The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-07-01
TaIrs, Sksttbrs, 9netNotes, &t.
THE LAST SPIKE"
BY PAUL PARALLEL.

AS everybody knows, when great
event takes p lace during the day, it is the
subject of CONVEX sation in all the family
circles during the evening. A striking
sensation is a sweet morsel TO roll under
the ton ues until bedtime, and fills the
vacant spaces for days afterwards.
Now, not being a man of family, edo
mestic confabs'' and "hearthstone conver-
sations'' are things as yet foreign TO my
experience OF course, like all other bu~
mans, generally have my tea-but don't
figure during the evening 10 the centre of
a family circle, for. as | have intimated,
| don't possess the luxury. Fate has
marke me for its own-as bachelor
Ny headquarters are at my apartments
in my lodging house, and l live on the
European plan-a sort of waif on human
ity's sea.
The other day l took supper with
few friends at the Masion de Tipkins -
/ We sat down at nine O'Clock, and linger-
ed long and lovingly over our broiIed
! oysters and wine. We did not chat much
1 then, for we were hungry. Mind was
/ quiescent before the superior demands of
matter. Eating not being an exception
to the rule that all things but eternity and
woman's tongue must have an end, we
finally pushed back our chairs, lighted our
cigars, and unanimously agreed that Tip
kins was the star caterer of the city.
Then we began to talk about "the
great event of the age" TO wit: The COM
pIetion of the Pacific Railroad, which mad
been the exciting topic on the street that
day since noon. There was no dissenting
voice as to its being ''big thing" We
then drank to the success OF the enterprise.
The Importance of the subject grew upon
Us as we advanced in its discussion, and
in short time our conversation was a
mixture of stock, civilization, freight, In
dams, the past. the present, political econ
omy, natural philosophy, and almost ev-
erything else. In the meanwhile we
toasted the road several times, and drank
to the memory of every one whom we i'm
agined had the slightest connection with
it. Doc Orphee, one of our number, sang
the ''Song of Steam," which was greeted
with uproarious applause-after which
we drank TO the health of the writer and
the singer Prof Sulphur gave scien-
fife account of the ''forces of the uni
verse;" but becoming very prosy, he was
interrupted by Sam Johker, who told a
very laughable California story, which
pleased us SO well that we all took drink.
Our enthusiasm was now intense. We
felt like leaving straightway, in a body,
for the far West, and becoming passengers
on the first train over the new road. In
fact. to such pitch did this desire reach
that we all got up and were about START
ing out for the purpose of putting our de-
. sipn into execution. when one OF the boys
suggested ga parting drink" Several or
iginal sentiments were then proposed, OF
! a very exaggerated character, which be-
;no disposed of, some one was foolish
enough to call upon me for speech. The
call was boisterously seconded by the COM
n.nv and in a few seconds l found my
self on the top of the table, ''the orator of
the evening" Since | have told so much
# will do no harm TO add another fact,
viz. That had some difficulty in stead
WING myself in my elevated position. My
friends were comfortably located on the
chairs, sofas, ETC., of the room, observing
me with countenances expressive of the
deenest interest. ] began my address by
t congratulating the gentlemen before me on
the completion of that great work which,
! amid all the startling events of this pro-
gressive age, was the crowniug one and
the glory of the nineteenth century be-
lieve I got off this splendid sentiment
quite coherentIy. But it seemed, all my
cIearness of ideas went up with il. After
that. things became considerably mix
: ed" lowing, l presume TO the Orolleq