The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-02-26
coRREsP oNDENc &C
NEw OnLEArs. Feb. 18th. 1856

general and inspiring effect upon every
body, and every business. To ado
much to the enjoyments Of the popula
ton Of this city, we have the most
beautiful moonlight evenings, SO pleas
ant for a prominade or a visit to any
one Of the various places Of amnse-
,nents, balls, lectures. or soirees, with
which we are just now most amply
supplied, Did you ever see that "big
gun which generally stands in Canal
st., near the fort Of st, Charles, point.
ed up amid the stars, or may be at
the sun or moon, as If it was about to
discharge round of grape or cannis-
ter at the upper world I? Now the
man who has charge Of this instrument
Of scientific wonders, is a genius aud a
public benefactor, and he ought to be
pensioned by the government for his
efforts to introduce mankind to the
wonders of these steller lights and pom
| derous globes, that roll aud wander in
eternal space. That "big gun If his,
is nothing but a telescope Of consider
| bic power, through which the wander
Ing greeny or curious citizen can take
h peep al the mountains Of the moon,
| the spots Oh the sun, or even the tail
of the Comet, if one is within sight
and all for only pieayune
besides the Canal st., man with his
magnifyiug glass, there are about fifty
imitators OF him in q small way, each
having an apparatus which they can
tote from place to place, aud enable us
human critters to serutinize the inside
and outside, the body and rings, the
legs and horns, the lights and livers
Of all manner of bugs, flies, musketoes,
and specimens. ofevery creeping and
flying Sirmins. Or you can ascertain
to certainty, the state and power of
our lungs, by simply blowing through
long pipe, aud blowing up certain
weight Politicians, Union-savers,
and Auctioneers generally, are found
to possess the strongest lungs, as they
are more given to blowing off gass and
wind to order. and in any desired
quantities. And all this for the sum
Of one dime and no questions asked
1u the next alley or the next corner,
YOU can test your physical powers, and
determine to All ounce how much you
can lift by main strength, from the
ground. Just step upon small plat.
form, through which projects an up
right rod with handle to it, lay hold
Of said handle and pull, pull up, tug
and strain, if anything cracks, no mat
ter pull, and the more you pull, the
less you are able TO lift. A brass dial
board, hand, IL attached to the plat.
form, and as the rod is drawn up the
hand is forced round upon a circle,
wherein are certain figures, which in
dictate the weight you are able to raise,
These little machines, or apparatus,
are all simple, yet they are very profit
able to the proprietors, notwithstand.
ing their charges are only pic or a
dime sight or trial. But the stu
dent of human nature will find an in
teresting page at each one of these
scientific stands. For instance the
big Telescope is the most ,iristroeratic
looking machine. and az general
thing, Is patronized by those persons
who feel little too high born, to stop
at a street corner and inspect the anat.
omy Of a bug, thought be big hug
Then, would such person condecend
to test his capacity for blowing? For
from tt. Would he bend his lordly |
back to the pull up machine, and thus
exhibit to vulgnr eyes his physical
might : Certainly not. Watch the
movements of those who blow, or lift,
or look at the bugs, and you can tell
the temper, the disposition, the occu.
patton, even Of each. Your little
hasty dapper man in grey, just puts
his eye to the glass, and darts away,
as if ashamed Of what be had done.
Your easy good natured man puts
the blow pipe deliberately to his lips,
strengthens up, sets back his head,
gives long sugg, and then blows a
hurrycane. He blows long, he blows
hard, his cheeks pod out like two bIad.
ders, his eyes start from their sockets,
and you begin to fear he will collapse