Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-17
MATRIMONIAL BROKERAGE IN NEW
YORK
Brief but Decisive Experience of PauI
Pike, Harness


efforts to get married as he has made tugs or
hold straps, but has never vet succeeded
in his laudable design.
Mr.. Pike is one Of the vainest men that
breathes. lie listens to you with look of i'm
patience and pain, as though il were mere
waste Of time, and when you have finished,
proceeds, with a triumphant sneer. to demOlish
n he thinks, all the fallaoes to which you have
given uttcrance.
Mr.. Pike. in short. thinks himself a model
morally, physically. an1 intellectually, and ho
believes that the woman whom he marries will
be- the most bOnOred and distinguished woman
In the city of New York.
But. unfortunately. Mr. Pike is the ONLY per-
snn who thinks so: and several ladies to whom
no has made advances, unable To appreciate
the royal qualities which so elevated him in
his own esteem, have treated him with indif-
ference or contempt.
Mr.. Pike, to his intense amusement and
great Indignation, had recently mot with this
unaccOuntable treatment mt the hands of n
LAZY, when his eyes rested on n matrimonial
advertisement in which it was rcpresented that
yoGng woman Of education and refinement
desired to make the acquaintance Of gentle
man Of good intellectual abilities. who was
manly, industrious and eeOnOmical-qualiiies
which the advertiser esteemed more highly
than wealth or position. Any sincere gentle
man OF this description was invited TO n free
interchange of views through the post Office.
Mr. Pike thought it a sensible advertisement,
and Immediately conceived that in him tho
lady might find full realization Of her idea
HIS industry and economy were prOverbisl;
and IT the lady was as penetrating as her al. d.
Vertlsement indicated she could not fail to dis
cover that his intellectual parts were brilliant
Therefore Mr.. Pike answered the advertise
m"nt. He stated his worldly circumstances
AMI prospects with the great minutcness for
winch he Is celebrated, and then proceeded to
beStnW upon himself an elaborate eulOgy, in
whIrh h. enumerated all his good qualities and
praised them "a they appeared to deserve. lie
60 spike with less hcSltatiUR,' he wrote '.since
N'-S ''ay had requested an honest interchange
Ct views and he felt persuaded from the hiSh
tone Ot her advertisement, that if they should
ever become acquainted. she would not fail to
properly estimate his qualities of mind and
heart
In short" wrote Mr. Pike. lit has been
my lot 10 live, move, and have a being among
gTOycling worms of the dust who have not tho
soul. heart or mind either 10 aspire To the high
intellectual standard 1 set up in youth and
have attsined only by the most severe and per-
sfverln8 Labor, Or to appreciate the gifts Of &c
MUS and the accomplishment uf study i'm those
better than themselves"
To this modest epistle, Mr.. Pike in due time
received highly tattcTing answer, in which
ne wSS assured that his letter. lin every line
bore uEm's,akablc evidences of sincerity and
superior intellectual briliancy."
MIR. Pike, believing that be hsd last found
woman capable of appreciating him, wrote an
ardent reply, urging an immediate interview
and clearly intimating that he was ready and
willing :" marry immediately, provided that
he was rs well satisfied with the personal ap-
pcardnee and social faculties of the fair un-
known n he was with her letter.
The second ePistle which Mr.. Pike received
was ~ prompt and decisive as he could posi-
lv hay ruf-f f.rl al. NJ
Giay - had rcsd his letter over and over again,
with ever-incTeased pleasure and admiration.
Not only t'r the deep tone If sincerity which
, TcTVa.icd them. but for the high mental quail
tirS, whIch could not fail 20 be iiSccrIiet -
ShS wGs anxious TO see him, and begged that
n would e"ndeScend to meet her IN Union
square, the next " cdneSday. =. If il is pleas
ant. sail she. - | will walk with nv brother
and hope 70 meet you ut the south gate nj pre-
cisely Fine o'clock. Please wear ~ white ribbon
IN the left butt1Hhole of your coat. IL the Goa;
l black and n black one If il i white IwiI
say to my brother. this Is an Old friend and
viii then speak 70 you. You must be pleased
20 see mo. inquire after my welfare since our
last meeting. and finally beg leave to escort me
home. This little deception can harm no one
i 1--we III Hobuken. some distance from the
ferry, and will frankly tell you that il would
do much TO win the esteem of nv family who
are somew i vain, if you should order iuc
my sisters To ride with US. after you arc intro
duced. l say. for the good of our plan, that a
pretty liberal way Of doing things in the com
mencement will be likely TO turn the scale IL
your favor with the other members of the fam
lily. Do not think / care for these vain things;
but 1t Is best sometimes to conform to tho
wishes Of Others"
Mr.. Pike forthwith wrote labored reply. in
which he signifed his 'eptire appreciation of
the plan,' and expressed his warm admiration
for the forethought it displayed.
Inc mOmcntOus Wednesday night was clear
and beautiful. The moonlight. il occurred 10
Mr.. Pike, was appropriate 10 the romantic ad-
venture he had On hand. He d0nned a fault
less white coat. took hundred dollars with
which to do thiags on liberal scale, and hlv-
ing arrIS 81 at the southern gate Of Union Park
about five minutes before the appointed time
adjusted a black ribbon in button hole on his
Left side.
At nine o clock precisely. a veiled lady lear
ing on the aTEl If a staiwaT: man, approached
and lJokins ~ Mr.. Pike. came hastily To- him
shook his hand warmly. inquired as:cr his wei
fare. etc. Mr.. Pike did hia part well and hay-
ing been introduced 10 the brother. asked leave
to walk with them.
The brother, whose appearance did not par
ticularly please Mr.. Pike, remarked. in a
bungllng manner, that he wished to make a
short call up town, and since his sister had
been - fortunate as 10 meet an old acauaiIi-
tame, he would ask To- be excused hoping 10
IIn them at the ferry. Mr. Pike took Miss
Gays arm. and signifed his willingness to fol-
low her lead.
We have to 60 through rather an unpleasant
Ill .Tict, remarked the lady, who had not yet
G@l=ned TO show he- face To her new compan-
lQu, but 1t is pleasant on the other side Of he
river
Mr. Pike, as he walked through the west
s'de OF the town, was convinced that Miss Cav
htd spoken the truth. He p little attention
10 the locality however, as the strangers fiat
tcring remarks eff~ctually soothcd whatever
apprchcnsions be might otherwise hav. felt.
At length they approached the river and
We're passing n lumber yard. when Miss Cav
suddenly painted 20 :he ground between two
piles of boards, and asked
Mr Pike, what is that objec; on the grOund9
IL looks To me like gold watch"
Mr. Pike, m " hOn the instinct to get and
keep was not wanting, Immediately went TO
me place. and stopped To pick up the prize
Bni, rs ne bont over. man suddenly dar:rd
from behind piio of lumber. AMI giving him
al unwclcomc blow on thc back Of the head.
knocked The petTifel Paul Hat ON tho earth
as m"tiUnlssS with terror as an iron nike. and
Instantly tezing him by the collar dragged