Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-16
MISCELL A N Y.
A Stage-COach Story.

IN all tHe sCuoISSS thdl hoNV toNS'- P'"NN
in this changeabe world, since had the
pleasure of making acquaintance with It,
the greatest is in travelling. When | was
a voungster, | remember-my father, who
was Mayor of Cork in the year OF grace
'97, setting out for Dublin with the address
from the Corporation of that loyal city to
the Viceroy of the day. remember it, as
it were but yesterday. |! was thought at
that time to be a great journey, and the
leave-taking of friends and relatives was
not without tears. They took two days to
reach Limerick; on the third they proceed
ed to Tullamoore, where they slept; and on
the fourth, taking ship in the canal boat,
they arrived in the metropolis late at night
But nowadays, what between railroads
and steam coaches, men go -
The old gentleman gave a sweep of his
hand from his breast till he stretched it al
arms length, and, then let it drop by, his
side. How wonderful is the eloquence oil
action !, Words we're invented but to help
it out. have seen an Italian gather up
the points of his fingers till his hand looked
like "a pineapple. and shake it with a. grim
ace that would have done honor to an ape
I have seen Frenchman elevate his shoul-
ders. till he endangered his ears but old
Moonshine's motion was altogether on a
great scale. 1t was magnificent; it was
natural-such as should suppose Adam to
have made 10 Eve when he showed her the
world was all before them. The very form
them. The very form of expression was
grand. it was incomplete; it savoured some
wha. of infni!y. "Men 60" said he, with
a wave of his hand-had he said "to the
ends of the earth''it would have been moth
ing. va
After moments pause the narrator pro-
ceeded; II shall never forget my first Jour-
ney from Limerick to Dublin. A daycoach
had been established, which was consider
ed marvel of celebrity. Itleft Swnburne S
hotel early in the morning, and ccntrived
to accomplish half Of the journey that day
arriving late IN the evening at Mountrath,
where the travellers slept whence, starting
next morning, after an early breakfast, ii
entered the metropolis by the light OF the
old oil-lamps, upon the second day. You
may vet see the old roadside inn a little
way outside the town Of Monntrath-a
Iarge, high house, retired a short way from
the road, having a spacious sweep of gray
elled space before it, and multitude o
windows but, alas it is now falling fast
into decay: and one never sees the bust
ling face of the white-aproned waiter stand
inc at the door, or hears the crack OF the
postilIon's whip as he leads out his posters
10 horse gentleman's travelling carriage
"Well, all thai is past and gone. On
the second day of our journey, we had all
assembled drowsily in the parlour, which
smelled villainously of the preceding
nights supper, and had sat down to oul
hurried breakfast. By the time we had fin,
isbed our meal, car drove up to the door
and m few moments after gentleman
entered IN large drab travelling coat, with
half dozen caps, and huge red shawl a
,ound his neck. He deposited travelling
,a<e lpi<nrelv on the sideboard, and then
looked keenly around him. The survey did
not seem 10 give him much, grati6cation.-
The eggs had all disappeared, and the colo
beef was in very dilapidated condition
However, he sat down, took oft his coa
and shawl and addressed himself to the
cold meat like hungry man. The waiter
made his appearance.
"Just FIVE minutes more, gentlemen, the
horses are putting to-
The traveller looked up quietly. He was
not man to be put out Of his way. lie
ordered some eggs, ana desired the waiter
to make fresh tea.
Are you gong by the COACH sir IN
quired the attendant.
ayes, certainly" was the reply IN an
English accent (he was traveller from
London house, )''but must have my break
fast first; so be quick, will you :"
The waiter left the room, and immediate
lv after we heard the fellow telling the
guard to be expeditions an exhortatloa to
which that worthy responded by clamo-
rous blast Of his horr that made us. al start
from our seats, and hurry out of the room,
leaving the English gentleman alone TO I'M
ish hls breakfast, which, to do hlm justice
he seemed by no means disposed to neg
lect. The waiter meantime, brought IL
the tea, and retired; but was speedily sum-
moned back by vigorous ringing OF the
bell,
"a spoon, please" said the gentleman.
The waiter advanced to the table to pro-
cure the article, but, to his astonishment,
there was not a spoon to be seen nay, e.
ven those which had been III the cups had