The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-08
Travelling Acquaintance.

The train started. Every place was oc
cupied, and each traveller provided himsell
with one or two daily or weekly newsps.
pers. There were two Chronicles, tw:
copies Of the Times, the same Of the Dahl
Nes0s, one Mrs. Camp, and one Mrs. HaI
MS. Barker had the Examiner, because il
was witty and cauStic; and the Spectator
because il was clever and crotchety. The
proceedings commenced with general read
ing Of the journals. Three gentlemen at
tempted, simultaneously, to peruse three o.
the vast morning papers, spread to the full
extent Of the broad sheet This was no
very easy to do, 50 two OF them soon gave il
up; the third was more persevering and
combstive, and continued to travel through
bis Times, from the advertisements Of re-
VOTED lsp-dogs down to the printers name.
Each man having satisfied himself with his
own papers proceeded TO borrow those Of his
neighbors, until the system Of reciprocity
was fully carried OUT except in the case Of
Barker, who borrowed nobody's property,
and anayed his visage in such terrors, that
only one Of hls companions ventured TO pro-
pose commercial relations with him. The
reading concluded, general mutual scruti-
ny Of faces commenced. A looked at B as
if he despised him thoroughly; B reconnoi-
tired c as il he suspected him Of belonging
to q swell-mob; c evidently considered A
an imPertnent intruder, and as to Mr.. Bar
ker, he glanced about him as il nobody had
a right TO be there but himself. Indeed be
was exceedingly litisious ell day, swapping at
some, snsrling al Others. scowling and growl-
ing, mOmbling and grunbling, taking people
Up and putting people down. asking blunt
questions, giving sharp answers, sometimes
right sometimes wrong, and ueading on
everybody's corns. When, al length, there
began TO be some conversation, one OF the
party, subdued, hen-pecked looking man,
with while face and black coat, in ell
probability perpetual cursie, told Ia
nnentable tale Of the uPsetting Of boat on
the river. which be said be had witnessed with
bis own eyes, IS if il was usual 10 witness
boating accidents, or occurrences OF any kind
with the eyes Of other people.
There were two men," he said, ''in the
bost-one was providentislly ssved."-
"And the other, sir" interrupted Barker,
sharply, ''the other, suppose, was proui-
de.aially drOaOned." The perpetual curate
looked sghss. "Don't you think" pur.
sued Barker, with acrimony, 'thst provi.
dence had as much to do with the downing
OF the one, as with the rescue OF the otherl'
The curate was meditating reply, when a
paragraph in Punch made the rest Of the
company laugh, upon which MIR. Barker
said, she should like to know what Punch
would do without the fountains in Trafalgar.
square, the Duke Of Wellington's statue, or
Lord Broughsm's nose!" 81 entirely con-
cur with you, sir, said presumptuous stu
dent Of one Of the London colleges, who
never omitted an occasion for displaying his
ignorance in the most high-fown language
he could find; cat least as far as relates 10
the august Brougham;-don't you agree
with me, that Brougham is a tremendous
statesman He is certainly, in my opinion,
the lofIiest, most towering, and will 20 50
far as TO say the most gigantic intellect that
ever illumined and enlightened Europe; in.
deed, ] might say the ierraqueOus globe"
A look Of intense scom was the only no.
tee that Barker took Of this burst Of clio.
quence; but in reply to one Of the other
travellers, he dashed of virulent sketch of
the august Broagham,' concluding BY pro-
nounclng him, man Of brilliant incspaci-
ty, vast and various misinlomation, and pro-
digious moral requirements. "Well, sir,
hope you will allow that Sir Robert Peel is
great man, interPOsed the perpetual curate,
who always thOughtt the prime minister demi
god. whether be was Wing or Tory. 81
am told, " muttered Barker, ''thst Sir Robert
u great eater Of beefstssks and toasted