National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-03-01

I The New York correspondent OF
Western paper is trying his hand Mt fc
ton with astonishing success. One q
his latest efforts is the following On
of the Astor's great competitors, 10 year
ago, was Thomas IL, Smith, not only
iirst-class merchant, hut a noted humor
list. He was President of the Fir
Club, and in company with Joe Foulk
the Curacao trader, Peter Stage, cashie
of the City Bank, Matthias Bruen, ant
others, gave roysterous suEpers, b. which
were invited distinguished strangers il
town The motto of the Fire Club
was " Follow your Leader which the
members put into practical use, II wa,
explained 10 every new guest that they
rs members, We're bound by an oath t.
follow ut any time during the session the
leadines Of their President, or forfeit n
dozen of champagne aud that any
stranger, who fulfilled the conditions,
became President pro temporc till the
adjournment. Upon one occasion n cot
| ton merchant from New Orleans was
their guest He hcnrd of the singular
lrl, and frankly accepted it. There was
SO much quiet pluck in the stranger :
manner that Smith, who was II daredevil
when aroused, determined To put it to
the test.
II was late in the evening, in the dead
of winter and ice was floating up and
down the East river at every turn of the
tide.
" Follow your leader p shouted the
President and ont OF the warm club
room-hatless, glOvclcss, and top-coat-
less rushed Smith with thirty men DE
hind him, down Dover street, past Water,
through Front into South street and
was moored at the dock lighter lay
inside j.: the ice was loose and ground
against the vessel.
Follow your leader shouted the
mad frolicker again, and plunged into
the water. Some drew back but more
followed, and twenty Mt least, one after
another the Southern merchant last
took the leap, scrambled to the lighter,
reached the dock again, and made for
the club-rooms Several of the members
waited to see the stranger safe, and then
left him. As he walked up South street
he entered store where ships findings
were sold, and drank glass of grog.
Do you keep gunpowder ?" he asked.
eyes"
Get me half key
1t was paid for, and the Southerner,
taking it under his arm, returned to the
club.
" Brave stranger was the salute he
received upon entering, You have
passed the ordeal safely, and the club is
under your command"
Thanks, my friends, | accept the
position, but | shall not ask Won to leave
the room again tonight. Let us drink ~
and, placing the powder-keg in a corner,
he took his seat at the table. After
moment laying bunch of tow before
him, out of which he appeared spinning
Il string, he continued q accept the
command. | will lead now. Wait until
give the word, and then do as | DO"
BY this time he had spun the tow into
IA string that would reach from the table
to the CRATE. He placed goblet on one
end to confine the string to the table,
and then passed the other end to the pan
under the CRATE, and made it fast by
lump of coal. Not "A word was spoken F..
Every eye was fixed upon the workman |.
and his work. Taking the keg from its
hiding place. removing the upper hoop .
and unloading it, he placed the open .
cask on the table. Not soul moved. /
He threw handful of its contents into .
the fire. The considerable explosion that .
startled every one.
Powder, by Jupiter - exclaimed
Smith.
Without noticing the remark, the
removed the end of the tow
line from under the goblet and thrust it
deep into the powder,
Now, members of the club, " he said,
$ wish YOU to hear what | have to say
You have tried my pluck. | came from
a hot climate, and you have made me go
through an icy ordeal 1t is my time
now. and your ordeal shall be fiery. If
you stand it, you Will need no more
wine if you do not, your fines will lay
4 capital stock of wine in my cellar.
Follow your leader" The speaker walked
10 the CRATE, pushed away the lump of
'oal, and placed the end of the line in
he fire, Then he walked back, and
bringing his fist firmly on the table, said
again Let no man stir Follow your
eader -
The line had caught fret ran ALONG
he tow in titful sputterings it had to
rawl eighteen feet only across the carpet {
When it would reach the powder Sixty {
yes or more looked ON. One member
ose from his feet, then another, and
bird, until there came an exclamation
8 We shall all be blown to the devil,
When several made for the door. The r
. Al -.
members plunged like flock of sheep
ven Smith, the president bolted with |
he rest. Before the tow line had burned !,
IS far as tho table. all but the cotton i
nerchant had escaped. As soon us he n
nw that he was alone, he placed his foot q
lpon the burning tow and extinguished I