The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-20
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.

SToSEY LONESOME, june IL, 1851
Ny rnrEND see you have '.pu me in the nevs
papers, they say. 1t is just what might have ex
peccd knowing that you editors tell all you hear and
sometimes little besides However, it Is no great
matter as, like senator sumner, don't much mind what
write my conscience not permitting to .'tako tho
responsibility as the sublime Old Hickory said
Though living in a remote corner of the world in The
vicinity OF great city, by bsn which may day de-
scribe to you, fatter Iysclf know of what is
passing in the world than most OF the omniyerous cor
respondents OF the public journals, though it may
sound like bosng) than those inq,isitiye mousers cal
led om reporters, " who ever on the lookout for
mobs MURDERS coroners inqucsts abolition orgies and
anniversaries of religious societies which meet to cult
yae the Gospel Of peace and quarrel about slavery
make point of reading every journal that falls in nv
way, advertisements and all, and, though don't steal
fail to borrow my neighbours if il happens to be
different from mine.
In default Of this for the acquisition Of uniyer
sal knowledge, pay daily visit TO venerable spinstcr
neighbor, who, though confined with rheumatism
and never going out from end Of the wear 10 the
other by some scrutabic process manages to know more
Of what is passing in the world than ell your editorial
corps put together have been trying hard for the last
four years to get TO windward of her in the communca
ion Of horrible catastrophe, But it won't do The
say in Wall street, with tremendous story of blood and
thunder which had just arrived by the telegraph for we
have OF those annihilor Of time and space in ou
village which expects become great city After
receiving my communication with most provoking apathy
the good lady took long, luxurious pinch Of snuff
srnoothed down her black-silk apron and exclaimed
Good Lord, neigbbor! that is Queen AIMS news
heard that day before yesterday" do believe she deals
With the spiritual mediums, the old gentleman ala
OIL, the Turks call certain person that shall be
nameIcss
think may lay some claim to the honors Of a mod
Mclspnas for subscribe to six newspapers all daes
and, what is more, pay my subscription at least once in
years, provided threatened with discontin,
usnce of my paper The Herald however Is my favor
tc because it is independent paper says what comes
uppermos changessdes whenever pleases contradic
itself often is convenient and and then aston
ishcs with political article worthy of profound
statesman Considering the talent with which it is con
iucte should regret its hostility to the democratic ad
minstraion it not that, like eddy it always nd
Gates that the force Of the current is in opposite dec
ton it would give cold chill ii il were to come
out in favor of the present administration, should
consider it the Herald OF lis speedy downfall.
The next in my estimation is the Tribune There Is
nothing, perhaps whimsical and amusing than
talented with sail than ballast and his head 50
ful Of quddtics that they fall to oggerheads and knock
out each Others brains His noddIe seems to be sort Of
lumber garrett where all the old exploded ism which
the course of ages have been tried and rejected abo
experiments either imprncticabe mischievois have
been stored away heerskelter be brought out for the
benefit of the present generation If he presents any
thing it is only bouncing absurit; and it. by
chance he gets hold Of abstract idea that may be true
in its general application to the whole human race no
istorts it into most mischievous dogma by bringing
to bear single institution whose overthrow would
carry with it the most disastrous consequences some
times get out of all patience with him. and at Others regret
chat he does not employ his really fine talents 10 better pnr
pose, though much afraid that his capacity for mis-
chief is rather greater than his ability for good If
lont mistake he belongs to the salaander species and
cannot exist except in the fires OF fuatoism.
But to show you that ] don't live quite out Of the
world, hereby apprize You that have lately bad an
intense excitement" in neighborhood occasoned
by the mysterious disappearance of distinguished fellow
citizen, who. according to of three leading news
papers, has not only national but European reputa
tom He had rcaTed harvest OF honors was chair
man of the board of supervisors, leading member Of
the vesty collector Of taxes president of bank and
director railroad suspected be somewhat out at the
elbows You win doubtless conclude from this conocn
ation Of honors in person that have few Office
seekers in village. But you very much mistaken
for he had at least dozen rivals in every State but the
discounts carried all before them,
As before stated this distinguished individual all al
ovaporatod in most mysterious manner he had
previously built for himself elegant cottage in the
Gothic style set up cqupage and it was confidently
predicted that he would soon become millionaire he
had bought farm just at the outskirts of the village
laid it out in streets and squares OF the lots up
at auction, and bought them in himself at prodigiow
price whereby he established their value beyond all qu
ton But what shadows are and what shadows We
pursue This prosperous individual suddenly vanished
from view, and the old lady my negbbor could
not tell what had become OF him.
The progress OF excitement Is pretty much the same
everywhere. AT first the people were curious then they
began to wonder next they logan to suspect foul play
and lastly they unanimously decided that the unfortunate
gentleman had been either abducted Murdered like c
famous Billy Morgan. thus an .'ntense excitement
which caught from TO another till il pervadeo
the whole village, with the exception of ono shieWu'
quiet old fogy, who looked ON and said nothing.
Measures We're now promptly taken to investigate up
mystery. The Gothic cottage scrutnized withou'
any clue being discovered, except that no money Ws
something wrong. From thence they proceeded "
the banking house the door OF which not loc"u,
the bank books missing and the iron safe which nv
been substituted for specie vault empty as chuH
ON week days This was conclusive proof that the bans