Smyrna times., 1859-11-17
Boarding in the Quaker City.
An Old Bachelor and a Young Widow

An Old BacheIOr ana Young Nld0Ws
AS everybody who has kept boarders" will
tell you, human nature is very deceitful. The
experience of boarding house keepers is purga'
torial, Christening. and by no means calculated
to bring about an exalted idea of human perfec'
ton. In many cases the relation between land
lady and boarder is a diamond d-cut-dlamond SORT
Of relationship-nor is this relationship con.
fined to the "Quaker City," by any means
it exists in country towns as we'll. At the table
the landlady almost daily eloquently dwells on
the scarcity of this eGtabLe and the high price
of that, until the head aches, the minds of her
guests are sickened, and the appetite is lost,
much to her qualification, doubtless. She, too,
saves in all possible ways by stuffing her ducks
with offal, converting scraps into frcasees, re-
producing cold steak in the shape of beefsteak
pie, and in re-serving the refuse of the bread in
the shape of stuffing for scrawny shoulders Of
mutton and G.Ia mode beef. The boarders re.
tslia,e often by ignoring the payment of their
bills, and ultimately vamose to avoid payment,
when further promises have been proven value.
less.
But there is class Of swindlers whose study
is to obtain board without payment, and who
invariably defraud their entertainers out of that
for which they have received q handsome
equivalent One genius, we remember, says
the North American, who, by removing from
one house to another, lived for more than two
,aaxs a tho axDanea of HE anta,ta;nos. = IL =,
last became known to the police as the " Board.
ing House Swindler." He ultimately found
his way to prison. and after remaining there
three months, was liberated, and, for all we
know, may be the subject Of wha. we are now
about TO present.
In the vicinity of Frankford road and York
street, Philadelphia, resides a widow lady OF
twelve months standing, whom we will call
Mrs. Blank. At the demise of her consort,
Mrs. Blank was the possessor of house filled
with comfort and furniture, some valuable Jew
elry, a good wardrobe, and a small balance in
one Of the Banks. Mrs. Blank had no other
incumbrance than = sprghtly little daughter
eight years Of age. Finding that constant
subtraction was reducing her stock of money
Mrs. Blank resolved to increase her store, Il
possible, by receiving few select boarders.-
The first person who applied, in response TO bel
advertisement, was a benevolent looking gen
tleman, about fifty years of age, who wore
large nose crimsoned at it's terminus, an uppe
set of false teeth, white neck-tie, and rathe
seedy suit Of black clothes.
! The stranger introduced himself ss a Mr.
/ Hendricks. He claimed to be an old bachelor
who was "down rpon all kinds Of nonsense
and only anxious to secure retired accommoda
tions at reasonable price. The price Dame
by the good lady was the low figure of SO o.
per week. Mr. Hendricks regretted the neces
sity of chsHering about money matters with 8
amiable lady. but his price was ~ so pc
week, and though he made close bargain, th
closeness of his adherence TO it would be pre-
cisely parallel. The widow studied matter
over, concluded to receive Mr.. Hendricks upo
J those terms. and On the same night Mr.. H., /
company with sorrel trunk and bundle tic