The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-12-23
wnr I'm n Dry Goods store.

The following affair is reported in one
Of the Philadelphia papers as having
come off in the city few days ago. The
incident of the day was an assault on
distinguished dry goods man in Second
street, by Mrs. Dorothy Owen, lady
who sells country produce in High street
market. Mrs. Owen, with basket full
of eggs on her arm, went to Mr.. LIS
store to buy three quarters of a yard of
pink sarsenet. The store-keeper, mis-
understanding her, gave her three yards
and quarter of silk instead of the
quantity required. Mrs. o. laid down
q half eagle, and Mr.. L., Of course, took
payment for three yards and quarter.
Mrs. Owen now fired up, and let Mr..
L. know that she had always entertain
ed suspicion that he was a rogue, but
now suspicion was changed to certainty.
Some other words passed between them,
and as hard words often lead to some
thing harder, Mrs. Owen made punch
at Mr.. LIS ribs.
Then Mr.. l.. made a mastery retreat
to an elevated perch where his desk is
fixed, and then, like the indignant baron
in his turreted tower, bade defiance to
his furious assailant. But in his imaginary
security be forgot that the improvements
of modern warfare make defence of cas-
tellated holds very precarious UNDER
taking; he forgot, in short, that the
science of projectiles has been added to
military tactics, and that cannon balls
and shells do tremendous execution at
great distance. He was soon remind
ed Of this fact, or something like it,
when Mrs. Owen bethought herself Of
her basket Of eggs, an expensive ammu-
milton at the present Time, being very
scarce and costly in proportion. Mrs
Owen considered that offensive war can.
not be carried on without pecuniary sac
rifce, and submitting to the necessities
Of the case, she began to lombard tho
tower or lofty fort in which Mr.. L. had
intrenched himself.
The first missile aimed at Mr.. L s
face was avoided by a timely dodge, but
it tool. effect on the face of the clock,
which was placed jusr-behind the desk.
The next two or three" discharges were
highly creditable to Mrs. Ovens skill ir
gunnery. One of the rockets hit Mr.
l.. in the middle of the forehead, ant
bursting there, poured its unsavory con
mnts downwards over his nose ant
teouth. Another exploded on his blacl
satin vest and left an orange colored hu
that appeared to be burlesque imita
ton Of gold guard chain. The clerk
perceiving in what extremity their en-
ployer was placed, hastily cndeavored
erect on the counter breastwork para
pet composed Of bolts of Osnaburs
Russia duck, and brown shirting, to Gov
er the beseiged fortress. But Mrs
Owen was not to be baked by any sue
engineering. She mounted on a chair
and thence attained the elevation of tn
counter, and having thus surrounde
the enemy's works, she poured in he
fire with such overwhelming effect tha
the bcsieged party capitulated, begin
a cessation Of hostilities, and promise
to- make all right. This surrende
however, was only stratagem of wa
for Mr.. L. had secretly dispatched OF
of his clerks for reinforcement whic
came from, the police office, and Mr.
Owen yielding to superior numbers, W
made prisoner: