Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-05-01

'""t "c "ou'd appear as star on Inc oc'
casion, and would, no doubt, receive
more applause than he had during his
whole career. "But shall not be seen,"
said the player. $50 much the better"
replied the manager, "as in that case you
will have nothing to opprchend from
eggs and oranges"
Thimblerig, finding that mild cxpostu.
laton availed nothing, swore he would
not siuly the part, and accordingly
throw it up in dignifcd disgust. He said
it was an outrage upon the feelings Of the
proud representative Of Shakespea rel
heroes, to be compelled TO play panto.
mime in the hinder parts Of the noblest
animal that ever trod the stage. II it had
been the foreqnarters of the elephant, if
! it might possibly have been made a
speaking part; at any rate he might
have snorted through the trunk, il moth.
ing more; but from the position he was
to occupy, d-d the word he could utter
or even roar with propriety. He there.
fore positively refused to act, as he con.
sdered it an insult to his reputation
to tread the stage in such IA character
and he looked upon the whole affair as
a PROCLAMATION Of the legitimate drama.
The result was, our worthy was dischar.
ged from the company and compelled to
commence hoeing another row.
He drifted to New Orleans, and hired
himself as a marker to gambling table.
Here he remained but few months, for his
idea OF arithmetic differed widely from
those of his employer, and accordingly
they had some difficulty ia balancing
:her cash account for when his EN-.
ployer, in adding up the receipts, made
it nousht and carry two, Thimblerig IN.
sisted that it should be nought and car.
ry one and to prove that he was correct
he carried himself off and left nothing
behind him.
He now commenced professional
blackleg on his own hook, and took up
his quarters in Natchez under the Hill.
Here he remained until Judge Lynch
CONNIE need his practice in that quarter,
and male the place too hot for his com
fort. He shifted his habtation but not
having sufficient capital to go the big fig.
urr, he practiscl the game Of thimblerig
until he had acquired considerable skill,
and then commenced passing up and
down the river in the steamboats, !; and
managed, by close attention to business,
to pick up a decent livelihood in the
small way from those who had more
pence in their pockets than sense in
their noddles.
asked him to give me an account OF
Natchez and his adventures there, and |
would put it in the book | intended to
write, when he gave me the following,
which betrays that lis feelings were still
somewhat rritatcd at being obliged to
give them leg bail when Judge Lynch
made his appearance. l give it in his
own words.
"Natchez is land Of (evers, niggers,
alligators. and cotton bales /; where the
sun shines with force sufficient to mel
the diamond, and the word ice is expun
ged from the dictionary, for its definition
cannot be comprehended by the natives
where to refuse grog before breakfas
would degt ade you below the brute ere
alton; where good dinner is looked
upon as an angels visit, and voted {
miracle where tho evergreen and ma
jestic magnolia tree, with its superb flow
er unk nown to the northern climes, ant
its fragrance unsurpassed, calls forth thu
t admiration of every beholder and tht
!. dark moss hangs in festoons from the 70
rest trees like the drapery of funera
Q pail where bears, the size Of youn
ackasscs, are fondled in lieu Of pet dogs
and knives, the length Of barber
d pole usurp the place ,of tooth. picks
where the filth Of the town is carried o
K by buzzards, and the inhabitants are cal
ried off by yellow fever. And such
Natchez.
s. "The town is divided into two parts a
b distinct in character as they are in az
!. pearance. Natchez on the hill, situate
), on high bluff overlooking the Missis
q sippi, is pretty little town with street
;. regularly laid out, and ornamented wit
y divers handsome public buildi ngs. Ma
chez under the hill--where, o wher
l. shall find words suitable to describ
= the peculiarites Of that unholy spot 2
n IT'S, in fact, tho jumping off place. 81
T. tan Looks on it with glee, and chuckit
90 uO oChSiuo suo VIC VI h'c sOsot'S
le The buildings are for the most part, br
s. ,hels, taverns, and gambling houses, ar
m frequently the whole three may be four
v. under the some roof. Obscene son
nl are sung at the top Of the voice in a
n. quarters. l have repeatedly seen Il
ID strumpets tear mans. clothes from h
&; back, and leave his body beauti6ed wi
ng all the colors Of the rainbow.
Il, '"One Of the most popular tricks
o' called the "Spanish burial" When
n ~ greenhorn makes his appearance amo
-; -; them, one who is in the plot announc
va va a death, and strangers must subscri
'o' TO the custom Of the place upon such
occasion. They forthwith arrange a pl
'rs cession each person. as he passes I
20. departed, kneels down and pretends
10. kiss the treacherous corpse. When
led unse2histicatsd attempts this ceremor
Gle the dead man clinches him, and
He mourners beat the fellow so entrapF
ION until he consents to treat all hands
in. should he be penniless, his life will
ed. endangered by the severity Of the ca