Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-09-28
5elcftc0 Gale.
The Georgian in New York.
BY ROBERT NJ. CHARLTON.


Reader, if you live any where south of latitude
33, and if you wish to preserve a high estimate
OF your native land, aud self, take my advice
and stay at home. You will find, before you
are thousand miles off, your self estimation
considerably worsted and you will ascertain
to your hearts desire that you think more Of
your own State than those North of you do.
At least, that is my experience aud if you
have few minutes to spare, read my simple
tale" and sympathlse with my misiortunes.
When was very young man, ut would
he exceedingly lnperinent for you to ask how
long ago. left Savannah in vessel bound
for New York. We were all well when we
started, but after we had been few days out,
an August sun began TO do duty with our crew.
One man died, and another became very sick.
On the morning Of the sixth day, we reached
the Highlands" and our captain called a
council Of war, among the passengers, to con
suit as To the course we ought To adopt IN re-
ference to our sick seaman for" said he
L" the health officer al the Quarantine ground
hates Georgia, for the trouble it gives him, land
if he finds any body looking the least pale he
will put us under the yellow flag for a week "
We oyerhauled our sick man put clean gar
ments upon him shaved him aud telling Inn to
keep "a stiff upper lip" and not let the doctors
suspect his lndlsposillon, We constituted him
cook pro hac rice, and proPpng him up in the
L" caboose," awaited with some trepdation
our" medical fellow" We anchored at Staten
Island, and in a few minutes boat, With a
yellow flag flying at the stern, came, up.
:" Where are You iromi' said handsome
looking Young man III glasses.
4 l,l.. 4 |,
here's trouble for me. II be bound, solIoqQlz-
ed Esculaplus, as he came on board; Mus
ter your passengers, sir" added he. We all
passed in review. Call the crew forward. 7"
Done accordingly.
"Where is John Matthew'S" asked Medi-
Gus, calling the roll. (l'hat question was
easier asked than answered, however for he
was our dead man, pnd We lad thrown him
into the sca.)
We have lost him at sea sir" responded
the captain " we have had some severe weatl,-
er." " John Jones'" This was our cook
pro tcD,porc. A" IIalloo cook come out
No answer. lie cannot very well leave the
cabcose at present, doctor-he's 5 engaged, but
fits necessary to see him perhaps you will do
me the favor to step there" And there he
went our poor fellow, maugre the shaving and
clean shirtlng and propplng, wore the lndubna-
bic marks of grim disease. We saw all at once
that our artifce was no go' with the ply
sician. lie felt Jones pulse, and then SAID
quietly to his assistant, lake this man to the
hospital, he has got that miserable Georgia
fever" What do you mean sir, said /,
'by coupling Georgia with such all adjective ~
He looked a, me with perfect amazement. AT
last. he touched his hat I, me, and replied,
" beg your pardon, sr-l ought not to have
coupled Georgia fever with 50 contemptuous
an cxpr sson for | have no doubt that 1t has
done immense good in tlmes--l WISH II more
extensive usefulness for the benefit OF mankind.
If you will allow me, l will retract my hdsty
word, and declare that the cook has got the
blessed Georgia fever. Will that suit you
No it did not but what could say ! had
Just abused the man for cursng the Georgia
fever, and | could not therefore object to his
blessing II although | could not help feeling
that the last WAS worse than the first, and that
his meaning was, that if II killed all the Geor.
gians, it would be a benelactor To mankind -
Nv friend saw that he had met at dIsadvan-
iage, and lcering at me through his glasses, Il
hate a man who wears spectacles-l have
known some honest men who used them, but
tinued his instructions to his assistant. Take
the man to the hospital Mr.. Smith, aud tell the
carpenter to have his coffin ready by this time
tomorrow. And tell him, also, 10 get anoih-
or O. about five feet, ten inches, Cooking al my
height ready for the day after, as there are
some premonltory symptoms IN one OF the pas
scngers."
=" see you put put proper rehaace on
your skill, doctor, said to him, "but you
need not trouble yourself about that last coffin.
There will be no use for it. ! shall net t0k'
yo,r phyNc." lie laughed heartily, and shook
me by the hand, "You may go Ia town, cap
tain" were his farewell words as he lett the
vessel. We subsequently learned, that the
cook died about the time designated.
After reaching the city, strolled to one Of
the banks, upon which had draft, presented
it, and received my money. The date &c,
Of the check, told of course, where was from.
aid saw that the teller sneered as he read 1t.
"Can leave this on deposit, SIR I" asked
| of him.
No" answered the little Yankee, talking,
through his nose. " not unless you ARE lntroduc-
ed TO our cashier by gentleman. We don't
care about receiving Georgia depooltes.'
q" .ook here, Stranger" said |, (putllng my
hat on one side OF my head, III regular Georgia
fashion, and talking through my nose,) "h
your cashier wants to be introduced TO a genhe-
man, have no objection to make his acqualnl-
ancc. Cal}.hlm, aud will give hlm chance
he seldom gets but # you mean that am to
find another gentleman in New York, all /
have to say is. ] don't work MIRACLES
4" see answered he) that your qualIfca'
tions for the discovery are not very great, but
we decline the deposit without compliance
with the rule"
By this time had begun to ascertain that
Georgia was not held in the highest repuie IN
that region, and became little more humble
and subducd in my future negotiations. One
of nv objects in visiting New York was to IN
sure my life aud to this purpose now directed
NV attention. taking the precauion, however,
of"workinp the miracle" Of finding "a gentle
man" to introduce me--One OF my former
Georgia friends We went together to The
insurance Office. where he introduced me to.
IN, President. and stated NV object.
"Ah, (ssld he) this speaks volumes tor you
sir. 10 see = man OF your years, ol such deep
reflection. Of such prudent foresight, is delight.
full. IL gratlfying-it denotes high state oi
civilization, sir, very high staie-It IL an
unon Tho character Ot