Columbia weekly news., 1859-09-22
Arkansas Hotel Ellis.

- Gi1I utdy bc . btSt ldtC iCt!pW,
Matt Peel used to say, and vet not kno,
bow 10 Keep al hotel. II ability il
botel kcepiag be a ties; q good fellow
tacro is enc nlan for whom we can Ger
'ain'y voueh as all sorts Of a good fellow
lie keeps al hotel, OF country tavern
i you will, away up in tne interior o
fskansas; somewhere. The way ",
happened 70 hear OF bin was this:
Several weeks ago t@o we'll known
gentlemen from he city were travelling
Tor the benefit of their health and con
eluaei to try the famous Hot Springs Of
ed . Eackeusacll There being nei
ther river railroad or canal, TO take ones
body to the springs, our travellers hirec
horses at their point of debarkation, tc
fsFrde in that manner TO their destination
hey unluckily did 20, follow the right
road, or else there was noroad to follow:
at any rate they got lost, and after q
a afa'iguing days ride, through barren
and inexhau,tiblc Wilderness they came
to neat little building standing alone
10 the woods with farming arpendages
around. Our travellers halted and hal
!oocd A great, tall, raw-boned, giant
Of fellow stepped out.
'Can We get lodgings here tonight"
asked one of the horscmen.
Well, gentleman. Ireekon ye kin,
said The tig one, land welkim to boot
This is hotel"
The travellers, although they did not
ike the cut OF the landlords jib. dis.
mounted were relieved of their horses,
and were soon RECALLING themselves ever
good country supper OF corn dodgers i,
bacon, milk, fried chickens, and coffee
1t was regular coan.ry supper, bnt
with their wbe.'ed arpetiscs our invalids
enjoyed it amazingly.
After supper the gigantic landlord
sat cn the porch VII, ibcn falling.
laughing, cracsing jokes. ard treating
occasionally 10 some good Old rye, Of
which lie appeared to have a plentiful
stock. The invalid set BIN down for q
regular ''frici,'' AID were still better
pleased when lighted at last to nice soft
feather beds, and the whitest and sweet
est Of sheets.
Il tell what it is, Bill" said Tom. as
they were sinking gently into the EN-,
brace of Somnus, "this fellow keeps a
nice place if it is out here in the
woods
THAT g fact" replieed Bill, "and
| suppose cheap place TOO, bus | like
it and I'm willing to pay the full city
fgure on it"
Next morning our travellers were
aroused by their ugly but afaale land.
lord, and regaled with breakfast, if
possible still more appetizing than the
last nights supper had been The
horses were brought round and it was
evident that they too had been well
cared Of One OF tne travellers pulled
cut bis wallet, and said to the zig eu-
ter!ainer.
"Ncll landlord you keep a first rate
hotel ont here, better than we expected
to fnd We are much pleased with il,
and now yant to know what the damage
is"
The landlord drew himself up and
putting on very solemn look, said,
Gentlemen. I'm pleased TO hear yer
The bill is two hundred and
seventy Eve dollars"
"How much did you say sir;n said
the travellers both startled.
The big one drawing himself up
little higher and looking still more So
lemn, replied distinctly and emphatioally
''lwo hur dred and seventy FIVE dollars,
gentlemen"
"Do hear you right, sir DO you
really mean to -harge Us two l.undred
and seventy Eve dollars for two meals
andi'oaging, and horse feed,
"Gen,lemcn," said tie landlord with
he most alarming sang froid," that's
no mistake. Two hundred and seventy
i've dollars is The bill .
The invalids so, scared They did !
not feel strong enough 10 fight, and i.
hey had could never lave hoped to |
make anything out Of the ungaiu'y |
siant who stood SO comrosedly before
hem Without saying another word
he traveller with the wallet squeezed it
md peeled lis different pockets, and
uceecded IN handing over the full
mount required The landlord thank
d his guests politely, and hoped if they
hould ever pass that way again, that
ley ou'd give him tall.
The travellers were now on their
orses and PREF ared like the famous cav
liers in mes'novels, 20 renew their
olitary ride. Before getting far eH,
owevsr, the traveles who had to dis