Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28
A GRAPHIC PORTRAIT.
FROM THE BUrPAIo cossEnyAuyE.


A GRAPHIC PORTRAIT.
FROM THE BUFFALO CONSERVATIVE.
aTHE PRINcE OF Coon FELLows"-This is q title be-
slowed generally upon stout gentleman with pinguid
complexion plethoric habit Of body, red face and
loud laugh whose chief business to be hanging
about barrooms drinking other peoples expense and
in return telling broad sories enactng udcrous panto
mime, and entertaining circles Of companions with such
gossip aud trfng appropriate to places he
frequents He always amable man, sometimes even
loveabe in many respects but his convvai habits
have long ago all his better qualities and he
now deyotes himself entirely to their qualification. The
Prince of Good Fellows should be before twelve
o'clock in the day. up to that time he is full OF aches
sad, morose, and talks vaguely Of illness and
death contempates his finger nails sghs rubs his eyes,
and yawns and frequently gives uterance to the senti
ment that this is hard world to live in, which it
doubleday is for him. During this depression he resorts
to Observation-Disclosures to bring up his nerves. and by
dint Of frequent repeons Of the remedial agent and
frugal repas eaten standing from the counter OF some
bar he succeeds in restoring portion of the lost nervous
energy and begins to out quite strong about the
hour Of meridian At this time be presents the appear
ance of jovia pleasant happy man, and the super
fetal portion Of his admirers deem him of them
indeed going far to envy his lot and to wish they
were as contented as he. ...s., sy
At dinner the Prince Of Good Fellows is looked upon
most desirable companion. He knows all the etiquette
of the table, and commits breach the unitieH
of that place He dresses salad with exquisite taste,
and cannot be deceived in wines He tells you the his
upon in Chamberss Miscellany Household Wordsand
has pleasant anecdote fill all the pauses of
on The ladies fancy him very much, for he is respect
full comedies every thing them, and deers to their
Judgment. He does not take much wine while they are
att table, and opens the door for their exit with infinite
grace Once they gone he devotes himself to the de-
cantsrs and the of laughter that follow the ladies
up stairs are provoked by smart joke of his, which
would not bear repetition in the drawing Still he
is not vulgar, and really coarse wttcism actually
ofends him. for he has delicate sensbilities and his
broad style of humor grows of the wine rather than
naturally from his Later in the evening when he
joins the ladies above stairs he is attentive aud marked
in his conduct towards them, their music, adjusts
the piano STOOL and if he seesa middleaged spnser
plain slow one neglected and playing wall flower,
he is peculiarly attracted towards her. and bores himself
perhaps in the effort to do her o kindness
Sometimes the Prince of Good Fellows is bachelor,
but oftener he is married man with several children
His wife is rarely in society and her appearance is
that Of of health and much depressed in spirits
Her dresses usually of bygone style, and though
neat give evidence Of rigid economy and many articles
to make the two ends meet She takes the back streets
and the less frequented side Of the way she walks
abroad and takes special to avoid passing public
places where she may meet the gaze Of her husbands
friends She walks rapidly with her head down, and in
winter draws her scanty shawl tightly about her shout
ders ungoved hand showing through the opening in
front. Occasionally she may be met coming from mar
ket with little basket meagerly stocked but her hus
band seldom dimes home and she economises in her
table expenses for he requires clean linen and neat gar
ments, and their purse will not afford sumptuous living
40 see MIN IN MS prime anu glory you must meet inc
Prince of Good Fellows at evening party of young
when supper, and wne and cards, and loud talk and
merrment the elements of the entertainment There
he out strongest there his is most
thoroughly developed there he in his element and to
and hear him would say he the happiest of
men, The jokes the repartees, the mirth knowing MARIA
tons the wit and humor which abound, aided by brilliant
lights sparkling silver and glass; bright Wines cheerful
countenances and oil the accessories Of such tme give
an air OF enjoyment and pleasure to the which
well fascinate the inexperienced and pass with them
real But il they would know the solemn truth, if they
would know how false and futile is all this mockery Of
happiness let them tarry till the evening spent the
lights out, the wine drunk up, the party dispersed Let
them follow the Prince Of Good Fellows to his home Let
them listen to his drunken mutterings he pursue5
his lonely way and take heed Of his self his
bitter reylng his reproaches and Of reformation
Let them with him the cherries house. where wife
and little paying the penalty Of his sim Let
them the misery those sins entail the bitter pinch
ing want that from scanty BEDS from broken
furniture from empty cupboards from and taered
garments from cheeress CRATES and wickless broken
lamps. Let them watch the smile that plays about the
wife she kisses the lips that SO lately joined in the
rbad laugh the drunken chorus. Let them watch the
detection that settles upon the face Of the Prince of Good
Fellows as the excitement off and the sad bitter
truth takes possession of his mindthe plain hard truth
that his good fellowship is killing him. bodily and
tally, is beggarng his family, and dragging down help
less and innocent little children depth from
which they can hardly hope to RISE Let them see the
Good Fellow in the morning. with shaky, nervous fee
beness he attempts to attire himself another day of
happiness; the efforts of the wife to make him
smart and neat hear the whispered words Of entreay
he parts from her upon the Threshold and the pledges
whispered back Let them and all this, and then
say the saddes poorest thnncs most delusive OF all
shams is not TINT popular one The PRIScs or Coon
FELLows!' ~