Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-04-19

n, AASE HiSut We uASks WAAcn IeHueIcu 70
impossible for me to tell which direction he
was driving; and, indeed, had II been broad
daylight, being Granger, / had not known
whether he WAS on the right road or not.
70, satisfy myself on this important point,
!, called several times for him to stop, in
order to ascertain il he properly understood
ing directions; but the noise Of the ''cab
DER the stony street, rendered every effort
Of this kind fruitless. ION he dashed, and
ever on" and, as he whirled around the
corners he did in regular ssDun-
summer stylc"-I could not but observe
great samcness in his turns: that is 10 say,
he always turned to the right--a circun-
stance that gave me little or no concern,
however, as l attributed it party 10 the
regularity Of the streets, for which this city
10 remarkable, but mainly because placed
implicit confidence in my driver, who
seemed wide awake, and thought ought
to understand his business; aud the event
proved that he did! Nse F's {4ea
Il. Alter driving about two miles, as near
a. ] could estimate, he pulled up short,
with "whoyl steady my darlings.." given
in true Emerald dialect, as pure green as
the coat he wore.
One spring brought him from the box to
the door Of his cab with the announce
neM-i 8vols a9aeta5. i1aas ssaaias ISL
"Here we are, sir.n hae ras
s.That's. good fellow said l; ssyou
have given me brisk ride; what is the
damagea'' er ifatia ''a o 7i'hf 4
"Seventy-fve cin,s, if you PLACE, your
honor.''' 81 arr, hiaar HHf .a aista
AS | happened 10 know this was just
double the legal charge for single ride,
| told him SO, and demonstrated against pay
ing il; not that this was an unreasonable
professional extortion, for it certainly was
not, as everybody knows who has had any
business transactions with members Of this
very useful and respectable profession, but
! wished to impress upon him, that if he
thought / was 10 be easily over-reached,
he had mistaken his man; SO, in plain terms
! told him "l'd see him id frst;" and
let off word or two about reference of
similar differences to the arbitration ofs3he
police, with satisfactory results, in other
cities, and that had no doubt the author
tiles Of a city SO famed for good order, peace,
and quiet as Philadelphia, (this was before
the churches took fire, we're quite as eff
Client Is elsewhere.
'sSure, your honor is right in the matter
Of the law, but it is justice l would be
after-that was long ride / fetched you,
and fast enc, loo, SO I did. And look at
my darlings, that smoke like two pipes, SO
they do. And didn't Iknow Mr.. Booth
was too play, and that your honor wanted
to get comfortable safe afore the curtin
riz? Ana isn't your honor's leg lame, aud
wouldn't it be mighty disagreeable stand
ing on it the whole play through? And
didn't know all this, sure, and more be-
sides? Och! but your honor must be jokin'
to stand out on SO reasonable q charge after
so much accimidation!'
This was an appeal to my generosity
that could not resist, so | paid him his
price, when, with ''good luck to your hon
orr he sprang upon his box, wlisiled 70
his ''darlings," and dashed into the dark
ness, that soon. swallowed him up"
| got the comfortable sate'' he was SO
anxious l should secure, and saw Booth,
{who was less drunk than usual, s'do''
Sir Giles as few actors can 'sdo it," Du-
ring the play was joined by an acquaint-
ance, with whom, after it was over, lef.
the theatre. ss y f5q1
.Where are you staying?" heoinquired.
"Jone's Ho,el,'' was my reply. &t
"Ill walk ooer with you,'''' said he. ~ \
s'Not ,Oalk, if you please" l answered,
"you forgot my lamcness-rll call a cab. =
y "Surely," said he, ''though you be lame,
YOU can walk short distance.n sag =Ey
a "Short distance! did you say2 Gracious,
man! it's two miles!'' -a..f -t W aE
Nonsense, man. said he, 81 can throw
stone twice al far"
Ill" You have strange standard Of meas
urement in this city; id if think
your tailors sell cloth by the same scale.
rode here, and If it be not two miles from
i Jones's hotel, it is not as many inches"
Here my friend burst into q regular ha
\ ha, and was pleased 10 say something about
straight jacket" and few other re.
marks in the same vein Of pleasantly.
ssLook here," said |, s'my merry friend
though you are native, and to the manor
born, I'll put the accuracy Of your knowl-
edge Of distance 10 practicaltest. 1t may
not be quite two miles. as / before stated
but I'll lay you oysters and champagne that
| it is one male and halt, and a leeile orer
\ from this spot to Jones's hotel" 4 aAI
eisDone!'s said he; Ego give the order t.
hurry ZEN up for there's Jones's l,otel
just across the street," 50 saying he point.
ed to the sign, which, by the light Of the
lamp, / read distinctly.
! "Sold," said 7, ssby alilthat's damnable
4 that rascally Irishman (may the devil burr
him. has not only put upon me a yillanou,
4 trick, for which he charged me double, bu
has lost me the oysters and wine into ths
bargain; but, come along, and whilst ws
are discussing them I'll tel you the story
1 When the soreness the thickest skinned
Il man feels who happens TO be s'touched Of
i The raw after this style, had little sub
1 sided, whichth state Of the things, the oys
\ tiers and wine, spiced with the banter 0
| my companion, were instrumental bring
ling speedily about began to discov q
Il more merit than malice in the trick, and q
like ! little clevcrness, j forgave the an
Il thor Of It with All my heart; indeed, ps
/ s.fewafd or merit" ! determined 10 Civ