American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-16
From the st. Louis American.
THE MISTAKES OF A NIGHT.
BY JOHN SOCIAL HALL.

By JOHN SOCIAL HALL.
Travellers upon Western steamers are a.
a1e, that the main cabin is bounded on each
He, by a continuous rows of state rooms which
Enerally have doors leading to the guards, as
He'll as to the interior.
These state-rooms are allotted to the gen.
emen; but when there is an unusual num-
br Of lady passengers, those Immediately adj
lining the ladies' cabin, are surrendered to the
tier
/ We had left New Orleans with a goodly
|Jmpliment of the fair sex; and although seve-
Il had gone ashore at Natchez, there had still
zen an augmentation of their number.
On the third day out, the clerk, Mr.. Neer-
hd found it necessary to give "notice to
lit," to the male tenants of A and w, the
20 rooms situated next to the sacred precincts
the ladies' cabin. New quarters were there
Ire assigned to the occupants, and ladies duly
bstalled therein-one in particular having the
attire monopoly of letter A. This ordinance,
in such cases made and provided" took eff
ct in that instance early in the evening-and
hist my friend, Mr.. Patrick O'BulkIy was
Iietly enjoying the fine weather and bona
de regalia, upon the hurricane deck.
By some unaccountabe neglect, our prince
clerks failed to notify O'Bulkly of the trans
IT, for, up to that inauspicous moment, he
ad gloried in the undisputed possession of the
|ate-room ill question.
After having duly discussed his segar, and
dmired the wonderful harmony of nature, as
splayed in the bright consultations above
hch he viewed through the medium of the
hcirclng wreaths of the smoke and steam
e, as was his wont, turned his reflections to
he green Isle, far over the sea and "the girl he
|ad left behind him."
That water should seek its level, is not a
more infallible law of nature, than that the
mind ofmy friend should ever, when freed from
resent cares, fohdly recur to the scenes of his
h;ldhood-to the lass of his choice.
II was late in the evening, when arousing
himself from this dreamy existence, he descen-
lied to the cabin and prepared to retire for the
Eight. Now O'Bulkly, Notwithstanding his
Ievotion to the distant beauty-chershed an
|dmiration for the sex generally--perhaps in
compliment to her; but certainly in common
With his countrymen. He had, moreover, u
bother peculiarly, which is not confined to
inv particular nation--he enjoyed his glass
Iociai and private-moderately weak or com.
ortably strong.
When he entered the cabin, it was almos,
deserted; but at the bar stood the presiding of
6cer of that department-the paragon OF his
brofession-the venerable Peter Iceberg.
O'Bulkly needed not the pleasing invitation
kfPeter's stereotyped smile, to lure him thither
lie advanced mechanically to that region o.
choice spirits, and soon, to repeat his owr
words, ''enrobed himselfin narcotic night
,ap;" little cared he, from that moment
whether the Daren encountered drift, SANE
bars or snags; but, having thus concluded hi
arrangements, he sought his room. The lamps
In the cabin had been with one exception ex
|inguished and all was dark within; but tina
lwas of no consequence-for he imagined nj
Necessity of particular xploration-and in
few moments was snugly disposed of, in thu
apper birth.
What were his dreams, this history does no
record; but when his mind, unburthened By
deep, resolved itself into ndescribabe confu
sion, it is not doubted that thoughts of female