The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-05-04

side him. This curiosity, as has been al
ready said, none Of the rest of our water:
1ng-Place companions could CRAFTY. He
was unknown to all though, strange to
tell, several ofthem were at times firm in
the belief that they had seen him some
where betorc-but where or when thew
puzzled their brains in vain to recollect
Over my own mind glimmering feeling
OF the same kind occasionally came, and
ended in the like dark uncertainty. The
general impression among us came to be,
that Mr.. 3. was man of consequence,
who found it convenient, from some tenn.
porary pecuniary ditfiulty, to keep him
self and his whereabouts quiet for a sh ,rt
while. How could we think otherwise.
when we found man capable oe describ.
ing accurately, from personal observation
the appearance, dress and manners of ev-
cry peer and gentleman of note in the
country! Suppose the subject OF the
turf and its heroes to be started bv our
little club of diners at the ordinary, out
came ). with his observatior-"Odd lenptbs
keen sportsmen do sometimes 90, to be
sure, with their passion for racing and bet
ting. Some men, from morning till NIGHT
seem to think Of nothing else; and though
one would say that they could not carry
on turf sports and dine at the same time,
yet l have actually known it done. |
once heard Lord k offer heavy
wager at dinner, that he would leap his
famous hunter Rozinante over chair back.
directly in the face of q rousing fire. The
bet was taken on the spot, and tho stakes
tabled. The horse was brought into the
DINING room in few minutes afterwards.
and the chair placed, according to agree
ment, at the distance of certain number
OF feet from the fire. His lordship noun
ted, and in another instant the docilc ami
mai had cleared the chair, and stood
stock-still within few inches of the blaze"
After some remarks had been made bv
the company upon Mr.. SIS anecdote. |
chanccd to observe, that "where sports
men could not conveniently make their
,iinnlng-rooms race-codrse or hunting
ss 5bsS Ssa aA ss be bet ct last + and
UPON as every one would allow, that rec,
objected the story of the two sportsmen.
who, when confined to the house on a
wet day, commenced wagering with each
other on the comparative speed of the
rain-drops coursing down the window
panes." S. instantly capped-as they say
at Cambridge-my good old Joe Miller
WI an anecdote, fresh as a daisy, and
which showed his familiar intercourse
with the great rs much as the last he told.
They don't always bet in way so harm
less to themselves" said he of the initials
The well known Muir by, as keen a
sportsman as ever wore spurs, once laid
very heavy wager, that he would stick
hundred pins, of the common length, up
to their heads in one of his limbs. He
fulfilled his undertaking with the courage
ola martyr, and won his bet But the
consequence of his feat was, that he was
confined to bed for months, and ran the
greatest risk of losing both his limb and
his life. heard the engagement entered
into, but its execution, believe, took place
in his own bedroom. Not quite so dan
gerous to himself" continued S, "was the
manner in which another keen sportsman,
Captain Murray, afterwards Lord E,
exhibited his betting propcnsties. So
proud was the captain of the iron firmness
which n long course of hard exercise on
horseback had given to his limbs, that he
was in the habit of laying bets, that no
one could nip or pinch him in that quar-
ter Of his body. When he could get no.
body 10 take up such wager with him,
it was no uncommon thing for him too fer
halfcrowns, sometimes in public market
to any one, groom, hostler or jockey, who
would succeed in effecting nip"
Who, thought and all present, when
our friend with the whiskers gave slrh
stories as these-who is this, that Is or
has been so intimate with mobiles and gen.
tsemoa Of rank, as 10 have been a witness
of the sayings and doings Of their niost
retired and convivial momentsl II sus
picion OF his being simply a retailer o
things heard from Others ever crossed oul
mind, it was speedily removed again b,
the diccovery Of his correctness in some
point or other, that could scarcely have
been known to any one but an eyesight
Observer. And yet, would man of high
rank live unattended in paitry little
country inn, and the inn, too, of water
gplace, public resort Besides, il
he were man of note, surely somebody
or other should have known him.
One remarkable point in the character
OF this strange person puzzled me much
never heard him utter single remark
on literature or books, although otter
endeavored TO lead him into the subject
This indeed me after much cogitation
to set him down as an author; he did moi
wish TO commit himself on the matter o
other mems writings; like Sir Walter
Scott, he wished to i've at peace with al
his brethren. Therefore, when this .rair
of thought sprung up in my mind, Sc
him down as an author--only to set hin
down as something else within the mex
tent minutes. Neither dbl ever hea
him give utterance 70 a single remark o,
science, unless, indeed, yensriIoqIism b
ranked as one. On this subject, fremem
Der, he once told Us very curious inci
dent which had taken place, as usual