The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-24

ticted upon the character of our fire companies
This Is the first time a wanton outrage of such a
nature has been enacted in city-it Is, in our
belief the first time that the mean revenge of any
persons, however depraved has been expressed in
the destruction Of valuable property Whether it
will he tamely submitted to, the perpetrators of
il will be detected and punished, we cannot tell but
it is our sincere wish that such an example will be
made of them will forever deter Others from
initiating this base conduct
On Saturday night there more fire alarms,
evidently produced for the purpose of bringing
about hostile meetings of fremen, and in this the
aarmists were successful. There was good deal
Of fighting and rowdyng in several parts of the
city. Arrests were made, but the police officers
were overpowered and the captives liberated We
hope our city authorities will at act with vigor
in this matter. II is manifestation of the
mob spirit, and should be met in such manner as
will convince highhanded and unprincipled per-
sons that the laws and the rights Of the peaceabe
and the well-disposed cannot be invaded with i'm
punity.
yesterday morning satisfied II was n pretty
warm day. Shirt collars could not stand it, espe-
cially where they comprised fat necks and fat
gentlemen themselves grew choleric. In the after
noon there came pleasant blast of wind and
pleasant little shower and then the lovely rainbow
spanned the eastern sky-beautful in its majestic
proportions, in its gorgeous hues, and in its holy
associations-a bow of promse-the visible signet
ot God, set in the heavens To remind US of s mer-
cies and his love.
AT night, there followed copious and refreshing
showers and many there were who sank to sleep
in the enjoyment of grateful feelings for the goodly
shelter above them and awed into reverence by the
deep toned voice of the echoing thunder
QUEER Box.An elderly gentleman from vir.
GINA was last week on a visit to Washington city,
enjoying its pleasant sights and sounds, and on
Thursday afternoon ventured upon the grounds ad-
jaccnt TO the Presidential mansion He was soon
accosted in a very bland manner by a very bland
gentleman, who declared il to be his duty to con-
duct strangers about the premises. The elderly
gentleman was pleased with the strange gentle
mans polite manners, and the agreeable service
he offered to perform, and sauntered over the
greensward and beneath outrageous trees by his
side. third gentleman of equally pleasing exte
rior soon approached them, and d sired to know If
the Patent Othce was yet open. The ccerone knew
all about this; il was his duty to know it. The
Patent Office was not open. The stranger was
sorry To learn this. He about to patent little
by any one not initiated into the mysterious man.
ner of opening it. 1t was intended TO contain
opium, which ought not to be handled by every
body. He would let the two gentlemen see the
box, and would bet thirty dollars they could not
open 1t. While they examined il he tarried behind
to look at something else. The polite guide of the
elderly gentleman turned the box over in his hand
and opened it! He was delighted. II he had thirty
dollars he would bet with the foolish inventor Per-
haPs the elderly gentleman had thirty dollars.
mat gentleman did happen to have that amount
III ms pocket and, as there was no danger Of losing
1t, II was at his new friends service The san.
guine inventor now overlook them, and he produced
his thirty dollars. The box was coscd and handed
TO the polite guide to open; but he could not, Mel
Their could the elderly gentleman. They both tried
very hard! 1t must have been accidentally onened
before. Many efforts were made but 10 no mr.
pose. The box could not be opened And 40 the
winning party took his box aud his thirty dollars
and the elderly gentlemans thirty dollars, and the
elderly gentleman's guide and companion also,
and departed, and left the elderly gentleman TO
mediate on the bad box he bad been in. and
the box he could not open, and the polite friend
he had 80 suddenly lost, and the thirty dollars
that went with that friend, and the many years
oil life he had passed without getting a right
understanding of the box camel And the elderly
gentleman was chagrined very much and seemed
to have made a discovery respecting himself which
corresponds with the self knowledge of a great
many persons who chance TO get old in this world
oil box games and other strsafens and iniquities
s"HIT LAMps.-We cannot count all the acct
dents we have lately heard Of resulting from care.
lessness in the Of this article In our opnon
Il very safe thipr-in safe banda and "A eh,,,ld