The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-08
Remarkable Oceurence-A Rival o.
the Moundsville National.

kemarkaDle OceuTence-A
the Moundsyille National.
Editors Of Register:
The subjoined narrative appeared
in yesterdays htslEgaeT:
"FiRK-About half past eight o'clock
on yesterday morning an alarm OF fire
was given from all the bells in the city.
| II seems that the fire was caused from
q defective hue, on Main, between 4th
and 5th streets, First ward, in which
Mrs. Wooster resided but the engines
were promptly on hand before the fire
was e1tinguished."
The editor OF the Moundsville National
would do we'll to look little out for
his lsurels if such limitations of his un.
approschable style are to be repeated
very often by your Quincy street neigh
Dor.
As q lucid and succinct report OF a
fire, this paragraph deserves more than
q passing notice. It is positively affirm
ed that there was an alarm OF fire and
though the editor does not say 30 We
are left to infer that there really was q
fire, for he explains how "the fire" was
caused. And it is worthy of remark
by the critical reader that it was "caus-
ed from" not by, a detective hue. This
ia no, quite ascertained, but ut seems
tc have been 90. The location Of this
fiue is very happily described. II it had
not been expressly stated that it was
ION Main, between 4th and 9TH streets,
First ward" we might have..fallen into
the error OF supposing that it was in
somebody's house. "ln which" con-
tinues the report, (snd this is the re-
markable part OF the whole story
Mrs. Wooster resided" Now the
readers OF the htc!Hgncer must have
been puzzled to guess whether Mrs.
Wooster resided in the ward or in the
defective fiue. But as great many
other persons reside in the Fret ward,
| it would have been unfair and invidi-
Gus to select one person out OF SO many
for mention in this interesting narrative.
1t seems clear, therefore, that she re-
sided in the flue; and if go the case lie
quite as extraordinary as that OF the
old woman renowned in nursery story
aud In song, who had her residence in a
shoe. Observe hat she resided there.
She does no. reside here any more.
How skilliully the catastrophe is sug-
gested by this provoking chrouicler who
leaves us to imagine, five can, the par
ticu!ars ofthe dire event. How artiully
he throws the veil OF mystery over II
and leaves his readers TO rack their
minds for some conception OF the dla-
bolical work OF the "fire fieud, who
dismantled and desolated the happy
home in that "deiectiye hue.'
But tken note the concluding and
crowning statement, that notwithstand.
ing all this "the engines were prompt
Ily on hand before the FIRE was extin-
guished ;" Ct seems certain there was a
| FIRE; this second mention confirms it. }
To be sure this is what fire engines are
intended for, and il they are not on hand
until after the fire is put out, they are
not of much use. Bat this statement is
not only very surprising in view OF the
premises, it ia also an innovation OF q
time>honored custom on the part ofthe
aforementioned engines that is highly
com nendstls and deserves TO be encour"
aged.
II is the literary vice OF this age that
all great and original writer's are quick
ly beset by brood OF feeble imitators.
| 1t was go with Artemus Ward, Nasby
and Mark Twain, each in his day and
later it has been so with the genius oi
the Daubury Ntws. And now that
Patrick, o'the Moundsyille Nationa! is
noun Ting upward to National fame, it
is not surprising that be should have
both detractors and imitators, nor that
both should be sometimes united in the
same journalistic rival.
| MOTHER Goosz.