Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-01-21

w ] $ G T. L A ~ x.
From the Boston Atlas.

secrets oil the White House, and as Con
gress is not at present in session, | have
little Of interest to communicate 10 you.-
| am still at Gadsby's, which after the
Capitol and the royal palace, is the centre
OF attraction for all ~visiters at Washington.
Since the mode Of conveyance between
this city and Baltimore has been cheaper
ed and improved by The new rail road, the
amount OF travel has been greatly increa
sed, and the number OF arrivals Ii proba-
bly, larger than II has ever been before
Gadsby's is literally crowded; and the 10
conceive from Baltimore comes putting in
twice or three times a day with a train OF
cars, filed with all sorts Of people. These
cars are OF unusual size a single one being
capable Of containing some fifty persons.
II you wish to pursue the . proper study
Of mankind come ana pass a week or
two at Gadsby's. 1t is a perfect micro
cosm-an epitome Of the world. The
best time for viewing the herds who con
gregate here, is when they are fed at din
Der. Gadsby then calls together his me.
nagerie by the sound Of a vociferous bell,
which is rung by one Of his sable myrmi
6oms. For about a quarter Of an hour
before this very welcome signal is given
you may see a collection Of individuals
looking very wolfiish about the head and
shoulders" cycling the clock in the read
ing room, or promenading the open gale
~ which runs parallel with the dining hall.
Sometimes a false alarm is created by the
ringing Of the bell in the neighboring ho-
tel Of Browns, and then there is an abor-
tive rush to the doors of the hall, which
are found Theoretically sealed. The dis
appointed multitude retreat like waves
flung back from the shore; and await in 81
lence the kneli that shall summon them 10
dinner, | mean. At last the blinds ofthe
windows are thrown open, and this to the
knowing ones is a signal to stand by the
doors. The tongue of the bell Is now
heard TO move, and then peal upon peal
in quick succession follows. The doors
are opened-the mob rush in like raven
Gus hyenas-hats are thrown down here
and there and every wherc-chairs are Sc.
cured with amazing alacrity, aud the first
course Of cold soup disappears like en-
chantment. VIZ TO the miserable man
who comes in a minute after the attack
commcnsesi
As soon as the soup is despatched, the
venerable MIR. Gadsby. who stands at the
head of the table, (Which is a quarter ola
mile in EXTENT gives the word OF command
with military precision, but with an efiec
ting, and interesting pause between the
two words : remove covers!" In an in
slant every dish is denuded, and Mr. Gads
by proclains the bill Of fare. ..Roast
beef, mutton, lamb, fish. turkey. ham.
chickep-and canvass backs" What a
beautiful specimen to cap the climax.
F" Horace, some canvass hack and cur
rant jelly, be quick"
If Horace returns you your plate with a
liberal supply you may consider Yourself a
fortunate man, and may let your y~ictuals
stop your mouth. But you must be at
your post seasouably, or you will be like
ly TO be rendered unhappy for the rest oil
the day. The following scene is not a nc
titious onc-a Jackson Senator enters "a
bout three minutes after dinner has com
menced, and takes his seat at the ordina-
nv. He calls upon one of the servants for
SOUP. After waiting five minutes he sees
the servant that be had addressed lodging
behindhis chair and going to wait on some
one else. Forgetting his senatorial dlgni
ty, he catches the fellow by the nape Of
the neck, and says with some ierociiy-
..you son of darkness where is my soup?"
:" The soup, massa, all gone
6 Then get me some canvass back and
bring il here in the t~winkling Of a bed
post"
After the lapse Of another five minutes,
| Cuffee returns with a deprecatory look,
saws that the canvass back is all gone
too.
The canvass back gone too. with
much solemnity) Did you say that the
| canvass back was all gone!"
" Yes Massa, there is no more on the
table"
"Thcn you may tell Mr., Gadsby that
am gone too ; for it requires SO much can
vassing to get a canvass pack duck al his
table, III 90 and dine out"
Another scene which ! witnessed at ia
BILE TO day, was piquant. A kentucian
next me, who was apparently u%naccusto
med TO the usages Of large hotels. had
~s,riyen 10 vain during dinner TO get some
thing on his plate.
As he was about giving up the effort ia
despair, an acquaintance OF NINE, who sal
onnosite me, invited me 10 take wine (; al
N
the same time passing me his decanteri
which was labelled in the usual manner
with his name. filled my glass and was
about 10 return il 10 the owner. my neigh
Dor, the Kentuckian stopped me viii
I" wait a moment stranger. I'll trouble you
TO let me fill my lumber" Unwilling tc
expose his mistake, | handed him the de
%canter: but as be was pouring from i
somewhat literally. the person who sat OF
the other side of him, touched HIM witf
bis elbow and whispered "that Is private
property my friend" The kentuckian
poor fellow. was utterly c~onfaunded. li'
let go the decanter as il It had burnt hi
fingers, and looked round with an AR Q
peiiec, simplicity and wonder. he siowl.
rose from his chair and said, "Oh no
/ then everything on this table rs priya'