The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-10-05
ADVERTISEMENT. |
TO TIE PUBLIC.

The wanton and impudent award
ing OF the first premium to the Sin
ger Sewing Machine at our late Co.
Fair, demands of US, as agents of
The HOWE" a passing notice for
the information Of the public. The
committee not having done us the
honor to call on US, to examine our
machine, or to see it work, we were
much astonished when informed they
had made their award. Knowing
also, that there were two premiums
to be awarded, and that theirs were
but two machines represented, we
naturally expected that the commit
tee would condescend to give us one
of the two premiums. We could not
understand it, and on enquiring of
the Singer agent found him equally
in the dark.
Thinking this cool piece Of bust
ness for early Fall weather, we hunt
ed up the committee. On finding
No. l, MIR. d. p. Abrahams, we asked
him his reasons for such an award.
Because. sir" said this pompous
individual, at is the best machine"
We humbly asked how he knew it
to be the best, and if he had exam
ined our machine, or any OF it's work?
"No, sir, nor do l want to; I've seen
them a thousand times-l know all
about machinery, and the Singer is
the best" (Or, in other words, any
man that don't like hash is a liar J
In the presence of such an all-wise
and majestic being our tail-feathers
wilted, of course, standing At an an.
gle Of about forty.fve degrees with
and below the horizontal. Some
what discouraged, we found No. 2,
Mr.. Calbeck, "a very pleasant gentle
man, BY the way,) who said he chad
not examined or gone near the ma
chimes, but that Mr.. Abrahams said
the Singer was the best, aud he sup
posed it was, and had no objection!"
No. 3, Mr.. A. V. Stephens, informed
US that he chad not examined the
machines didn't know much about
them but that No. / and No. 2 had
gone for the Singer, and he had also"
giving us to understand that it was
"matter OF little consequence any
how"
Our verdancy leading us to be-
lieve that before premium could be
awarded on Sewing Machines, it
would be necessary to test their mer-
its as to simplicity, durability and
power necessary to run them, as we'll
as the beauty and finish of work
done by them, and the facility with
which they done tive sought one
Of the higher dignitaries and laid our
grievance before him. He very COM
placently informed us that, sit was
not necessary that exhibitors should
make any claims for superiority OF
machinery, or have the privilege of
demonstrating them to the commit
tees" This struck US an original and
brilliant idea-very convenient-and
well calculated to dispose of good
deal Of work in short space Of time
without the use OF much brains-to
say nothing of tho amount of time
gained to look after The "hoss trot."
OF course we were satisfied, and left
this individual with a strong lmpres.
sion that he was descendant Of the
frog that "busted" in trying to swell
up as big as an OK!
Now, gentlemen Officers of the Ag-
ricultural Society, we claim that this
award SO cavalierly made, was not
only shameful but an insult to the
community; that it was made upon
the ipSe DIGIT of one man, who was
about as conversant with the ma
chimes upon which he passed judy
ment as the "Dovil is about prayer
book"
We therefore ask, in view of these
facts, that this award be counter
manded, and that a competent CON-
mittee be appointed to make the
award upon the actual merits of The
machines. To this end we make the
following suggestion: That a CON-
mlttee of three practical mechanics
to pass upon the machine, and three
ladies to judge Of the work done, be
appointed, and that the local agents
who operated these machines at the
Fair be ordered before them. The
committee to make the award upon
the practical working of the ma.
chimes. The losing machine to be
forfeited to the Society for this extra
trouble.
Gentlemen, "biznies is bizniss," as
negro Bill very facetiously remarked
on an important occasion. Shall We
have Justice done us?
PETERS Il CO., Agents.