The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-05-05


The FIRST PUBLIC READING OF THE DE-
cLARATIoS.-The Declaration was written
by Jefferson, ,as he himself stated in a letter
to DIR. Mease, in his lodging house at the
southwest corner of Market and Seventh
streets. The honse is still standing, and is
occupied by a tailor, who shows his pa atriot-
ism by calling his shop the Temple of Lib
erty Clothing Store" The instrument was
signed, as our readers know, in the east
room Of the Statehouse, on the lower floor.
1t appear, d in the next days paper (side by
side with an advertisement Of negro child
for sale who had had measles and smallpox
but was not officially given to the people
until MONDAY on the Sth of July, when
it was READ to large copcourse of Jec-
pie in the Statehouse yard by John Nix
on, deputed to the task by the Sheriff of
Philadelphia, who had received,it from the
committee. The stage on which the reader
stood was a rough wooden platform on the
line of the eastern walk, about halfway be-
tween Fifth and Sixth streets. Deborah Lo-
gan, who lived in the neighborhood, states
that she heard from the garden every word
Of the instrument read, and thought the
voice was Charles Thompson's In spite
OF all evidence in favor of Nixon, We choose
to believe her. The Man of Truth should
have first made known those words to hui
manity. Cheers rert the welkin, teH-de-
1o'e was fired, the chimes OF Christ Church
rang through all the bright summer day,
and the old bell gave at last to the world
the message it had received Il quarter of u
century before, and proclaimed liberty to
all the world
The daily paper1-little thin sheets few
inches square-give us for weeks afterward
accounts Of the rejoicing and wild enthusi-
asm of the other Provinces as the Declara-
ton reached them, In New York one sim
gular effect produced WIS that "a general
jail delivery Of all prisoners took place, in
pursuance of the Declaration of ludepeud-
ence by the Hon. Congress. "-REBECCA
HARDING DAVIS, in Hd'per's Nagq.iae for
May.
REASONS FOR DRINKING.-Old Sambo
Shute, long since goue across the dark val
ley, was worthy man in hi. way, and gem
ial wihal but Sambo would occasionally
get very drunk. One day his employer took
him to task, and read him lecture, at the
close of which he asked him If he didn't
think he could do better for the future.
"pon'o, mas'r, said the dArLey, scratch
ing his head.
But what do you think %
"Woll, mas'r, l'se aiear'd tiuk not"
"Sambo, what do you mean? DO you
mean that you will not try ?"
Wouldn't be Of no Use, masr. Fact is,
twas born in me. Rum is my na. raj drink.
Yer see, aiore | was born, my father and
mother were boT bought ON the coast of
Africa, an paid for IN rum"
This Is about equal to the excuse of the
old fellow in New Hampshire bar-room.
1t was eleven O'Clock in the forenoon and a
lumber Of thirsty ones had entered the tav-
ern for their beverage, and they all offered
an excuse for thus indulging. One said he
had pain in his side: another had touch
OF the collie; another had severe cold
and SO ON, aud so on. At length a red-fac-
ed old Trojan stumped up 10 the bar, having
listened to the excuses of the others, and
said he
SAY, ole hess, give us glass of old Ja-
maiea, stiff. My old womans goin' to have
Goldfish for dinner, ,dEd Goldfish alters makes
me Dry"
On "Wednesday evening, while the Iouis