Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-05-22
SCIENCE AND COMMON SENSE.

WV" I" f"iVy VI opS'hocIS III burVCy-
ing a route for proposed railroad in
the State of Iowa. At night they
wero accustomed to stop at the farm-
houses whcro tboy chanced to be.
One night, while ut ono of tho houses,
and just before they wcro ready to
retire, tho host camo rushing in, much
agitated, and said that his heifer had
faI!on into tho well. 1t scems that
they had boon digging we'll, which
was about fifteon foet down, and had
covered it over with boards, and tho
hotter, in walking over, had gone
down through.
Tho whole party wont out with
their lanterns to help tho "crit1cr"
ont, aud, of course, the chiof engineer.
who was scientific man, toule charge
Of the job. lilo ordered largo pole
to DO brought, by which they meas
urcd the depth of the well, and then
he and his assistant went into the
barn to makoa calculation as to how
far from tho woll they would havo to
begin to dig tronch, in ordor to got
proper inclination, 30 that tn "crit
ter" could walk out to tho surface
Above tho we'll was arranged q hori-
zontal windlass, turned by cranks,
which was used to raiso the earth out
of tho we'll.
AS soon as the man of scionce had
Sono into the barn, the thought struck
tho practical Major that they might
tic rope round tho hcifor's neck, and
hoist llor out, before tho engineer got
through with his calculations.
The Major suggested tho plan to the
old man, who seemed to 10 rather
taken with tho idea. So procuring a
rope, ho wont down into tho woll ao-
cording to the Ma jor's direction, TO tie
it round the animals neck.
"What kind of a knot shall I tic p
said tho old man.
"Any kind you pleasc-a slip moose
if you like" replied tho Major. owe
will get her out before she chokcs,
any way; only place the knot under
tho jaw"
So the old man adjusted the rope
and came up. Thoy began to turn
tho windlass, and tho hoifer was very
soon brought to tho surface anil swung
off on tho ground. They all thought
sho was dead at first, but trying ono
leg after another and finding all right
she got up and walked off rs if moth
ing had happened. In few minutes
out camo the man Of figures with his
calculations oil complete.
"Gct your spades," said ho; "we
have got to begin 80 many feet from
the we'll todig the trench"
But few minutes only had elapsed
when the whole crowd broke ont into
a hearty laugh, and the mystery was
made known to the engineer.
"That," said the Major, s'is what l
call common sense against science"
The engineer got 60 angry about
tho matter that he did not speak to
the Major for several weeks.-Muine
Press.
PULPIT PRoMIsEs.-"Mother," said
q little girl, just returned from public,
worship, "why does not our minister
tell the truth 7" "Wby, child, what
do you mean?" "Why, mother, after
he had preached three quarters of an
hour this morning, he said only q sin
glo remark further and l shall be
done; but no wont on talking fifteen
minutcr longer. Did he toll tho
truth :" In that chiId's mind weari.
cd with the length of tho service, ex-
pcctations wero then raised and dis
appointed. Who can toll the effect up.
on her moral nature2
We have now a published sermon
by popular preacher, who says, aE
ter practical discussion of the first
part Of bis subject, 1.-TWO or three
sentences only upon tho second point"
and then follow seventy sentences, be-
sides two quotations ofpostry! How
did tho children understand his i'm
piled promise7 Whatis the law of vc-
racity in regard to expectations vol.
unfairly created?
We know preacher whose ser.
mons are always short; and always
concluded when finished. Never has
he boen known, by any word or
change of tone, to intimate when or
where ho might be expected to stop.
If ho is to have three or seven points,
he never in advance indicates how
many or what they are TO be, but pre-
oeeds with them consacntiseIy, and
take his hearers along" with him, "di.
rectIy towartis the issue Sought. "'.Hs
lie makss' no promises, 10 hs violates
none, ri The most attentive, t = listeners e1
do not foresee when, he is "hastenine
to-a olose." Children never. suspect
him of uatruthfalnsss. .D
- -s,.s- --s..ss,- . -"
Charles P. Bronson. in bis day Asmos.
ceIahrsfod faocha. ,of >l~.cs:~~ =. u.