USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 58
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One convenience may arise to a certain spe- cies of banks from the use of this particular lock, of great value. The lock being safe alike from force or fraud, and not susceptible of being pick- ed, all they need when they wish to suspend specie payments, is to discover that they have lost the key of the vault.
The Metroscope.
clined to suppose too much consequence attached to this, I would seriously ask, what is it that enables us to bear tons in weight of atmospher- ie pressure upon our persons, but the cireum- stance that it is equally distributed over the whole body exposed to its influence ?
Sheriff's Sales of Property.
Persons at a distance who read or hear state- ments of the rise of value to property in Cincin- nati, are disposed in many instances to regard them as based on fictitious estimates. I have therefore annexed a memorandum of priees ob- tained a: Sheriff's sale, on Monday the 19th, on a certain property at the north-east corner of Vine and 4th streets, with the appraised val- ne. and prices which brought.
Nos.
Appraisement.
4,800
Actual Sale. 6,000
123 1 3
5,200
5,550
5,000
5,225
4
4.500
4,250
5
13,000
11,200
6
4,230
4,150
7
4,230
4,250
8
9,400
7,600
It is a singular fact that the reason why the last lot fell so far short of the appraisement was that it had two brick houses on it. The naked lots averaged almost 200 dollars per front foot. Those with the houses on them brought the same price. This indicates the constantly im- proving value of open lots as compared with property ready for renting.
The history of this property is curious. For- ty-five years since it was part of a cornfield of four acres, which might then have been bought at one hundred dollars per acre. In 1802, Ethan Stone bought a portion of that field or block 250 feet on Vine by 200 feet on Fourth, inclu- ding the property referred to for 220 dollars, lit- tle more than the price per foot at the late sale. Estimating his whole purchase at the value set on it by actual sale at the Court house. this prop- erty has advanced in value in forty-three years from 220 dollars to 62,250 dollars. And this it must be recollected, does not include any value conferred on it by improvements.
A very ingenious instrument, called a METRO- SCOPE, which has been lately invented for the purpose of taking the measure of the human head so as to furnish an exact fit of hats in eve- ry individual case, has just made its appearance here. Most persons appear to think that varia- tions in men's heads consist only in the differ- ence of size. Those who are of that opinion will be undeceived by calling at DODD's hat store on Main below Fourth street, where they may see more than an hundred patterns, taken from the heads of citizens well known here, of every conceivable variety in form, and no two alike. They will find as great diversity in size, shape and features to the human head as exists in the human face. Indeed the outlines are so strange, and at the same time so characteristic, that I fully expect craniometrology, or the phi- losophy of head-measurement will soon rank with Mesmerism, Phrenology, Etherology and other occult sciences of the age. Be this as it may, it is wonderful what a degree of luxury and comfort belongs to hats made on these mod- els. These are attained by following the sinu- The Last Tree. osities and indentations around the head, and Those who remember the original line of the river bank between Main street and Broadway as far back as the commencement of the pres- snt century, need hardly be reminded of an an- cient black-walnut tree which survived the des- truction by the axe. or by natural causes, of its cotemporaries which were found here in great numbers from Western Row to Broadway, and from the brow of the river bank to the swamp which stretched from Columbia street to the foot of the hill, and was in fact the only abori- conforming the hat in its fit accordingly. And a customer by once getting his measure taken, has his pattern card placed on file, and can at any future time, by ordering a hat, be certain of as perfect a fit as if he were present. I ap- prehend most of the complaints made of head- ache by exposure to the sun will be obviated by the use of this kind of hats, which by dividing the pressure in perfect equality over the entire head, renders the weight on the parts usually af- fected comparatively nothing. If any one isin- I gine of the kind in the first plat of Cincinnati:
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This tree stood where at a point or angle which would intersect lines drawn from Huddart's tin ware shop on Main street and south from the Cincinnati Insurance Company office. It was nearly four feet in diameter. The top of the main trunk was dead, and had been perforated by woodpeckers into holesin which the martens had built their nests. In June 1807, this tre was lightning struck, and the top being dry as well as dead it took fire and burned with great rapidity, which rendered it necessary to cut the tree down to prevent further mischief or inju- ry to a salt shed 50 feet by 16 which occupied ground to its north. At the corner of the land- ing, and what was then a corner of Main and Front streets, stood a two story brick building in which Henry Weaver, one of the early mer- chants of Cincinnati carried on business, the up- per part unfinished at first, and afterwards occu- pied for a council chamber by those conscript fathers of the city who first sat in that capacity to legislate for public interests. This was a buil- ding of about 25 feet square. Immediately east of it was a frame tenement 1} story high, occu- pied as a provision store. The whole space on Front street to perhaps 150 feet east of the line of Main street, and south as far as along the line of the salt shed was enclosed in a worm fence as late as 1806 and perhaps later. During this period the title to the public landing was in litigation between Joel Williams and the city of Cincinnati, and this occupation of the prem- ises was kept up in behalf of Williams. After a protracted controversy the title was adjudged to be in the city, and the Sheriff, Goforth, put the municipal authorities in formal possession of it by offering them a spade full of earth, thus delivering a part for the whole,
The frame buildings refered to, were built of plank taken from the first bridge built over the mouth of Mill creek, when that bridge gave way, under circumstances which shall form;here- after the basis of another article of pioneer his- tory .
Short Articles.
Brevity, condensation, pith and marrow, nuts without shell, are in demand now-a-days. Most readers are discouraged af the bare sight of a long article. Reporters dread long speeches, children long remarks, and people long sermons.
It would seem at first that ever body is fully impressed with the solemn truth, "The time is short :" "whatsoever is to be done must be done quickly." And whether it be that God may be the more glorified or themselves the better grat- ified, so it is that every body is in a hurry-ev- ery thing must be done with dispatch-journeys of hundreds of miles must be compressed by steam into the space of a few hours-tidings communicated from city to city by something "swifter than a post." And the minds and hearts of men must be impressed, if at all, by Daguer- reotype process.
Thereforefore let the press be admonished. - Editors take heed-writers, condense and be brief, or you will spend your breath for nought. Are you too la y or too hurried to allow you to condense' then do not write at all -- you will ex- clude many better writers from the columns ot the journal which you occupy. I do not wish the room , but others may.
Statesmen, be not so lavish of your words .- Long speeches are tedious. They indicate van- ity on your part, and cause vexation of spirit to others. You may speak, speak well, speak to the point, but then stop! Superintendents and teachers in Sabbath schools and school commit- tees, when you address children be brief. It will cost you much effort to address children profitably-make your preparation therefore be- forehand ; if you do not, you had better say noth- ing. For you will weary young hearts that are longing for release, and do them more hurt than good.
Preachers, make your sermons short. Firstly, secondly, sixteenthly, lastly, finally, in conclu- sion, and once more, will tire your hearers all out. Your congregations are not composed of Jobs. They will not endure it -- they will not be edified by your preaching, because they will slumber before you come to the point. Paul himself could not keep all his hearers awake during a long sermon. Therefore be brief .-- Take time to condense. Study the Proverbs. See the conclusion of the wise Preacher. How brief, how comprehensive, like a nail in a sure place. Three reasons for brevity and conden- sation.
Short articles if printed will be read. It will not take much time or cost much labor to grati ยท fy curiosity by reading them, and they are read. But multitudes have neither time nor inclina- tion for reading long articles. Many therefore read the review of a work and content them-, selves without reading the work -- for the review is much the shortest, or should be.
Let the preacher announce from the desk that he shall consider his subject under sixteen grand divisions, apply it in seven important points, and close with some pertinent remarks, natural reflections, and a brief exhortation, and I have heard enough. The prospect tires me. A long prayer at its commencement leads my heart upward to God, and kindles the fire of de- votion in my bosom, but my heart returns, and the fire is extinguished by the time the prayer is done. Christ's prayers are not too long for me. But it wearies me to hear Christians use vain repetitions as the heathens do, in order to lengthen out their prayers.
Short articles will be remembered. Men al- ways admire brevity of speech, whether spoken or written. When the Spartan mother gave her son the battle shield, saying, "This, or upon this," could that son forget the patriotic lesson thus impressed ? No -- in the din of battle it rung in his ears-it nerved his arm in the hour of conflict. Look at the parables of Christ -- none of them are long -- all of them are easily remen- bered. And is it not partly at least on account of their brevity? The impression of a brief ar- ticle is apt to be distinct upon the memory. It must be apparent to all that memory grasps most easily and retains most permanently, brief arti- cles; sententiously expressed.
Short articles, other things being equal, wili do most good. This is evident from the fact that they will be read and remembered. But this is not all. If one hears a short sermon and.
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it closes too soon, he will reflect upon it when it is done, prosecuting the subject in his own mind, If he reads a short article and wishes it had been longer, he will naturally read it again. Its brevity furnishes his own mind something to do to supply what is wanting. He involuntari- ly attempts to do this. The powers of his intel- lect are excited to action. An impulse and a direction is given to his own thoughts. And to me it seems by no means the least benefit of brief and weighty articles, from the pulpit or the press, that they excite and direct the ener- gies of the mind without wearying, serving as a projectile force to one's own thoughts.
Pioneers of Cincinnati.
The following list comprehends the names so far as I have been able to obtain them with the dates of their arrival here of those of our early settlers who have been here from the commence ment of the present century.
1796 Jacob Burnet, 1798 Hugh Moore, Samuel Newell,
Isaac Burton, William Burke.
Ebenezer Pruden.
1804 Ephraim Carter, James Crawford,
1304 Jona. Pancoast,
William Crippen, 1802 Sam'l. Perry,
. Henry Craven,
Wm. Pierson.
1804 Jos. Pancoast,
Jno. B. Enness, Robt. Richardson.
Edward Dodson. 1790 John Riddle,
1800 Charles Faran.
Christop'r. Smith.
1790 Jas. Ferguson.
1802 Ethan Stone.
1790 Mrs. Mary Gano. 1796 Sam'l. Stitt,
1794 Dan'l. Gano.
Wm. Saunders.
1792 Asa Holcomb.
1804 Caspar Hopple, Andrew Johnston.
1798 David Kautz,
Wm. Legg.
Nich. Longworth.
Stephen Wheeler,
1794 Jonathan Lyon.
John Wood,
1804 Benjamin Mason.
J. L. Wilson,
1797 John Mahard.
Caleb Williams.
1795 Jonah Martin.
1790 Mrs. H. Wallace.
1804 Peter McNicoll, Adam Moore,
1801 Robt. Wallace, John Whetsone.
Wm. Moody. 1794 Griffin Yeatman.
As I intend to correct this line as far as opportunity permits, I shall feel obliged to those who can present me the necessary information to do so.
Newspaper Paragraphs.
The mischief which may result from the prac- tice of hastily making up articles for newspa- pers, is forcibly illustrated by the following in- cident, which is derived from the most authen- tic source.
"When Baron IIumboldt sailed from Europe in 1 799, to prosecute his scientific inquiries in the new world, he agreed with the commander of the exploring expedition about to be sent by the
French Government into the Pacific, that if he should take the route by Cape Horne, he would join him at Chili or Peru, or at any port where the vessels would touch. At Cuba, Humboldt saw in an American newspaper, that the expedi- tion had sailed from Havre, and also, that it would make the circuit of the Globe from east to west. The last was a gratuitous supposition, but in reliance upon the correctness of the informa- tion, Humboldt and Bonpland, his associate, hir- ed a small vessel to transport them to Porto Bel- lo, on the Spanish main, and crossed the isth- mus to the Pacific, and it was not until after a journey of eight hundred leagues, that they found at Quito they had been deceived by the American journalist."
Family Government.
The following is not new, but it is both good and true. Parents, whose children 'tease then to death,' commit suicide, being themselves the cause of the teasing .
Child .- Mother, I want a piece of cake.
Mother .- I havn't got any ; it's all gone.
C .- Iknow there's some up in the cupboard : I saw it when you opened the door.
.M .- Well, you don't need any now -- cake hurts children.
C .- No it don't (whining) I do want a piece ;. mother, mayn't I have a piece ?
M .- Be still, I can't get up now, I'm so busy. C .- (still crying) I want a piece of cake.
M .- Rising hastily, and reaching a piece ; there, take that and hold your tongue! Fat it up quick . I hear Ben coming .- Now don't tell Ben you've had any.
(Ben enters.)
C .-- I have had a piece of cake; you can't have any.
Ben .- Yes I will ; mother, give me a piece.
M .- There, take it, it seems as if I never could keep a bit of any thing in the house. You see, sir, if you get any more.
(Another room.)
C .-- I've had a piece of cake !
Young Sister .- Oh, I want some too.
C .- Well, you bawl, and mother'll give you a piece; I did.
MARRIAGES.
IN Henry Co., Missouri, on the 8th ult., Dr. J. EMERY of Paris, Mo., to Miss ELIZABETHI B. DANA, of Harinar, Ohio.
ON Thursday 15th inst., by the Rev. Geo. W. Maley, Mr. MILTON J. WOODWARD 10 Miss SARAH GILDERS. LIEVE, of Covington, Ky.
Same day, by the J. T. Brooke. Wm. H. THOMPSON to LAURA GRAHAM, neice of T. H. Yealman, Esqr.
Same day, by Rev. Dr. Thompson, JOHN FRAZER Esqr. to Miss ROSANNA B., daughter of Calvin Fletcher.
I have to make my acknowledgements to my friend FRAZER, who "lapt in Elysium," and placed under circumstances that might have led a man to forget even taking up a note in bank, remembered his friend the editor. The Pound cake was moistened with Adam's ale of my own providing, and was easier for me to take than any of Dr. Ridgely's proscriptions for ten years past. My best wishes and sincere prayers for the happiness of the new married couple, will be theirs for life.
-
P. A. Sprigman.
G. P. Torrence,
1800 A . Valentine,
1804 P. S. Symmes, Benj. Smith,
Jos. Perry.
1800 Daniel Drake,
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