Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-01-13
Visit to a Powder Magaziue.

country, where the free and equal right
democracy would hardly submit to such
rigid rules as are tiisrs enforced. 1t would
be considered qeite condescension enough
on the part of an American sovereign par
ricularly one OF the Young America school,
to throw away q ish'ed cigar. He would
have 10 do something more ,han that before
gratifying his curiosity with sight Of the
stores Of powder in some of the fortresses
un tine other side of the uaier. Yet, with
n rigid observance of the ruie., established
a,d printed, perhaps d century agI. danger |
nf being blown up Is not always avoided Il
A friend tells Ine an anecdute illustrative Of
iii, fact thai od rules are not always appli-
cable to a Few state OF things. He visited
large fortress in the N,rtbern part OF Hol-
land, and being the son of an old soldier
and an artist, in pursuit Of objects of interest
So sketch with his pencil, he was permitted
TO look into the powder magazine, where
more than hundred thousand pounds OF
powder were stored. The strong stone
building was fenced around with a strong
wall outside Of which was little ante.
room. where the applicant for admission
entered and raped upon The wooden door
with wopden 1oc ker, when little wicket.
opened upon its wooden hinges. and The
keeper showed his v!sage and demanded his
pass. This being ali right, he was directed
to pull of bis boots on be further side of
the room, the wooden floor o: which was
kept free from all possible sign of dirt =
Then, after brushing his stockings and dust
ing all his garments, he was furnished
pair Of cloth slippers, and then put through
the course of questions that were tied up
with 'reftape' ct the war-ofice in the lime
of his grandfather.
DO you smokel Then leave your pipe
and tobacco. and your fin., and steel, and
tinder -
Each of these ariic les hat To be deposited
separate, SO as to be sare the flint and steel
could not by any charm get together, al
though hundred feet from the powde,-. and
behind two thick stone walls. Happily our
friend had none of these nfammable ar.
ticlcs.
Have you any knife, key, or article Of
steell' -. Z
He had,sand was required to lay then
away carefully in separate places. =a-s
Have you any go!d, silver, or copper
eeins!'
Fortunately, although a travelling ertist
he had sorae of these needful acecmpan
ments of a traveller. He was required To
show whst he had, and nuke special de
Posit, without retaining single red.
Have you any other piece of metal, fint,
glass. or any other mineral of any kin,
about you! II So, you must leave that be-
hind. Esf5 efff 10 80
Having gone through with all the formal
lilies, the door opened upon lis noisees:
wooden hinges. as the safe visitor was per
mitted to enter the courtyard, which was
crossed upon, "a path of antl-friction mate.
rial TO the wooden door of the magazine
which he entered and walked up and dowr
with noiseless tread between the long rows
of powder casks, piled tier on tier, in quan
tty sufficient to destroy as many lives anl
Us much property is the late grea. explosion
at Havana.
'iou are.vrry PARTICULAR said the visi,o
10 the keeper, TO avoid all possible chanc'
Of accidentpl
I'VE simply obey the rules he replied.
How those rules need amending an
adopting 10 'he present age of the world
thought our friend just at that moment, a
he drew his handkerchief from his pocke
and applied it to his face, more to hide an
change Of couulena nee than for any othe
purpose, at the same time LASTLY declarin
G,li fad ith hat he ho
seen, and expressing a wish to retire, on
without wasting time, making decide
movement towares the doJr. Here though
he, under the rules, they have dIvested m
Of every harmless copper, lest night care
Iessly drop one upon the floor and ignite
agrcin oi luose powder. They have ques
TONED me. as they did an old Dutch burgo
master hundred years ago, about my hab
Of smoking, So as to take away my flint an
steel. They have ordered me to divest m
pockets OF all metallic substances, lest b
SINE possible IN schance some of thel
should Ignite. wonder they did not l
qIre hether 'ssltpeter will explode Fol
tunately they allowed me to retain my can
brio handkerchief, and in feeling in my pot
ket for that, have discovered the box
friction mutches that use to light m
cigars. think | will retire. resume m
coppers and my keys, my watch and 6ngt
rings, put on NY bouts. and give the cusit
mary coins 10 the attendants, and go ava
quite satisfied that have CONFIRMED to a
the rules and have visited a powder mag
ziue with box of friction matches in m
pocket. Ii is all right: but thank heaven
amnow on the outside of the outer wall
Ny. Tribune