Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-04-04

A correspondent of the New York Enquirer
has a humorous story 10 tell Of the turmoil Of
Quarter Day, which we give below:
HOUSE HUNTING.
DEAR MR. EDITOR: When my grea: grand.
father Hans Won Schntzenberg who was Bur-
gomas,er and Common Councilman 10 boot,
voted in The old City Hall, at the head Of Broad
street, that Quarter Day should end on the first
Of May, and there should be but one day in The
year to move; remember that my grea, grand
mother said TO him in the most affectionate
manner, "Hans you are a fool; why don't you
let Quarter Day come when it pleasrs--now
mind what i SAVIOUR posterity will always
grumble, and our houses will be run down with
persons who want 10 have peep, rather than
TO hire the premises; and the sand OF our floor
will have TO be smoothed dozen times day"
And SD, Mr. Editor, it turns out to be
Scarcely does the first Of February arrive, and
bills are posted on the door, when house hunt
ers--idle gossips, decayed spins,ers, and old
dowagers, throw on their clo.ks and away they
go from house to house, enquring the rent;
posting through the rooms; pteplng into the
pantries; tro,ting up into the garrr's, and ask
ing a thousand questions about this thing aud
that thing: whether the house is hot or cold;
damp or dry, has rats or Manhattan wafer; and
what may be its comforts, Inconvenience, and
adv antages, or aefeo's-and then it is rap, rap,
rap, all day. Que slushy morning last week,
lady and her two handsome daughters, seeing
bill on my house, Knocked talerably hard
walked in the parlour and took comfortable
sea; BY the fire" Mary Jane my love" said the
old lady," puli off your India rubber shoes, or
you'll not have the good ot'em whenyou 60 out.
Miss obeyed, aud ptared her over shoes filled
with snow and mel'sd mud on the bright brass
edges OF the gra:e par-my grand-molhe- gave
her sharp look but said nolhng-after toast
ing their fte for some lime-throwing of their
cioaks-tn- girl aTrangts her ringlets at the
glass--qui'e at home--ir was time 10 talk Of
business" well said The old lady," his is
handsome room enough-smal very small
bless me that's a handsome picture: Pyramus
and Thisbe, vow, done by Vanderdecken-No
2antries mama between the folding door? o
see the house is old fashioned; wooden man
tie pieces. Coruelia, my dear, run up stairs
with this young woman, and look al The cham
bers." Co,nelia ripped up stairs sans eeremonie
and began an agreeable 2raltle with the maid!
ais this your best chamber! how con6ued; cell
ings low; no inside shutters-open tina, closet
door: o family jars; sweeimeats, l suppose,
like quince-Where's the nursery? up two pair
OF stairs; il won, do--cant take The trouble oil
running up and down, quite confined place;
let's go through the kitchen, heavens how dark;
no Manhattan water, no closet for the pots?
how inconvenient-O, cooking ! see: chimney
as large as the parlour; why don't you use coal?
fooh, how, it smokes, shall be as brown as
mustee-Ma, it wont do, its too small and GU:
Of order" BY this time the party had thorough.
ly warmed themselves, adjusted their dresses,
and sailed out Of the room with "it wont an
swer ma am but there's house opposite with
bill ont, and we hav'nt an hour 10 spare before
dinner, we shall SO through it: good morning."
Thus MIR. Editor, begins the evil OF house.
letting and inspecting and the fac, If all hous-
es being 10 let at one and the same time sends
forth an army OF pretended tenants and expect
ants, & scarcely has one set made their exit, but
another makes their entrance. Now, as our
Common Council can do every thing and any
thing, and extensive as their powers, positive
and implied, may be, cannot you persuade them
to pass law, making the FIRST of May come
a, any other time i, pleases.
HANNAH HOMESPUN.
The following anecdole of RALPH ERsKINE,