The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-07-10
ANECDoTE OF MATHEWS.

er of concealing his identity from persons to
whom he was known. / happened TO men,
ton this 10 Peter Coke, who assured me the
following instance occurred under his W
observation:
81 was invited" quoth Peter, "to dine at
the Piazza Coffee-house to meet a select par
ty: among whom was Mathews. The room
we dined in had two doors. Mathew sat on
the right hand of our enterteiner, by whose
desire seated myself next to Mathews
During dinner, the latter mentioned that an
acquaintance ofhis, an obstinate, opionated
old bachelor, whom he had known in the
north, was now in town, and that he was ex-
ceedingly apprehensive this person who was
intolerably rude and overbearing, would find
him out, and force himself on the company.
Alter dinner Malhe VS. made h~Imselfexeeed-
ingly agreeable, and we were all in the acme
OF enjoyment when the waiter, entering, an
nounced that an elderly gentleman was be-
lou, inquiring for Mr.. Mathews.
whats his name?' asked Mathew in great
alarm.
lie didn't say, sir. lie says he knows
you are here, and he must see YOU
'Old Thwaitesi' cried Mathews, starting
up; knew he'd ferret me out
'Stay;-what sort OF imam is hep said our
entertainer,
HAS he brown great coat on?' demand
ed Mathews.
sYes SIR
Green Specs?'
yes SIR
Scratch wig?'
yes sir
'sioops a good deal, and speaks in a north
country a~ccent?'
Exactly, sir; you've
Struggling up his shoulders, and shooting 10
the stairs head.
& tell you | know he's in the house. and [
will see himn vociferated a voice on the
stairs.
Say Bannister's taken ill-I'm gene 10 the
cried Mathews, rushing in, seizing
his hat, and boiling.
He had scarcely made bis exit at one
door, when old Thwaits appeared atthe 9TH
eE. The latter's appearance corresponded
in every respect with the description given
by Mathews.
where's Mathus?' demanded he, abrupt
ly, in strong norih-couniry accent. 4 know
he's here continued he, hobbling into the
room, and looking sharply around, and |
must see him.
mr.. Mathews was here, sir replied our
host, with more politeness than | thoughtthc
occasion called for; 'but he's just gone 10
the theatre, and
'Thal won't pass with me- interrupted Mr..
rudely. Il know he's inthe house;
you can't bamboozle me. know he doesn't
play to-night-Fve asceriaincd that. So
continued he. putting down his hat
and stick. and seating himself in the chair
Mathews had just vacated, shere | stay until
I've seen him.
sWe all started at this.
you're quite welcome to stay, sir, as long
IS you please said our entertainer, cody
But what ! tell you is the fact. MIR. Ban
lister is taken suddenly i'll, and
.sIt's a lie. SIR interrupted Mr.. Thwaitesa-
it's a lie, sir repeated he, striking the
able with his clenched fist until the glasses
ingled again, 'and you all know it. conclu-
led he, looking 6ercely around.
OF course, we all rose at this.
'Pray, gentlemen said our entertainer, sbe
Gated, | beg. As an elderly gentleman-as
friend of Mr.. Mathews, Mr.. Thwaites is pri-
to-pray resume your seats, gentle
men,
'We obeyed; though confess felt strong
? inclined, in spite of his years, TO kick the
intruder out.
so you know me, do you? proceeded Mr..
Thwai!es, filling out a bumper; Mathus
Mentioned me, did be? Pa6! what rot-eut
tuff! what beastly winet / wonder you can
rink such rubbish. Pah!-nothing but slop-
and cider. But -anytling-anythine's
God enough for you ~cockneys,' added he.
nth a sheer. sHal hai--curse. me if / think
on know good wine when you get it,
sSome of US ventured to dissent fron this.
tut Mr.. Thwaites stuck to his assertion, and
it with SO much rudeness, that il
all the tact Of our entertainertepre-
srve order. No matter what subject was
.aIted, Mr.. Thwaites was sure to renderit
he theme for discord; until at length the pa
ence of the company becoming exhausted,
e rose en- naGsse, and were GU the point of
ejecting the intruder, who, pulling
his wig and spectacles, disclosed the fea.
Tres of Mathews HIMSELF
Il had for some time suspected this. Ny
-oximity TO the supposed Mr.. Thwaites en-
oled me TO detect a horse hair attached to
le wig, which, passing under Mathews
ose, entirely changed the expression of his
'untenance. But no other person, except
II entertainer, who was in the secret, had
e slightest suspicion of the cheat; the ad-
irable manner in which Mathews supported
8 assumed character, but above all, The ce-
rity with which he returned, so completely
tered in his appearance, pr~ecluding the pos