The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-24

this page has made within few years.
time. II this letter 10 not up.to- date Il
Is because have not seen the paper iAtely
and haven't had the pleasant opportunity
OF reading the many Interesting Letters.
AZ you requested the HAps 10 name como
OF the inventions since the Nineteenth
century | will rame a. many a. I know
automobile. x-ray, telegraph. telephone,
airship. lightning rod, graphophone, gram
aphonc and the kodak hope the HAps
Will be decided on the subject Tor 1900.
invalid's chair Is the most useful. Yes.
Thomas. II 10 to a few. but not many. oh,
forgot that he asked us to stay on
the pther side until he got through talk
ing. IT'S true that II Is not polite Tor
two OF more to talk at the same time. but
will close. leaving Thomas In full pos
session OF the floor discussing the invaiid's
chair. Wish you all Merry Chhstmas
and Happy New Year. Come again,
Thomas An old Hap. Christine Pela
Victoria, Texas,--Dcar Haphammer:
For this time | will choose "old Iron
sides" for my subject During our second
war with Great Britain, which began In the
year 1919. many battles were fought on
both land and sea- Among tho ships OF
war belonging to the United States govern
mont was frlgate called the Constitu-
ton. She was built about the beginning
OF the century; owing to her good fortune
IN many engagements. her scamen gave
her the name OF "od Ironsides."
She was In active service throughout the
war and captured Ave ships OF war from
the British. two OF which were frigates.
Her success was remarkable. She never
lost her masts, never went ashore. and,
though so often In battle, no very serious
loss of life ever occurred on her decks,
Her entire career was that OF what Is
called In the navy. "a lucky ship"
In 1890 the government ordered the Con-
stitution to be dlsmantled and taken 10
pieces, because she had become unfit for
service. At the time. Oliver Wendell
Holmes, who has since become n famous
writer, was young man 20 years of age
about completing his studies at Harvard
college. When he heard OF the intended
destruction of "Old Ironsides" he went
directly to his room and, inspired by pa
triotic feelings. wrote the poem which he
gave the name OF "Old 1ronsides." The
effect OF this poem upon the people was
so great that general cutlery arose
against the destruction Of the gallant old
ship, So the old ship was saved, repaired
and at the present she ia used as receiv-
Ing ship at the United States navy yard,
Portsmouth, N, II.
Now for the inventions. The most use
full invention of the Nineteenth century. |
suppose, is to be the question for our next
contest, beginning In January. For my
part, | think It's going to be the most In
terestine contest we have had yet.
So Thomas Taylor thinks he has picked
he winner for our next contest; but
don't thnk So although the invalid's chair
Is very useful 10 few, yet there are many
! other Inventions which are still more us q
ful and TO a great many more than the
invalid's chair. So with pleasure l take
my stand on the other side. as you call It,
but VIII not yet cast my vote, for you
know the contest has not begun AS the
editor has requested us to name the in
ventions Of the Nineteenth century, l win
/ name few: First the automobile has
/ lately been invented steamboat. 1907;
railroad, 1890, and telegraph, 1874,
hope Edna will get her chair for
/ Christmas. l would like to correspond
with some Of the older Haps, II they will
be so Kind as to write FIRST. Now, will
close, wishing you all a merry Christmai
and a happy New Year,
Edith A. Lefland.