Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-10-14
From the Knickcrbocker.
The Noon-Tide Gun at the .Palais Royal.

The NoOn-Tide Gun at the Ra4als Royal
The sun is the symbol of utilitarianism; the
moon that of romance. 1t is the blazing light OF
the present age of railway aud telegraph, compar-
ed with the clear obscure OF the past age OF stage
coaches and chivairy. But, as that very clear-ob-
scure is in ITSELF material element of the drs P0-
etico, it is but right and natural that the moon
shouldI continue 10 enjoy monopoly OF allfthat
constitutes romance, and certainly, she has con-
tved to appropriate TO herself pretty good share
of all the compliments, oaths, and eplthetS that
have been lavisied from any date you please up to
the present. The chaSte moon, the yellow noon
the silver moon, the new moon, the full moon, the
horned moon, the harvest moon, the May moon, the
crescent moon, "Lady, by yonder blessed moon L
swear" (Shakspeare;) "the Devils IN the moon
for mischiefP' (Byron.) Hernomenclature is end
less; great is the countenance afforded by Ter TO
the lover and the poet; and this, coupled with
certain quiet mystery which enShrouds her, has
rendered her immensely popular with the contem-
pative. tBut the practical man of progress says:
''GiVe me the sun; the matteT-O' fact, work-0 day
sum-" Perhaps the practical man of progress is
right. An excellent authority says that the moon
was caught "sleeping upon bank at Belmont,
over the water from bridge linked Venice" Prob
ably the bank at Belmont was robbed that very
night. Bat who ever heard of bank being rob
bed while the sun was up and watching itf No
body. He is the Chief Of Police, is the sun; and
although his epithets may be but few, and some OF
them the reverse of MISUNDERSTANDING, Tor IN
stance, calls him the "bloody sun"-yet, even as
Old Sol Phabus, the tanner, has he acquired an
undying reputation. -alI-trades, from
Matching an eggof ''plumed oStIidge" inthe sands
of Africa, to breaking up the ice-uVeted lakes oil
the polar regions; from tightening up The land
scape of Italy in tones but ieehly to be initiated
even by Claude, TO knocking off in less than two
minutes family group of yourself, your vile and
yonr seven blessed babes, with + truth not to be
touched even by Vandyke. Great policeman,
tanner, incubator, engineer, artist, and artillery
man, are only few of the phrases under which
the versatile, worka-day runs daily his career
OF ages. At present, however, we have only TO do
with him in his military capacity. AS nn artist he
partly owes his reputation to Frenchman, the
late ingenious Daguerre, who first employed him
upon the lucrative branch OF portraits; anu 1t is IN
French service, also, that he duly takes up his po-
ston as an artilIery-man in the Palais Royal. Let
us dtaw upon the French, then, for few words
respecting his military career, some account OF
which is to be found in the NOuoeGu IdbLeGu de
Paris.
In the garden of the Palais Royal there stands
small cannon, mounted upon pedestal. Over
the touch. hole of this gun burning glass IS pla-
ced, so regulated as to give lire the momsnt lie
sun reaches the meridan-a service which, OF
course, can only be counted when the sun chooses
10 shine. so that he IS, literally, volunteer,
comes or stays away, just as he pleaseS.
On a bright morning, this garden is place of
very general resort. People go there to read the
newspapers, whichyou can hire at the pavIlIons
that stand at either end of the garden. You can
get chair there, too, and place it to suit your
COM enience; or you may read standing up or
walking about, if you like it better; but you must
| pay for the chair all he same. Asnoon is draw
| ing on, if the sun shines out, people begin TO
thTong round the gun, waiting for his report the
| time of day. Ons gentleman there looks very
much interested indeed Plobabiy he does
not possess a watch, and depends, therefore,
on the gun for q time. piece. That stout indlvld-
al has watch, though, stout like HIMSELF and
nearly the size of an average warmlng-pnn; and
with this in hand, and the key in the other, he
stands ready 10 set it 10 second, SO that he may
| be able 10 state with confidence, Il am with the
gum which, in this case, is equivalent TO being
with the sun.
Yonder waits a country-genteman, who has
never seen the sun in his artillery uniform, but
has determined TO enjoy the sight during his pres
ent visit 10 the great city. This is the fourth time
he has come to the garden for that purpose; but
! The weather has been cloudy and the gunner has
not been at his post. On every one OF these &C.
casions he has forwarded dispatch 10 lis wife in
the country, stating that the had missed fire;
upon which the answer makes: Ill that's all you
want 10 see in Paris, think the sooner you come
home, tue better; the old Sun-dlal IN our garden
neuer misses fire. But brighter days come at last
ind our country gentleman PUSHES once more to
the garden in the full expectation OF being able,
this time to obtain matter for a more encouraging
dispatch to his wife.
i Now comes the gGmins, closing about the gum;
lIe putt "
day must be matter of utter Indifference, but
who like TO hear cannon go off, simply because
it makes noise.
/ Next swogger in some of the men about town;
walking gentlemen, who follow no particular &C.
cupation, but who enter the garden by chance,
and remain there until gun-fire, because they want
something 10 distract them. Perhaps they think,
also, that time may be killed by cannon shot.
Lastly flock in the nursery maids, with their
4 Young charges. 'fYoung Harry with his beaver
4 onyJ ;nsic paf Is the
bic, because papa says the smell OF powder will
make SOLDIER Of him; while little Mademolsells
Louise wants 10 run away, and pulls her GOnne by
the skirt, 10 keep her from going near the nasty
great cannon. But Jeanette, the 6On1te, magnet
lied by the basiisk eye of trooper in the crowd,
stands her ground, and says, as she administers o
wholesome shake 10 the little missy: eve must
stay here, because people mustn't be cowaTdSj and
besides, when the gun goes OIL, there is no more
fear of thieves nor nothing" Just as Jeanette
has arrived at this logical conclusion, the gentle
men who do q conveyancing business IN watches,
| handkerchiefs, and snuff boxes, and who never
lose opportunity OF exercising thelrproleSSlonal
abilities, enter the garden and mingle the crowd
around the gun.
The moment arrivesj every body is on tip-toe;
and Just as every body is about to give it up, bang
goes the gun. Then the gGn'ins jump ard shout
| for Joy; and the stout gentleman who has his gold
watch out returns it complacently 10 bis fob, and
smiles with satisfaction as he says: Just with the
gun; have the sun in my pocket"
A fat old lady who is passing through the garden
with her poodle, never thinking about the time of
day, starts with Shrek, and cries III talterng ac-
| cents: "Heaven preserve us what on earth can
that beP' The poodle yells, and runs a short dis
lance with his tail down; then stops Short, out of
wind, and barks wheezily at himself for being
such fool.
cynical-looking elderly gentleman pulls out
an ancient cllronometer of the fashion known as
Gutenberg Eggs" and finding it about ten min
uteS slow, makes face at the sky and says: elbow