Litchfield enquirer., 1857-03-26
An Englishman outwitted.

An Englishman 0utwitted.
 A stage wassstopping to change horses, and
 when 1t drew up, we perceived that in it's inte- rlor was seated a solitary individual. This in- dividual was a gentleman and we saw at glance, that he was English. He was hasily engaged in reading a newspaper, and, with his feet comfortably stretched out on the back scat, was paying no attention to external sights or sounds. He was not, however. allowed to l enjoy his luxurious solitude long for immedi- linn opened the door of the carriage, and civilly requested him to move to the opposite seat, as sene ladies were about to bear him company | on the road. The Englishmans fac. Of astan- ishment and disgust was highly amusing He stared at his interlocutor and looked anything but inclined to comply with his request. Tie 1 inn-keeper continued to assure him, in bland but still peremrtory manner, that the move { must be made, for that '" the ladies' were on all occasions to be considered first. This doc Urine seemed entirely new to the indignant tray- eller, who, after keeping silence for some min utes during the harrangue, with dignity and solemnity worthy of his country, at last broke out with degree of violence truly nsular. 1 He insisted (quite forgetting what country he was in, and apparently carried away by the force of his imagination to his own purse-rsddsa country that he had engaged the particular place he had occupied at Cumberland, that he had paid for it and would not give it up for any one living It made him i'll, he affirmed, to sit any where else, and, being an invalid, he l required consideration quite as much as any aroman ia ths eeortd. Ills opponent only grew 1 the calmer, as the Englishman waxed more vio- lent and fear l must add, abusire erplet!res, of anything but gentle and colcilliatory na ture, fell thick and fast from his lips, and by this time, considerable crowd was collected among whom were the bones of contention-- namely, the three angular and locomotive fe- males. We began to watch the contest with considerable interest, though We had little doubt as to what the result wonId finally be. Our countrynan continued perfectly immoyable and it soon became evident that nothing but a forcible ejectment would have any effect in causin, him to quit his place. l quite pitied l him it was so difficult, after committing him. self in this public manner, and with so many hostile eyee fixed upon him, to concede anything 1 in this advanced stage of the business. He 1 little suspected. poor man the sigual defeat
 that was in store for him, At length, the 1 Yankee seemed to understand that there was no chance of concession on the part of his dog ged opponent, SO he quietly shut up the door of the carriage, saying" Very well, sir, just
 as you please you may stay there from this time to etarnity, for what care.' Upon this,
 the Englishman, evidently considering that he
 had obtained the victory, resumed his seat, put
 up his feet, and, without condescending to cas;
 a look upon the surrounding crowd, wrapped 1 himself up in lis studies. In the mean time,
 we who were behind the scenes, locked on, and smiled at the ingenious device to which the inn keeper haG recourse Within an almost incrcd- ibly short space of time, another stags, which
 stood under sort of shed, was made ready for
 the journey, and tine horses, which were to be
 attached to the carriage in which sat the unsus-
 picous traveller. were affixed to the vehicle
 which it was evident was intended by the treaeherous innSteper to take its place. The
 passengers were already seated in it, and there still sat the Britisher," in the enjoyment of
 his digniiied solitude, and perfectly unconcious
 of the absurdity of his position shout ot
 laughter from the assembled by-standers com pelled him to look up: the stage was on the
 very point of starting; already had the " Il right" "Go ahead,' been sung out, when, perceiving that there was not moment to be
 lest, the Englishman. with a degree of moral courage for which honored him, jumped out of his hiding place, with his pride in his pocket. but with manifest confusion on his brow, and i took his place in the condemned back seat,' amidst screams of laug ghter from the crowd. who were overjoyed that the Yankee had " come possum'' over the Brtisllcr' 1 did not envy 1 him his drive with the women scorned," dur ing he tedious hours that must elupse be fore i he could arrive at his journeys end.-Hepcros