Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-12-24
THE CRISIS.

Der in New York. MIR. and Mrs. Percy
discovered preparing to retire for the IRE.
mainder of the mighty
TME-Two in the morning.
| Mrs. P-Why were you so dull at the
party to night! I declare, Charles, YOU
were quite stupid [Steps out of a splendid
ball dress which has cost two hundred dol
lars-and pushes it carelessly aside with
her foot. What was the matter with you.
Mr.. P-My dear, surely had enough
to sober me. -
Mrs. Removing her diamond earrings
valued by Tiffany at $4,000 Sober, in
spite of all the wine you drankg know
now that you are going to preach to me
until daylight about my extravaganza; but
1 am tired and sleepy and do not want to
hear word about it. For all you pretend
to be so poor, you don't deny yourself any
thing, Mr.. Percy; and 1 tell you I auill
have party, and it shall as much surpass
Mrs. Globules as hers surpassed Mrs. AS
tors.
Mr.. P.-My dear wife, prepare your
mind for the terrible truth. The great
firm of Raph, Galen & Co., yesterday al
lowed their paper to go to protest. Percy
e. Co., were upon it rs endorsers, to the
amount of $4,000. That we shall be
called upon to-day to pay besides not less
than $4,000 of our own paper. We can
not meet it; before another sun shall set,
the name of Percy & Co., will be bruited
all over the citv rs bankrupt
Mrs. P.-(With little shriek,) Ora
oious heavens! Is it possible? What shall
we do9 What will people say of us? (Sinks
into chair, quite pale under her rogue.)
Reach me the smelling bottle my dear.
Mr.. P.-(hands her the salts.) Calm
your emotions, my dear wife. We shall
want all our fortitude.
Mrs. P.-Surely. papa will help you in
this crisis; and brother Samuel
Mr.. P.-Both are involved in the fail
ure of our firm and will lose every penny
they have in the world.
Mrs. P.-(Abashed.) Oh! Charles,
Charles! How could you have the heart
to ruin them too? Ny poor father. Weeps.
Mr.. P.-Now you see why l was stupid
tonight, in spite of all the wine | drank.
Mrs. P.-For gracious sake, what is to
become of US?
Mr.. P.-We must abandon this expen-
sive mansion. A hundred thousand dol
lar house is not proper for bankrupt.
Mrs. P.-What quit the Fifth Avenue?
1 cannot live anywhere else, unless, indeed,
it be abroad.
Mr.. P.-I must do without my fast
horse, the children must dispose Of their
ponies, aud you of your carriage.
Mrs. P.-Do without my Morgans and
the carriage? You are crazy, Charles.
Mr.. P.-No; on the contrary, have
just come to my senses. The stable expen-
ses are not less than $4,000 year, and
our horses and vehicle cost me $1,000
We must do without them.
Mrs. P.-Then you will send away the
coachman and John, and the two hostlers.
(Sarcastically) Hadn't you better send
away all the servants?
Mr.. P.-Not all; we will retain one
possibly two. A cook and chambermaid,
with house at thousand dollars year
rent must serve US 10 i've III.
Mrs. P.-Oh heavens! Are we to be re-
duced to such Muggins life as that? I
shall die (Sobs hysterically.) The next
thing you will want me to do, suppose,
will be to part with my diamonds?
Mr.. P.-Not your diamonds only, but
most of your other jewelry also. So that
the pile of trinkets, of which you have dis
encumbered your self, and here [goes to
the bureau and opeEs magnificent case
containing several very costly watches, and
numerous variety of costly pins, bracelets
breaches, rings, and chains, are emerals,
topas, amethysts and rubies, in wasteful
profusion; they must all go to Tiffany's to
be sold. I will add two watches of my
own, and my Kochinoor diamond to the
lot. Even in these hard times, they will
bring not less than ten thousand dollars.
Mrs. P.-You are stark, staving mad 10
talk of such a thing! Mine alone cost
twice that. l will never consent to it; Tin
sure wont. If you have mind to be
fool you may. However, it may be your
taste to sacrifice your wife and children, but
it is not mine. l will keep my jewelry,
and the plate, and as much more as / can
get, and repair to the continent with the
children. And, if YOU are not fool, Mr..
Percy, you will put out of the way of your
creditors all the property you can, and fol-
low me in the next steamer. | like Paris,
and don't mind living there for year or
two, out of the way of these humiliating
trials.
Mr.. P.-And you woul dhave me cover
my spotless reputation, and my mercantile
honor with infamy. sSf
Mrs. P.-You are a fool, Percy to talk
so. Isn't it done every day? Isn't self
preservation the first law of nature? Does
not DR.. Swivel say that no man who does
first provide for his own household is worse
than an infdel9 At any rate, I shall do
my duty. Certainly we owe something to
ourselves and children. places all the
jewels, etc, in the case, locks, puts the key
under her pillow, and retires to bed.)
M. P.-My dear, your counsel is not good
and the course you propose would hurt me
more than poverty. That is not crime, the
other is, striped Of all the adventions and
all the adjucants of wealth, our costly resi-
dence, servants in livery, carriages, jewels
and other insignia Of what Is called "high
social position" and what are we after all !?
Simple, man and his wife and two child
rem. The man, one that can work with
his head, and if need be, with his hands:
the lady, one who eau be a good housekeep-
er.