The weekly Placer herald., 1853-01-08
From the N. Y. Spirit of the Times.
Diamond Cut Diamond.

1t was only few evenings ago that
happened to be sitting at side table a
RS eating saloon, indulging in "few
fried" before going to bed. The oyster.
were particularly fine, and should have
engrossed all my attention, but visions OF
doctors and dyspepsia would intrude
themselves upon me; the opening of the
door disturbed my not very pleasant reve-
rles; and when raised my head, my eyes
fell on rather strange looking specimen
of humanity He evidently belonged to
that class of individuals called Yankees
Well, as soon rs he entered, he walked,
or rather lounged, UP to the counter, he
hind which X. was standing, and after
watching his motions for moment or
two, broke with
81 say, captain, they look plump-sup-
pose you open us Il few!'
A plate was put before him and r.
commenced serving them out rapidly, as
thought, but not fast enough for the inn
patient nutmeg man; the oyster hardly
touched the plate before the Yankee
would hook it up with his fork and gu ph
it down with one swallow; and then he
S would q"ff9 @ dP hs re arkc Rkee9re Rk Gp
old man &c., until r. who had always
prided himself on his dexterity in unca-
sing the 'sei-toad' became excited. AT
last in reply to some cutting poke of the
Yankee, IL. said, IN no very gentle tone,
"Lrok here, friend, you seem to pride
yourself on being fast eater. Now, IN
bet yon 800 can open oysters faster than
you can pick them up and swallow then
and not half try"
81 don't like to be bluffed off in that
way, stranger" says the Yankee, sbut
you are leetle ahead of my pile
'Spose you make it $40, and swan if
don't take you, and give you five for
a starter" This was agreed to, and both
parties pulled out their money, and depos-
tied in my hands.
After all was fixed, r. deliberately
opened the five he was to start with, and
then rolling his sleeves up 10 his elbows,
called out to the Yankee, who was stand
ing fork in hand, anxiously awaiting the
commencement.
"Now for tn'
The words had hardly left his mouth
before he added another to the plate, and
then second and third followed in
quick succession. The Yankee was not
idle all this time, but had been slowing
them away at rate that threatened soon
to empty the plate before him. r. was
beginning to look blank, and was Just
thinking he was going to give up, and
iacknowledge the corn, when suddenly, by
a deXterous twitch, he threw one out on
the counter. The Yankee stopped a mo-
ynent to cry foul, but seeing that one had
been gained on HIM by his hesitation
swallowed it dust and ali. The next one
went clear over the counter, on the floor,
and the next. The Yankee evidently be-
gan to see the game; for instead Of losing
time expostulating, went scrambling over
the floor after the oysters, which now
flew to all parts of the room, only wait
ing to give them wipe on the sleeve of
his coat before engulphing them. Thus
were we kept in doubt which would beat,
until r. capped the climax by making
one alight-accidentally of course-rigbt
into the spit box. The astonished man
gazed for moment at the oyster, as it lay
half imbedded in the dirty saw-dust, and
then dropping his fork, made straight
coat-tal out Of side door
AS the door closed upon him, all hands
joined in hearty laugh at the expense OF
the vanquised hero, in which RS voice
was the most conspicuous; but woful
change came over his countenance as he
examined the stakes which had just han
ded him. You may imagine how the
laugh turned when he exclaimed in a
voice not unlike that of distant thunder
"Counterfeit, | swearn'
An old Joker, who was never known to
yield the palm to any antagonist in reel
ing a knotty yarn, was put to his trumps,