The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-22 00:00:00

AN ODDITY.

In a town no less signalised for its enterprise than re-
markable for the number of " eccentricities" who are at
all times to be seen perambulating its streets, the follow-
ing curious incident occurred last week :—A well-
known character, who goes by the soubriquet of
" Smash," happening to fall heir to some money due to
an elder brother—who, while serving in the British Le-
glop, had fallen a victim on the bloody field—got himself
rigged out, from top to toe, in a suit that once was new.
This outlay, no doubt, made a heavy inroad on his
lately acquired finances, but still a surplus remained suf-
ficient in amount to puzzle " Smash.' how to get it ex-
pended. The thought at length struck him, that, for one
day in his life, he woul I act the" gentleman ;" and decked
as he was in " bran new and span new," he imagined
he would cut no mean figure in " gintale society."
Musing how this could be best accomplished, he espied
a gentleman dressed in the first style of fashion, and
sporting a huge moustache, enter one of the principal
hotels. Determining not to bo out done, " Smash"
brushed in after the gentleman, and ordering the waiter,
whom he met in the passage, with the greatest sang
froid, to show him a room, he was ushered into the
apartment generally allotted for travellers. After an ang-
ing his hair before the mirror—rather a novel proceed-
ing on his part—he rang the bell with rather more vehe-
mence than " Toby Tosspet," and ordered dinner and
a gill of brandy. Having done ample justice to the stook-
ing viands,he next told the waiter—who was all the while
ignorant of the important personage to whom he was
so obsequious—to bring a long pipe and some shag
tobacco. In a trice the order was fulfilled ; and
just as the water was retiring, he gave directions that
the Kilnzarnocic Journal should be brought him, and a
boy got to read it. The waiter smiled, as well he
might ; but seeing the gravity of the gentleman, and
trusting to be rewarded for his extra trouble, he ran to
fulfil his commission. A boy in the stable-yard, whose
face was newly washed at the well, and carefully dried
with his bonnet, was soon enlisted by the waiter ; who,
after making him aware of the purpose for which he
was wanted, gave him sundry instructions in etiquette,
He then, with much deference, introduced the reading-
boy to the Tittlebat Titmouse of a day, who was sit-
ting with both his legs on the grate, literally enveloped
in the smoke which issued from his Cockney pipe. The
stable-boy, more acute in observation than the waiter, dis-
covered at once in the person of the polite gentleman the
face and figureof "Smash ;" and the mutual glances of
recognition which succeeded soon put an end to the
mystery, The waiter, boiling with rage—piqued that
he had shown so much politeness to a common vagrant
—and afraid lest he should become liable for the havoc
made by the voracious appet. te of Smash, threatened
that he would send for the police. " Stop a bit," says
Smash ; " don't be so quick in your threats—how
much is your bill ?" He was soon told the amount,
when Smash, darting his hand into his pocket with all
the assurance of a person accustomed to the payment
of similar accounts, pulled out a handful of silver, and
counted down the amount required with the greatest
glee- Then modestly holding out a shilling to the
waster—which was not acceptcd—he took his depar-
ture, highly gratified with what bad occurred.—Ayri
Observer.