Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-30
0dortestrr Daily SPY.
MATRIMONIAL BROKERAGE IN NEW YORK
BETTY BALLoU, AND HER MENAGERIE AT
TAYLOR'S SALOON

MATRIMONIAL BROKERAGE IN NEW YORK
BETTY BALLoU, AND HER MENAGERIE AT
TAYLOR'S SALOON.
Those who have taken the trouble to look
over the advertising columns of the New York
Herald, have observed advertisements under
the head Of Matrimonial, in which persons of
both sexes announce themselves as candidates,
and invite correspondence with this view. If
we believe these announcements, the adver-
Users, almost without exception, are patterns
of modesty, virtue, honor, and intelligence;
generally, too, of refinement wealth, and high
social position.
1t is not very long since an advertisement
informed the public that young lady of good
education and accomplished manners, being
convinced that the formalities of society are
mostly absurd and restrictive of free individual
development, would Ike to correspond with
man Of independence and sense, with a view
to matrimony She was twenty years of age,
moved in respectable society, and believed she
could make good man happy. Any such
person was invited to address Betty Ballou, at
the Union Square Post Office.
A young man answered this advertisement,
under the signature of Julius B. Defoe, as
follows:
"MIss BETTY BALLoU Il have read your
advertisement in this mornings Herald, and
have not the slightest hesitation in saying that
l am man Of sense. That | am man of
independence would clearly appear to you if
we should ever be married, for would not
promise to pay any more attention to a wife
than | chose; and if | wanted to go to the
theatre or opera with somebody else, as l pro-
badly should, | should do it in spite Of her
In short she could do as she pleased, if she
chose to, and if she didn't, I'd make her; and
| n I NH Iuh che
ing or not If that is not independent enough
for you, beg you not to answer this letter.
That am sensible, clearly appears from
my mode of life. In the first place, / have
spacious apartments with private family in
Fifth avenue, and manage my affairs in Wall
street-with about four hours labor per diem
IN such manner that have as much money
as want to spend or give away, go where 1
have mind to, smoke in the parlor when at
home, and get drunk as often as l am disposed.
II this suits you, write, and address me at
the Broadway Post Office. If it don't, do what
you like.
will say, however, that | should be happy
to see you, and think you will not find me a
savage. If you are disposed to crafty me-
state when and where we can have an inter.
view. Yours respectfully,
julius B. DEFoE."
Three days after depositing the above letter
in the Union Square Post Office, Mr. Defoe
called at the Broadway office and found a re-
ply awaiting him. 1t was written in neat,
plain hand, and the purport oft was, that Miss
Betty was curious to see him, but was con-
scious of the improperly of inviting stranger
to call upon her. If however, he would be at
Taylor's Saloon at two o'clock on a certain
day, he would meet her there. go as far
back as you can, said the letter, con the left
hand side, take newspaper in your hand and
read, so / may know you. When enter. [
will recognize you with nod then, please,
come and sit by me-"
A few minutes before the appointed time.
Mr.. Defoe, having provided himself with
newspaper, went to the place designated took
seat as requested, and commenced reading.
He soon observed young man enter, walk
near him. and look annoyed at his presence.
Finally, however, the stranger sat down i'm
mediateIy in front of him, and with many
looks of ''what business have you here % also
took out paper and commenced reading.
unfortunate" thought Mr.. Defoe. eff
this fellow keeps on reading, she may mistake
him for myself. However, when she sees he
does not recognize her, she will try me-"
While these thoughts were passing through
his mind an elderly gentleman, with very
red nose, also came up, and politely requested
Mr.. Defoe to go forward and give him the seat
he occupied. 81 would not ask it, SIR he
added, chad | not particular reasons, which |
need not explain, for doing So"
The elderly gentleman seemed good deal
disappointed but taking the last unoccupied
seat back, also took out paper and com
menced reading.
Nothing remarkable" soliloquized Mr..
Defoe, Gin three men reading papers at the
same time, in a row yet, under the circum-
stances, it is a singular coincidence" And
this suggestion derived additional weight from
the fact that few other persons in the saloon
were at that time reading.
But Mr.. Defoe's establishment was consider
ably increased when third fourth, fifth,
a sixth, and finally, a seventh, entered, and
each in bis turn seemed anxious to get a rear
seat, but falling in this, took the last one unoc-
cupied, each at the same time commencing
Immediately to read.
Mr.. Defoe thought there was something
range in this, and as mystery always pleases
him, could not suppress smile at the anxiety
and distress of the literary strangers, who,
while they held papers in their hands, looked
around the saloon.
81 think the girl has sold me-" he said to
himself and goodnaturedly dropping the pa
per from his hand, was about to order beef
steak, when he saw young lady enter the
right door. She was tall, graceful in her
movements, had keen black eyes, and was
richly though not gaudily dressed. She pass
ed down the opposite aisle with manner
somewhat naughty, cast a furtive glance along
the line of gentlemen who held papers in their
hands, and finally gave Mr.. Detoe an unmis-
taxable nod of recognition.
He returned the salutaton, as if he had met
an old friend, and Immediately joined her.
"Mr. Defoe, l presume" said the pretty
lady.
''The same, and happy to meet you, Miss
Ballou," he replied
'Tell me, Mr. Defoe, what you thought of
my advertisement"
81 thought it very singular that a female
should want a man of sense and independence
for a husband-so | answered it, What did
you think of my reply? 7"
81 thought much. In the first place, that
you were not handsome, and l am not dsap-
pointed Also, that you were not dressed like
a dandy, which is also true. Also, that you
did not mean what you said which Of course
is true"
"Then why did you answer me 2"
because / thought so. You do not sup
pose a sensible woman would advertise for
husband, with an honest motive; and l know
that no honest man would write such letter
as you did. / did not come to compliment
you, as you find"
81 will not complain that you fatter me"
Refreshments were served up, and the con-
versation, though necessarily carried on in a
low tone, became animated.
"Pray tell me" said Mr.. Defoe, -"the precise
motive you had in publishing such an adver-
tisement, and in meeting me here"
81 did it for fun. 1t was always my dispo-
sition. Do you see that row of men over
there, near where you were sitting each with
n newspaDer a"