The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-03-25
THE JOURNAL.
Raasins As RoII.

Rlsgins sGs RoII
We once heard a young man from
the cOuntry-sfterward and now a
successful and most esteemed mer-
chart -four city-describe the effect
which the ringing of the first gong
he ever heard (it was at the Astor
House, then recently opened) had
upon his ears and upon his mind. It
was a most amusing story, if we
could recall it, in all Its graphic de
tail but in the meantime, we shall
permit the following to do duty in
its place. The scene is in Richmond.
in the sold Dominion, and the he
70, a resident Of one OF the tobacco
growing counties Of Virginia. had
come up to the State capitol on his
FIRST visit, to sell of his crop. s3e the
sights and rub off some of the rust
which his back-woods 4fotching-up"
haC thrown about his manners.
He reached Richmond (for so runs
the story about the middle Of the
afternoon, and was fortunate in sell
ing his crop at an advantageous rate,
and almost Immediately. Meeting
With an old school-fellow-one who
had lived in the city long enough TO
know its ways-he was advised to
AXE up his lodging at the "crack
hoIse'' Of the place, and thither he
at once went, ebag and baggage.
just before dinner, his friend call
cd upon him, and found him comfort
ab-y situated in a room just at the
hcld of the first fight Of stairs. 1t
was close upon dinner time.
Suppose we take something to
start an appetite?" said the bibulous
msn, who had just come down.
"Agreed," rejoined his city friend:
- glass of wine and bitters for me. "
.Let US 90 down to the bar and
ge, it; dinners most ready, contin-
ned the tobacco grower.
@We might as well have it up here,
said the other.
Good luck; but how are we to call
for it?''
aRing that bell there"
"What bell?"
''Why, pull that cord that yoH sec
hanging there"
The young fellow laid hold Of the
rope and gave it a jerk-and just
at that moment the gong sounded
for dinner. Never had he heard such
sound before; and the rafting,
rumbiing swelling roar and crash
came upon his ear with report that
stunned him! He staggered back
from the rope, raised both hands In
horror and exclaimed
"Je-reC-salemi what a smash I. I've
broke every piece Of crockery in the
house There amt a whole dish
left You must stand BY me, old
fellow" he added to his friend; "don't
Ieave1ne in this scrape, for my whole
crop won't pay half the breakage.
What did You tell me to touch that
blasted rope forY
But before his friend, who was
bursting with laughter, could answer,
a servant entered the room, with
did you ring that bell, sir:'
Bell? no; I never touched a bell
in my life; ,chat bell? I never sac
your bell
"Somc6ody rang the bell Of this
room-that's certain continued
the servant.
no they didn't There's nobody
here that ever Saac a bell,n and then
tuning to his friend, he added, aside:
Lets lie him out of it; shan't have
cent left to 90 home with, if 1 pay
the entire damaged What do they
SET such rascally traps for, to take in
folks from the countfyg
After a violent fit of laughter, the
friend was enabled to explain that
it was only the gong sounding for
dinner; a simple summons to walk
down to soup, got up on the Chinese
plan. They made their way to the
dining room; but it was sometime
before the young tobacco-grower
could get over the stunning and aw-
fuI effects of that dreadful gong.
1t is a god-send,'' said he, 'that
it didn't turn my hair gray on the
spot"