The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-08

fnssftion. and % seutS Tor eseh coneiDunnce.
Fire -Besween the hours Of 10 and II o'c1oel
yesterday morning, Q Ars broke ont on Main g u
tween 20th and 21st and promised at one dine - b
very destructive; but the well directed efforts eftb
hremen, after . hard struggle, prevented Il iron
extending beyond the building IN which it origins
! ted and the one adjoining. The FIRE commsse
| ed in . shed used ~ . shoemakef's shop
attached to . frame building belonging r.
| the estate Of John Enders, decd, and was cans
| ed by steve pipe. As the wind was blow.
! ing . stiff brseze at the time. the flames soon
spread over the roof and from thence to the large
three story frame building on the east owned By
Nen McCurdy, Esq. This building, in al proba-
bility, would have been consumed notwithstanding
the exertions of the 6remer, but for the arrival
OF the hook and ladder truck company. who IN
stantly ran up their ladders to the caves of the
burning house, and thus enabled the pipemen to
get in reach of the fire and speedily overcome II.
The house belonging TO the estate of Mr. Epders
decd, was partly occupied by Bartholomew Cullo.
an Italian who estimates his loss at $780, on which
be had no insurance. The three story building
was occupied by Mr. Cox, who no doubt lost one
or two hundred dollars by the breakage incident
to moving his furniture. Both buildings, We un.
derstand. were insured in the Mutual Assurances
office, aud may be repaired for 5000.
Moonlight Sersnade-On Saturday night last the
r. L. Blues met st their Armory and partook of
q collation. furnished them by Mr. Robert Read =
After this, accompanied by the Armory Band they
proceeded to the lodgings of their late popular cap
tain, JOHN ID. PATTON. Jr., and gave him q shert
serenade the band playing in most artistic style
You'll Remember Me-" and sold Lang Synr.n
From this they repaired in body to the residence
of their new commander, Capt William H Fry,
and gave him delightful serenade. Capt f. im-
medateiy threw open his doors and invited the
Whole company in-and the invitation being &C.
cepted, refreshments were bountifuly served An
hour or two was then spent pleasantly, after which
the company returned to their Armory and were
dismissed.
Christmas is on the road and will reach here in
seventeen days with lots of pretty presents for
good children, and with happy greetings for
adults. Already the confection and fancy stores
are preparing stocks with which to supply him
presents for his numerous family, and old and
young ridh and poor, bond and free, are looking
forward to his arrival with varied anticipstious.
names Of such coacerns as can furnish all their
wants. on the most reasonable terms.
Organize.-Every neighborhood in the city
should organize itself into q benevolent society,
and make it their business search out the needy
poor, during the approaching cold weather, and
that they do not suffer for the necessaries Of e
The most deserving poor would rather starve than
beg, and as . consequence must suffer greatly II
not assisted. This class can moro readily be ap.
preached by their neishbors than by strangers and
for that reason proper steps should be taken to
succor them in tie hour Of need.
Lamp Ladder-Mr John Doyle has inst connie.
ted small iron Ladder, to be used in lighting
street lamps, which surpasses any thing Of the
kind yet brought out, and must speedily do swav
with all the inventions in use for that purpose
This ladder step is about two feet long and Ia so
arranged IS to fasten itself to the lamp post, and
hold on, without the aid of springs or chains Il
has been tried by the city watchmen and is highly
approved by them We suppose 1t will be present.
ed to the City Council, and if that body s pleased
with it, will be introduced into the police service
| ut once.
Dogs and Thieues.-Some housekeepers place
great reliance ON the awe inspired by Q vicious
dog, and for that reason are oftener robbed than
| others who only keep them pets, and trust to
strong bars and bolts to prevent the depreda,ions
| of thieves Vicious dogs serve to frighten honest
| people, and to bite women and children; but for
| preventing theft they are utterly useless A case
| in point occurred on 18th street last Thursday
night. An industrious family had purchased .
quantity Of geese, turkeys and other poultry, for
the approaching holidays. and placed them in tho
| hen house. presumirg that q ferocious bull ter
| rer, chained at the door, would be ample pro-
lection against ali depredators. night the fami-
ly retired at the usual hour and slept soundly,
| lying on bull to guard the poultry, whilst each
| member no doubt dreamed of roast turkey and
| chicken pies on which they were to feed during
the Christmas week. Next morning, before old
Sol made his toilet the madam started ont to give
her feathered tribe an early repast, but getting
to the hen house door, found that bull missing.
| A glance into the poultry lodgings showed that
nocturnal visit had been paid, and on making .
| thorough examination, she discovered that not
| only the turkeys, geese and chickens had disap-
peared, but that the rogues had actually carried OF
/ her fierce and faithful dog That day, about l2
! o'clock, bull was seen coming down neighboring
bill at full speed making for home bis chain dang
ling at his hees-but no trace has been discovered
| of the bipeds that left with him.
Owners of poultry will do well to bear In mind
/ the fact that rogues have the power of siencing
| watch dogs without being discovered and not
| trust too much to their watchfulness fidelity
| A good gun, well loaded, is worth ali the dogs In
| christendom to put an end to unwelcome visits.
| A Literary and Bencpolsnt Society has just BEEN
established In this city and Is composed of ladies
| and gentlemen. Ons of the objects of this asso-
| citation is the pursuit Of literature; and to this
| end a committee is appointed, who has to select
suitable matter In books, to be read to the meet.
ing Another object is to relieve the wants OF the
| door. For this purpose committee Is appointed
to search out deserving Objects and report them TO
| the Society, when funds are appropriated TO re-
| lieye the suffering Members of the Society will
solicit contributions for the charitable fund, and
the ladies will take In sewing at certain times and
ynpropriate their earnings to the cause OF the nee
| dv. From all that we can learn, the organization
"a select oae and will doubt effect vast deal
| Of good this winter. Ii similar societies were
| forned in various neighborboods throughout the
ety. the deserving poor would always have friends
t hand 70 relieve their dstresses, and the public
would get rid of aiding those who are too indolen
| g hoIr thamseiypa