Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-01-21
20 ETRY Y.
OLD TIMES AND NEW.

Whose luck it was to land
Upon almost the only rock
Among the plymouth sand.
In my minds eye, saw them leave
Their weather beaten bark
Before them spread the wintry wilds,
Behind, rolled ocean dark.
Alone that little handful stood
While savage foes lurkcd nigh,
Their creed and watchw ord, 'FTrust in God
And keep your powder dry"
dmagina,ion's pencil then
That first stern winter painted,
When more than half their number died
y And stoutcst spirits tainted.
A tear unbidden filed one eve,
My smoke had filed the other;
One sees strange sights at such a time,
Which quite the senses bother.
knew was alone-but lol
Net him who darcs, deridc me-
looked, and, drawing up chair,
Down sat man beside me.
His dress was ancient, and his air
Was somewhat strange and foreign
He civiiy returned my stare,
And said s'l'm Richard WARREN"
'You'll find my name among the list
OF hero, sage and martyr,
Who, in the Mayhowcr's cabin, signed
The first New England charter.
4 could some curious facts impart-
Perhaps, some wise suggestions
But then, I'm bent on seeing sights.
And running o'cr with que stions."
"Ask on,' said I, 'sI'n do my best
To give You information,
whether OF private men you ask,
Or our renowned nation"
Says he, "First tell me what is that
In yon compartment narrow,
Which seems to dry my cyeballs up,
And scerch my very marrow"
His finger pointed to the crate
Said I-''That's Lehigh coal
Dug from the carth"-he shook his head
''lti is, upon my soul 20
I then took up bit Of stick,
One end was black as night.
And rubbed it quick across the hearth,
When 10, a sudden light!
My guest drew back, uprolled his eyes,
And stroyc his breath to catch
What necromancy's that" he cried
Quoth j, ga friction match"
Upon pipe Just overhead,
turned little screw,
When forth, with instantaneous fash,
Three streams Of lightning flew.
Uprosc my guest: ssNow heaven me save"
"Is that hell FREQ s"Tis gas,'' said ],
1--WE call it hydrogen
Then forth into the fields VIC strollcd,
A train came laundering by
Drawn by the snorting iron stccd,
Swifter than eagles fly.
Rumbied the wheels, the whistle shriekcd,
Far strcamcd the smoky cloud,
Echoed the hills, the valleys shook,
The flying forests bowed.
Down on his knees, with terror frausht,
The wondering Warren fell
hence comes the winged chariot,
1pray thee quickly tell"
Rise up, my friend, rise up said /,
"Your terrors all are vain
That was no chariot of the sky,
Twas the New York mail train -
We stood within a chamber small
Men came the news to know,
From Worcester, Springfield and New York,
Texas and Mexico
II camc-it went-siIent but sure
He started, smiled, burst out laughing;
"What wtchcraft's that ?''-ssit's what we call
Magnetic telegraphing."
Once more VIC stepped into the street;
Said Warren, ''What is that
(Which moves along across the way
Gas softly as cat?'
al mean the thing upon two legs,
with feathers on its head
"A monstrous hump below its waist
"Largc as a feather bed:
cit has the gift of speech, hear:
t'But sure it can't be human?''
only amiablc fricnd,'' said J.,
"That's what VIC call a woman"
az woman, that ii cannot be-"
Sighed he, with voice that fatcrcd;
! loved the women in my day.
"But, oh! they're strangely altered"
! showed him then new machine
For turning eggs to chickens,
labor saving hennery
That beats the very dickens.
Thcreat, he strongly grasped my hand
And said, '"Tis plain to see,
"This world is so transmogriGed,
"'Twill never do for me-
"four tcicgraphs, your railroad trains,
fYour gas lights, friction matches,
"Your hump backed women, rocks for coal,
"Your thing which chickens matches,
"EIavc turned the earth so upside down,
''No peace is left within it'--
Then, whirling round upon his heel
He vanished, in minute.
Forthwith. my most vcracious pen
Wrote down what had heard
And here, dressed up in doggerel rhyme,
You have il, word for word