The Washingtonian., 1845-07-26
= Agreed

minutes we are chatting together as sociaby
as if we were old acquaintances. Presently
another joins US, and enters into conversation,
and before long there are some six or eight,
each contributing his mite 10 make the time
pass agreeably each maiulaiping his own self
respect, and each respecting the other so long
as Misconduct merits il. No one fears that
he may be contaminated poisoned, or lose
caste, by treating those into3whose company he
may be thrown, with pclaisess and courtesy.
| mistake, there was one starched up gentle
man, fresh from some eastern city, gold specs,
black gloves, and cravat a-za-naode, with his
hair parted by count, and the odd hair split,
who shrunk back and drew himself into his
shell at the address of stranger, as though
there was leprosy in his approach. And thus
Lord Baltimore" $50 some wag on board had
dubbed him,) passed his time for day or two,
enjoying his solitary grandeur, and looking
with contempt upon the friendly ease, and so.
cial equality, with which Judges and legisla-
tors, men of million, and men of dollar,
mechanics, farmers, and tradesmen, mingled
together. Why this difference between his
bearing, and that Of his fellowsa Because he
had been reared amidst artificial distinctions
where men look upon each stranger they
meet in travelling as a knave who will pick
their pockets, or as some low fellow, with
whom they may not converse without social
degradation-the have been bred where social
as well as political equality, and true demo-
cracy, are taught from childhood .5 y
However, "Lord Baltimore" after two or
three days of magnificent solitude, made the
discovery, that if exclusiveness is agreeable
when there are other exclusives TO keep one
company, it is very disagreeable game to
play single handedso my "Lord" conde-
scended to descend from his stills, or rather
got knocked off from them, and we found him
at the bottom quite clever fellow.
Hand over half a dollar" said big Ken.
tuckian to me one morning just after break
fast.sssssayV hat do you ssant oswa half dollar r.
"There is poor woman, with three small
children, who came on board in the night; she
has lost her husband-one of her children sick
she's got touch Of the ague, and is return
ing to her friends at the East utterly destitute
hand over" "Here ii is, how much have
you got now?" Fifteen dollars, we want to
raise twenty--itll take that to do her until she
gets home" "Ask that old gentleman to
give something" @ say, old gentleman,
wont you give US lift for that poor woman?''
81 don't know; guess I'll see her and have
talk with her first" was the reply, with an
accent that betrayed his New England origin.
"He's Yankee" says one. He wont give
any thing, | saw him disputing for quarter
of an hour before the boat started, with por-
ter for picayune." wait and see," says
another, Il know these Yankees better than
you do" The old gentleman, not hearing
these remarks, deliberately folded the paper he
had been reading, placed it carefully in an
inner pocket, and walked aft to where the wo-
man was sitting, with her children near her.
She was dressed in black, herself and her chill
dren neatly but very plainly clad; her coun-
tenance told tale of sickness, suffering, and
sorrow. The old gentleman questioned her Of
her situation. Her reply in low tone could
not hear; the old man looked round to see if
any one observed him-then carefully, as if
afraid Of being noticed, took from his pocket a
bank note, slipped it into her hand, put his
handkerchief 10 his face, pretending that his
nose and not his eyes needed its application,
and without pausing to listen to her thanks,
hastened away muttering TO himself, "Great
many impositions in this western country;
don't like to be imposed upon" Blessings rest
upon that kind old man; his act of charity
was done in secret, but He who seeth in Sc
cret shall reward him openly"
Will you take game of eucre this even
ing just 10 pass away the tme," said splen.
did dressed individual, whom, from certain un-
mistakeable signs, had already set down in
my mind as blackleg.
"No, sir; never play" l r%
Presently he addressed another with the
same question. and before long had game
made up. took a position near the players,
to observe the game. Two of them were evil
IDENTIFY professional gamblers; or, in the lam
guage of The country, "legs," a third doubtful,
and the fourth man of standing and business
in the community where he lives They first