The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-08-09

A GOOD PRACTICAL JOKE.
A correspondent ii the N. Y. Spirit Of
the Times writes thus from Burling v,

A correspondent M the N. Y. Spirit of
the Times writes thus from Burlington. v,
Dear Spira:--I, may appear rather
strange 10 you at first, but nevertheless i,
Is true, that even in Vermont there is &C.
casionally one Of the boys, and practical
Jokers arc brought up in every house. /
believe u IL necessary for man to have
considerable Of tho Yankee spirit abou,
him, in order to sell green un' complete
". The slight incident I wish to relate
wos nothing pfcmedtatcd; j, wns forccc
upon the perpetrator, and il you do not con
slider IL cool enough for these warm DAYS, /
shall be Inclined to think you urc more ac-
cus.omed 70 scda,iyes ,hnn supposed.
A lew days since, Dan, one Of tho great
est specimens of the bean pole family now
extant, was loafing about the Exchange
Hotel, with nothing particular To burthcn
his mind, aud seeing tho morning paper
upon tho table in tho BARRIERS room, he
stepped in md sat down to read. lie had
been engaged but a few moments, when a
portly Englishnan, just from tho province,
came putting in at the door. lie looked
around moment in some doubt as 10 the
probability of his being in tho right shop
and finally growlod out rather than said
lis the barber in!
y am the person that Shares said Dan,
slowly erecting his long, lank figure. 'Can
! do ANYTHING Tor YOU in my liner
John Bnil eyed his anything but Apollo
like proportions u moment, aud taking oil
his hat sat DOWN with the mir Of one per-
icctly resigned to tho ignominous fate Of
being shaved by Yankee.
Alter very carefully tuckiDy the clean
white napkin in about hi. customer . double
chin, Dan proceaded to make some lathcr.
With little trouble he found q email cha.
wing cup. containing a biz Of windsor
somewhat larger than big pea, into which
no turned gill OF warm, not hot, water,
and proceeded to beat up tho soap in the
most approved manner, until the la,hcr, if
so u may be called, was about the color and
consistency Of milk. Then moiioning his
nlready somewhat impatient customer To
Law back. be c"mmonced covering his face
with the liquid, beginning ~ the tip top Of
his nose, aud working backwards towards
his ears
'Wha,!-what!--wh that for?' blub-
bered out Ball.
keep your mouth Shut said Dan, as the
brush slipped from the end Of tho nose into
the cavity below, Il can't work when YOU
are talking
Dan continued the operation ofln,hcrng
until there was scarce ANY thing uncovered
except the forehead aud eyes, and il was
pretty certain TINT the soap and " a,er was
undermining The very foundations Of tho
I.nglishman's enormous standing collar,
when suddenly he required clean towel
and stepped out 10 procure one.
Tho Enalishinan waited while, but no
clean towel appeared. lis neck was be-
ginning 10 feel uncomfortable, and the Ii.
qnid. devoid Of anything in the shnpe Of
fro,h, was slowly ,ricklng down his back
aud shoulders, when all nj once tho idea
flashed across hi ,uind that he was sold
The Yankecn was bis first in.
siinciive exclamation, then cntehng his
hal he rushed for the door, but WINS too late !;
he just cnnnh, glimpse Of Dams skirts as
he turned iuto Main street, aud was out OF
sight.
The discounted Englshman turned bnck
and began Ia pace the floor, swearing about
tho cursed Yankees. After taking two or
three turns, he stopped, thought moment,
and then burst into a lond roar.
Here, landlord, does that fellow board
hcrer
'Iie docs,' answered the grinning host.
well, give him that tobacco box, aud
tell him il he over comes TO Montreal |
want him TO call and see me, aud will en-
terrain him like prince
Here the bell rang !,r tho boat.
Yours truly, liza! IIs!