Alexandria Gazette

The Firemen's Contest.—The meeting of bluff Harry with his gallant rival Francis I. on the Field of the Cloth of Gold, could not have produced much more excitement in anticipation, than the coming trial of skill between the Philadelphia and New-York Firemen. A thousand hearts will beat anxiously until the result is known. The note of preparation has been truly fearful. The challenge is given and accepted with all due solemnities, and a deputation from New-York is now in this city arranging the preliminaries. The terms, if settled, have not yet transpired, and we are unable to tell when, where, or how, this awful contest is to be decided.

There are of course, various speculations as to the result. For our own part we stand by our city. We believe that the Philadelphia firemen are capable of putting out any fire that can be kindled—not excepting the fire of New York emulation. We believe that they can run faster, halloo louder, throw water further, and put out a fire quicker than any mortals living. The very element appears to be conscious of their prowess, and on their approach disappears from mere dread. In all probability the New Yorkers will do the same.

A story is told of a yankee who visited the Falls of Niagara and while his companions were gazing in silent awe upon the war of waters, burst forth into the sublime exclamation "Gracious! what a place for washing sheep."

The fall of waters! rapid as the light,
The flashing mass foams up and mounts, in spray, the skies, and thence
Again
Returns in an unceasing shower.

If there be, as the old Romans thought, River Gods, such an occasion would be a festival; they might rise upon the firemen and luxuriate in the rivers which the rising jet; sport in the Iris made by the falling jubilee with them They might be able to send dashing and sparkling towards, not quite to—the moon

But trifling apart, there is much real good to be derived from such a contest. Emulation in such aims can never fail to be attended with improvement honorable to those immediately concerned, and highly advantageous to the whole community. —Phil Gaz