Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-07-09
For the Delaware Inquirer.
NOTES OF A SHORT JOURNEY IN VARIOUS
DIRECTIONS.


y NOTES OF A SHORT JOURNEY IN vARIot
K DIRECTIONS.
[CoNcLuDRD.
! Though in your paper Of last week IL
word concluded" heads my article,-l
which infer that my chit-chat is becomiii
,rather wearisome-I will have you to unde
!, stand however, that am not to be silenced b
: any such printers tricks and am determined t
writeon until have tinishedup the matter to M
: oWn satisfaction. left off last week in Ne,
\ rk, having justsat myself down with raw
venous appetite at well filled table. Ate
eating heartily of the creature comforts be
fore me, arose and walked into the street
The sun had gone to her durnal repose ii
the gilded west, and the shades of the wanin,
evening were creeping gradually upon TIN
busting city. Upon looking up the street.
saw, short distance above the Hotel, a mum
Der Of persons grouped together on the side
walk, looking and listening apparently, te
what was going on within the small building
before which they were standing. Being nat
urally of very inquirng turn of mind 2
and thinking, just then, that had quite as
much right to know what was going on in
New York as any other living man, walked
towards the group and was soon in Their
midst. | noticed that two or three Of the
party watched me narrowly and whispered to
each other as approached, while tho others
bent their gaze steadfastly within the door,
/ I did uot know fba n,,rno,t ~ ti,o;, ..t :...
ings nor did care to know, but as is my
wont, determined to push ahead until some
body should complain of the intrusion, if my
presence proved to be such. So, walk
ing carclcssly through the crowd, neared
the door and could distinctly hear a voice in
side crying going going goingiil" as 1
had often before heard at village auctions and
country vendues
entered and the scene within was opened
to my vision. The room could not have been
more than seven by nine feet in dimensions,
and was OF shape so singulsrly irregular as
to be indescribable by any geometrical lines.
1t was neither round square, oblong nor tri-
angular, but seemed to present alike all the
various shapes that ever were seen. The
ceiling was low and the floor in several places
was worn through. The walls were broken
up and everything around was dirty to de-
gree that would justly have placed it in the
list with pig pens. The furniture of the
apartment was plain and practical, consisting
OF a coarse pine counter, about four feet high
and five feet long, on one end of which was
placed . small writing desk. Behind the
counter, and upon some object which raised
his feet off the floor, stood man in whose face
was strongly depicted all the moral and social
qualities of Shakspeare's Shylock. The man
was evidently an Israelite of the most merce-
nary and rapacious breed, and as looked
upon his repulsive features, could think of
nothing but "the bond, . ''the drop of blood -
s'the pound of fiesh." When my eyes first
fell upon him, he was leaning eagerly over
the counter, holding in one hand a gold ~
watch and enunciating with rapidity which
none but a mock auctoneer can approxi-
mate, 'going going going !" In front
of him stood several characters of a type sim
liar to himself who put in an occasional bid
i'll order to lend plausibility to the rascally
farce and the more readily to entrap and gull
the green ones who might chance to fall into
their tolls. Soon after entered, the watch
was struck of for six dollars and twenty-five
cents to one of the persons in front, who step
ped up to the counter and from corpulcnt
wallet produced the required amount. The
purchaser, who was one of the decoy ducks
Of the establishment picked the watch up
and opening the case commenced examining
its inside arrangements. |, being the only /
stranger present, he approached me and with |
a sly leer in his eye, ingenuosly remarked
that he considered he had made pretty big
strike, but continued, and said that he had no
use for watch and if wished he would let
me have it for slight advance upon what it |
cost him. Having cut my eye teeth, how
ever, when was somewhat younger than |
am now, agreed with the decoy concerning
the superiority of the WATCH but respectfully
refused to avail myself of the advantages of
his purchase. Finding that was not keen to
embark in the speculation, he insisted that
should have the watch, and as an inducement
offered to let me take it for what it had lust
cost him. l mildly but positively declined
investing anything in the article, and
lecoy becoming little rumped at my obsti-
macy, asked me very saucily what came
there for. answered that had no other
business than the qualification of mere curl
osity and should not, of course, buy any
Thing where purchasers were invariably
cheated. Decoy opened his eyes and with
'ut another word sneaked quietly away
Another watch was put up by the eut-throat
ooking auctioneer but as no bids were offered
he "article" was Withdrawn and the sales
declared closed for the day. Having seen
enough OF mock auctions, | sought the street
md after little cogitation as to how should
dispose of myself during the evening, deter
mined to visit one of the theatres.
accordingly turned up Chatham street and
tarted in the direction of the "National. -
Is was walking leisurely along looking at
he multitude of forms and faces, as they
passed like an intending panorama along the
treet, sounds of vocal and instrumental mn-
ic struck upon my ear. Stopping for mo-
nent looked about me to ascertain, if posi- =
'le from whence the sounds proceeded
ew yards in advance of me, on the opposite
round which several persons were standing, .
nd a brilliantly lighted window, upon which
yere emba2oned in gold letters the words