St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-07-05
Struck by Lightning.

Struck by Lightning.
A few years ago many men in this
section, under the pleasing infatuatiOn
that the time had come when they were
to become rich, took the agency for the
sale of a 'patent gate," which was rep
resented TO be one of the greatest inven-
tions of the age. They congratulated
themselves on the fact that they had at
last struck a vein that promised for
tune without hard labor. Quietly they
awaited the time when their suffering
neighbors would do away with bars and
OldfashiOned gates and purchase of
them the patent article. But for some
reason there was no special demand for
the newfangled notion, and their bright
dreams faded out. Fortunately their
names were still held in respect by the
owners of the gate patent and the time
was approaching when they were to be
reminded that the little contract made
with the patentee had not been forgot
ten, and that he was in need of the
money due him on their note. There
was deal of muttering and astOnish-
ment when parties were cited to appear
at Il certain court to be held in a dis
tant county but then, it was worth
something to be of such notOriety as to
have ones presence demanded so far
away from home, and not small honor
to spend week in a distant county
court. There were many consultation s
and meetings among the victims, and it
was finally decided to go back on the
benefactOr who had given them a chance
to grow rich with the gate, and refuse
to pay him for the patent. He held
them to the work and finally they con-
cluded to pay him a round sum if he
would get their names off the Addison
county court docket.
Again parties were about selling pa
tent wind-mills-as if men could not
raise the wind without a patent mill
They were convinced, however, that a
windmill was the only thing they
needed to complete their earthly hap
piness, and that to own a patent on a
windmill was to be a millionaire. The
above story was repeated, and though
once exceedingly happy over the pur-
chase of the valuable patent, it is very
difficult now to find a man who brags
about his experience in this line.
About this time there were fabulous
stories about the oil fields of Canada,
and those who had not got rich with
gates or wind-mills, concluded to put
their surplus funds into oil stock. There
were smooth-tongued agents who had
been on to the ground, and who were
willing to take stock in a company, il
their friends and neighbors would come
in and increase the capital to a certain
sufficient sum. The prospect was sc
bright that many planted their su. plus
and borrowed funds in the oily specula-
ton, who to-day laugh at their OWL
folly.
A few months since, a man was run
ming about in this vicinity with a
wheelbarrow, making, as he claimed, g
survey. He proposed to survey the
county, and in case he could get suf-
ficient encouragement, would at some
future period, publish an "atlas" which
should be an accurate map of the coun-
ty, valuable directory, in which the
name of the party with whom he was
talking should appear in very large let
ters, and his business should be so ad.
vertised that there would be great de-
maDd from New York for the produce
of his farm, if not for the farm itself
The man with whom the wheelbarrov
fellow was talking was asked to sub.
scribe, and after considerable badger,
ing, concluded to write his name, so il
would be properly spelled in the direc.
tory. Last spring, half dozen mer
from New York came into town, who
had in their possession the names o.
about eight hundred men who had sub.
scribed for Beers atlas, and they i'm.
mediately began to deliver them to the
subscribers at twelve dollars each. JUS
what happy state of affairs existed fol
some days, some of our readers remem.
Der. Further comment is unnecessary
unless it is to firmly fix this fact il
mind, that it is very desirable thing
(for the strangely to have our names
floating about in the pockets of stran
gers and sharpers.
While many were consulting thei
geography, they were called upon by ;
polite gentleman who had a wonderful
invention which was a sure preven
tive for kerosene lamp explosions. Sew
enty-five cents was all that was asked
for this life-saving compound. Many
persons bought the article who wert
quite chagrined when they learned tina
they had been purchasing colored sal
at the rate of eight hundred dollars
bushel.
About this time there came along +;
caravan, consisting of eight OF ten ex
cellent teams and about twenty men
who had come all the way from Ohio Il
supply the people of Vermont with tina
Indispensable article, the lightning rod
Well dressed gentlemen, in costly car
riages, drove up to the doors of thos,
who had no rods on their buildings
and Immediately set about convincin.
them of the great danger that them
selves and their families were in, s,
long as they periled their lives under
roof that did not bristle with the glis
tening rods, which were soon to b.
brought along by party who accom-
panied the silver-tongued gentleman
who was so exciting the fears of th
deluded victim. When the story ha,
all been told; when the cost of havin
q house covered with copper tubes an
tipped with shining steel had bee
represented not to exceed one year
j profit on the farm when the part