The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-06-28
A Boys Experience with Tar Marbles.

Almost all boys, at some period of
their lives, devote their spare time to
playing with marbles, and 1 certainly
was not unlike other boys in this re
spect. My fondness for marbles began
very early, and, when / was about 7
years old, led me into curious expert
ence, which 1 am about to relate. A
great rivalry for acquiring marbles had
suddenly arisen at that time among the
boys of the town, and to possess as many
OF the little round beauties as my Oldest
brother owned soon became the desire
of my heart and the height of my am
bition.
had already obtained large num-
Der, when one day overheard my oldest
brother telling one of his schoolmates
that he had made the important dis
covery that marbles could be formed
from coal-tar, of which there was large
quantity on certain street in distant
part of the town. He did not conde-
scend to explain the process of manu-
facture, but he showed the marbles he
had made-black, round and glossy.
The sight inspired me with ardent de-
sire to possess an unlimited quantity.
My brother told me just where the
coveted treasure was to be found, and,
in the afternoon, started off, without
confding to any one my intention, to
find the spot and lay in supply of the
raw material, which could convert into
marbles when l had leisure. 1t was a
very hot July afternoon, and 1 was in a
violent heat; but the sight of the heaps
of coal-tar put all thoughts of anything
unpleasant quite out of my head; il
caused me to forget also that had on q
suit of new clothes, of which had been
cautioned by mother to be extremely
careful.
/ need hardly remark that was not
very well acquainted with the substance
l was handling, and my only idea of its
qualities was that it could be nodded
into any shape 1 pleased. / was not
aware that it has all the qualities of or
binary tar-melts with heat, and be-
comes the toughest, stickiest, most un
manageable of substances with which {
small boy can come into contact.
fell to work to collect what / wanted
to carry home. filed the pockets o
my pantaloons, and of my jacket, ant
lastly, when these were stuffed to thei
utmost capacity, filed the crown o
my hat 80 full that it would hardly go OF
my head. The place was at some dis
lance from my home, and did not wisl
to have to return Immediately for more
With beart filed with triumph
started off toward home. BY this time
began to realize that the weather was no
cool. 1t had been long walk, and
was pretty tired, but was also in grea
hurry to begin marbles, so walked q
fast as could. After a little time be
gan to be sensible of disagreeablc fee
ing of sickness about my waist, anu
slight trickling sensation in the region c
the knees.
A cloud not bigger than a mans ham
fitted across my horizon-perhaps coal
tar might melt?
A very slight inspection of my tw
pockets satisfied me that coal-tar wa
capable of becoming liquid, and, if
needed further evidence, the sable rivu
let's that began to meander down th
sides of my face gave ample CORRIDORS
ton of the fact. tried to take off m
hat, but it would not come.
, 1 looked down at my new trouser
| with feelings of dismay. Ominous spot
] of dismal hue were certainly GROWN