Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-12-01

liutchlns, late Of Missouri. is about to
purchase the National Republican, OF this
city. which same he is going to make a
| red-hot democratic sheet during the ses-
sion OF congress. sci! out IN the spring,
| return to Missouri and canvass the state
| by counties tor United States senator.
There is largc and wealthy dclega-
ton OF New Workers and Bostonians
here at present, trying tn defeat the no.
ted BLAND silver bi.i,' which, having
passed the house. is still in the hands OF
l"ritv OF which are opposed to the bill.
or ANYTHING that is favorable To western
interest. But it is thought it can be
passed IN the senate.
Speaking OF the senate reminds US OF
the ensuing election ior senators in
OHIO, where the contest i, between PEN
dlcton. Morgan and Ewing; in Caitor-
MA, where it seems now that the next
senator will have to beat Gwin, (knUwn
as the duke, aud Georgia, where the
recent elections and the tone of the pa
perS Indicate the recollection OF Senator
Gordon and IN Arkansas | am informed
our old acquaintance, the cOurtly and
gallant Gen. Tappan, Is the coming man.
Some seventeen hundred bills have
| already been introduced into the house,
| great many OF them relief and pension
bills. There is now not much probable
ity OF the regular session adCuvnng be
fore May.
As we see, from Missouri papers.
that the "Murphy'' temperance move
! ment Is the rage IN some portions ui the
state, a description and explanation OF
the famous Virginia bell punch may
be interesting 10 the readers OF the In
| teiiIgenccr. This instrument, invented
by Senator Mollit, Of Virginia. consists
oi IL lnachIuc having a dial plate Ike a
clock. with three hands similar to the
hands upon a fine watch On the out
side is a crank like the handle Of a saus-
age grinder. Every time the crank is
turned be! ring, One OF the hands
makes a revolution. When rung one
| hundred times another hand makes a rev
"iution. and the third when the bell has
| sounded one thousand times Every
vendor OF malt. yinouS or spiri;uOus llq-
uOrs, before being allowed to sell. has
I" give bond and make oath 10 obey the
law, and whenever he sells or gives :.
| drink. he must ring tn" bell. or bc fined
not less than five hundred dollars. one
| half ut which goes to the iniormer. The
| punch. being a scit-rcgIster, cannot be
| tampcred with. for il i locked bv the
| collector, who comes at stated times and
| tor every time the bell has been rum
| collects from the bar-keeper the sum oi
| two and One-half cents. This revenue
| is set apart for the purpose OF cxtIn.
| gushing the state debt, aud though at
| first the barkeepcrs were opposed tu the
| punch, they are al! beginning IN favor
| the law, tor it compel> the bartender to
| ne fair with his employer; stops the
| crcditng for drinks, and cut "ti :lii
dead-beats, tor. under the operations OF
the Virginia brll-punch. there is no more
tree WHISKY drinking Ut the bar. As To
the amount o. revenue the state j, de-
| irving from this ,aw, il j. simply euor-
nous. As 10 the constitutiuna.itv OF
this famous bell punch law of the Old
dominion. | can't say; but, a. to the
! practical workings ui thu punCh, peak
/ by the book having invested my spare
/ cash in search OF kunwirdgr on this sab
| iect during Il recent trip To- Richmond
! | forgot to mention the patriotism oi do
! hating two nd one-hai cents to the
! state every time you smile, - tu idea
/ worthy ut any statesman. Coon.