Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-28
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING, JUNE %, 1858

very expensive gilt, Whicn you may pun
lisb, if worth while. This narrative was
given to several young Americans In res
taurant in Parie, by the subject himself. He
was man of twenty-four years of age, FIVE
feet six inches in height, with straight, dry
brown hair, whiskers aud poustache of the
color of rope-tow, from amongst which stood
out pair Of prominent dull blue eyes, with
red swollen lids. This head was mounted
upon small body and legs, exceedingly
attenuated, with knock knees aud large feet.
The dress Of this individual was in keeping
with his physique He wore large battered
beaver, a large loose overcoat IA Raglan and
faded yellow brooches, fitting tightly to bis
legs.
81 set out" said be- "from the States last
summer, to see Europe; and as wanted to
have good time, | got some letters OF IN.
PRODUCTION, amongst which was one to Lord
E, to whom / delivered it on my arri-
val at Liverpool, six miles from which city
his Lordship resides. Next day | vas invi-
ted to dinner. So l put on my Store
clothes" and at the appointed time rung at
the bell. 4 large servant in livery led me
through hall, and throwing open door,
cried in loud voice, "Mr. C, from
America" found myself in room filled
with ladies and gentlemen, which had not
anticipated. and Lord E was not there.
What was to do? | remembered how the
old dancing master in America had taught
me how to bow, so began bowling and fall
ing back half yard at each bow, until
backed 10 against the wall. If the idea had
struck me, might have changed direction,
and bowed down the side of the wall; bat it
didn't, 80 stood still, not knowing what to
do. While was in this position, some one
came up and shook hands with me, and l
found out that he was one OF the other geo
tlemen to whom had brought letters OF In
PRODUCTION. lie took me up and presented
me to the company, and put me IN chair by
the niece Of Lord E.. | sat down and
waited for dinner. AT length the longed-ior
dinner was announced. aud all the other gen
tlemeu took ladies' in the dining room, so
gave nv arm to the niece and took her H.
| was next to the niece. aud every time she
drank glass of wine l drank glass, and
she kept drinking. so began to feel tine
and to get very sociabie with the nelce.--
When the ladies rose the gentlemen banded
then into the drawing-room, and returned TO
drink wine and crack npts. My head was
already little dizzy, and the lights seemed
almost innumerable. But everybody drank,
30 | drank. After time | couldn't tell
how mucb) the others got up TO join the Ia
dies. | tried to get up also, but was aston
ished to find that my legs did not move. !
brought my whole mind to bear upon IT, and
willed powerfully that my legs should 10
stantly lift me up. Bot it was vain. My
rebellious limbs refused to obey the dictates
of the mind, and / remained unable to stir.
hopelessly gazing at the gentlemen desert.
ing me. However, there was some friend
camc to nv relief did not know who, for
nv eyes were little dia--aud found my
self once more in large armchair beside the
niece.
Thew all got talking about "Picclumini."
did not know who Picolumiui was. but l
soon found out that she was singing woman.
Well, some Lords who were present gave In
vitations to some of the ladies to 60 to their
boxes to hear her sing next night. So in.
vited the neice to 60 with me. l thought, Of
course, she'd say no; but she didn't; she
agreed to 90. The shock Of being actually
engaged 10 take the peice OF Lard = to
the Opera, sobered me for while, and
thoughts of the rashness of generous and
coufding nature, and the truth OF the OLD
proverb, put not your trust In princes,
rushed over my darkeDed soul. However,
these reflections soon passed away, and
again got quite sociable with the peiee, and
very cosy. Late in the evening the party
broke up, and l staggered to the door, and.
with little help, got into the carriage. Alb.
bow that carriage rolled! 1t was like
ship at sea, and butted about in it all the
six miles back to town, and got to bed.
Next morning woke at one O'Clock, with
q laundering headache, and it flashed upon
me that was engaged to take neice to the
opera, and bad no box. | looked at my
clothes, and found that my old ranger" WAS
too shabby, and my bat had been butted out
of all shape the night before. 50 hurried
on my clothes and went to the ticket ottice OF
the opera. The man told me that the boxes
were all taken. But said there's no use
saving that, / must have box" After ex-
aiming some papers, he said | could get
one, but it would cost ,C5 (S24 about. |
was obliged to take 1t. Then | ran to shop
and got q dress-coat, beaver, aud pair Of
gloves, and began to dress up at two o'clock.
AT about six | took cab from the street and
drove to Lord E-'s. When got near
the house it struck me that perhaps then
might except to 20 in my carriage, and there
was in dirty one-horse street cab; butt was
too late to turn back, so determined to trust
to the "sublimity of luck" | got out at
some distance from the house, and told the
cebman TO hide behind the shrubbery and
wait till came back, not on any account al
lowing himself to be seen. Then went up
and rang the BELL the big servant showed
me in, when found the neice all ready; |
sat down, aud we talked for about haIf
hour. kept hoping that she would propose
20 90 in Der carriage, but she didn't; and
when we rose to go, | walked trembling out
out with my knees knocking, at the idea OF
the one-hOrse cab out of the bushes. The
big servant threw open the door, aud L. there
stood Lord Els coach and pair, with
three foutmen. Lord. how | stepped down
those stairs.
The operawas anything but amusing for
me with headache from the liquor of the
night before, and thought it never would
end. However, it did eud, and after returo-
iag from the opera, sat for half hour and
then took my leave, with the glowing pros
pect Of walking SIX miles with hammers beat
ipg in my temples, for of course the cabman
a.. bod Ion oh