Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-26
no. So

it should be called. Quin, who was Of
the old school, and loved pompous de-
clamation, looked with the contempt
on the pantominic tricks in this come
dy, and disdainfully recommended that
it should be called The Hat and Ladder.
The following anecdote is related, as
assuredly true About eighty years ago
the parish of Gilerux contained very
scanty population, and for three sue
cessive years the parish clerk made no
returns, at the an nual visitationsof the
registers Of either marriages, births, Or
burials. When the court inquired the
reason, suspecting him Of negligence
in the discharge Of his parochial duties
he replied, (alluding to the parish
ioners,) that God did not like them, the
Devil did not like them, and they did
not like one another. Of this strange
reply an explanation was demanded,
God did not like them, said he, else he
would take some Of them to himself;
the Devil did not like them, or he would
do the same; and they did not like one
another, Or there would be more mar.
riages and births amongst them.
Two new establishments, or clubs
for social intercourse, have been lately
opened in England. One called " The
General Union" holds its meetings in
the immediate vicinity Of the houses
of parliament, and consists Of members
of both houses, distinguished for lite
rary talent, professional eminence, and
high responsibility. The other associ-
ton, called the "Atheneum Club, us in
tended for the comforts convenience Of
the literati themselves; and is said to be,
in some sort, an imitation Of Buttons
coffee house, delighted in by Addison
and the wits of his time.
THE GREY ASS THE BETTER SIGN.
When Prince Charles, of Hesse,
feldmarshal of Denmark, was on his
march to Hamburger, he halted at
small town called Pinneberg, in the
Dutchy Of Holstein, distant from Ham.
burg about 10 English miles. There
were two Inns in the place, the one had
for its sign Grey .ass and the other Q
Black Con-. On asking which was the
best, his serene hiBhness was told the
former. He accordingly alighted there,
and went in. As he was preparing to
take his departure, the landlord made
his appearance, and in duplicating
tone, told him that he had favour to
request, which he trusted. his serene
highness would not take amiss, but
grant him. Why not? Was the reply,
providing nothing particular be in the
way. The landlord then told his illus.
trious visitor that he had long been
dissatisfied with his present sign, a.
Lodging that it was too vulgar, consid.
ering the number of gentry that resor.
ted to his house; he therefore thought,
that if permission was given him to
hang up portrait Of his serene high.
ness, in the place of the Grey yass, it
could not fail to be a still greater in.
ducement to companies repairing to
his tavern, which by the way, had al.
ways enjoyed pre-eminence over that
of his neighbour. The Prince gave his
assent, and the painter was immedi-
ately sent for, who, in a great hurry,
finished the so-much-desired sign, at
the bottom Of which was written, in
large gold letters, Prince Charles of
Hesse. The other landlord, a fellow, It
would seem, Of some acuteness ofdis.
cernment, was struck with the idea that
there was now, perhaps, a fine oppor.
tunity for him to raise the fame OF his
house, by transforming the Black Con-,
into the Grey ass, thinking, as he very
justly did, that he would thereby, at
least, attract many guests that other.
wise intended going TO his rival, the
fame Of whose house, known by the
sign Of the Grey .ass, was spread fer and
wide. Nor was he in the wrong, for
the thing took, and succeeded beyond
his most sanguine expectations. Our
other hero sadly disappointed and cha
grined, saw too late into the inconsis.
tency Of his conduct. Out of revenge,
and as it were, to make good the injury
he had thus evidently brought upon
himself, he ordered down the new sign,
and, as anecessary reimbursement pre-.
vious to its being replaced, caused to
be written over the head of the field
marshal, This is the real Grey Ass.
HAPPY METAPHORS
The editor Of the Troy Sentinel, in
ON aseau ~. tho e,h.a-< <,f 20 II i'm.