Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-01-04

A SINGULAR CosTUME.-The New York Sum-
day Dispatch extracts the following from New
Orleans letter: tteF n"'
"There is a man, day laborer in the custom
house, who receives 1886 month, which he
spends mostly in decorating his person. He has
his own peculiar notions Of taste, and on Sun
day he attires himself in his singular costume,
and exhibits himself in the most frequented
thoroughfares and public places. Yesterday, at
the request of gentleman, he came to the
drawing-room of the st. Charles, to crafty the
curiosity of some ladies whom he was informed
had stayed aday beyond their time that they
might have the pleasure of seeing him.
He wore modern coat and pants, but his hat
is remarkable for its broad brm which is nine
or ten inches in width, on one side of which he
wears massive eagle of pure gold his shoes
are Of fine silver, and are jointed to permit him
to walk the more easily. His coat and pants
are profusely decorated with gold coin. A long
string of twenty and fifty dollar gold pieces
reaches from his neck to the point of his vest,
around his waist is girdle, from which depends
punches of golden fishes, each of which is seven
or eight inches long His hand, however, ex-
ceeds the rest in novelty, the fingers are cover
ed with rings, one of which weighs one pound
and half; he wore three on Sunday, the fields
ofwhich were decorated with engravings of gold,
OF the flight into Egypt, Adam and Eve, and the
crucihxion; he had also massive one, on which
is engraved full length portrait.
His rings are attached to heavy bracelets and
sundry very large gold chains weigh heavily
down upon his broad shoulders This expensive
costume is kept in the bank during six days of
the week, in which he assiduously tolls for more
money to buy new decorations, which must al
ways be of the finest gold. This renowned in
dividua is always willing to answer questions
concerning the cost of his golden armour, and
expatate largely upon the exquisite workman
ship of his rings, seals, fishes, &c. A gentle
man in the custom house informs me that this
Sunday dress is valued at from three to four
thousand dollars"
misunderstanding in a stage coach, Pro-
fessor V-g got in to an argument with a
fellow-traveer about duel;ng, the necessity OF
which the Professor strenuously denied The
other stoutly maintained it., and insisted that
there were many cases which could be decided
only by duel.
"l deny that" said the Professor
"Poh!' exclaimed the other "quite clear
Why, what else can you do? Here are you anc
talking together; and suppose you get into
warm argument, and say to you, you must
fight me--there's no other remedy"
"Ideny it," replied the professor, with provo.
king GOODNESS.
Well, what can you do?"
"Why," he again replied, 4" if you say to me
; You lie ? should say prove it, If you prove
il, do lie i; if you don't prove it, it's you that
lie. And there is an end of the matter"
t The LoaDs BUSINESS" Our friend Colonel
; Harper, who did the city good service as Mayor
(but whose tin porringers around the Park foun-
tain did not prove profitable investment) is a
good deal of wag, and loves joke as we'll as
+, his dinner. We happened to be sitting in the
countng-room of the Brothers" one day, when
/. there entered sleek looking gentlemen, with q
t straight coared cut away coat, and broad brim.
, med drab hat. He advanced towards "the Co.
lonel': "ls Mr.. Harper Ing" I'm one of them,'
said the ex-Mayor. swell, sir, my name is Uri.
. ah G. Hopkins, belong to the Oneida Confer
ence. | am minister Of the Gospel. want
aid. l come here on the Lords business."-
/" The man who attends to the Lords business
said the Colonel, without moving a muscle, is
out at present; he will be in at two o'clock
This was the simple fact; all donations to char.
liable and religious societies being delegated to
one particular partner of the house.
Knickerbocker Magazine.
, This is world of singular vicissitudes Five
!, years ago, Smash, of the firm of Smash, Slam g.
Co., commenced going up" Three years ago
| Smash was millionaire. Smash to-day is no.
, body. The panic in the money market punctur.
ed the bubble of his magnifcence. Smash col.
, lapses, and finds himself mere soap and water
short time ago Smash was one of the great
guns of Wall street. Smash now acts as first
= groom to an oyster chariot Last year Smash
could get "just what he wanted"to to day he wants
f whatever he can get. The same woIds, but diff.
}. ferently arranged
' A lady at Peckham Rise has nearly ruined