Saturday morning visitor., 1848-07-15
From The Model dnerican Courier.
ABSENT -MINDEDNESS.



among The numerous visitors 10 the
National Fair, which was held in Wash
ington, in the summer Of l845, was gen
tleman who, tho hail ing from the South,
was long resident among the Iron dis
tricts Of Pennsylvania, and is at present
engaged in The manufacture OF iron, at
one Of the iron establishments at the North.
He is a man of short stature. stoully built,
and, though mol ugly, not very proposes
sing in his personal appearance--a fact
only alluded TO that the succeeding inciN
dents may be tie better appreciated.
TO relieve bis face of the ungeuleel ap-
pearahce it had assumed by ii two day $
growth Of beard, lie repaired TO one Of
the "lonsorial emporiums' OF Washing
ton, and, on finding all the BARRIERS occu-
! pied, be, al their polite invitation, took of
! his coat, the pockets OF which contained
s1mples Of iron, ae'ghing ssrerct pounds,
and hung II on peg among the apparel
Of the other i-itors, and waited his urn.
One of the gentlemen having got
( through" lie took his seat, and under
went the pleasant operation OF being sha-
we'd. After washing lis face and arraug-
ing MS toilet, he would have pat on his
cont, but 10! 10 his chagIin, il had disap-
pe"red, and on a ue.giJorug peg coat
( was discovered, unclaimed Iy those pre-
seni, and identified by the barber as the
Frorerly oi Judge D., gentleman
remarkable ior his absent -miudednesS, as
thus incident sufficiently indicates.
II was now quite apparent that Judge
/ D. kad worn away Tie coat in mis-
take FOR his own, though II was Of diff
iereht color, and unlike Iii, oNn in other
/ respects. Ha,Ing business OF some i'm
{ poitance 10 attend To, "our friend found
himself IN a sad predicament and Les-
1 patched one OF the shnp-hoys with Judge
D----'s coat, 10 find him and effect an
exchange, leaving "our friend" 10 medt-
ale on The whimsical results of absent
mlndeduess.
Alter all, successful search of an hour,
tie boy returned, and reported the failure
OF his erraid. Here now wasa perpex-
ing dilemma 10 be placed in-le musi Ell
lher proceed out in his s!ir; sleeves, or
, wear tie au'iqnatel coat Of the antique
Judge! iie decided upon the latter al
terhallNe, intending to institute a search
for the Judge himself, who, it was feared.
had returned 10 his country residence. -
lie sailed forth, and what GeleclnlIe
sight lie presented, cnvcloycd IN tie ald,
brass Ootloned, blue coat--itS ancient col
lar boary from HE powder Of many wears.
the sleeves reaching over his fingers, and
The tail extending 10 within short dis
tance Of his feet! Though lie evqced tie
most public thoroughares, he met sever
al acquainIances, WHO gu!zzed him OK his
oomicai appearance; bat icing Otherwise
a comparative stranger and feeling some
what chaied a his own siugulariy. he be-
came reSulute aud hurried up 10 the cap.
iiol in quest Of the man wlo possessed
tie specimen Of iron il was 20 necessary
Tor himself 10 have. Having traversed
The grounds" without finding the object
Of his search, he proceeded To tbs Rolun-
da, and there recognized the Judge, de-
seriblng the pictures 10 oseverpl ladies', ap-
naremly unconscious Of the tight and lea
~ flt he had On.
Unwilling 10 eontinne longer in lhis IN.
conih garment, and not from deficient eli
quette, "our friend interrupted the Judge
~ his gallant occupation, and told him thai
he had on Tie wrong coat. CHANGING at
himself, he perceived the fact for the first
time, and remarked, with much humor
and sang lrod-
so have, sir beg your pardon.
How did it happen pa question that
was afterwards explained, much TO his as
tonlohment and amusement.
Leaving the ladies, they proceeded out
10 The perlioo, where the Judge proposed
an exchange, and pulled off the coat he
wore, for that purpose-a conrsethat was
partly followed by the other gentleman,
but their belligerent and singular appear
ance having attracted smaR crowd a.
round them, he drew il on again, and sug-
gestea the propriety of going to some
more private place. They therefore went
TO the rear Of The building, and exehang-
ed coats, TO the surprise of those who fol-
lowed them in expectation of witnessing
a fight, To the bewilderment of sour
friend, the Judge then searched the pock-
els Of his coat in vain for his pocket-book,
which he said he had placed there.
"ll's gone, siri nlllOf valuable papers
rOur friend recollecied that the bar
ber boy had the coat with him, when he
was sent TO look for The Judge, and for .
moment suspicion rested on him as the
peeulalor of the lost pookei-book, but, 10
lhe relief Of all concerned, the Judge
found il in, bis panlsloOns pocket. Mn,u-
al apologies and explanations snsned, and
each went his way in good humor. The