Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-01-30
From the Spirit of the Times.

1t is something of feat to catch glimpse of her
Majesty when she goes to the opera in s1ate the
rufes and lace of the United Kingdom rush from their
country seats to London like pack of barriers after
unfortunate Reynard, so that everything like squnt
ing room or standing place" is magnifcently bespoke
by mobiles and their rghte true ladye loves, all anx
ious to breathe the air their sovereign this
especial occasion. The hall of the Opera House is
jam-he streets leading TO ditto, and as fora box in
the heare-it cannot be had, the saying goes, for
love or money" They have been bought week or
two before by astute spectators, who, having got
wind in advance of the Queens visit, determined
to make all they out of the matter.
A number OF gentlemen, who had gone up 10 see
her plump little Majesty at the close of the last seasons
opera, returned TO Morley's Hotel with faces quite
chop fallen, and dismal report of the impossibllity
of getting their noses inside the great hall.
Josh Silsbee, the Comedian was yawning over a
heavy monetary article in the d" Times" and spur
ring up like an old game cock, suddenly excited,
said
"Do you sa-a yeou can't get in, Smith :"
Get in n growled Smith--it was Albert Smith,
the famous author" Curse me! they're as thick as
six in single bed-perfectly wedged, sir! You
Yankees blessed cute, they say, but think il
would puzzle Uncle Sam himself to get in this
time.'
"Would you like to hev me try it ," cooIly remark
ed the comedian.
'No, shouldn't for you'd get squeezed out of your
wits, and then we'd loose you at the Adelph" replied
Smith, who knows how to turn a compliment as well
as Lord Chesterfield.
"Prchaps I would" rejoined SiIsbee, rising and
drawing himself up, don't often bet but I'll tell you
what Ill du There's six of us in this party, and I
don't play till the last piece I'll jest bet you three
bottles of wine that get into the Hall in ten minutes
from the time leave Trafalgar Square,! 20
''Done !" shouted Smith. Done"
Slsbee then, without saying word, made curv-
ed bee line for Covent Garden, through the market
and down Great Russell street, followed By self
sttued committee consisting of Albert Smith, How
ard Paul and two others, to the thing done. He
dashed through the throng outside of the doors, and
tried to get one eye into the Hail. 1t was go, Smith
acas right about the place being heavy packed for
where there one vacancy there were twenty to
take advantage of it.
At one peep the comedian that the aspect of a
chance dreadfuy dark and that to edge in augur.
wise about much use try ing to make three
and four count six. The ten minutes had nearly
elapsed, and the committee were close On his heels to
report progress All at once his attention was attract
ed by band of music in wagon entering Bow street.
in which the Opera House is situated. He turned
round and saw, by huge faring board posted the
wagon, that it belonged TO the Surrey Geological Car
dens which is sent out as advertising with a
tiger in it, by way of making the advertisement more
novel. The animal advertisement was just at this mo-
ment in front of the Grand Hail. and the thought flew
into his brain. His eye spalked and jumping to the
entrance of the Grand Hall, through which the Queen
had 10 pass he thrust in his fat neck and roared-
"Ti-ger Tiger !? They say the animals loose n'
This report, blending with the sobbing of the bas-
soon, and The chipping of the clarones in the van
brought about violent commotion among those near
the door. Ssbee again stretched his heck and roar
ed
"Take care it don't jump over your heads"
Instantly twenty heads were seen in motion, doZ-
en- hats were elevated above the crowd-several ex-
quisites with pontace moustaches, grew blue under
that portion OF the physiognomy popularity known as
" the gs," and not less than fifty rushed towards the
door TO the spoaton of any quantity of bouquets fans
and ' sch things One two delicate ladies sigh
ed Shrek and called for salts' and couple more
expressed wished for their sspas," and drop of
musk wafer
Nature, they say. hates and despses vacuum and
so does Josh, and while all this rush and tearing about
was going on among the white kids, he had slipped
Queen would touch his trowsers'' with her train
she passed him.
Before the excitement died away and the originator
of the tiger rumor could be sought for, the Queen, in
her Haunting gilt coaches, with her courtly attendants,
dashed up. and all was again renewed buse and con-
fusion. Every body rushed right and left. Make
way for her Majesty cried the policeman, aourshng
his truncheon of office with much fuss he could
make, in the faint hope that his zeal might perhaps be
noticed by the Prince Clear the road " screamed the
usher with his bronzed stick. The satns and doeskns
pressed thick and close, and her Majesty passed in
NOW as the - UeeG was QOne, anu the great ODlect
of interest had, like shadow come and gone" some
of the disappointed had time for moment of reiec-
ton. One dapper little man. with red fece and half
peck of white cravat twisted round his throat. which
terminated in a bow something like tpsy letter c.
bristled up to Silsbee, and said
Aint you the man that 'olered there's tiger hout
hof his cage;'
Silsbee looked down on him for an instant, and re-
piled, with very long face
Me' why. my dear sir. do you know who you're
talkin tew %
81 haven't the honor" replied Cravat, thinking he
might have made mistake
''You have the honor of addressing the Duke de Sis
bee," replied Josh, without moving muscle.
81 really beg your pardon, my Lord Duke !" ex-
claimed the little man, dancing about in paragon OF
delight at bandying words with man of such blood.
81 sincerely beg your par'!on, my Lord Dake-it's
quite mistake assure you. Quite mIsaEe!' and
he frisked off redder in the face than ever.
S!sbee's friends, Albert Smith and young Paul, even.
who are both up 10 all sorts of Jokes themselves,
all taken back by this last piece of cool mpudencp.
Nobody smoked the joke, Josh the Queen the
gilt carriages rolled off, Grs sang Norma" the
mittee reported Morley's and the bottles of wine
were cracked with I" three times three and tiger '
The best joke agoing is that of the Woonsocket Pa
trot, which lately shot the following double leader:
That Phillips Fire Annhator was probably invfn-
ted to exlinguish Paine's New Lightr'