Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-09-09
THE STRANGER IN BRISTOL.

TIE STRANGER IN BRISTOL.
No. 2.
In my first number | promised TO
give slight notice of the manners and
customs Of the citizens cf this place
and, beginning with the ladies' hasten
to inlfi'my promise.
Female Society. here, as in al other
places, is divided into two Glasses. -
The FIRST, composed of those who have
always reposed in The downy lap OF
dame fortune, have ascended to sud-
den wealth, we're born high although
NOW somewhat reduced and dependant
upon others for their 6uery, &c and
the second composed Of those who IN.
fit themselves for ladies by earning
their own living. 1tis not the inten
tion ofmyself, an almost perfect stranger
TO the place, TO censure any sect or
class, nor do mean to be at all severe,
as these numbers were written fur IA
musemcnt during summers residence
there, without having for their object
the extension Of friendship or the n.
wakening OF cnmty. Should any la
sH. while looking upon the picture here
drawn, discover any thing resembling
her own features, she should
".Sart not, It's bat fancy's sketch."
had the honour, through the influ-
ence Of a friend, to attend mixed as
semblies on tnimber Of occasions, aud
4 found the society and manners differ.
ent from soathern. The beans, (Which
is yankee term for the male sex) wers
generally coxcombs. which the ladies'
appeared to be we'll aware OF, and con-
Quoted themselves accordingly. My
introduction was general, and after
seating myself and entering into con-
yersation, experienced the ill-effects
Of the method-l would have given the
price of season ticket OF admission TO
Vanxhall for a knowledge Of The names
Of the lady and gentleman who occupied
seats on either hand Of me. Twice
was addressed by the lady. and as
many times didI use all the losick Twas
was master Of, to breathe the breath Of
life into the conversation which she
had crrated ; but nay efforts were vain,
some Of nav sentences did not absolute.
ly reqnire reply, her attention was
drawn Ior an instant to another part OF
the room, the discourse dropped, | was
Ignorant other address, and not wish.
ing to guess at it, was obliged to remain
silent. next ma'!e push Tor the
gentleman /: hc received my attempt
with the politeness Of new acquaint-
ance m ,noavred to draw him from the
studied fornality within which he had
entrenched himself, bat he appeared to
know the advantage which his strong
hold gave him over ne, and interpo,ed
his buckler OF monaco a, evc-
ry point acknowledged his general
ship, but had Determined on examing
the materials which his robe Of dandy
politcness covered for this purpose
threw down a morsel for his svani " he
stretched to grasp it and in so doing
exposed to my view what had been
80 long looking for. Ny next neighbour,
who had been sitting silent the whole
time since my arrival, now appeared
to want to know my name. :" Judge
sir. YOU Came from the southwark ~
I admitted that did board in the south
part Of the town. My question had
no reference to your boarding house
+ thought, as Carolina men had grey
eyes, you might have heen born in
that state--however, if you have any
objections to telling me yoar name,
where you came from, what your bus.
ness il, how long you intend TO stay,
and how much you paid for that Wa
terloo cravat, which by the way don't
become you much, I've no. the least
| inclination 10 know" assured him,
with all the gravity I was master of,
| that il would be a pleasure for me to
devote day to the gratiiication of his
curiosity, so far as il respected my own
private concerns, and desirsd him to
call on me for that purpose. This
was not affair specimen, however .oi
The company, which WIS in most re-