The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-15

OMNIBUS DRIvERs.-Major Noah, in late :
ticle on omnibuses, gives the following descrip-
ton Of the drivers:
Withomnibu.ses we have new and import
ant functionary, certainly unknown in Amer
lea twenty years ago-the driver. He is crca-
ton Of the spirit of Improvement, made ex-
pressy for the city's ease, and we Ike to sec
him start on voyage Of speculation and dis
covery in town. Stretching up his neck and
casting one long, lingering look behind, he de-
series portly customer who has just waddlsd
from restaurant, who mods his head to the dri-
ver's invitation Of ride upY and in he goes.
Elevating his arm, tipped with this index by way
of signal, he arrests the attention OF another
With an air of success, changing his position,
he glances inquiringly up and down the cross
streets, and spies pedestrian at a distance
whose patronage he is ambitious to secure. He
waits patiently until he comes near, when sig
nihcant shake of the head informs him that he
does not intend to ride. The driver betrays no
symptoms of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is his
sheet anchor--bnt cracks his whip, bowling 10
one, holding to another, and looking nvitingly
to another until he is said to be full which sell
are three periods in the day when the driver feels
his helm, from eight to nine in the morning, from
three to four in the afternoon, and from ten to
eleven at night when folks are leaving the the
atrc Then speed is his object, and passengers
must hail him and leap in without delay. How
earcssly he dashes in among variety Of We
hlcIes, slafnmng this and banging that! How
nicely he sometimes threads his way amidst AN
avalanche of cabs coaches, and carts without the
least danger. And if it rains, how unceremo-
nously he tumbles in his passengers, fifteen to
the dozen, always appealing to the potcness Of
the company to find room for lady who turns
out to be tat market woman with basket ~
EsrtoNAGE.-Our town was visited on Sat-
urday last by nm agent from the New York mer-
chants, whose business was to secure among
our legal gentleman one to act in the capacity
Of spy-to make himself acquainted with The
character, resources and habits Of our merrhants,
which he was to report quarterly to the great
city of New York This is u new feature, and
quite iatterng compliment to such OF orr
merchants "a will continue to trade with the
North, when their own ports should receive their
patronage. We are proud to say that none Of
our lawyers would except Of such employment.
but we do not know but others may have been
detailed for this low and despicabie purpose.
Yes: Northern merchants (and Abolitioinsts.
donbt'ess) have hired spies to overlook the bust
ness and moral associations Of Southern tner-
chants, and ut the great depot, black book Is
to be kept where all their liabilities are to be
registered, and paraded when occasion requires,
for perhaps small tritle. That Mr. Proudht,.
of Newburg, New York, who left here on Sat-
urday may be gentleman, we have no doubt;
but we do know he is engaged in very low
business--and we hope and trust that snch Of
our Southern merchants a. have proper respect
for themselves will frown down this bold insult
attempted to be put on them, by turning TO their
home markets, and buying no goods north OF
Mason e. Dixons line-at least in the quarters
where such mean, low. dirty. villainous system
Of espionage 10 to be carried on in their midst
by secret agents, Lincoln (N, CO. Courier.