Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-03
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY :, 1879.
A TOWN CLOCK.

4 town clock holds an eminent station of
authority. 1t is elevated, like Il Judge on his
bench above the crowd, SO that all may see it
it is constantly on duty proclaiming the time
and never closing its eyes even at night, II II
lie illuminated-t strikes the hours decisive
ly, and loud enough to he heard by all, and
SAYS 70 the army of little clocks and watches
beneath it-'none Of Your nonscnse-that's
the time of day
1t governs the whole city-calls to the banks
at 3 o'clock to shut their doors-and To the
people on Sabbath TO 20 to Church in time-it
tells the hou>ekeeper when to get dinner, and
the man of business when To 90 home-it
sends the children to school with fatherly
punctualitv: limits their studies there, and
oven regulates the pedagogues-it orders the
servants out of the streets at the appointed
time 1t is the only aristocrat that rcpuhli-
cans can tolerate. Every thing submits to its
dctation, except perhaps balls and parties
where it could not stop the dancing lift were
to strike till doomsday.
How much time may be wasted in city by
individuals waiting for others. a few min
uteS lost to each would amount in the aggregate
to day and wceks--perhaps months-and
would cost more than town clock.
Time is money!" A man may waste his
own and suffer for it, but he can have no right
to waste another'S
\ meeting of gentlemen in this city was de-
layed more than half an hour by the late arri-
val of two of them. and it was found to be caus-
cd bv the difference of time indicated by their
watches. One had set his watch by the even
inc gun which Signaiscd sea time: another
Nv clock-and another by the setting sun:
and they all differed several minutes. Some
of the gentlemen had engagements elsewhere
and could not stop long enough To transact the
business which called them together and 50
the meeting was lost to all.
The famous Stephan Girard would turn
hack to his counting house without eating. If
his meals were not on the table when he came
in at the appointed time.
A gentleman ran home at = o'clock-his
hour for dinner-and requested his wife 10
hasten the meal as he had an appointment
at 3 o'clock-but her time differed from his,
and the dinner couldnot be got readv-So he
had to run back fatigued and hungry to his
engagement.
In Philadelphia at the hotels. the chief
waiter may be seen with his hand on the
bell-rope waiting for the town clock to strike
the hour for dinner, and the instant the clock
strikes, the bell rings. This punctuality en-
ables all the inmates to arrange their bust
ness and enjoy their meals without unneees-
sary delay.
Great Inconvenience is often suffered by
want ofpunctuality.
General Washington had to tell one of his
cabinet to get new watch or he would have
to get new Secretary.
An American gentleman in India missed
the sale of valuable cargo to punctual
oriental who waited impatirntly at the ap-
pointed place and time and then departed
and no after apologies could induce him 10
renew the negotiation with person on whose
engagement he said he could not rely.
An old French Admiral, who was rebuked
by Louis the l4th for his diatorness i'll at
tending councilS-resolved tn he more pune
tual at II o'clock next dny-but his had
habits prevailed. and the clock in the palace
hall struck as he was entering-atw which his
wrath was so great that he raised his cane
and broke the clocks face. The king when
informed of it asked him how he dared II
strike his clock-to which the Admiral re-
piled. please you majesty the clock struck
first. "-NorfoM Heruid.