Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-02-07
"The one entitled 'The Powers of the
Press by Powers

Nery sorry you uluh See III SIT.
The most wonderful work of art which
the world ever beheld. "A group OF
three 6gures-the Editor in the centre,
Deacon Richard Smith on the one
hand, and George Washington Childs,
A. NJ, on the other. The central fig
ure was represented as holding a par
of scales, one side of which contained
. schooner Of lager beer, medallion
Of Jay Gould, and 4 Stock Exchange
telegraph instrument on the other
side were placards inscribed. The
Leading American Newspaper a coil
of barometric curves, and numerous
envelopes marked 'Vassar College.
The scale with the schooner and Jay
Gould weighed down the one contain
ing the letters from Vassar Deacon
Richard Smith had one hand raised to
heaven and the other outstretched be-
hind himas thoughpushing aside imagi-
nary wicked partners. George Wash
ington Childs, A. NJ. was seated at a
table, his head resting upon his hand,
and his whole attitude suggestive Of
poetry. The inkstand before him was
In the shape Of a coffin, and, in place
of a chair, be sat upon an elaborately-
wrought tomb, with the letters G. W.
c., on the door. A copy of the Pub
lie Ledger prevented the sleeve of his
coat from being soiled. 1t was really
grand-ariistically grand. May |
trouble you tor salt, sir 2"
Mr.. Pimpleton passed the salt, but
said never word. His face had
grown dcathly pale, his fingers were
working conyulsively, and the drum.
stick upon his plate remained untast-
ed. The other boarders looked on in
silent pity, but Mrs, Fitzsimmons
guest kept talking right along.
"Did you see that curious contriv-
ance in Machinery Hall called the
Kellogg ballot box p
Mr.. Pimpleton shook his head
''That is where you missed it
again. One Of the most ingenious in
ventions of the age, The exterior
looks like any ballot box, but after the
votes have once been deposited you
can open that box and bring out a
majority for whichever side you
please. They gave exhibitions Of the
way in which it worked, and l really
never saw anything so astonishing.
For example They would put in 500
tickets marked Jones and 100 marked
Smith. Upon opening the box it
would be found to contain 1000 tick
cts for Smith, anu say % for Jones.
The agent told me he had sold a large
number Of these boxes in Louisiana,
South Carolina, and Florida, and that
he had strong recommendations from
Kellogg, Chamberlain and Stoughton.
Pity you neglected to see that ballot
box !"
By this time the perspiration had
formed in great beads upon Mr.. Pim-
pleton's brow, and he was beginning
to push back his chair from the table,
when the bald-headed stranger, who
had received his second allotment of
turkey anu dressing resumed:
Il need hardly ask you whether
yo1 saw the Lightning Calculator.
You surely couldn't have failed to no.
tice him. Kemble, / think his name
was-William Kemble. lie was a
blackboard right in the centre of the
Main Building, where he used to il
lustrate his wonderful theory of addi.
ton, division and silence. lie would
first take up a collection from the
spectators and mark the amount upon
the blackboard. That represented ad.
dition. Then he would put half the
money in one pocket and half in the
other, chalking these sums also upon
the blackboard That was division,
you see. Then he would erase the
figures and retire without saying a
word. That is where the silence came
in. And then the Turkish prophet -"
But Mr.. Pimpleton could stand it
no longer. He rushed from the room
without waiting to hear about the
Turkish prophet. He is now looking
for new boarding house where the
landlady does not invite bale headed
strangers to dinner.
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In the following there is good
deal of truth: There are plenty OF