Locomotive, Volume 8, Number 10, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 May 1849 — Page 1

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BREVITY IS T HE SOUL OF WIT VOl. VIII. CITY OF IBfDIANAl'OLIS, SATUUDAY, MAY 5, 1849 No. lO.

T HE LOCOMOTIVE IS PRINTED AND PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY, AT THE BOOK AKD job office or. Douglass & Elder, opposite broavking's, by DAVID R. ELDER & CO. TERMS One dollar a year, of 4 volumes. 23 cents a volume of 13 Numbers. 9 copies to one address for one year, $8 ftyln advance in all casesQ. No paper will be, sent until paid for, and no paper will be continued to Mad subscribers after the time paid for expires, unless th3 subscription is renewed.:' Advertising For the first insertion, 5 cents per line; each "subsequent insertion 4 cents per line. Religious and benevolent notices, Births, Marriages, and Deaths, gratis. Communica lions ana subscriptions must be addressed,' Post Paid, to "The Locomotive, Indianapolis Indiana," or handed into the Publication office, opposite Browning's Hotel.

The Heel of the Negro. That 13 a capitol anecdote of Ken tuck,' in the Spirit of the Times,' illustrating the thickness and insensibility of a negro's heel. Ten' or twelve color'd pussons' were ; snoosing in one of their cabins, with their feet to the fire, when one of them suddenly exclaimed I smell foot a burnin' !' Presently he added, anxiously Who foot dat a burnin', I say I Dat yourn, CufFI' Still no answer ; when, drawing himself up, he reached his hand toward his feet, and exclaimed ' My foot burnin,' by golly !' and quietly stretched

nimseu out to sleep again. - Marriage by Railroad. The Mexican family that was sojourning at the Broadway . Hotel last week, left on Sunday, in the cars, for Sandusky city. While at the hotel, a little love affair sprung up between the daughter, a beautiful girl, of a Mr. Bocanegra and a Mr. Eckley, a young gentlemen who resides in the city of New York. On board of the cars he made a proposal, which was accepted, and anxious to have the nuptial knot tied, he induced the urbane Mr. Doherty, the conductor, to stop the train for a few minutes at. Morrow, to make the twain one in flesh. , ,. The party alighted, a minister was called in, and the happy couple were united in the bonds of wedlock. Congratulation were passed, the bell of the locomotive rang, the party once more took their seat, and whizzed away at the rate of twenty miles an hour. This is what might be called almost a marriage by rail road. -Cin. Enquirer.

f m m m u ft c & ft ft m ; Mr. Editor. Permit me through your paper, to call the attention of the citizens of our beautiful little city to the subject and necessity of an additional fire engine and apparatus, for the better protection of property. It is well known to our citizens that the praiseworthy efforts of our firemen have been the means of saving from the devouring elements some of the finest houses in our town, although poorly supplied by the necessary apparatus. So far as our firemen are concerned, there are no better; give them the tools to work with, and they will not be beat. Now, sir, I understand that there is a new company started ( though a great many of the members are old firemen), with the intention of procuring one of the best new-improved engines -that can be had, with plenty of new hose, and all the necessary apparatus to constitute them an efficent fire company. With a full determination, should opportunity offer, of not being beat, (cities well supplied with water not excepted) and all they ask is that assistance from those interested in the welfare of our town and protection of their property that should characterize the liberality of the citizens of Indianapolis. L.

A Book for the Locomotive. BY UNCLE EDWARD. CHAPTER V. ' . There's no use talkin, fishin, though it aint talked of much by the ancients, is an occupation.- Mouth full of erms, a long pole, and a day on the bank of the raging canol, what's like it 1 Well, I know

what I'll do with my little uns, when the Lord blesses me with sich. I'll have 'em out by the time their eyes are open, slayin the cat-fish and chubs. I'll have em to know how to fish Sundays. Fishin ! Fishin ! oh, there's more than one kind of fishin

goin on, in this little globular porton of creation. The Scripturs say something about fishers of . men

that's one kind, but I reckon, by them's not

meant the gals, although the gals do fish a leetle.

However, we'll let that kind pass, as . they dont

spile fishin much, catchin nothin but suckers all

the time.' We old heads dont bite. There are also fishers 'for riches, and fishers for honor and

fame, as, for example,TJncle Edward writin for the Locomotive. But hasnt he his hoolc in a poor hole, when he throws into this city 1 But he'll try what luck any how. What kind of fish suppose you be here ? All kinds certainly. If I was Only a biographer now, and were permitted to write the life and times of some old chaps hereabouts them as has seen, like old Solomon, when he lost all physical energy, the folly of all pleasure, methinks some amusing items might be presented which, if hid

from the present, might be revealed from the past. For instance, when certain old moral reformers sold by the drink, and swallowed by the quart. And certain ones were grinding the knife for the pound of flesh, which by the by, some are still doing. How rich some men are, and how sneaking and contemptible. Dogs made rich by stealing from hovels of poverty the widows dower and the orphans heritage counting among their thousands. Prators of morality and virtue ! Shining lights ! Well, let them " shine and stink." - I had no thought to fish in the private chambers of their minds, but when one fishes one cant choose what fish he will catch. But here they are, an old sharp finned tribe, monster prodigies of virtue, and living monuments of cupidity and selfishness, who have sold their souls to the devil long since, and are now trying to cheat Heaven with their empty carcasses. I see now I have got into a shaggy place, my hook's fast and I'll have to give up fishin. These chaps I've caught, aint they. pretty specimens,' see em flounderin round. However, I'll leave em and come along this way fishin again sometime. Good bye, old silver-sides, you ain't worth nothin no how, but don't you steal my hook. v Now I suppose I'll have to limp home. Bad luck to it. Wonder if some of them chaps wont steal my hook ? If they do I hope it'll stick in their throats. Shouldnt be astonished if it was stuck in soma of their throats now. Cant spit it out, I swear. But no more of fishin, I'll go home

and reform. What a little business it is for a white man. I saw two or three great big lazy six footers, with their poles, marching up street the. other day, the one of whom carried about a dozen of the prettiest little whales, about as long as your finger, that you ever saw. One. thing about one of the chaps displayed the honor and glory of the enterprise. His shirt collar, if he had any, wasnt where it ought to be. He's the kind of a chap . that'll go to the next circus in the same attire, leaving his family at home to starve while he spends the last quarter. And he's bringing his children up in the same way. Wonder if he reads the Locomotive 1 Wonder if he can read at all 1 Suppose not. Reckon he understands only a few things, such as drinking whiskey, loafing, and living economically. By the by, .most any man knows, how to live economically that drinks whiskey pretty freely.

Messrs. Editors. Allow me to speak through your columns to the clergy of this city, and those that occasionally occupy their pulpits, on a subject that nearly concerns all habitual church goers. I allude to long prayers. I would say in commencement that if there are any that will plead "not guilty" to the charge, to them I have nothing to say, but to those that statedly, and habitually keep their hearers oh their feet, in an inactive and unpleasant position, for 20 or 30 tedious, consecutive minutes, while they display their powers in inventing subjects for, and framing forms of petitions to the throne of

mercy, and in connecting and uttering the longest words in the English vocabulary to them I would say have mercy. Consider that those waiting on your ministrations are but mortals, many of them of hot house growth, whose powers of sustaining their weight with ease are not equal to that of certain feathery bipeds, although their "limbs" arc larger. Consider that many of your hearers ' are females, delicate and tender females, and old ladies, and that to expect' them to stand so long is requir. ing them to incommode themselves to respect you. With due deference I say this, and not to detract from, but rather to add to, the usefulness of the minister. I know this . is a serious objection with many, and believe it has an immediate tendency to destroy the force and power of many sermons. In advocating short prayers, I would not wish to have the sermons lengthened, but, if exercises are needed to fill the time, I would suggest that an additional chapter be read, or another hymn sung, or that three prayers be made instead of two, so that the congregations are not kept so long on their feet at one time. - With respect, Messrs Editors, 1 submit this to your and the clerical consideration, hoping that you will give it a place, and that they will at least give it a thought, if not adopt it. . Orthodox.

For (he Locomotive, Mr. Editor. What has got into the people about Indianapolis?. Are they really gone crazy or is it