Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-06-15

MISCELLANY
From the Nantucket Inquirer.
PROGRESS OF A DANDY.

town not far from the metropolis Of Massachusetts.
Old squire Muckleton, was an uncouth, left handed,
parrotted sort OF clodhopper; while his lady, hav-
ing once spent winter among the iashionabes of
the city, was altogether devoted to the punctilios
and observances Of high life. Many time she'd un-
dergone most nexpressibe chagrin, when the squire
unceremonously intruded upon her select parties,
clad in his locked coat of faded brown. mulberry
cooured vest brecches of grey satin, disclosing the
warp at the knees, and doubled soled COW hide half
boots-about his neck coarse pulicat and about
his hands visible well as fragrant portion Of the
compost essential to the prosperity Of squash and
cabbage. I" Dong it," he would exclaim on such &C.
casions, s'why dodnt you let us know of this 'ere
scrape'-whereat the lady would strive to blush or
Dance.
These frequent entertainments upon the pureus
of style, excited Mrs NJ. to the Continuance either
of remedy, of consolation. She began with
the squire himself; and. after finding all her lee
lures and expostnatons utterly Intellectual, she re-
| solved on making gentleman Of Ee4zer, then in
his 18th year. So one afternoon, calling in the lad
from his avocaons in The barn yard, she disclosed
her project as iolloweth;
| s'Ei.azer, my darling. your father is such down
right clown, that despair o. living peaceabe in any
genteel manner, until you have become SO lar pol
ished, and have acquired that gentcmanly sort of adj
dress which may make your family respectable. and
render his appearance at fashionable assemblies
no longer necessary. Therefore YOU must 20 to Bos
ton, get place in some retail store on Corn Hill,
attend Mr.. Carter's dancing school one or two quar-
ters. and come home in two years perfectly accom-
pshed.'
~ like that plan darn well" responded Eleazer
Its lest what thinking on, tother day, when.
slumped into the muck hole-I thought how
should rather like to be one of them ERE genteel
fellows behind the counter where went to sell the
tow cloth and mittens that aunt Polly made. Cor!
| guess I'd roll out the ribbon and haul down the
calico as we'll as any on 'em! Besides they are as
rich as mud-for they've got rufaes to their shirt,
and watch chains and don't the leastest bit OF
homespun, and their boots always shines like ajunk
bottle.''
Delighted with this evidence of taste, and these
Iincipent uprsings of ambition. Mrs. M exercised
all due diligence Of despatchng her hopeful heir te
the land of politeness. The squire himself was
forced TO succumb and the plan succeeded to mira
Gle. A situation obtained, and EleaZei
was transformed bv degrees into the similitude Of
gentleman At first, it is true. there was some In
concruity in his apprenticeship new coat did no
exactly tally with the red and yellow swansdowr
vests the false collar i'll accorded with the factor,
shirt. the white pantaloons revolted from the yarl
hose and rough brogans, and the cropped pate dis
n closed certain proofs that the upper portion of hi
it yisage had been deprived of its protection agains
lie the clare Of burning sun. But all these matter
r, soon wore into consistency. and at the end OF tW
years Eeazer again visited his parents, nishc
y dandy as his fond mother could desire, and as for
at pish butterfly as ever generated from desp
n, cable muck worm, and warmed into gddy and sense
n less existence.
ne So extensively in fact had he prottcd by the goo
he lady's instructions, and thoroughly had he con
lefedkis ed,.catio that the doating mother found hi
much too far advanced in the science of gentillt,
: either to subserve her original design, or to con
within the range of her comprehension. Since HI
sojourn at the capital very important changes in Il
;e, world of fashion had occurred New habiliment
new manners. and new terms had been invented
and while Muckleton the younger dilated on the
topics. the old school discipline was wrapped
doubtful establishment and admirable perplexity.
was therefore with great reluctance that the pa
ents consented to encourage the genius of Mr.. Ele
ger with viaticum of five thousand dollars, wher
with to proceed to the emporium of dry goods wit
in the domnions of his majesty of England, in {
der to make purchases, return, and make his IL
tune.
With these views he departed and an absen
of six months contributed to transform the Cornh
. coxcomb into exquisite Of the highest grade.
If had swelled himself out of every bcdy's memory
- so that he could not possibly recognize his form
acquaintance For every dollar carried with h
lar to London, and Leeds and Manchester, and d
minsham, he brought back four in the shape af mi
chandize. Resolved cutting monstrous liz
and rish, he rented large store and commenced who
''' sale DEALER with all the paraphernalia of cler
o apprentices, yard-sticks and scissors. His COUNT
room in the second story was fitted exactly to
taste, and according to his special order there W.
double desks, book racks, big foiios, blank chec
and anu ~ ~, SN.-:"I .Na... oahaaar,, ~
,v, floor was marbled most raving dist'actedly.
auo was for doing business splendid scale-and
'ap' so did it for welvemonth-when old squire Mu
Teton was fain to visit the city, pay OF the wholes
Dealers debts, and take him home, polished into
utter unfness for any useful empoyment--at