The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-03-01
From Barnum's autobiography.
DoDGING THE DEACONS.

case OF necessity induced him TO come out,
he was fined the next day.
The mail stage from New.Yotk TO Boston
was permitted 10 run on the Sabbath, but in
no case 10 take passengers. Sometimes the
cnpidily of the New-York agents would IN
duce them 10 book travellers through CoDnec-
ticui on the holy day, but nearly every meet
ing.house had it's sentinel on the lookout,
and il was very difficult for driver 10 es.
cape being arrested if he had one or more
persons in bis coach. In that case the dri.
yer, bis horses, stage, mail and passengers
were obliged 10 lie 10" until Monday morn
ing. when driver and passengers must
each pay fine before being permitted 10
depart.
On one occasion, Oliver Tay lor and Benz
Hoyt, brace of wags from Bethel, were in
New.York, and as the way-bill was filed
for several week days ahead, they went TO
the stage office, No. Fl .Bowery, early one
Sunday morning, and asked 10 be carried
tina, day TO Norwalk, CT.
'Il can't be done, reremploniy replied
the stage agent
'It is very Important responded Oliver !;
my wife and children are dangerously sick
al Belhal, and must reach there before to.
morrow morning
And my mother isn't expected TO live
the day out, meskly added Squire Ben,
with face considerably elongated.
1T won't do, gentlemen these periodical
sicknesses are excessively prevalent, and ]
am wonderfully sorry for you, bu, we have
been stopped, fined, and our mail detained
several times this year, in YOU, State. We
are decidedly sick of it, and will carry no
more passengers ia Connecticut on Sunday
was the prompt reply.
! They are not as strict now as they were
formerly urged Mr. Taylor
mot hail. added Mr.. Hoyt
Formerly = exclaimed The agent; why,
il is only Two weeks since we were a<ref-
ted in Slsmford.'
| tYes, and II cost me eleven dollars -
sides the delenlion,' added the Props,
who had just stepped IN. s.sl
Now, SIR said Mr.. Taylor, addressing
The proprietor, our business is urgent we
are Connecticut men, and know Connecti-
cut laws and Connecticut deacons-yes, and
how 10 dodge them, too We will pay you
ten dollars for our passages 10 Norwalk, and
whenever We pass through Connecticut
village We will lie down on the bottom Of
the stage. and thus your vehicle, being ap-
pareally empty, will pass through unmoles.
ted'
win you do this promptly as you pase
through each Connecticut villageP asked
The melting proprietor.
Positively was the reply of Taylor and
Hoyt.
'Well, don't think ii any sin TO dodge
your Yankee blue laws, aRd I'll take you on
those conditions responded the stage
| man.
The passage money was paid, the two
valises snugly packed under the inside seats,
and their Two owners were as snugly sealed
in the mail coach.
Remember your promises, gentlemen,
and dodge the Yankee deacons,' said the
stage proprietor, just as the driver four;shed
his long whip, and the horses started off in a
gallon. The two passengers nodded a will
ing assent.
Messrs Ia ylof and Hoyt knew every
inch of The road. As the Stage approached
the Connecticut lire, they prepared 10 stow
themselves away. Just before reaching
Greenwhich they both stretched themselves
upon their backs on the bottom of the
coach. The agents of the law--and gospel,
were or the look-o the drivers face as
sumed most innocent look, the apparently
empty stage passed mus:er,' and was per-
milied 10 move along unmolested, straight
laced deacon merely remarking 10 the tith.
ing.man, gress them 'ere Workers have
concluded il wont pay TO send their Passen-
gers up this way on the lords day. The ,i,h'
ing man nodded his satisfaction.
AT Stamford the game Of hide and seek
was successfully repeated. AT Darien, which
! is within six miles OF Norwalk, where oul
passengers where TO leave the stage and
lake their chances for reaching Bethel
about twenty miles north, they once more
4 laid themselves down on their backs, and
the driver, assuming demure look, lei
bis horses take a slow troi through the will
age.
'Now, Ben,' said Taylor, 'l'm going tc
give the deacons chance, fine or no fine,
! and instantly he thrust his feet tempting
distance out Of the side window oil the
coach.
{ soh, for heavens sake draw in your feet,
, exclaimed Hoy,, in horror, as he saw pal
J of boots sticking couple of feet lno puT
! inlended1 out Of the window.
. Couldn't think OF such thing quietly
responded Taylor, with cAuckls.
But we agreed 10 hide, and now yo'
8 are exposing the stage driver as well as our
{ selves urged the conscientious and great!
/ alarmed Hoyt. 2
. sWe sgreed 10 lie on our backs, and w
are doing il fiat enough but my legs wan