Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1884 — A Blunt Partisan. [ARTICLE]

A Blunt Partisan.

The patriots of New England who labored to secure self-government for the colonies had to encounter their neighbors who were devoted to the King and Parliament. Among these loyalists were found, here and there, a clergyman who thought it his duty to preach the submission of subjects and the rights of rulers. One of these clergymen was the Rev. Mr. Chase, of Portsmouth, N. H., who numbered among his congregation Capt. John Blunt, shipmaster and farmer. On the birth of the Captain’s sixth boy, it was determined after a family consultation, to name him William, and he was carried to the church to be christened. It happened on that Sunday morning that the Rev. Mr. Chase, bent on eradicating the growing disloyalty of his people, preached a sermon in denunciation of Oliver Cromwell, a blasphemous revolutionist. Capt. Blunt, being an outspoken patriot, determined to resent the minister’s attack on the Puritan hero. “What is his name ?” asked his clergyman, as the child was placed in his arms. “Oliver Cromwell,” replied the Captain in a distinct voice. “What—what did you say, sir?” asked the amazed minister, gasping as if he had been struck. “Oliver Cromwell, sir,” said the Captain, in a voice as stentorian as if shouted to his men in a gale. And the boy was christened Qliver Cromwell Blunt.— Youth's Companion.

The new Upright Pianos of Mason & Hamlin are highly praised by good judges. They possess a lefinement of musical tone whieb charms the connoisseur and all who hear it. This is owing largely to the new system of their construction. The great experience of Mason & Hamlin in their organ business, with the aid of their large corp 3 of superior musical and mechanical experts, has enabled them, after several years of expensive experiments, to produce a piano which bids fa’r to do more for their reputation than even their famous organs have accomplished. Their chief improvement consists in securing the strings by metallic fastenings, instead of pins held by friction, which renders it easy to put the three strings of each tone exactly in unison, and thereby produce tones of wonderful sweetness and purity. Messrs. Mason & Hamlin have made 150,003 cabinet organs. '1 hey can hardly hope to reach this number of pianos, but we doubt not their new “uprights” will command a very largo sale.— Bouton Traveller.