Wilmington journal., 1873-07-11
From the New Orleans Times
CurioSitiGS Of MY Office
B Y G. J.

more than half persuade people that
they are really places of business. A
| mill, factory, or warehouse is
thought a spot where time is of value,
and into which persons ought not to
intrude. An office is never so re-
garded.
will give one or two of my own
| experiences. The first is a very re-
cent one:
''Sir," said tall, thin man, clad in
a worn, very shining garb, suddenly
| appearing in the room, 81 have called
| to lay before you one of the most as
| tonishing inventions of modern times. -
They all begin in some such impres-
sive way as that ga gas-burner, sir. -
I was busy arranging some papers in a
stand-up desk, in a corner, and having
both hands full, with pen held cross
ways in my mouth, l was for the mo-
ment quite at his mercy.
'Perhaps. sir, you are not aware
that in the case of every kind of burner
but this now show you gas gives off a
most noxious eff1uvium, having pecu-
iarly ruinous effect upon the eye
sight By this time I had emptied
my hands and mouth, and was advanc-
| ing upon him. Fixing his eyes upon
mine, he started back in distressful
horror, ''Heaven help lis, sir" he
exclaimed, chow you have suffered
already! Your sight, sir, would not
last six months longer. This must
not be-"
Before I could say word or lift a
| finger to stop him, he rapidly g!ided
past me to the table on which the lamp
stood. With a nimbleness which
rooted me to the spot in apprehension,
he whipped off the shade, then the old
burner. In one minute the lamp was
a ruin. cit is a mercy of Providence,
sir, that I have happened to call"
''Stop ~ 1 called. Replace every
thing as it was instantly"
''The number of cases of premature
blindness" he calmly proceeded, .'that
have had the qualification of pre-
venting, makes my labor most pleas
ant one"
Thinking he might be deaf, bawled.
Il don't want your burner won t
have it. Take it Off" For he was
lightly twirling the new one in its
place.
''There, sir, you will feel thankful to
me as long as yOu live The only
thing that troubles me in the matter is
know [ am running the spectacle
| makers"
'sDo you hear? ?' asked. Il shall
not pay you for it.
He struck very effective attitude.
Payment OF what consequence is
that? I could not remove that inesti-
mable burner for any amount of
money, when the alternative is the
ruin of your valuable eyesight. No,
sir your eyes are worth many valu-
able burners. l make you present
of it willingly. l am poor man,
under heavy travelling expenses, and I
have n family i'll want" He sighed.
''But duty shall be done The price is
twenty cents. l know you will regret
! this n Dmentarry harshness in the long
years to come, when you are enjoying
the benefits of that burner But that
is no. my affair, though / am sorry to
think of it. Good morning, sir. II
at any time, no matter after how long
an interval. by some inconceivable ac-
cident anything should become out OF
order in it, you will find the name OF
the manufacturer stamped on the side.
Be good enough to drop a line to their
well known house at Philadelphia, and
man will instantly be sent to at
tend to it.
Il was beaten This offer to send q
man from Philadelphia to New York,
after the lapse of years. to put gra
trlitously bestowed gas-burner tC
rights, was too much for me. / had tC
make IA purchase.
Your experience of visitors III all Of
flee, however, is not always of so light
a character as this. In my younger
| 4 7 6 4 ,,,1
sor
1t was past the dusk of gloomy
winters day. The inner door some
had been blown open by the wind
But IN Il moment / was undeceived. =
ghastly-looking elderly man appeared
was the noise of gust OF wind, was
heavy groan that had burst from hi
laboring bosom. It vas repeated, a
he stood there
Don't disturb Yourself, sir he fal
tered ''This is liberty, l know. bIl
necessity has no choice. I have fonn'
this world too hard place I can bea
it no longer In a perfect stranger
such as | am, this may seem presump
; tuous but every one has privileg
! L
turb one who evidently has a feelin!
: heart" He staggered a pace aside
laying hold OF the mante!piece +
steady himself Fifty cents wOul
/ have postponed it indefinitely, but
find that even so small sum is hope
[ less. I have ventured to come here
} sir, to die"-looking from one to al
J other of two chairs to see which woIll
J best suit his purpose. He selected Il.
one to the left hand, sin,ring Gluwly il
| to it, becoming paler e-,eTy second.
l was horritiea No doubt the ma
had taken poison. A view of the CO..
, oner's inquest started before me th
7 body would most likely have to renal
there uI ON my premises till the es
, quiry was held. It was awful, 'tRall
yourself" 1 said ; "a doctor shall L
sent for.
f His voice grew fainter cat No. l
2 | Mecnanics' alley you will find fol1
! small children 1 commend them t
3 you They have no mother ; l Wis
they were more grown up for yOu
sake" In still weaker tone he mu
e INJURED Fifty cents would HAY
3 saved all this
NV hair stood on end. Four sma
q children added tothe coroner's inqnes
$ rw"elmed me, Don't die, l fran
n tically urged q will see what can /
! done for yon."
: II knew You were a man of fee
ing heart" he softly muttercd OBJ
: it is too late. I only hope that III
: sudden departure here, under myster
e ous circumstances, may not bring yo
e into suspicion. The world ludg'
L harshly."
> A cold sweat bedewed ms. In add
. ton to a coroner's inquest and for
y orphan children a charge OF murd
was possible "Here is the money
e gasped, thrnsting fifty cents into h
!. hand. He revived little. Openil
Z the corner of one eye he said "Cou
: you make it seventy-five cents, al
!, earn my lifelong gratitude p
g About nine months a:serward, !
~ ~ doubt led astray by the fact OF n
"a humble premises being approachab
by passages leading cut of two ditfe
G. ent streets, the same visitor came the
20 to die again.