Washington telegraph., 1846-09-02
From the Knickerbocker.
DENTISTRY IN TEXAS.

ia kindred artist once described To us bv
country gentleman. He was in the habit
ofspeaking to eveiy person who had sub.
milted to his operations as "a Job or his: and
while walking with our correspondent in
the streets of the village in which he re-
sided, he would suddenly exclaim sTbere
comes one of my Jobs; about as difficult a
lob as | ever had The lob was ra-
cent widower, and his countenance was
sad; but when the dentist met him face TO |
face, he said: Wont you be so good as
to smile littlel | want to show nv friend
what | call very difficult and neat ion -
The bereaved husband and father however
declined, and went on his way, leaving our
operator In state of surprise and disap
Pointment at his churlishness. But TO our
new correspondent 'TEJANo:'
"As | returned last week from a turkey.
hunt in the Colorado Bottom, found our lii.
tie village in an unusual state OF exitement
at the announcement that the celebrated
DR.. Johnston, of Virginia, Professor of Dem
tai Surgery would that evening deliver an
address on professional subject, at j.
Cronkram's taver1, on the Square; admit
tance gratis bad been surprised on my
road very stylish light barouche, with sill
ver-plated lamps, drawn by two bob tail
sorrel trotters, aad driven by a negro in
livery. L now learned that this was the
travelling equipage Of DIR. Johnston, who
having acquired by the exercise of bis pro-
fession a splendiG fortune, was now on
tour of pleasure through Texas, accom-
panied by his lady. Out of compassion
however to the Citizens OF L---e, who
had not seen a real live dentist for several
years, he gracioufly condescended 10 tarry
for time among them, and to torture the
nervous system of any unfortunate individ-
ual who might require his services. At
seven o'clock the lecture began in a large
upper room, where few rough boards for
seats contracted ,agreeably with the make
rafiers ofthe roof A row OF tallow can
dies with large wicks were stuck round the
walls in little tin holders, aiforling light to
the assembly. This room-was in fact the
town hall of L--e. Here the Courts
were held, and divers important cases OF
stolen pigs, assaults and batteries and runa-
way negroes summarily disposed OF. Here
also were given the displays of Fourth OF
July orators, and the discourses of any reli
gious professors who might wish to hold
forth TO the good citizens of lie;
Mormons, Universalists and Shaking Qua.
kers included. | had been seated for some
time, amusing myself in looking around
upon the mass Of hunting shirts, home made
cotton coats, of all shapes and cOlors; buck
skin leggings cooked beaver hats, such
were used in the days of WAsHINGroN;
cow-hide boots and Indian moccasins; and
contrasting them with the more civilized
garb of some young lawyer friends ofmine
from Tennessee, when was startled by
loud crash, caused by the sudden disappear
ance OF one OF the plank seals, which gave
way under its Interesting load, consisting
chiefly of the genller sex of l..
There was (as an old planter near me OBJ
served, io- few moments "A considerable
smart chance Of scramble, and a conius-
ed pile of bonIets, shawls and female
forms, with occasional shrieks from stout
lady who had been turned wrong side up,
and only regained uer equilibrium at the ex-
pense of sundry crushed bonnets aud pros
trated ladies', who served as stepping stones.
A: length, however, order being restored,
a cry arose among the negroes (ot whom
some thirty or forty were collected round
the door, Of all 4ges, sizes and shades of
DdIG -iIdssd DDCtOT
doctor appeared with his lady ON his arm.
He was a man of the middle size, hard-ieat-
tured, with bushy head of gray hair, an
immense pair ofgold spectacles pushed back
on his forehead, from beneath which his
cunning looking yellowish-gray eyes twin
kled forth. white neck k-cloth enveloped
his scraggy brown neck, and his costume
was a full suit OF black. As he advanced
into the room, ne held his wife by the tips
OF the fingers, making sliding bows 10 the
rig ht and left. Alter handing her tripping
ly' TO a seat, he took his station behind the
rostrum, which in this case consisted of a
small pine table, grievously cut and scratch
ed, having been wbitiled upon by the Judges,
lawyers and politicians of L--e for the
last three years; of course, like their
speeches, it was rather hackneyed affair.
On this table lay several rolls of paper of
different sizes, to be Used as occasion might
serve, according to the custom of public
speakers. The doctor, arranging his rolls,
made bow and commenced as follows:
"Gentlemen and ladies-ladies and gen.
tlemen: | arrCved here to day at your little
town for the fust time-which are fact
I've saw larger places and I've saw smaller;
but it's a pretty considerable pedrt little
paace for all that. IL requires, gentlemen
and ladies', if may so 'spress myself a
mighty material genus for to be a good den-
tistry-which there are no doubt of that;
none at all. A look of inquiry around the