Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-03-29
MISCELLANEOUS READINo.
From the Boston Bee.
a STORY ABOUT BANVARD.


A STORY ABOUT BANvARD.
Every ono, or a. least, every American,
has heard Of Barnard, and many have
'ead his adventures, as published in the
he descriptive pamphlets Of his great Pic.
lure OF the Mississippi. But he is the
hero Of an adventure which is not pub
|ished, and which is rather too good to be
lost. 1t is generally known that he spec.
ulated in variety Of ways on the treach-
erous Mississippi. to get money TO help
him through his object.
One Of these speculations consisted in
fitting up flat boat as a museum Of paint
ings. which foated from town to town;
exhibiting these paintings to the inhaoi-
tants thereof ,-t--.
He stopped "for nigh. only" AT the lit
tie and almost deserted town ofCommerce.
Mississippi, and which can be seen in his
panorama. q short distance below Mem
phis. During the exhibition, there was
one man who appeared very consequent
tial, and wanted to know if the proprietor
had a license for exhibiting his paintings!
He also said, as the Squire was out Of town,
he would assume the responsibility and
collect the license himself Mr.. Barnard
observed that the exhibition was not in
the town, but on the river, and that ne had
. state license, which gave him the privi
lege Of exhibiting where he pleased with.
in the Jurisdiction Of the State.
~ can't help that" said the self apPoin-
ted magis,ratc, with all tho consequence
Of "rcal genuine squire"
1--WE calculate to have large town
here, some Of these days. and we want
money in the treasury and as you is ma
king small sprinklin' off the place., you
might as well leave little on il behind;
so fork over the license money"
Barnard found he had an ugly custo-
ncr to deal with, and was so well acquain-
ted with the people Of the wild region,
that he knew il was best to get off as cast
Iy as possible; for, at word, this fellow
could have the whole town upon his back.
who would be delighted with the "spree"
Of "dorn,cking" the boat, and the fellow
appeared to be the leader Of them.
allow much is your licensed" said the
exhibitor.
~ don't zactly. know, but suppose
will make il ten dollars"
"Ten dollars! why, my dear sir, have
only taken about six or eight dollars"
Cant help that; want the ten dollars,
or we good citizens will odfsticate this boat
for you"
"But some other good citizen may de-
rnand another ten dollars on the same
Plea" observed Barnard.
81 will sumo the responsibility Of
my TELLER citizens, as am now the only
'sponsible person in the town."
"Well, sir, since you assume the res
possibility. just sit down and view the
paintings, and after the exhibition is over
! will pay your demand; my business calls
mo ct present"
Mr.. Consequence then walked into the
large room whore the exhibition was going
on. and Mr.. Barnard turned to his hands
and giving them directions to have all the
lines on board, except the show line, ;" and
20 unswing the oar, with poles set ready
for starting at moments warning suspect
ing tho fellow would raise a row.
After the exhibition was over. and the
citizens began to make tracks for home.
the collector" remained behind and de.
manded his money.
"Ccrtainly," said the proprietor; just
step back into the cabin with me, and you
shall have it," and back he walked. as one
Of the hands was extinguishing the lights
used for the paintings. Just as he and
Banvard reached the little cabin. by some
accident Mr.. B. contrived to extinguish
the only remaining light, and both were
shut in utter darkness. In the meantime
all the spectators had left the boat, and she
swung back and forth, being held only by
she one line at the low. and the current
was rushing furiously past her. It was
tho intention Of Banvard to caet the line
loose as the last spectator got on shore.
But the last one saved him the trouble,
for seeing the situation Of the boat he
thought il would be fno joke to tell he
cut her loose. This fellow, not aware that
the would.bs magistrate was on board.
out with his bowie knife. severed the line
and ran of. The hands on the bow per.
ceiving that the boat dropped astern sus-
pected what was done. and taking hold Of
the line found it cut. They poled the boat
of noiselessly into the current, and all on
board were rapidly floating of on the dark
bosom Of the Mississippi. at the rate DISK
miles an hour.
"Come. make haste" said Consequence,
after Mr.. r. had at last succeeded in re-
lighting the lamp. IL wan, them are ten
dollars, in hurry"
"Certainly, sir. as soon as find the key
Of my trunk. You see, sir. my receipts
are only eight dollars tonight, and must
get from my trunk the balance Of the mon
ey. Can you change . twenty dollar
bill1"
"Wsll I can boss. Igo, to 90 to the
Cour, tomorrow, and just put that sum
into my pocket-hand over your BILL"
ayes sir. as soon can find the key to
my trunk"
"Hang it, have got to wait here till
for the money!" said Conse-
qucnce, who began to smell little Of the
rat.
Certainly. unless find the key before
that time"
''Never mind the key; just hand me