Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-08
EXAMINE YOUR qHgRMomgTgR.

| It seems that of late, for some inexplicable
reason, general fatality has existed among
thermometers in this city. Whether this is
due to the condition Of the ozone permeating
the atmosphere in this section, or to the high
pressure at which the "Big -Four" in the
Board Of Supervisors are running up the
price tor attorney fees and rate of taxation,
or from other cause, has not yet been deter
mined. There is no rubbing out the fact,
however, that thermometers of late in this
city have been a very uncertain article, and
just when the proprietor of one of these
Injuries seeks to cool off or get warm
by examining the condition of the mercury,
it is invariably found that the machine" is
broken and worthless. A prominent liquor
merchant on Second street, who has recently
lost three or four from breakage, and de-
clared he would never purchase another until
the DEGREES of the fates were changed, was
finally prevailed upon few days since by
smooth-tongued canvasser to purchase
one of his extra-large "can'5 break
'um variety" The same canyasser
also disposed of one on the oppc-
site side OF the street. and another to a ven
der of liquid refreshments on street, who
is frequently, as matter of convenience,
called Captain" The purchases had been
y
street met with fatal mishap, which left it
in wrecked condition. Taking the damaged
weather gauge undsr his ulster, the Captain
visited the Second-street merchants estab-
lishment at time of day when be is
most conspicuously absent, and, by
some piecs of legerdemain, succeeded
ia carrying away a whsle thermometer, and
left the battered one In its place. carefully
hung up, in the Second street off ce. Now
+l,,1. IL. Ga. Is It, Il
mometers had led this particular merchant
to hang the new instrument on a very high
nail, and in very safe place, and when on
that afternoon the proprietor got up on
desk-stool to take an observation as to the
state of the weather and prospects of trade,
there was all at once discovery made, and
marked changes of visage, and a tremulous
shiver ran along the spinal region of the OBJ
server, as he half-superstitiously contemplated
whether there was really some "evil imma-
terialized presence" which had decreed
against further measurement of heat,
and cold, and weather prosnostica-
tioIs. He was unable. however, to
control his disgust for the last piece of bad
luck which again sent him adrift into the
uncertainties of weather. guessing, and, rails
ing the window, he chucked the unfortunate
J.street Thermometer we'll out into the street,
and in positive manner demanded to know
who had broken it, and declaring that another
thermometer should never enter the estab-
lishment. No one responded to the inquiry,
but one OF the employees went out aud ten
derly took the cast-away instrument into the
office again. The next day in some manner
this same broken thermometer found its way
across Second street, and was quietly ex-
changed for the whole one that the neighbor
had. The neighbor thus sEindled has Just
ascertained that the evil genius has beset his
thermometer, and is making every effort to
ascertain which one Of his employees or other
person broke his fine instrument and is ia
whitehead lighting condition. Meantime
the merchant across the way and the Cap
tain are both observing and enjoying the
weather complacently, and while each one of
the three have suffered from the DEGREES of
the fates in their turn, there is but one of
them that just now thinks the devil is after
him.