Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-10-09
The Bell Punch in stauutou.

On last Tuesday evening, City Treasurer John
M. Carroll, Assessor Geo. H. Hudson assisted
by Chas. Gregory put up the Moffett Bell
Punches in the city of Staunton. 1t did not
create mnch excitement. Nearly all the bar
keepers received them in great good humor,
some few were rather disgruntled and express
ed their disapprobation of what some called
that internal machine"
The first place reached by the wagon contain
ing the nquidating machines was Jack Hill
berts, on Augusta. street. Their reception was
greeted with such expressions as Here's your
clock, ~ "we've got the pet, "step up gentlemen
and help pay the State debt" But all seemed
to fear that the reporters present would make
a note of the first patriotic citizen who contri-
buted two and ahalf cents towards this laudable
purpose and the reporters being all Jonadabs
felt constrained by their VOWS to forego the
qualification of their pa(y)triotic Impulses. A
great sadness overcast the countenances of all
present as the little boxes were attached to the
counter and the only sound heard was the
funeral clink ito credit of the bell. Only that
and nothing more.
At JOHN PEERS the same solemn silence
prevailed whilst the machines werN
located. One gentleman rashly prop
treat, but observing the pencils ofths req ers
being busily piled he beat hasty retreat and
his friend has ever since been deeply lamentlng
the loss to himself not to speak OF the loss to the
State. Oh We reporters no body knows the
trouble We see.
JOHNNY BURNS received the machines with
a smiling countenance and as the Assessor set
the register remarked that is not lively
sound for dead beats; Gentlemen step up and
take drink with me before the thing gets to
work." Response: "gfve us a punch but not a
Moffett punch Hands all round and off for
the next place, which was that of
WILLIAM KINNEY'S.
where the punch was received good humoredly
and an explanation of the working of the new
tangled machine asked for. The assessor ex-
planned that first one dial went around and
then the other started, &C., &C.. and if it got out
of order new one would be furnished.
At tie AMERICAN HOTEL John O'ConneIl
welcomed their arrival with great good humor
but took only one of the machines, whereupon
some one remarked that he would no longer
keep bier as one coffin was enough. This was
such a sickly effort that John could not refrain
from 'setting up" nerve restorer.
Tom BURKE told the gentlemen to bring in
their little organs-if he only had a monkey now
he could set up show. Won't somebody start
tut HuSlc. he put away Ills SilAdl1 pCci SieaSoSs
remarking that hereafter he would only sell
schooners.
Their welcome at the VIRGINIA HOTEL
though not enthusiastic was good humored
and the sweet Standardization Of the bells was
soon heard.
VIM. WHoLEY was out spoken in his denunci-
alton of the machines, didn't want to have any
thing to do with them, and the Assessor might
put them where he pleased.
They met with no warmer reception from
JNo. B. SCHERER who pronounced it a 'real
robbing' and he would never again vote for
any man who had voted for the passage of such
law.
THos. HAYDEN received them in solemn 81
lence and having asked an explanation of how
to work them said not another word.
At MEssRs. BURKE & BRADLEY's, they were
received matter of necessity and that not
palatabe one. Mr.. Burke was out spoken in
his condemnation of the law and of those who
had passed it.