The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-19

foremen and assistant foremen direct the course OF
their machines from point TO point; the junior
beers Of the brotherhood fly with the speed Of thought
from front to rear and to front, displaying all
the impetuosiiy Of youlb with all the irreguariy Of
inexperience The well disciplined senior with
anxious, but collected counenance directs his efforts
with precision and force. The more timid Of the
unhoused sufferers rush along in wild alarm, while
the sefpossessed gather up the fragments snatched
from the deyouring element, and are occupied in
Transporting them to place Of safety But huge
column OF fame and smoke now pierces the heavens,
and the crash Of falling limbers, and masses of brick
and stone, is heard high above the din The we'll
trained fireman has just quilted his perilous station
on the wall, and covered with cinders, ashes and
mortar, appears unhurt among his comrades.
And now look about you, if lover OF the pic
turesque, and view a scene worthy Of the delinea-
tion Of Hogarth. Stretched as far as the eye
reach on either hand, the motley crowd are illumi-
mated by the ocean Of fame which rolls and darts
from side TO side, If sashng itself into fury pre-
paratory TO the final struggle. Here may be seen
standing oul in bold relief the haggard lneaments of
Vce-he bloaled face and disended eye balls Of Dis
sipation-the fierce glance OF Passionate clouded
visage of Anxiety--the wrinkled brow OF Care-the
fnrrowed cheek Of Grief-the withered form Of Dis
ease--the tattered garb of Perjury :-Yonder stands
the pampered favorte Of Wealth joslled by the beg
gar who was but now spurned from his door; write
and vice-male and female-all conditions, sexes,
coors and ranks, are here mingled in temporary fet
lowship-every feature exposed and every form
distinct in the glare Of this artificial day.
But the scene appears not alone TO The eye. Every
emotion which agitates the human breast here ndsa
ho u,1J ,tnlta The l%,tc eho
Of merriment--lhe reckless glee OF boyhood-the
feeble wall Of infancy-the agonizing shrek Of su-
fering-the rude rebuke Of austerity--the alluring
accents Of decet-he stern mandates Of authority,
are all blended in strange discord
The willy courtezan is plying her insinuating tale
into the charmed ear of some country dupe; the
curious searcher after hidden secrets accosts each
by-sander in turn to ascertain the Of the con-
fagration the names OF the sufferers and the amount
Of loss; the mechanic whispers to his fellow that its
III wind that blows nobody any good; the thirsty
wine bbber seeks convenient tavern; the lark out
on "spree" jeers and elbows every one he meets,
until some "ugy customer" lays him sprawling in
the gutter the Engineer issues his orders through
hisspeaking trumpet-the cracking flames chronicle
the progress Of events the sufferer laments his
fate and all the opposite and varied feelings Of the
throng burst audiby on the ear Of the listener.
But ere long the raging element wanes before the
powerful efforts Of the fremen the gaping crowd
one by one steal away to their several places of
sidence the successful pickpocket bears off his ill
gotten wealth to enjoy night OF debauchery, and
on the morrow become The tenant of prison, and
before you are aware the multitude have vanished,
and you comparatively alone.
Such is New York Fire. That there is GER
tain wild excitement connected with the discharge
Of the duties Of Fireman cannot be doubted. 1t
the energies of the enthusiastic and appeals
to the pride of the daring. A New York Fireman
is indeed study. The class to which he belongsis
unique Every true member of the Department is
an enthusiast. His Engine is to him, what Bucepha
lus was to Alexander. BY no meaner hand must its
rapid course be steered. He will do battle with
Giant who questions the superiority Of his machine.
What! any other Engine overflow the saucy num-
Der Eighth" The assertion is monstrons not to be
endured-blood can scarcely wash out the insult
Sleeping with one eye open, he is ever ready for
alarm. The first tap Of the bell arouses him from
slumber and it has 3" tolled thrice" he has sped
on his way. Compensation, in any shape he spurns.
He is jolly volunteer, rescung life and property
from destruction from the love he bears 'he human
race. Autaran in precept and practice, he drone
receives no countenance from him. He scorns IT,
lanhropis in its most enlarged sense; neither friend
ship nor enmily quickens or retards his movements
Om,card! is his motto and he lives up 10 its ex-
actions. W..
Like true patriot he has enlisted for the cam
paign and will not pause until the enemy is routed.
View yon ancient relic of the department. He is
exempt iremen. Unable to compete with his youth
full successors his soul Is, nevertheless, In the
test lowering around the scene, he cheers the ac-
tive and rebukes the suggard. He remembers the
days of his glory and he signs TO think they will ne
yer return The heart of true fireman is open as
the day to melting charity.
For the widow or orphan OF a deceased brother, his
purse is ever ready. Like all brave men, he is
courteous to the fair and the Adonis of ball room
will not hand lady to her station in the cotillion
with more genuine grace than that with which he
escorts the alarmed female sufferer to place of Sc
curity Personal hazard is with him play thing.
He sports with danger and Laughs at peril Although,
occasionally, the hero of his own tale, yet he is no
egost. He attracts your attention TO the scenes in
which his own proves is conspicuous yet the whole
is related as matter Of course, and not events to ex
cite either wonder or admiration. The victor In an
hundred fights, yet like the throne dispenser of Eu-
rope he met his Waterloo at the great fire of Deem
Der, 1885
Deserted by his natural ally, and assailed by ad-
verse elements, he was fan to resign his watery
sceptre to the prowess Of the ice king But unlike
the Corsican conqueror no St. Helena chains his
energies, and the defeat of the hour has been amply
avenged Obedience to orders is his cardinal duty;
but attachment, not fear, prompts the ready COM
pliance He serves his chief with the fidelity due
to trusy comrade rather than naughty superior.
The ralyng cry Of his leader is " conner and he
follows-for the dangers he braves have been en-
countered by his chief Rocked as II were in the
cradle OF excitement, his feelings are proverbally
ardent but the hostility of the moment finds no lodg-
ment in his breast with due reparation ceases all