The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-03-24
CITY and State Items.

ing out occasionally in different parts of the City;
at least it is rumorcd; and we think it highly
necessary that caution should be exercised to pre-
vent its spread We do not think, however, that
there is very great cause of alarm on the subject,
nor do We believe all we hear in regard to the
spread of the disease for it was currently report
ed, few days ago, that case had broken out on
the premises of the Local, but he did not believe
it. and don't believe it yet.
Revoivers.-Thc first revolving iirc-arm ever
made in the United States, manufactured by
John Gill, an honest mechanic of the (then) town
of Newborn. 1t short rifle made to fire
fourteen times. We saw, on exhibition at the
Newborn Fair, some years ago, the first specimen
of his revolver made by Mr.. Gill. 1t rather
an uncouth article but exhibited fully the princi
pie which has been so improved upon since in the
production of the various rcvolvers in use, and
which is said to have furnished Colt his first hint
for the manufacture of his celebrated pistols.
An article in the local column of the Ncwbern
Times has called the subject to our recollection,
which article was imagine the answer to
inquiries based on information We gave to the
Agent of Il pistol mandatory at Springfield,
Mass, few days ago.
History of an Important Person.-Did
impudent, ragged imp of blackness--the Printers
Devil? To be sure you have. Well he is no
small potaoe in this era of light and printers ink.
You may lick him and he'll laugh, you may kick
him and he laugh you may treat him and nell
laugh; and he'll laugh at any time, i'll any place,
on any occasion and without any reason. He is
himself an irrcpressbe confict-an embodiment
of rascality and morality, humhuggery and hon
estv fun and solemnity-solcmn in his laughter,
funny i'll his solemnity. He speaks by jerks and
twists-stutters like school master and whistles
like Canary. His pockets are filled with nails
types, cigar stumps, postage stamps, cheese and
hcrrings, bladccss knife, bit of candle, Il sui
phur match So scraps of poetry locals, tit-bits
of fun and a Irvine string. He is institution
without a pattern in all the world enigma
to himself and L puzzle to all save the " boss.
But we can't do him justice-he spells q" oats, y
leafs, " and cats ''rats;3 he is at the bottom
of all the raScality perpetrated in the mysterious
art, an d W histlcs hymn, usually Old Hundred,
while he sticks pin in his toe-nail and touches
somebody's shin bone with its brassy sting. We
would write a snatch of poetry upon him but
forbear, for he will haunt us for a week now with
his diabolical grin and dismal cry for copy"
g copy" occasionally interlardcd with "give
me five cent stamp for your notice of me. "Go
to your rest little Devil, at bedtime tonight
we pity, admire, contcmn and laugh at you. We
write you, also, others have done, and here
with in conclusion append Il history of your why
fore and wherefore:
When Aldus Manutius set up in business as
printer at Venice, he came in possession of lit
tie negro boy. This boy was known over the city
as ''the little DEVIL who assisted in the mystic
rious bibliotactory; and some of the most ignorant
believed him to be none Other than the embodiment
of Satan, who helped AlduS i'll the prosecution of
his profession. One day, Manutus, desiring to
dispel this strange haucination by publicity, dis
thI inn lln
this occasion, he made this short but charac
teristc speech: Be it known to Venice, that l.
Aldus Manutius, printer to the Holy Church and
printers dcs. All those who think he is not flesh
and blood may come and pinch him.''--ime,'i
4itj=dt.