Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-14
yotal ann 9srsoual.
a Muddy Operation.--Yesterday N

the rens, been in hurry wheel of the wagon,
(Which contained load of salt,) suddenly sunk 10
the depth oftwo feet in rut left by the gas-pipe
operations, the ground having been reduced TO
mush-like consistency by the rain which fell the
day before. The driver, under the belief no doubt,
that the over.tasked horse had halted 10 take
rest, began to beat the animal to make him journey
on but failed in his object. Some one passing at
the time kindly informed him that the stoppage
was attributable TO the rut, and not TO the horse;
whereupon he descended from his seat, and I'M
like the man in the well-known fable, instead Of
calling upon Hercules, put his own shoulder TO
the wheel, but without effect. In vain the horse
wasoeain whipped, but this did no good whatever;
the poor unofiending animal could scarcely keep on
its feet while essaying to advance. Another expe-
dent was, 10 fasten fresh horse to the tail of the
cart, and to pull backwards. This likewise failed
Then an iron bar was procured, and the imaginary
African Sampson endeavored TO raise wheel,
wagon, salt, and ALL to the proper travelling level.
In this he was alike unsuccessful. Anon. several
men came to the rescue, but their strength in the
matter Of lifting awaited nothing They labored
hard, slipping down occasionally in the mud, to
the delight Of the boys and to the chagrin of them
selves A coo-headed gentleman succeeded, al
last in impressing upon the numb-skulls the ne
cessity Of adopting better mode of operations.
II was simply to procure stout piece OF timber
and raise the wheel on the lever principle, which
at once succeeded and then the team moved on,
with seasonable injunction to the driver TO avoid
the traces Of the gas-ppe men.
Public Dinners.-It seems that Henry May is
10 be compmented, not only with one but two,
public dinners there being no apprehension OF
surfeit. The correspondence between the City
Hall committee and Mr.. May and that between
the Capitol Hill committee and the same gentle
man, is published, by each side, with flourish, in
two of the daily papers in this city One of the
dinners will take place at Colonel Fields hotel, on
the tweny-frst, and the other on the twenty fifth
instant, at the National hotel; thus allowing
sufficient time for digestion.
We presume that the two parties striving to
show their respect 10 Mr.. May do not stand in the
attitude Of rivals each ambitious to evince its SUI
perior admiration of the gentleman over the other;
nor do we believe that Mr.. May is over solicitous
for friendly demonstrations Of this character.
dinner may, however, be the proper way of pay
ing compliment, it affords an opportunity for
a display Of eloquence on the part of the partic-
pants and two dinners give wider range 10 as
sembled citizens to crafty that propensity.
We have heretofore expressed our admiration
of Mr.. May as an orator and as man. He could
not accept an invitation to dinner without ac-
cepting the invitation to the other; but we are
free to express our humble opinion, with due re-
spect to our friends who engaged in making
the preliminary arrangements, that this fashion OF
giving public complimentary dinners may like the
cookery ITSELF be overdone.
B0oks.--We have received from Gray and Bal
entine, Seventh street, near Odd Fellows Hall,
handsome little volume, entitled Popular Lee
gends Of Brittany" being an English version Of
Sonyestres " Foyer Breton" also, "The Wind
Spirit and the Rain Goddess" These books are
designed for children, but may prove amusing TO
adults who wish to turn aside, for brief season,
from the stern realities of life. The same gentle-
men have likewise favored us with copy Of
Lectures to Young Men," by William G. Eliot,
Jr. Pastor the church of the Messiah, ST. Louis;
a work which cannot fail TO be productive Of much
good to those who shall deliberately peruse the in
structive lessons presented.
wonderful Escape.--On Thursday, while an
Irish girl, named Rady, (whose parents reside on
the corner Of Sixth and G streets,) was procuring
water at a pump in that neighborhood the plat
form caved in-the ground surrounding it having
been ioosened by the heavy fall of rain--and she
was preciptated TO the bottom Of the well, depth
of twenty-five or thirty feet She went straight
through, her feet striking the water. The misfor
tune of the girl was discovered Immediately; and
by her cries the affrighted friends who rushed TO
the rescue were gladly assured that she was alive.
Ropes were procured and stout, generous-heart-
ed aboring man descended, and fastened one of
them around the child, and thus she was drawn up.
And he, loo, was brought to the firm earth in
similar manner.
The girls head being covered with blood, ex-
cited not little alarm, but the anxiety of the by
ISLANDERS was measurably relieved when it was
made known that although she was cut in three
places, the skull was not fractured. She was not
only able to stand but to walk home.
We learn that after she had reached the bottom
OF the well, mass Of dirt fell upon and almost
cred her entirely.
The Weather, yesterday was bland and spring
like. In the afternoon the public thoroughfare--
Pennsylvania avenue--was crowded with prone
naders, presenting the appearance Of general
holiday. A bachelor friend directed our attention
10 not few beautiful ladies, whose charms and
yraces doubtless made confused impression upon
him
Risley's Variete has been well and deservedly
paironized during the engagement of the laughter
provoking favorite actor, Charley Burke.
Hacks and Hackmen.-The National Intel
igencer publishes the following abstract OF the
laws concerning hacks and hackmen, to relieve
the corporation Of the odium of permitting extor-
ton by hackmen and TO notify strangers of their
liability to imposition, as well to inform them
how to vindicate the law in such cases:
How TO Know WHO THE HICKMAN Is.-A hacks