Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-13
NUMBER 179.
The Protocol of Private Life.

Inc unfortunate ulHcTpHceS winch nave arisen
between various members of the Tomkins family
were taken into consideration at the recent Confer,
ence in Finsbury. The original dispute arose IN
the summer OF 1854, about eleven months after
the marriage OF Mr.. Thomas Tomkns with Mis-
Maria, the beautiful and amiable daughter Of NJ
and Mrs. Chowderby, of the City Road Mr. Chow
derby, year before coal agent in apparent a0lu-
ent circumstances, became in June, 1854 from cit
cumstances over which he had no control, unable
to meet his financial engagements.
Previous recourse Especially upon an occasion
when an inturiate milkman urged his demand witt
some precipitancy) had been had to the Loan sys
tenn, and Mr.. Tomkns, who Is engaged in the
pickle trade, had discounted series of (dishono,
able) bills for his father-inaw Deening it neces
sary to restrict his cash operations, Mr.. Tomkins
had lately declined this course, and to his son-
law refusing him money, Mr. Chowderby with
some pausibility, attributes his being without any.
Differences arose, which were rather suspended
than settled by visit which, at Marin Tonikins's
desire, her husband requested from Mrs. Chowderby
1t Is here necessary to mention, that about Dc
cember last baby was born to Mr.. and Mrs. Ton
kins. Mrs. Chowderby accepted the invitation
bringing with her two younger brothers of Maria
and they remained as guests until Easter at which
period the unsolicited superintendent of the elder
lady with the management of the infant, the con-
tinual disarrangement of the pickle pots by the
younger Chowderbys, the incessant demands of the
elder Chowderby for money, and final proposition
that the whole Chowderby family should come aud
live with the Tomkinss brought matters to cr.
sis which terminated in the expulsion of the Chow
derbys, and total estrangement.
Mr.. Tomkins felt no discomfort at this but lis
wife and various members of the family considering
it Objectionable, It was agreed that a conference
should be held at Miss Tiddless "a maiden aunt
of Mr.. TonIkins,) in order to cndeavor to arrange
matters.
The conference took place at the above locality
on Wednesday afternoon. Everybody attended OH
his and her own behalf There were present there.
fore, Mr. Sias Chowderby, Miss Tddles, Mrs. s.
Chowderby Mr.. T. Tomkns, Mary Tomkins Baly
Tomkins, professionally registered Thomas Augus-
tus Pickles,O Sarah Carter, nurse of the latter)
Master Peter Chowderby, Master Jack Chowderby,
Miss Louisa Tomkins, Mr. I. T.'s sister, and Mr.
Frederic Binkle (keeping company with the latter
Miss Tiddles could not understand why relatives
could not live in peace and harmony. She hated
to see family disturbances, and thought the short
est way was to forget and forgive and try to bear
with one another better for the future. She would
express no opinion on any subject, except that
Thomas Augustus Pickles was tho loveliest little
tcksy-wicksy that ever wac, so he was, and duck
of diamonds, and treasure of the Indian seas ard
the gold mines Of America, chick, chick, chick.
The initiative was then, at her own desire coli.
ceded to Mrs. Chowderby, who expressed a cou-
victon that things had come to pretty pass whcn
a child forgot her duty to the mother that had
weaned her; that the meanness of Mr.. Tomkins
did not surprise her. for It well known that le
came of mean stock but that Maria should 20
against her was indeed a blow, which, when she
was laid in silent extramura cemetery, TINT undu.
tiful girl would remember in sacking and hashcs.
To suppose that woman ut her time OF life did
not understand babies better than chit was ride
ulous but this was only a pretence for Mister Tom
kins TO get rid of his duty to his wifes parents.
They happened not TO be so well off in worldly
things as he was, perhaps because they had not
stopped to the same low means Of turning cash
some people, respectable people, too had spoken
of halfpennies boiled in pickles to give them
color, but that neither here nor there. Mr..
Toinkins ought to be ashamed Of himself, aud as
for his wife-(here Mrs Chowderby wept)
Sarah Carter had no right 10 speak, being only
a poor servant; but sooner than zee that blcssrd
baby (article produccd) physicked with the messcs
Mrs. Chowderby guy il when It's mammals back
was turned, she would break stones on the high
roads
Mrs. Chowderby insisted on that sluts withdraw.
al from the conference (; but after some discussion
thi' proposal was ovcrrued.
Mr. Tomkins had deuced little TO say. He had
married Maria, and not the whole family but he
was n good-naturcd fellow, and so long as her re-.
lations behaved with any soft of dccency, lie had
been glad TO do his best for them. But there was
such thing as cutting IL too f-(Herc Mrs.
Tomkins gently suggested that her husband
should vary his illustration) Well, he meant as
riding willing horse 20 death. He appealed 10
Maria if he bad not been a kind husband TO her.
in spite Of her relatives. (Mrs. Tomkns here
threw herself on his bosom and sobbed)
Mr.. Chowderby said that It was keener than
toothache 10 have n thankless serpent instead orH
child.
Mr.. Tomkins was willing to admit the proposition
sam q IL
Miss Louisa Tomkins was sure that her brother
would do everything that was right, and suggested
that he should give them day on the water and
dinner at Richmond, and everybody bc friends.
Mr. Frederic Blnkle cordially concurred In the
last suggestion, and if the word champagne were.
not deemed inadmissible, he would venture 10
offer on his own account, that addition to che
proposed iestivity. (Miss L. Tonkus touched
his hand and said Duck.
Mr. Chrowdcrby regarded all that trash. II
Mr.. Tomkins would give him the money such
piece Of foolery would cost, il would enable him
to remove bis silver teapot from the house of Q
suppostious relative, where 10 the infinite disgrace
Of the family, II had long been deposited.
Masters Peter and Jack Chowderby expressed
an opinion that the party would be more Jolly, and
bother the old teapot besides, papa never took
members of the Conference occupied the noEt
halfminute.)
Mrs Maria Tomkns cried for some time, and
then stated that except her husband, her blessed
baby was the only comfort she had on earth. Her
pappa and mamma we're very unkind, she wss
sure, and Thomas had great deal TO complain Of.
She had tried to make peace, but she hoped she
knew her duty as wife
Baby Tomkins (lsaring his u,dmma'S voice) sig.
niHed that she owed duty as a MOTHER which be
called upon her in a most urgent manner 10 per.
form without delay. (7he proceedings became ip-
audible until his demand ras complied rith.)
Mrs. Cbowderby hoped that what the unmarried
young lady had seen and heard that day, would be
a warning 70 her in case she ever bad the miSfot.
tune Of having children No girl could have been
better brought up than Maria, and now let them
look at her.
Mrs Tomkins begged, laughing, that they would
do nothing Of the kind.
Mr.. Chowderby conceived that II they were 60.
ing to have nothing but nonsense, they had better
20. He was a man of business, and would make
a busincss.like proposition. Would Tomkins pay
all his debts, and advance him fl00 to buy him a
milk. walk, taking the advance out--tor he was n
man Of business--in milk on week days and cream