The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-02-19

| opOtaI W oto uItgut OuttOhCu cunt Win iOtB
Hetro In hand. listening to the prima donna
ss though shs were patient, and he sntici-
pSteo t'fee al the close Of the performance.
He was 20 catholic In his taste that he could
enjoy one kind Of music as wen as unother
and, vixen there was no opera, and his pa.
tienis would permit, he would. go to hear
the Ethiopian Minstrels, aud sit through the
entire performance. In fact, the banjo was
one 'ofthe DoctoT's wenknesses,s aud there
were some people who we're unchar7table
enough TO suy. that negro minstrelsy was
much better adapted TO his taste than the
Itahap OPERA But lhatwas mere scandal,
Of course, Tor the Doctor had been in Eail
rope, and had brought back with him, .ifke
many other gentlemen Who go nbroad, q
tnste for music and the hne arts, which he
did not cary with Rim. lo .Hs.-' .s1 bsyafs
There was one member of5th Ethiopian
band, where the Doctor was IN the habit Of
going, who htd completely fascinated him,
whieh~as not much to be wondered ct, for
he had fascinated everybody else who had
heard him; and when heappeared, there was
sure tob an overGowing house. The name
Of this Incompatible singer was Higgins,
and his talents as a banjJ player, dancer,
and q petsonator ofgthc negro character,
particularly as the negro dandy. we're edual
to his splendid abilities as a singer. The
Doctor never failed to drop into the Ethiopi.
an opera, as II was called, wherever this
public fasorite appearedp which was nearly
every night. and seeing his name on the bills
for benefit, the Doctor resolved to go. On
reaching he hall he found,he box so crowd
ed, that he, could not even get his nose in.
sidey but the door keeper recognized him,
and wishing to Crafty so distinguished pa
tron ofthe establishments, offered to show
him round by a private entranceeso that he
would be near the stage, and might retire at
his leisure. no $3.50 a,li III f-ea lasrf|.s t
The Doctor was delighted, and put some.
thing into the hand of the door keeper, as an
acknowledgement for the favor. He got a
good seat near the stage, and waited with
impatience for the appearance of the ihcom.
parable Higgins. The sham darkey was in
splendid voice, and flled the audience with
ecstaGtic fieaSHfe by Ms happy limitations
of Dandy jim. But his most brilliant per-
formance was in tie plantation break down,
in which he favished the spectator by his
unparalleled heeling and toeing. In the
taldst Of the performance, when the frenzy
1 of the spectators was at its height, boy in
the gallery threw piece Of otahge peel Oh
4 the stage, and Higgins, by an Hnlucky step
put his foot upon it and fell with a tremend-
GUS crash. The audience at first thought il
a part of the dance, and appianded tremend-
ously, but it was soon discovered that the
poor man had met with serious accident.
4 He was taken up by his companions and
4 borne off the stage; directly after, the leader
of the band came on, and asked If there was
q surgeon in the house, as Mr.. Higgins was
badly hurt by his fall. Doctor Laurens was
but too happy Of having an opportunity Of
rendefing any professional assistance to SO
distinguished an artist as Higgins; so he
stepped promptly forward and offered his ser
vices. The artist had struck his head, bu'
f was only stunned. The Doctor, however
did us all doctors do on such accasions
9 whipped out his lancet and bled the patient
$ while one of his companions, with bow
? Of water and sponge wiped the burnt corl
I from the face ofthe unconscious minstrel.
: Higgins presently opened his eyes an
! stared wildly aboat him, while the Docto
|, shrieked out, 5 Is aa.,l Eal i So
$ "Good gracious, it is Elegant Tom Dill
n lor!'a,, 9;.' .ss - aaa 4sat faA aat E-a
Tom was bewldered by the sudden chang
: of the scene, aiid faint and sick from the los
/; OF the blood which Doctor Laurens bad bee
n letting out of his veins; but, bewildered On
II weak as be wns, the sound of the Doctor
s voice, and the sight Of his astonished cour
:. tenance, brought Tom to his senses. H
|, knew at once that his secretwas discovere,
g and comprehended in moment the cons,
}. quences that must follow its revelation
r society. -siaF &Hei att % q
lr Hboctor," said he, fain'ly, sits no use
ID dissemble further. III You know my secre
rel let me request you to keep it to yourself.'
ei so! my dear felluw,S sald the Docto
s "you are perfectly safe 10 my hands; don
lie be uneasy. For the credit Of my own fam
,e ly, at least, shall not be likely toproclai
\, to society that gehtlemdt who has visit
" at my house, is a member of troupe
n Ethiopian minstrels. wish you goc
I'd evening, sir" .a4sa3 sa.,
i. 1t very oddly happened that, before mil
s. night, all the members Of the Mahhattu
Ct Club, to which the Doctor belonged, kne
tie thai Elegant Tom Dillar had retrived b
O. fortunes by joining the Ethiopian minstrel
m and the news was spread all through socie
Il. before the next day at noon. 49,.
ri Tom received a package early in 4
,y morning from Julia, inclosing all the bill,
Ie dous and trinke,s he had sent her. and
er questing return ,f all she had ever So
. him. The letter was as devoid of feeling
1t, sentiment as q lawyers dunnins letter; 2
10 Tom wrote one in reply, which was quite
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