The Republican journal., 1881-12-08
I'VE Must Have Reform . A Fable

! one day a lobster who had been beat
en- at old sIedge, went over to see the
Shark about it, and the two poor souls
talked it over, wiped their eyes, and
/ finally decided to call a Reform Conven-
| ton. A call was written out, signed
'Many Citizens" and duly posted so
that all might read. When the hour az
| rived it brought the Shark, the Lobster,
/ the Devil Fish, the Wolf, the Tiger, the
Eagle, the Serpent and the Alligator, and
| it was really affecting to see their tears
as they shook hands and spoke of the
| painful necessity that had brought them
| together.
The Shark took the chair and announc
ed that he was Il strong advocate of re-
/ torn. lie had heard of the Wolf eating
sneep, and he felt that such things must
be stopped or the country would be lost.
''lf it's any worse to eat sheep than
sailors, then | want to know it !" retOrted
the Wolf. .Besides that, it's the Tiger
who raises all this outcry by his misdeeds.
| move you, Sir, that lie be reformed"
.'Gentlemen, slowly remarked the Ii
ger, as he rose up. GIVE been malicious
ly slandered. I'm peaceful, law-ab.d
ing citizen, and | think it too bad that
every murder committed by the Devil
Fish should be laid at my door | hope
he Will reform"
"Mr. Ch lrman, I'm astOnished," re-
marked the Devil Fish, as he took the
floor. II supposed you all knew me to be
one OF the humblest, teeblest creatures in
the world. wouldn'thurt anybody for a
cent but it is the Alligator and his do
ings which has made lhis convention nee
eSsary."
"Thnt's another Y exclaimed the Alliga
tor, as he left his chair. "For years past
lhave borne the odium of crimes commit
ted by the Eagle. and III be hanged if
stand it any longer. Reform must begin
with the Eagle
81 rise to say explained the Eagle,
that look 50 much like the Serpent
that he shoulders his mis5deeds off en- my
| back | hope the convention will hurt
his feelings as he has hart mine'
"Well, now, but | an surprised Y OBJ
served the Serpent. The wicked Lob
ster has 50 managed that | must suffer
for his crimes. He comes on shore, kills
an OK or a horse, directs the finger of
suspicion at me, and then hustles back
to his water home and is safe. Gentlemen,
| ask to be set right in the eyes of the
world"
The Lobster arose, heaved a deep sigh
as he looked around, then said:
''If the Fish Worm hid been invited to
this Convention | should have had a
chance to defend myself by charging him
with having committed crime in my name.
Under the circumstances | move that we
adopt resolution to the effect that the
Hare must be hung for highway robbery,
and then adjourn
MORAL:
Never begin a reform at home. De-
trOlt Free Press.
Extraordinary sailing of the Ship Mac
milan.
The iron ship Macmillan l45l tons,
Captain Z. Grey, recently arrived at San
Diego, California, performed some extra
ordinary sailing on her voyage from Flush
ing to that port. Instead Of going by the
usual course round the Horn, when Cap
tain Grey arrived in the southern lati-
tude he found the weather very severe,
with a continuance of heavy westerly
gales, and he decided to take the route by
Australia, passing through Bass's Straits,
which course, although 1900 miles longer
than by the Horn, Captain Grey estimat-
ed would be run in as little time as would
be occupied in beating against the heavy
gales, and he would besides save his sails
and gear from the effects Of such severe
weather. He accordingly shaped his
course eastWards, and passed through
Basss Straits, opposite Melbourne, on
the 74th day from the Lizard Point and
77th from Flushing. He crossed the
Equator in longitude l54 W., 96 days
from Lizard, and y after having pass
ed the line in q. 40 w. From the Equator
in the Atlantic to the Equator in the Pa
citic, the Macmillan sailed distance of
IA ,424 miles, her average daily speed be-
ing over 200 miles, San Diego was made
in l28 days from Flushing, the total
distance run having been p ,9SS miles, the
average being over III miles per day,
and this without the loss Of a sail or spar
The Macmillan had $500 tons deadweight
of railway iron and material on board.
She is the largest carrying iron sailing
ship ever built. The Macmillan was built
by Messrs A. M'Millan & Son, Dumbarton,
and is owned by her builders. New York
Herald.
Rhode Island justice refused to marry man
named Carr to lady of the same name on the
ground that he was afraid to couple cars.