The Van Buren press., 1859-08-10


Having come to good rnderstanding <
about breakfast, bills of fare, and things in
general, at the Astor, said Mr. Pilkins
told the clerk I wanted to see Broadway,
and asked him to tell me where should go
to look for it.
Right in front of the Hotel" says he
Why" says l., you don't mean to
say that that narrow street there in front of
the house is Broadway, do YOU %
"I do" said he.
WELL" said I, then suppose it is,
and all have to say is, I'm disappointed
l expected to find Broadway a pide street,
which it would take a 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
inhabitants feel bad. He said if l would
keep still, he'd speak to the Mayor on the
subject, at the very first opport unity l
promised secresy, shook hands with him,
and set out to see what could be SEEN
As went down the front steps inside, /
met gentleman and bowed to him, as we
always do to strangers, where l live but
he took no notice Ofme at all. Thinks l
you are an ill-bred fellow, anyhow, with all
your fine clothes. At the foot of the stairs
l met another man, and bowed to him. He
gave me saucy stare. and passd on. Well,
says l to myself, if that is the game here in
New York, can play at it with the best of
you; and resolved not to bow to another
| soul, unless was bowed to first
l sauntered along down Broadway, look
ing at the signs and shop windows, when
| suddenly chap driving an omnibus beck
oned to me- Hello, thinks l, here's an
old acquaintance but on looking at him
closely l didn't recognize him. He kept
motioning to me however, and looking at
me. for long time. 1 hadn't gone two
rods before another chap motioned to me,
too. l thought some of 'em must know
me, and so / went up to one to see what it
meant. As he saw me coming, he pulled
up his horses, and says l, " we'll, neighbor,
how are you? Where have we seen each
other before 90
"Ride up ?" says he.
"How ?'' says 1.
&C. Ride up ?" says he fright away, up
Broadway"
No." said /, :" I didn't want to ride up
DAo"N"oy Ii 6OihS, tuO OtucI way
What did You stop the bus for, then ?"
said he
81 didn't stop it; you stopped it your
self" l replied ''a and what's more you
stopped me, too You beckoned to me, and
thought You knew me OF wanted to say
something
You're precious green one," said he /;
and all the folks inside the omnibus laugh
ed as he drove off.
l kept on down the street till came to
a fire plug, Oh which sat down to rest and
look around. The people came along up in
such crowds from the church with tall
steeple Trinity that l thought perhaps
they had jvst had a morning meeting down
there, and that the people were going home
to breakfast SO thought I'd wait till they
got past. But they kept coming thicker !;
SO tn;;.nks l, they must have q revival down
=. that church, :snd I'll just go and see how
= - ':"e along. :snd give them some
real sasf Kentucky zss feviv.. hymns on the halle
luiah order. 20
..long down. Before I gov 70
the church, l saw a chap .. ,aar.
sidewalk with big stick on his shou'~~-,
on the top Of which was big board on