thinks of employ
ing an ignorant, incapable or dishonest
man TO transact important private busi-
ness. Why should the Government be ex-
pected to put up with the services of men
who know but little or nothing of the
duties theyareto perform ? Noact of Pres
ident Grants administration meets with
more universal approval from the honest
masses, than the appointment of the Civil
Service Commission under the act of
Congress. He has appointed men in whose
capacity and honest intentions every one
has confidence. The appointment of such
commissioner is an earnest that he has
the cause at heart and will do all in his
power to render it successful. We are glad
that Republican Congress and Repub-
lican Administration have inaugurated this
movement, and we have every reason to
believe that it will receive the fullest sane
ton of the party, and that great good will
be accomplished.


tbs said that one of the difficulties feared
by the Commission is, that public senti-
ment will not sustain any radical reforms
that may be attempted. We trust their
fears in this respect are groundless. We
trust that if they present reasonable
plan, which we have every reason to be-
lieve they will be able to do, that it may
be adopted and at least given u fair trial.
Then let us know that we have none but
capable public servants, and let them know
that their tenure of office does not depend
upon the whims or pleasure of cross-road
politicians, but that merit is the true test
of confidence.
Year: 1871

SENATOR BRowNLow's card in reference
to Forests testimony before the Southern
Outrage Committee seems to hurt, Judging
from the readiness with which the Nash
vile papers jump into the ring. They
must feel that their champion is "going
to grass" as they are trying to retrieve his
waning fortunes. Gen Forrest might have
been skillful General, but he has not dis
played the strategy he evidently intended
before the Kuklux Committee.
Year: 1871

How WOMAN KEEPS A SECRET.-It is
an old quib upon women that a woman
cannot keep secrets; but the fact is they
are the only part of humanity that can.
wife Keeps Il husbands secret incompar-
ably better than he does hers. We calcu-
late that there is one drunken wife to about
four hundred and ninety-nine drunken
husbands. In gambling, licentiousness,
lying. cheating, hypocrisy, covetousness,
there is pretty near the same proportion,
Yet of the four hundred and ninety-nine
wives, four hundred conceal, cover up, ST.
lently endure the terrible secret; while the
one husband mourns over his wife's frailty
in the study of his pastor, and to the ear
of his friend, and probably complains of it
to court of law 1t is the same between
brother and sister. The secrets woman
talks about are of the kind that are unim-
pOrtant and mostly agreeable to hear. But
of serious secrets she is as reticent as the
grave. That is our observation and in
our various relations of physician lawyer
and uuordGined minister, we have had op-
portuniucs for a great deal of observation.
(NuycH 13rOc0fe
Year: 1871

The Democratic leaders of Ohio find if
hard to convince their old-time followers
that their new departure is peod Den5o-
cratic doctrine. The Columbus Statesman
admits that this portion of the platform is
not acceptable to a portion of the party.
and it tries TO allure them forward, telling
them that this is no time for the Democracy
least of all for the old guard of the party
to hang back
Year: 1871

In reply toayoung friend leaving a town
because some things i'm it were not exactly
to her taste or content, an old lady of eX-
perience said, "My dear, when you have
found place where every body and every
thing are always pleasant and nothing
whatever is disagreeable let me know, and
I'll move there too
Year: 1871

The reduction of the cotton acreage is
ten to twenty per cent. The crop is three
weeks backward. The average production
per acreage will be less than last year.
The increased acreage of grain is from
twenty to thirty per cent, with fair pros
pect.
Year: 1871

The information received is mostly from
the northeast portion of the State. The
reduction of cotton acreage is from % to
80 per cent, with corresponding increase
though with favorable season, an aver
aye crop is expected t..-r
Year: 1871

The cotton accounts are meagre, en-
bracing the west center and center of the
State, and thence northeast. The de-
crease in acreage is from twenty to thirty
three and a third per cent. in the North
east and twelve and a half to fifteen in
other sections heard from. ..


The condition is unpromising one-half
to three-quarters per acre of last years
yield is expected from corresponding in
crease of acreage.
Year: 1871

Close OF TIE Trial-The Jury Stand Ten for Con-
viction and Two for Acquittal-The Prisoner
Remanded and Held for New Trial at


the August Term-The Court House


Crowded and Great Excitement.
Year: 1871

A NICE SPECULATIoN.-A cow belong
ing to a western family recently strayed into
a neighbor's garden patch, and he secretly
peuned her up. The cows owners were
obliged to have milk, and hearing that
their neighbor had good COW, bought their
milk of him for three weeks. They then
ascertained that they had been buying what
was their own, and rushed to law for ven
geance- This is equal to the story told of a
Yankee out west, who during some excite
ment which called the neigbbors together,
raised tent over barrel of cider which
he had somehow obtained while it YVES yet a
rarity in that quarter, and began selling it
at twenty-five cents a glass. For while
his custom was tremendous, and his cider
was bringing a heavy revenue, when all of
sudden his customers grew fewer. Present
" man came in and asked him how much
cider was. When told that it was twenty
five cents glass, the would-be customer told
the cider vender that he could get it around
the corner for ten cents glass. Supposing
his was the only cider within hundreds of
miles, the man went with the other on a
tour of discovery, and found, to his conster-
nation, that some one had pitched tent
Immediately to the rear of his, covering the
end of his cider barrel which he had left
exposed, tapped it, and was doing an ex-
tensive business at very little expense.
Year: 1871

1t never pays to fret and growl
When fortune seems our foe;
The better bred will push ahead
And strike the brayer blow.


For luck is work,


And those who shirk
Shoald not lament their doom,


But yield the play,


And clear the way
That better men have room.
1t never pays to wreck the health
In drudging after gain,
And he is sold who thinks that gold
Is cheapest bought with pain


All humble lot,


cosy cot,
Have empted even kings;


For station high,


That wealth will buy,
Not Oft contentment brings.
1t never pays! blunt refrain
Well worthy of a song,
For age and youth must learn the truth
That nothing pays that's wrong.


The good and pure


Alone are sure
To bring prolonged success,


Whilo what is right


In Heavens sight
Is always sure to bless.
Year: 1871

Gluttony is the source of all our diseases.
As lamp is choked by superabundance
of oil, fire extlnguished by excess of fuel,
so is the natural health of body destroyed
by Incorporate diet.
Year: 1871

The following description Of how Mrs
Henry Ward Beeeher dressed for her first
party is from the Christian Union:


" We vividly remember the look Of dis
satisfaction on our grandES.sAAss1s face,
a dear little woman, nearly eighty years
old, whose keen black eyes flashed omin-
ously as we came before her for inspec-
ton, dressed for our first party. We
stood, at fourteen, full head taller, but
we're abashed at the diglihed air Of
authority with which she descanted on
the righteousness Of our attire. A very
narrow skirt, With a few gathers in the
back, and three small pleats on e9ch side
1T took but six OF seven yards then for
a dress-a full waist, with a narrow band
round the neck like a baby's slip, and
the bels almost under the arm; a large
Year: 1871




His wOruI Failures in speech


Making.


James F. Fields in Atlantic Monthly.l


The most finished and elegant of all
lecturers, Thackeray, often made very
poor appearance when he attempted to
make a set speech to public assembly.


He almost always broke down after the


first two or three sentences. He pre-
pared what he intended to say with great
exactness, and his favorite delusion was


that he was about to astonish everybody
with remarkable effort. 1t never dis
turbed him that he commonly made a
woful failure when he attempted speech
making, but he sat down with such cool
serenity, if he found that he could not
recall what he wished to say, that his au-
dience could not help joining in smiling
with him when he came to a stand-still.
Once he asked me to travel with him
from London to Manchester to hear
great speech he was going to
make at the founding of the Free Library
Institution in that city. All the way
dowr he was discoursing of certain effects
he intended to produce on the Manches-
ter dons by his eloquent appeals to their
pockets. This passage was to have great
influence with the rich merchants, this
one with the clergy, and so on. He said
that although Dickens and Bulwer and
Sir James Stephens, all eloquent speak
ers, were to precede him, he intended to
beat each of them on this special occa-
sion. He insisted that should be seated
directly in front of him, so that should
have the full force of his magic eloquence.
The occasion was most brilliant one;
tickets had been in demand at unheard
Of prices several weeks before the day
appointed the great hall, then
open for the first time to the
public, was filed with an audience
such as is seldom convened, even
in England. The three speeches which
came before Thackeray was called upon
we're admirably suited to the occasion
and most eloquentlg spoken. Sir John
Potter, who presided, then rose, and,
after some complimentary allusion to
the author of VANITY Fair," intro
duced him to the crowd, who welcomed !
him with ringing plaudits. As he rose !
he gave me a half wink from under |
his speetacles, as if to say; Now for
it; the others have done very well, |
but ] will show EN- grace beyond |
their art. He began in clear and |
charming manner, and was absolutely |
perfect for three minutes. In the mid
Ole Of a most earnest and elaborate
sentence, be suddenly stopped, gave a
look of comic despair at the ceiling,
erammed both hands into his trousers
pocke;s, and deliberately sat down.
Everybody seemed to understand that it
was one of Thackeray's unfinished
speeches, and there were no signs of sur
prise or discomfort among his audience.
He continued to sit on the platform in
perfectly composed manner, and, when
the meeting WGs over, he said to me,
withouta sign Of discontinue, Myboy,
you have my profoundest sympathy this
day yon have accidentally missed hear
ing one Of the finest speeches ever COM
posed fer delivery By great British ora
tor" And 1 neEes Geard him mention
the subject again
Year: 1871

/


1 Yesterday i heard an old negro ex-


planning to few of his color his reasons


for having voted the Democratic ticket.


Said he, as he made fierce gestures with


his weather-beaten hand, 7" Yes, you're


right, did vote the Democratic ticket


It's the first time ! ever did, and unless


they run this here gov ment better than
the Radicals have it will be the last


time. Ipropose for to try EN-. Why is


times hard, and why amt thar no money


in the country? The Radicals are play


ing smash with everything. | com


menced for to vote the Radical ticket


over two years ago, and ever since that
time money has been getting scacer and
scacer, and now don't see ten dollar
bill once month. l hain't got cents
now where | used to have dollars when |
commenced for to vote the Radical
ticket. We must have a change in this
here business, or we'll all go up, white
and black alike. Talk about the Radi-
Gals being friends to the colored menl
Any man with half an eye can see that
they amt friends to anybody but them
selves. They're arter the office which
draws them big pay and takes all the
money out of the country, and makes
cotton go down so that a darky
cant earn enough in a year to buy
hoe-cake for Christmas. That's what
they do. Who lent me a mule
last summer to finish my crop, when
mine had broke his leg trying to get over
the fence2 Was it a Radical? No;
they'd have seed my crop go to weeds
afore they d have did it. Fact is, mighty
few Of them have got any mules to lend
1t was Democrat who came to me and
says, Joe, you've had bad luck; you
will lose all your work unless you can
get nag to finish your crop. Go to my
stable and get that old mule that's blind
in one eye, and pay me what's right for
her when the crop is made paid him
up like a man. When | was sick last
summer, and didn't have bite in the
house to eat, who brought me the hunk
of bacon2 1t was this ere same Demo
crat, and now when he wants my vote he
can get it. A man who sticks up to me,
Tll'stick up to him all the time, and, so
saying, the ancient negro walked off,
leaving his little circle of listeners to
comment upon his speech and digest his
wisdom. One said that he had been
bought up; that man who would sell
out for a hunk of bacon wasn't any ac-
count. Another thought his head was
level, and another said something in
vague way about fools. 1t seemed to be
his opinion that they were not all dead
yet.-DaLton GG.) Letterin Cincinnati
Commercial.
Year: 1871


The old years dead and gone;
But on its tablet is inscribed
The silent grief of many hearts
For loved ones that have died.
Our noble LEE has fallen, too.
With the departed year,
And all the tribute we can pay
Is sympathetic tear,
For him who was so true and good,
So generous and so brave;
All that remains of Robert Lee
Now fills hero's grave.
Yes! he is calmly sleeping now
Beneath the silent sod,
And his pure spirit gone to reign
With the redeemed of God.
Though he is gone, forever gone,
Yet still his name we love!
That name whose glory doth resound
From earth to heaven above.
The name of Robert Edward Lee
Will never be forgot.
By any true born Southerner,
In mansion or in cot.
Our children will be taught to lisp
The name of Robert Lee,
With reverence and awe sublime
Through all posterity.
Then let us try to initiate
Oar chief, so good and true,
That when we die it may be said,
He fills Christians grave.
MEMPHIS, January 4, 1871.