Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-02-24
THE CORK LEG,

" wears ago or more, by Henr,
Gassford Bell, an English author
has not gone therounds Of the news
papers for long time. 1t may b
well enough 10 give il a start for tn
benefit Of the rising generation.
,7-r. ilil asr Boston Journal.
% He who qhas been at ROTTERDAM
will remember a house of twr
stories, which stands in the suburb
just adjoining the basis of the cana
running between that city and th'
Hague, keyden, and other places
/ say be viii remember it, for il mus
have been pointed out to him a.
having been once inhabited by tht
most Ingenious artist that Holland
eyer produced, tosay nothing OF hi:
daughter, the prettiest maiden evel
born within hearing ef the croaking
Of a frog. tits not with the fail
Blanche, unfortunately, that we have
at present anything to do; il is with
the old gentleman, her father. His
profession was that of a surgical
Instrument maker; but his fame
rested principally on the skill with
which he constructed wooden and
cork legs. So great was his reputa-
tion in this department of human
science, that they whom nature or
accident had curtailed, carricatured,
or disappointed in so very necessary
an appendage to the body, came
timping TO him in crowds, and how
ever desperate their cases night be,
were very soon (as the saving is,)
set upon their legs again. Many a
cripple, who had looked upon his
deiormity as incurable, and whose
only consolation consisted in an
occasioned hit at Providence, for
having trusted his making 10 a jour-
neyman, found himself SO admirably
fitted, so elegantly propped up by
Mynheer Turningvort, that be al
most began TO doubt whether tins
Der or cork supporter was not, on
The whole, superior TO more COM
monplace and troublesome one of
flesh and blood. And, in good truth,
il yeu had seen how very handsome
and delicate were the understand
ings fashioned by this skillful arti-
ficer, you would have been puzzled
to settle the question yourself, the
more especially if your real toes
we've tormented with gout or corns.
One morning, Just as Master Tur-
ningvort was giving the last polish
to calf and ancle, a messenger
entered bis studio (to speak classical
ly,) and requested that he would i'm
mediately accompany him to the
mansion oil Mynheer Won Woden-
block. II was the mansion OF the
richest merchant in Rotterdam; so
the artist put on his best wig, and set
forth with his three-cornered hat in
one hand, and his silver headed
stick in the other. 1t so happened
that Mynheer Won Wodenblock had
been very laudably employed few
DAYS before, in turning a poor rela-
ton out Of doors; but in endeayor
ing to hasten the odious wretch's
progress down stairs by slight i'm
pulse a posteyiori Qor Mynheer sell
dom stood upon ceremony with poor
relations.) he had unfortunately lost
his balance, and tumbling head long
from the top to the bottom, he found,
on recovering his senses, that he had
broken his right leg, and that he had
lost three teeth. He at first thought
Of having his poor relation tried for
murder; but being naturally Of a |
mercifnl disposition, he Oonly sent
him to gail on account of some un.
paid debt, leaving him there to enjoy
the comfortable reflection that his
wife and children were starving at
home. Ga .i.i'7
A dentist soon supplied the invalid
with three teeth, which he had
pulled out Of an indignant poets
head, at the rate of ten stivers
apiece, but for which he lprudently
charged the rich merchant one bum
dred dollars. The doctor upon ex-
aminiBg his leg, and recollecting that
he was at the time rather in want Of
a subject, cut it carefully off and
took il away with him in his cars
riage, to lecture upon TO his pupils
So Mynheer Woodenblock, consider
ing that he had been hitherto ac-
customed to walk and not to hop
snds being sperliaps somewhat pre-
JUDGED in favor of the former mode
Or locomotion. sent for our friend at
fhe canal basin, in order that he
might give him directions about the
with which he wished
70 be supplied For his lost member.
The artifcer entered the wealthy
burgher's, apartment. He was. re-
clining on the couch, with his left
leg looking as respectable as ever,
bnt with bis unhappy right stump
wrapped up in .bandages, as If con
scions and ashamed Of itstown little