Newspaper Page Text
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NORTH GEORGIA TIMES
Vol. VIH. New Series.
As tho Tears Go By.
Babes and their mothers’ lullaby;
Children at their daily play;
Maidens hearing their lovers sigh;'
~yomen brave in the world’s way—
Are of what we see and hear deal*
As the years go by;
Hear, dear,
As the years go by.
.J'
How tender is time, withal,
How kind to the good and true;
So gentle to me, withal,
So gracious and sweet to you,
This is what we see and hear, dear,
As the years go by;
Hear, dear,
As the years go by.
Time's finger marks wrinkles are,
Gray hairs its frost and decay,
A young heart has kept you far
From age marks and frost away.
It'is what we see and hoar, dear,
it As tho yqor s go by;
jt Hear, dearp*
As tbo years go by.
Time from your face stays sadness
Leaving the bright sunshine in;
Kisses ycur eyes in gladness,
Leaving the sweet lovelight in.
Oh, this do we see and hear, dear,
As the years go by;
Hear, dear,
As the years go by.
Sweet, let your birthdays come and go;
Put your hand and love in mine.
'You ore young for loving so;
I live because I am thiua.
All this do we see and know, a*
As the years go by;
Know, dear, ■
1 As the years go by, •
' i' —[Eugene Field.
Story of Old Man Finn,
I saw him last summer, working a
third-class wire in a Western city. In
xepiy to my inquiry, the chief operator
informed me that Finn had been given
employment tho day boforo. I met tho
old boy on tho stairs later in tho day,
and he said, in a weak voice, “Yes, I
am back horo agaiD, what there is left
of mo. My drinking day* are over, and
1 am about over too.” Ho certainly
looked bad, and I said to myself, “If
consumption hasn’t marked you for its
own, your appoaranco boliesyou.” My
gazo went wandering away from him as
he said sadly, ** -cant telegraph vory
well any more. My hand shakes, and
it is like sawing wood for mo to work a
Iwiro—even a way wire.” Then ho left
mo and pursued his way up stairs to the
’operating room. Old man Finn is not
more than 55 years of age, but ho has
(burned tho candle at both ends, and his
taervous system is fatally wrecked. Ho
Mas fallen into a decline of lato years,
(and there remains for him nothing, I
■fenr, but tho bitter dregs of existonco.
] Away back in tho sixties, whon I was
A mere lad, endeavoring to master the
[mysteries of telegraphy, Finn was iu
his prime. He was regarded as ono of
tho finest telegraphers in the country,
and at tho time I first knew him ho had
just completed his 21s: year. I doubt
if many young men who have their way
to mako in tho world, attain their ma
jjority under fairer auspices than ho did.
Intelligent, fine-looking, and tho master
of a profession which at that timo was
counted as ono of the fine arts, almost,
ho had, apparently, an enviable future
before him. Indeed, if I had been told
in thoso dear old days that I would
eventually reach what seemed in my
boyish eyes a pinnacle of glory*— 3 uch ns
ho occupied—I should havo been more
surprised and pleased than I' could bo
now over any prospect of future pros¬
perity short of a tight hold on Paradiso
Somebody lias recently writton a
poem in which two tramps figure. Ono
inquires on meeting tho other if there
is no shade treo near at hand, and tho
second replies, “Yes, a littlo further
down tho road.” Tho writer elaborates
this idea and says we are all tramps
looking for a shade treo. In hh view
It is always farther down tho road, and
but few of us evar reach it. Tho idea
is well enough but the view is too pes
simistic to pleaso me. I believe, on the
contrary, that wo are rather like child¬
ren straying through a houso in which
there are many rooms of exquisite love¬
liness, each more beautiful than tho pre¬
ceding one. Outside of tho mansion
we think we would bo content if wo
could gain the hall, but once within wo
stray on and on, with thoughts intent
upon the possibilities which lie beyond
and littlo heeding the increasing beauty
of our surroundings since we left the
threshold. It is better that we should
sometimos consider tho point from
which wo started. The experimont is
consoling at all events, and makes us
philosophic and more contented with
our social status. There are not many
of us who have made [the most of our
opportunities, who cannot say with the
Christian of old: “Oh, God, I havo
much to be thankful for.”
Old man Finn has not so much to be
thankful for as many, and. that he has
SPRING PLACE. GEORGIA, THURSDAY. AUGUST 30, 1888.
thrown away his opportunities is to my
mind the chief reason therefor. In tho
curt vernacular of Americans, wo often
have the solution of a problem in one
world. We hear of men in our own
and other professions who have extra¬
ordinary abilities, kindly natures and
many traits of character calculated to
endear them to their acquaintances. We
are told, however, that they are at
present “down in the world,” “utterly
used up,” &c., and when We inquire
the cause, the answer comes with pain
ful regularity iu that direful monosyl¬
lable “Rum.” Old man Finn’s failure
in life is also susceptible of explana¬
tion by the mention of that short sad
word. I do not moan to proach a tem
peranco sermon. In writing a sketch,
however, of a man whom I have known
and admired, and through whoso kindly
aid I was launched on a career which I
hopo I may be pardoned for considering
a modestly usoful ono, it will bo neces¬
sary to cite a fow facts. These facts
stand for thomselvo3. If they preach
anything I canuot help it.
How old memories coma crowding
upon too as I recall a lovely Sunday in
June so far away that I instinctively
look in tho mirror to see “if tho young
boy is gotting to bo an old boy,” and If
“the hair is growing thin on the old
boy’s head t” I was early at tho office
that morning and was copying, with tho
idea of becoming an operator, the
Morse alphabet from “Shaffaer’s Man¬
ual.” So was I with
work, and the difficulty I experienced
in fixing my chubby fingers around a
pen so as to como within speaking dis¬
tance of making tho characters conform
to those in Shaffner, that I di.l not no¬
tice that some one had entered. As I
was desperately struggling with tho
letter “J," and inwardly bo wailing my
lack of expertness with the pen, a voice
which startled mo at first, but which I
recognized at onco as Finn’s, said:
“Hop down off that stool, sonny, and
I’ll mako you the alphabet.” I quickly
surrendered tho task to tho more expe¬
rienced fingers of tho new comer,
who had boon looking over my shoulder,
and I took my place on tho messen¬
gers’ bench. Presently Finn handed j
mo a blank on which the alphabot, nu¬
merals and the punctuation points wore
given, and bolow thorn ho had written
in his own beautifully flowing chirogra
phv: “James Brady gave mo his pretty
black walnut box of quite small sizo.”
I bashfully expressed my thanks, but
uiy hoart was full enough of gratitudo
to have warranted something hotter
than I said, had- I been ablo to give
utteranoo to my feelings. After an¬
swering a call and taking several mes¬
sages, Finn started me out, saying as
I wont to doliver them, “You can
practice on that sentence when you
have learned to mako tho letters. It
contains all tho characters in tho al¬
phabet” I have given that littlo story
about Brady and tho small black wal¬
nut box to many aspiring youngsters
since thou. I wonder if any of them
ever prized it as highly as I did whon it
first became a part of my knowledge,
and I wonder, too, if among that small
band of youths, some of whom
became- operators, whilo others
failed in that to suc
coed afterward in other things, there is
one who ever looked upon mo as a half
human, half diviao porsonage, such as I
regarded Fian. Probably not. But if
there be one I am a much honored man,
for nothing I can feci for a human be¬
ing will ever excel my enthusiasm for
my old telegraphic hero. Even though
I have seen him often of late years un¬
der circumstances, which, for tho mo¬
ment, bereft him of all his old-timo
glory, still I go on remembering him—
bright, dashing and handsome, and am
thankful that I can. Old man Fins is
tho stern reality to nearly all who know
him now, but to mo he is an abstraction
merely—a reality which goes out of my
mind, giving place to my hero of yoro
tho momont ho leaves my prcsenco.
Before he had gone far on his down¬
ward course I had become an operator,
and worked by his side. I remember
that in ono of his exalted moods ho took
tho color out of my existence for a
month or more by a casual observation
which I can never forget. Liko many
young operators, I fancied, long before
I had perfected myself in my business,
that I had solved the problem. I spoke
in his presence to that effect one day,
and he said, with that charming blunt -
ness which is sometimes the result of an
indulgence in stimulant;
“You will become a decent operator,
but you are, of course, a frightful plug
now.” It cut me liko a knife, but I
needed tho lesson. Years afterward,
when I had progressed as far in tho tel¬
egraphic art as nature intended I should
ever go, I looked back on those earlier
years and felt that Finn was right. I
r had finally been taught tho bitter lessoa
which the great Newton confessed ;to
have learned, and I felt that the little
knowledge wo acquire is valuable child¬
ly as teaching us the density of our Ig¬
norance.
Finn’s character had a humorous vein
in it withal His ability as a “re¬
ceive?” Was the talk and wonder of th°
wholo section in which ho lived and
wrought. Ho never broke, his work
was accurate, and his penmauship mar¬
velous. One day art operator, wild
copied press Od tho snni; wire, visitod
us, and asked George how ho managed
to receivo report day after day without
oven breaking. Pointing to a primitive
contrivanco consisting of two lumbering
sounders and a quick switch fully four
feet square, situated on a shelf four feet
away, aud which did duty as a repealer
for Worcester, Finn replied dryly* “I
do sometimes lose a word, but I haVo
to watch that tat trap over there for
Worcester’s break, aud if a word slips
mo I can always spot it before it wig¬
gles through that aged threshing ma¬
chine.”
Tho time came when Finn could no
longer hold tho responsible position of*
night report operator and ho went
West;
From that time out, until recently, ho
has returned to mo at intervals varying
from six months to two years. Ho
plays tho rolo of tho “Friend of my
Youth.’ He has invariably appeared
without warning aud Uniformly ill* %
state of impccuniosity. Sometimes he
hailed from a Now England town
where he had secured a month's “sub¬
bing,” again he came from somo obscure
village on a branch of the Erio railroad
whero ho had boon buried aycar or two;
anon ho spoke of having just returned
from Wyoming Territory or of having
last worked in Texas.
But his appearance, from whatever
direction ho came, always carried mo
back to tbo halcyon days of my youth,
and invokod a vision of a brisk young
man stepping out of his way to perform
a kindly service for a round-faced coua
try boy como to tho city to seek his for
tune. That picture will always last
His Vants have generally boon modest.J
and I need scarcely add that his claims
on mo havo nover failed of recognition.
If, in opening ray purso, I hava some¬
times opened my lips and besought him
to bo a man, it is but common
justico to him to say that ho has invaria¬
bly promised to mend his ways. But ho
has steadily gone down hill, and has
well nigh reached tho bottom. I know
better than scarcely any other man cau
know, how hard he has tried to retraco
tho stops taken under social pressure,
years ago, and which havo led to his
docadenco, physically and intellectual¬
ly. Ho lias struggled against a cruel
fate and has failed. It was with sin
core sorrow that I last saw him pale,
weak and emaciated. I judgo that tho
old enemy is conquered at last; but it is
too lato. A more merciless enomy, ono
on whom wo may exhaust strength of
will in vain, is obviously preying upon
his shattered frame.
Somo day we shall read of his death,
and tho casual acquaintance will say:
“Drank himself into tho consumption.
Poor fellow! ho doservod a better end.”
and will think no more about him. But
when the writer reads that announce¬
ment ho will feel sad and grieved for
many a day; for Finn was onco kind to
a boy whoso cataloguo of friends was
limited enough then, and to whoso eyos
tho tears will start unbiddon when recur¬
ring Junes remind him that abovo tho
friond of his youth a mound rises on
which tho daisies bloom and tbo grass
waves sadly in tho summer air.—[Tho
Electric Age.
Applying the Method.
There was a slight impediment in a
little Boston girl's speech, and sho had
been “drilled” out of all patience by
well-intentioned teachers and friends.
When she received a doll for a birth- •
day present, she was delighted to find
that by pulling out a green string a
passable “mamma” was produced. But
the “papa” which followed the twitch¬
ing of a white string was imperfect, and
when the little mother discovered that
her child had inherited her own infirm
ity her heroic nature was shown, She
lost no time in putting to account her
own training, and pulling repeatedly on
the white string with an uufalteiing
hand, she said, firmly, “Dolly, you
must be trained till you learn to say
that plainer. [Detroit Free Press.
Needs Cleaning.
Brown: “I see that your watch, Rob¬
inson, is about an hour ahead of sun
time.”
Robinson: “Yes; I don’t see what’s
got into the sun lately,”—[Harper’s
Bazar,
THE MANCH1NEEL
A Highly Poisonous Plant of the’
Bahama Islands.
Used as a Panacea by the Su¬
perstitious Obeah-Men,
Tho West Indies abound with shrubs
and plants of medicinal properties, not a
few Of thorn being highly poisonous; in
the uso of those the Obeali-men ate pro¬
ficient. In most of tho islands thoman
chincel grows in more or loss abundance.
The tree is so poisonous that it is not
considered safe to take refugo from sun
or storm beneath its branches, aud whon
it is desirablo to destroy tho treo, it is
usual to mako a cirClo of fire around the
trunk and burn it dowD, so as to avoid
the risk of cutting it; Not unfrequcutly
leaves and branches of manchincol have
been, vindictively dropped into tanks or
wells of tlioso against whom certain per¬
sons may have a grudge. Any ono who
drinks water thus contaminated will, it
is said, gradually wasto away, and if
the uso of tho water is continued, doath
is tho result; So poisonous is tho man
chineol that during Very dry weather it
is not safe to cat tho land crabs, which,
at other soasons, aro reckoned delica¬
cies. However, during a drought land
crabs cannot resist a salad of tbo shin¬
ing evergreen lcavos, rather liko those
of tho camellia in appearance. The flesh
of crabs that haVo fod on this tree be¬
comes impregnated With tho poison.
As tho poisons used by tho Obcah*
men aro all vcgctablo and can bo gath¬
ered everywhere in tho bush and a3 tho
natives aro extremely averse to speak¬
ing on tho subject, it is difficult to ob¬
tain positive evidence about tho matter;
but there soems a vory general belief in
the West Indies among thoso whoso
opinion is worthy of respect that tho
process of “putting Obcah’ upon a man
is not always a purely spiritual weapon,
Tho reliauco on tho powers of tho bush
doctor is almost universal among tho
people, who greatly prefer him to the
Authorized {hVremedies practitioner. In somo cases
prescribed ara simple, if
not efficacious. A dose of soa water is
considered beneficial for a broken arm,
and to hold salt iu both hands is reck¬
oned a certain remody for various of
tho ills to which flesh is liable, and is
also hold to bo of uso in warding off
ghostly enemies in tho shapo of evil
It is common whon the bush doctor
is consulted for him to announce that
tho patient is suffering from an ailment
caused by tho presence of a boctlo or a
spider in ono of tho limbs. Tho doctor
proceeds to extract the intruder by
sucking the affected limb, producing
the creature from hi3 mouth at tho ond
of tho operation iu proof of its efficacy.
Spools of cotton, buttons, nails and so
forth are sometimes alleged to bo tho
causo of the illness, and are extracted
in a similar fashion. In liis character
as wizard, the Obcah-man is in request
to guard tho crops of pineapples or
oranges from tho hands of tho spoiler,
tho ships from storm and shipwreck, and
the crew from death and disaster. Not a
schooner leaves tho port but has a bit
of Obcah attached for good luck to tho
mast, whilo beneath their shirts a
string of charmed twine preserves tho
men from danger by land or wator.
Vacant houses aro also protected from
intruders during tho owner's absence by
the Obcah-man. To effect this polico
duty, a ball is rolled up containing a
few rusty old nails and somo pieces of
rushes, and laid on tlio threshold of tho
cabin; on seeing this mysterious ball,
no negro dares to enter tho houso un¬
lawfully. A rudely carved head, fas¬
tened on a treo, is a secure guardian for
cocoanut or orange grove, whilo a horn
with a cork on it stuck full of pins and
a bottle of water underneath is a i
favorite protection against thieves
or spirits. It would bo a bold evil
spirit who would enter tho field so
guarded. He knows right well that
tho pins would prick him and force
him to enter tho bottle of water; no ne¬
gro would dream of intruding within
an inclosure where such a bottle was
displayed. When the Obeah-man’s
charms are high or faith is weak, occa¬
sion ally the owner of a farm throws
himself on tho good feelings, of tho
depredators. I have seen a placard
fixed to a post in a field of maize on
which was painted the polite requost;
“If you steal the corn, do please leave
the blades.”—[NineteenthCentury.
A Meaty Conversation.
“How do you feel?” asked tho Mut¬
ton of tho Sausage Meat.
“All cut up” replied the Sausage
j Meat. “How aro you this morning?"
“I feel quite chop fallen.”—[Tid-Bita.
An American Circus In Mexico.
Describing his experiences in Mexico,
a showman said to a St. Louis Globe
Democrat repotten “The conduct of
Mexican people at a circus is not so de¬
monstrative as wo had been led to be
licve. Whenever an act afforded them
particular enjoyment they would call
out; ‘ Diana! Diana!” andnothing could
be done until tho band had played that
favorite tune. The national air is not
hoard except the governor be present
or his special permit has been given, or
it is May 5, the national holiday.
“We were never molested in Mexico,
except by nieu cutting tho canvas to
look in, and as every Mexican carries
arms wo nover thought it prudent to
object very strongly. Tho polico carry
sabers, revolvers, aiitl carbines. Ono
day I saw a pickpocket rot? a woman.
A policeman attempted tbo fellow’s ar¬
rest, but his saber was wrested from
him and with his own wonpon he was
disemboweled. Other policemen pur¬
sued tbo murderer. They did not place
liim undef attest but with their sabers
they hacked him to pioecs before my
eyes. There is no appeal from a magis¬
trate’s decision unless tho offonco bo of
tho highest grade, and then an appeal
lies to tho governor. Occasionally ho
may reterso the decision of tho magis¬
trate, but by the tlmo tho edict is re¬
ceived tho poor fellow may have beqn
legally executed. Wo Wore treated
with the utmost civility and attention.
Tho governor of Monterey sent us his
band to play at our entertainments, and
soma of tho highest officials presented
my partner's wife with a tricolor sash,
hung with gold pieces of upward of
$250 valuo. Tho sash boro tbo names
of tho donors and tho name of tho lady.
Tho regular prico of admission to tho
show wa3 $1, but soldiers were ad¬
mitted for 12 1-2 cents each. Tho
privato soldiers, you know, aro all con¬
victs, and aro uudor guard in times of
peaco. In battle, I am told, they aro
courageous, and in tho main quite trust¬
worthy. Gambling is a universal ac¬
complishment, and so adept ara tho
MoxicaDS at all kinds of games that
some American fakirs, who followed
tho show into the republic with thim¬
ble rigs and other contrivances, could
mako no money and returned in dis¬
gust.”
Ventriloquism in Nature.
While pioneering in south Brazil Mr.
Withers was struck by tho low ond
plaintive cry of somo creature calling in
tho night. Ho was at first impressed
with tho idea that it wa3 tho cry of a
child, but tho tones soon convincod him
that this could not bo tho case,
‘T had never heard,” ho says, “a
more pure and liquid musical sound
than this was. Tho pleasing effect upon
tho ear was but littlo diminished on
learning by what animal it was pro¬
duced. Tlio vocalist was a frog; and
soon anothor from a more distant spot
took up tho strain, and tlio two sang
together, now in solos, now in chorus.
Curious to seo this musical frog, I took
a torch from the fire and wont to look
for him. I arrived at the spot whenco
the sound was proceeding, but, as I
stooped to search tho grass, tho music
seemed to float away to another place
some yards distant. I followed, and
still tho sound moved, and nowhere
could I discover whence the sound came.
I searched for nearly a quarter of au
hour, without being ablo to fix the spot,
and then I gave up in despair. Tho
fact is, the frog is recognized to be a
ventriloquist of no common ordor. I
havo many a timo since heard him cry¬
ing in broad daylight; and tho power
of ventriloquism is no doubt given him
&3 a protection against tho numerous
cranes and other frog enemies that
would otherwiso' bo guided by tho
sound, and soon render tho species ex¬
tinct.”—[Youth’s Companion.
> Utilizing Suu’s Heat.
the
Ono of the most interesting and prac¬
tical methods o£ utilizing tho heat of
the sun is that recently invented by
Professor Morse, of Salem, Mass. The
arrangement consists of a shallow box,
the bottom of which is of corrugated
iroD, and tho top of glass. This is
placed outside the building in such a
position that the sun shines directly upon
it; the heat rays of the sun pass directly
through tho glass, and aro absorbed by
tho iron, heating it to a high tempera¬
ture, and by a system of ventilation a
current of air is passed through the ap¬
paratus and into the room to be boated.
By this means the air has been heated
on sunny days to about 90 deg. Fahr
by passing over the iron.—[Public
Opinion. ___
Let every man take care how he
speaks or writes of honest people, and
not set down at a venture the first
thing that comes uppermost.
NO. 30.
A Spray of Apple Blossoms. \
They lay on the broad, low window ledge,
Where the hand of a little child
Had placed them, dewy, and fresh, and
sweet; r
And the grandmother had smiled, -
And softly stroked with her wrinkled hand
The curly, tumbled head;
And then the ne:dles bright were still;
Unrolled tbo snowy thread.
For, borne on the breath of the apple bloom,
She lived in the golden past;
She saw an orchard where blossom snows
Were falling thick and fast,
Falling upon the the fair, bent head
Of a maiden in girlhood's prime,
Heading a letter, worn and creased
From folding many a time.
“When tho apple blossoms are here once
more,
I shall come back, Allaire,
Shall come for my answer.” The scented
wind,
Which ruffled tho maiden’s hair,
Brought to her cars a well-known voice,
She turned in a startled way:
“I have coma for my answer; what is it,
dear?”
What could she do but lay
Her hands in the eager, outstretched oues?
Ahl life is sweet in June,
When hearts keep time to tho liquid Row j
Of life, and light, ami tune;
And when, in lior snowy, lloating .veil,
She stood on her bridal morn.
She would have but tho tinted apple bloom
Her white robe to adorn.
Through the open window the western wind
Blew soft on the wrinkled face,
When a smile shone, sweet as that, could be
Which had lit her girlhood grace.
A little voice called bor truant thoughts:
“Grandpapa sont me to see
If you know that the clock has been striking
six?
And ho wants you to pour his teal"
—[Good Housekeeping.
HUMOROUS,
A pet on tho lap—Pussy at a milk
can.
Tho child of tho soa—-Tho harbor
buoy.
Tho lumberman is tho logician of tho
woods.
A howling swell — Tho soa in a
storm.
A carpenter isn’t needed to frame an
excuse.
Nows qf the weak— Reports it om tha
hospitals.
Why was a certain raco horse appro¬
priately named “Bad Egg?"—He could
not bo boaton.
Sailor: “Did you ever seo vessels in
a fight?" Landsman: “No, but I’va
seen a ship spar.”
Tho hungry, shipwrecked sailor,
clinging to tho raft in midocean, always
longs for chop soas.
Purchaser—Can tho parrot speak
Spanish and English? Fancier—Cer¬
tainly; it’s a polyglot.
A mustard plastor does not seem
smart at first, but it makes its impres¬
sion by hard, steady application.
You can never convince the follows
that aro locked up that stono walls do
not a prison mako nor iron bars a cago.
Tho next report of the agricultural
department should givo U3 some statis¬
tics as to tho number of rakes in society.
Omaha Councilman (traveling in
Europe)—“What’s them bluffs?” Na¬
tive— “Those, sir, are tho Alps."
“Humph! They need grading badly.”
Nothing can equal tho postage stamp
for evenness of temper and calm. You
can lick it until it perspires in every
pore, but it won’t even change color.
American genius should utilize the
grasshoppers. There is no doubt they
could be dried, pulverized and made
into soup cakes for uso of the army and
navy.
It is an interesting psychological fact
that when a man slips down by stopping
on a banana pool, ho always looks as
though he would liko to stop on the
peal of lauJhtor that follows.
Clarissa writes to ask “if there is
anything to prevent a woman from be¬
coming president of tho United States.”
There is, Clarissa, there is; and the
thing i3 commonly called votes.
Young Mr. Guy, always interested in
the study of owls, tried to go below,
but found the companion door of the
ocean steamer locked. “My goodness,”
he exclaimed, “I’m decked out tonight,
for sure.”
Every time: Ada—“Are you study¬
ing French and German?’ Alice—“Yes,
German with old Prof. Schwachougen
and French with young Prof. Gaston
Cheri.” Ada—“Which language do
you prefer?" Alice—“French.”
Funny Man’s Little Boy: Papa, what
does the senate do with treaties? Fun¬
ny Man: My son, it codifies fisher'
treaties and ratifies Chinese tres
There, now, run away and laup’
let the gray matter in papa’s b
a chance to recuperate,
