Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-11

SCTlpt Vi my HOJeS, ldkeH dL lle tIIne:-
Witness knows the parties-is intimately
acquainted with them-knows that Beechim
and Cousins were on good terms; indeed,
quite friendly till May last. In company with
witness they went together to New Orleans,
Beechim talked great deal of Knoxville, the
girls, fashions, and society; Cousins listened
attentively; ho'os the parties must have been
| friendly. Arrived in New Orleans on the
18th, about 10 A. NJ, Monday; intended to
remain until Thursday; no boat going up un-
til Thursday night. Took lodgings at the St.
Charles Hotel Heard conversation going
on between the two-subject, the mode; Cous-
ins had been in the city and the hotel frequent
ly, so he said-knew the rules and the eti-
quette, Beechim had been at the best hotels
in Knoxville, knew their rules, but had been
from Knoxville a good while, therefore was
rusty-was not certain but that he might make
some awkward blunder-might be fatal to his
character. Cousins offered to act as cicerone
said b. might rely on him ''to put him
through" told him to take items from him
Beechim thanked him kindly
At three the gong rang for dinner. B.
started-thought at first that the steam engine
that worked the cooking stove burst its boil
er. G. told him it was the gong. b. asked
him if it were not new thing-long as he
had been in Knoxville, had never heard of
such a thing-asked G.. if he could believe it.
Went to dinner-bill of fare was handed; B.
wished to know if there was any Hncester to
translate the French dshes-said there was in
Knoxville; got along pretty well until just as
b. had taken a piece of pineapple on his
plate, the waiter came along and put green
colored bowl before every guests plate with
water and slice of lemon in it. Beechim
asked Cousins what that was. G. replied,
''Sop for the pineapple" b. said he thought
so. Beechim took the bowl and put it in his
plate, and then put the pineapple in the bowl,
and commenced cutting up the apple and stir
ring it around in the fluid with his fork, and
ale it piece after piece. B. kept his eyes on
the bowl--did not observe what was passing
about him. Many persons at table, five hun
dred at least-ladies, dandies, foreigners,
moustached fellows; began to be an uproar on
the other side of the table; everybody got to
looking down at Beechim-eye-glasses put up
"a doube'barreled spY-gass (as witness sup
posed) eveled at him by a man at the head Of
the table, who stood up 20 draw bead on him
loud laughing-women putting handker-
chiefs or napkins (witness is not certain whIch)
to their mouths. B. got through with the
pineapple. Cousins had been laughing with
the rest-composed himself now, and asked B.
how he liked the pineapple. B. answered in
these words: 81 think the pineapple very
good, bnt don't you think the sance is rather
insipid!" Spoke The words very loud, heard
some dlstance-great Observation-Disclosures
laughter-women screaming-men calling for
wine-the French Consul's Clerk drank 10 the
English COnsuls clerk, ''Ze shentleman from
re interior, may he loeve to a green ole age"
drank with all the honors. Beechim sees
the fuss, turned to the old man next TO him
and asked what was the matter-any news of
an exciting character!
The old man, cotton broker, an English
man, replied, that he, b., chad been making
an ass of himself-he had been eating out of
the finger bowl" b. face grew as red as a
beet, then pale; he jumped back-tried to
creep out by bending his head down below the
chairs-rushed on and knocked over the wait
er with the coffee-spilt i on ayoung lady
staggered back and fell against Frenchman
tore his ruffles-knocked him, head striking
head, over against an Irishman-quarrel-
duels next morning-Frenchma killed. Gen
eral Sacre Froglegge rose and proposed three
cheers for the gentleman of retiring habits
ercored; wine all around the board-uproari-
Gus doings; Tom Placid called on to rehearse
the scene-done-applause terrific; Beechim
got out-forgot where his hat was-ran bare
headed TO the bar C)-called for his bill-nev-
er got his clothes-ran to the steamboat-shut
himself up in the state-room for two days
thing out in the Picayune next morning-no
names given. B. came home-saw Cousins
when he came up-licked him within an inch
of his life with a hickory stick. Witness
further saith not.
eyes" said the Judge, Sand served him
right. Justification completed So enter it
clerk"
During the delivery. Of this testimony, you
may be sure that the crowd were not very seri
Gus; but knowing how sensitive Beechim was
on the subject, | was congratulating myself
that he was not present. Turning from the
witness as he finished, was panied TO see
Beechim-he had come in after the trial be-
gun-poor Paul, sitting on the bench weeping
piteOusy. | tried to console him-I told him
not to mind tit was a bagatelIe; but he only
squeezed my hand, and brokenly said, "B.,
thank you; you are my best friend; shall
never forget you you meant it for the best
you have saved my body, but you have ruined
my character. Good bye, leave this morn
ing Roberts will settle your fee. But, b.,
as friend-one request if-you-can-help
-it-dont- let this-thing get - back-to
Knoxville
SET dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos"
Accordingly, Paul left for good and all
What became of him don't know. | did hear
of one Paul Beechim in California but
whether the Same ono or MT | can't saV He