The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-07-28

/ the difficulties which falls 10 my lot.
Such were my musings, as passed down
Broadway--such my refiections--when my
dog-as thought, but alas ! il was another's
rushed between my legs, and nearly tripped
me up. Although naturally, or rather com
monty, a good -natured man, was not at that
precise moment, as the reader may imagine,
in the smoothest mood. The current of my
mind had been agitated by more than one cir
cumstanee that day. and the little dog rem.
| dered me absolutely angry. With an excla-
nation Of wroth, ! gave this member of the
canine race kick, which sent him bowling to
the opposite side OF the street.
Sare," said a tall, swarthy, Frenchiied,
lerocious looking parsonage, bowling until his
mustachlos brushed my nose, You ay,' by
h--ll kick my dog! What for you 'av' done
dis for, Ell 7"
my dear sir" exclaimed !, terribly dis
composed, III beg ten thousand pardons, /
really thought il was my own dog"
"Ah, you fought il was your dog, eli No,
sare, it Is my leetlc dog dat you 'av' kick %
Sir, am exceedingly sorry mistook
him for my own dog. Iassure you, thought
il was my own dog, at the time"
by Gar, sare, dey is not resemblance dere;
dc one dog is Of the white, and dc oder dog is
Of the black color. Beside, sare, de one 'ay'
got de ear yer' wide, and de oder ver' short
de one 'av' got de tail YER much, and de oder
'av' lose he tail YER muchn'
But, sir, am short-sighted I; my eyes are
| impaired; | could not distinguish between the
dogs"
The foreigner looked steadily in my face
| for moment but perceving nothing there
but truth, his countenance became calm, and
comparatively pleasant
you 'ay', den, Monster, de vision not very
| far, Ell 7"
assented.
"Ah den dat is all the apology which
demand !" and with graceful adieu, he pass
ed on.
How fortunate for me-" soliloquized j,
'sthat he was Frenchman Had he been
one OF my own countrymen, should no doubt
have figured in the gutter" Strange, strange
people these Americans They punish an
offence first, and inquire into its causes and
effects aiterward. My apology would have
been laughed at by Yankee. They have
generally SO much in view themselves, that
they cannot appreciate the difficulties Of one
whose vision is not SO extensive as their own.
Alas" sighed !, pausing, and wiping the
I glasses Of my spectacles, "who ever ptied a
near-sighted mani"
1t was nearly sunset. The benches and
avenues of the Battery were thronged with
human beings. The rich, the poor, The young,
the old, the gay, the dignified, the ungainly,
and the beautiful; the mechanic, the artizan,
statesman and philosopher; the near sighted
and the far-sghted, all recreated themselves
here, promenading or sitting, thinking or talk
ing, as their several inclinniions prompted !;
for no matter how different the tastes and pur-
suits of men may be, they all coincide in the
admiration of nature.
How glorious how magnificent I" eiacu-
lated pale, mddle-aged man, extending his
right hand toward the Jersey shore. ''Yon
purple cloud, so chasely tipped with glowing
silver, sails slowly and gracefully along and
10 the topmost leaves of all yonder forest
seem gilded and FURNISHED DER, thousand
times"
"Ihat ere chap is eyther crazy, or he's a
poet" said loafer to a very disreputable
looking individual, who accompanied him.
:" guess he's poet, SAM said the other,
in reply, :" them ere fellers is always crazy"
"The bay" resumed the pale, middle-aged
man, "looks like purple mirror, and yon
fairy islands so many emerald spots upon its
surface. The monuments of mans industry,
too, serve to glorify the scene; and nature
and art stand hand .in-hand, smiling compla-
Gently upon their splendid representatives"
| Interested by the poetry of this description,
looked upon all this space Of beauty, but
saw nothing, except dim conglomeration OF
hazy coloring. Never before had .expe-
renccd so painful a sense of my misfortune.
grew dizzy and sick at heart, and wheeling
about, sought my way homeward, full of the
bitterest reflections. An omnibus was just
on the eve of departure; and installing the
inscription of g Bowery and Battery" for
Broadway and Blocker street." jumped
in, and was whrled some two miles and half
out Of my proper way, before was made ac-
quainted with my error.
| now resolved to adopt new course
Am not" asked of myself " the author
Of my own mislortunes Surely, my errors
are chiefly caused by my impotence and i'm
petuoSity. | am too hasty. | will endeavor
to be more moderate. will examine before
| proceed, and remove the difficulties that may
occur in my way. In n word, will be more
discreet in all things"
On the following day, dined with friend
at one Of the most fashionable hotels Of the
city, and was for while, as thought, ex-
tremey lucky, having as yet made but one
faur pas, which was merely the drinking Of a
glass Of brandy for as much wine--a mistake
by the by, which might have occurred to
almost any one. A tremendously stout gen
tleman from Mississippi, was seated on my
left. This individual had just cleared his plate
of large quantity Of roast beef, and was en-
gagged in gazing ominously at lobster, his
shut tight hand, in the mean time, resting upon
the table. Unfortunately for myself, at this
particular juncture, | happened to stand in