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About North Georgia times. (Spring Place, Ga.) 1879-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1888)
■ 4 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,
