Frank Slavin, a young man with a swollen head, who said he was a stonecutter, but had lately worked at odd jobs as a stevedore, was complained of by his old father at Magistrate Smith's afternoon hearing as a chronic inebriate. The old gentleman did not want him sent to prison, but induced to swear off, if possible. Frank came forth from the dock, grasped the Bible and said: "I'll take an oath to swear off for a year." The oath was administered and at the conclusion of it he said abruptly, "What date's this?" He was told August 6, and walked away, the crowd laughing at his solicitude about the date.
The Times (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), August 7, 1878.