Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-05-07
A Singing Masters First Visit to New
York.

| A Singing Masters First Visit to New
| York.
Having come to great understanding
about breakfast, bills of fare, and things in
general at the Astor, said Mr.. Pilkins, l told
the clerk l wanted to see Broadway, and ask
ed him to tell me where l should 60 to look
for it.
fright in the front of the Hotel" replied
he.
"Why," said I, "you don't mean to say
that that narrow street in front Of the house
is Broadway, to you"
81 do" says he.
"WeI," said 1, "then suppose it is, and
all have to sayis, I'm disappointed. l expect
ed to find Broadway aoide street, which it
would take spy-glass to look across but
this is nothing. I've seen wider streets than
this in Chicago"
The clerk said he was sorry Broadway did
not suit me, and hoped wouldn't let my
opinion get out, as it might make the inhab-
itants feel bad He said if I would keep still
he'd speak to the Mayor on the subject, at
the very first opportunity. promised Sc
cresy, shook hands with him, and set out to
see what could be seen.
Invent down the front steps inside. met
a gentleman and bowed to him as we always
do to strangers, where live !; but he took
no notice of me at ALL Thinks you, are'ill-
bred fellow, anyhow, with all your fine
| clothes. At the foot of the stairs L met an
other man, and bowed to him, he gave me
saucy stare, and passed on. Well says
| to myself, if that is the game here in New
York, 1 can play at it with the best of you
and resolved not to bow to another soul, un-
less was bowed to first
sauntered along down Broadway, look
ing at the signs and shop windows, when sud-
denly chap driving an omnibus beckoned to
me. Hello, thinks l, here's an old acquaint-
ance, but on looking at him closely, didn't
recognize him. He kept motioning to me
however, and looking at me, for long time.
I hadn't get two rods before another chap
motioned to me and then another, who was
driving down street, beckoned me, too. I
thought some of them must know me, and so
| went up to see what it meant As he saw
me coming he pulled up his horses, and
says |, well neighbor, how are you Where
have we seen each other before !?
Ride up ?" says he.
How ?'' said l.
Ride up" said he: "right away, up
Broadway"
"No," said I, 81 don't want to ride up
Broadway Pm going 'tother way"
"What did you stop the bus for, then,"
said he.
81 didn't stop it; you stopped it yourself,
replied, and what's more, you stopped me,
too. You beckOned to me, and l thought
you knew me, or wanted to say something"
You're a precious green one," he said
and all the folks inside the omnibus laughed
as he drove off.
T @bo T b
fire plug, on which sat down to rest and
look around. The people came along up in
such crowds from a church with tall steeplc
(Trinity) that l thought perhaps they had
just had morning prayer meeting down there
and that the people were going to breakfast
so thought I'd wait till they got past But
they kept coming thicker and thicker; SO
thinks |, they must have revival down at
that church, and I'll just 60 down and see
how they get along, and give them some real
Kentucky revival hymns on the hallelujah
order.
So | wont along down. Before l got to
the church, 1 saw chap standing on the
side walk with stick on his shoulder, on
the top of which was big board on which
was written, in big black letters
STRANGERS BEWARE OF MOCK AUCTIONS
luukS L, WudI MUM AuCtlOu lulS
is something new l must look into it; and
in my curiosity to penetrate the mysteries
of Mock Auction, l forgot the meeting at
the big church.
walked up to the door before which the
looked in. A nice young man was selling all
kinds of valuables. Right next door another
man was selling things too; and it occurred
t6ot ho ho1 th,t obop tn cto hocn
the first mans door so as to injure his bust
ness. This struck me as being darn mean
my sympathies were touched my Kentucky
grit began to ferment, and | determined to
patronze the injured party !; for, you know,
Kentuckian always goes in for fair play and
no favors asked.
While stood thinking over the matter, the
man who was selling watches, the ''injured
party" happened to see me and Immediately
bowed to me in very polite manner. This
was the first bow Ihad received in New York,
| and it came over me with most gratifying
effect. Says | to myself, I've found gen.
tleman at last who is no upstart, and who
understands the usages of polite society.
Ireturned his bow, and he then invited me
to walk in, which did. just as stepped in
he bid off handsome gold watch at $l5 -
Bless my soul, thinks l, what a fool was
MOTTO have bid on that might have had
nice gold watch to take home to my wife,
and how proud she would have been! So
says l. "Neighbor, have you any more of
them ?"
"Yes sir" he answered here's splen-
did gold watch and chain left for sale by a
young gentleman from Cuba, who is out of
money, and must sell them at some price,
| hope gentlemen will bid more literally, for
the gentleman is very worthy and in great
need.
The folks began to bid. "Three dollars"
says one "five dollars" says another
Thinks I, that's darn'd mean to take advan-
tage of poor fellow that way: so says
eighteen dollars" / suppose that rather
| frightened the company,for after that nobody
else bid cent, and the watch was knocked
down to me- The man who sold it then went
to the other end of the counter telling me to
pay the money to another man was sitting at
the desk with big account book open before
him. paid the money and then went to the
other end of the room for my watch. When
the auctioneer handed it to me, it struck me
that it didn't look like the one | had bid for,
and on examining it closely saw it was moth
ing but copper!
." didn't warrant it gold," said he.
"Well, don't care what you aoarranted
it for; you sold it for a gold watch, and it
isn't gold; so just give me back my mo-
ney."
81 have no authority to return money to
any one, else should be happy to accommo-
date you you must speak to the cashier to
whom yon paid the money,
then asked the cashier for my money, but
he said he had no authority to return or pay