New-York tribune., 1869-04-02
THE LUCK OF NIB. MoMULLIM


Republics may be uDgrateful, but the Moya-
mensing Hose Company and other friends of
Alderman McMullin of Philadelphia are not
open to the accusation. What the generous
McMullin has done for the Moyamensing Hose
Company and its friends we do not know, but
what the Hose gentlemen have just done for
Mr.. Mcuullin is of record. Last Monday
night, at the Academy of Music, they presented
the lucky Alderman with choice variety OF
valuable gifts. Imprimis, there was shirt
pin for the Alderman's snowy fronts, q diamond
pin of the estimated value of Two Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars. There was gold box
for the Alderman's tobacco, ever so many carats
fine, and cleaning also with diamonds, the
whole being valued at Fifteen Hundred Dollars.
Finally. there was a superbly emblazoned
Diploma " in frame of gold and red velvet" +"
with a portrait of the Alderman at the top,
and with complete exposition of his public
and private excellence. This of course, Mr..
MeMullin will value much more highly than
the breast-pin and the tobacco-box. The jewel
may pass from the family thesaurus. The ex-
ecutors of McMullin may dispose of the re-
ceptacle for fne-cut. But the Diploma having
no money value, albeit of moral pricelessness,
will remain an heirloom in the McMullin fam
lily, and will be displayed with pride upon the
walls of his latest descendant. Future Nc
Mullins will look at it with tears in their eyes,
and will wish that they had the breast-pin and
the tobacco-box also. .........-. '. Dol.
We do not say that the Alderman has not
merited these tokens of the appreciation of his
felow-creatures but still we consider him to
be, in some respects, a fortunate man. The
valor displayed by. him in that peculiar species
of combat which is Sometimes, though yulgarly,
called ga muss," far be it from us to dispute I!
The strength of constitution exhibited by him,
under the trying ordeal of drinks all round,p
it would be vain for us to question. But how
many Others have valiantly fought, how many
others have magnfcently imbibed, without
receiving even Diploma! There is many a
McNIulln in all but name, who carries no
costly diamond in his frontal linen. There is
many mute, inglorous McMullin, who takes
| his fne-cut from its native foil! There is
many a McMullin lacking brilliant opportunity,
who will transmit to posterity no illuminated
certificate of public and private virtue! So
goes the world Some have the silver spoons
| and some the wooden ones some have golden
boxes and some no boxes at all for their to-
bacco; some receive certificate of character
| from the Moyamensing Hose Company, and
some commitment only to the Moyamensing
Prison. Some expire and are forgotten, and
some achieve the undying fame of William
McMullin!
| Presentations like that which we have re-
corded not only raise our ideas of the dignity
of public service. which are apt to get little
low and skeptical, but they may also be con-
sdered from an economical point of view. We
wish that some general plan of this kind might
be introduced in this city. To every Alderman
who could prove that in Office nc had stoler
nothing at all, diamond-pi pin; to every Alder
mau who could prove that he had stolen mod