Litchfield enquirer., 1860-05-24

l Opcrd, ltl HIS UTlSuC-UuItOuCO COnOJ Wttu lOIS nette in hand, listening to the prima donna as though she were patient, and he antici' pated fee at the close of the performance. He was so catholic in his tastes that he could enjoy one kind of music as well as an other, and, when there was no opera, and his patients would permit it, he would go to hear the Ethiopian Minstrels, and sit through the entire performance. In fact. the banjo was one of the Doctors weakness es, and there were some people; who were unchartabe enough to say that negro min strelsy was much better adapted to his mu- sical taste, than the Italian opera. But that was mere scandal, of course, for the Doctor had been in Europe, and had brought back with him, like many other gentlemen who go abroad, a taste for music aud the 6ue arts, which he did not carry with him.
 There was one member of the Ethiopian band, where the Doctor was in the habit of going, who had completely fascinated him, which was not much to be wondered at, for he had fascinated every body else who heard him; and when he appeared, there was sure to be an oyeraowing house. The name ot this incomparable singer was Higgins, and his talents, as banjo player, as q dancer, and personator of the negro character, par. ticularly as the negro dandy. were equal to his splendid abilities as a singer. The Doc. tor never failed to drop into the Ethiopian opera, as it was called, whenever this public favorite appeared, which was nearly every night, and seeing his name up on the bills for a benefit, the Doctor resolved to go On reaching the hall he found the house so crowded, that he could not even get his nose inside, but the door-keeper recognized him, and wishing to gratify so distinguished a patron of the establishment, offered to show him round by private entrance, so that he would be near the stage, and might retire at his leisure.
 The Doctor was delighted, ard put some thing handsome into the hand of the door keeper, as an acknowledgment for the favor. He got 0 comfortable seat near the stage, and waited with impatience for the appear ance of the incomparable Higgins. The sham darkey was in splendid voice, and fill cd the audience with ecstatic. pleasure by his happy limitations of Dandy Jim. But his most brilliant performance was in the plantation break down, in which he ravished the spectator by his unparalleled heelng and toeing In the midst of the performance, when the frenzy of the spectators was at its height, boy in the gallery threw piece ol orange-peel on the stage, and Higgins, by an unlucky step put his foot upon it, and fell with tremendous crash. The audience at first thought it part of the dance, and nppIauded tremendously, but it was soon dis covered that the poor man had met with q serious accident. He was taken up by his companions and borne off the stage; directly after, the leader of the band came on, and asked if there was surgeon in the house, as Mr Higgins was badly hurt by his fall Dr. Lanrens was but too harpy to have an opportunity of rendering any professional assistance to so distinguished an artist as Higgins so he stepped promptly forward and offered his services. The artist had struck his head. but was only stunned. The Doctor, however, did as all doctors do on such occasions, whipped out his lancet and ions, with bowl of water and a sponge wiped the burnt cork from the face of the unconscious minstrel.
 Higgins presently opened his eyes, and stared wildly about him, while the Doctor shrieked out.
 Good gracious! it is elegant Tom D l,r.? ! Tom was bcwildcred by the sudden change of the scene, and faint and sick from the loss of blood which Dr. Laurens had been letting out of his veins ; but, bcwildercd and weak as he was, the sound of the Doc tors voice, and the sight of his astonished rountenance, brought Tom to his senses He knew nt once that his secret was discovered, and comprehended in 8 moment the conse- society.
 Doctcr," said he faintly, cit is no use to dissemble further. You know my secret; let me request you to keep it to yourself"
 70 my dear fellow" said the Doctor, "you are perfectly safe in my hands. Don't be uneasy. For the credit of my own fam fly, at least, I shall not be likely to pro- claim to society that a gentleman who has visited at my house, is member of a troupe of Ethiopian minstres. wish you good evening, sir"
 It very oddly happened that, before mid night, all the members of the Manhattan Club, to which the Doctor belonged, knew that Elegant Tom Dlar had retrieved his fortunes by joining the Ethiopian mipstrels, and the news was spread all through socie- ty before the next day at noou.
 Tom received package early in the morning from Julia, inclosing all the billcts- doux and trinkets he had sent her, and re- ouesting return of all she had ever sent him. The note was as devoid of feeling or sentiment as a lawyers dunning letter; and Tom wrote one in reply, which was quite as cold and business-like.
 | "Well," said to Tom, on meeting him 8 few days after his accident, which would very likely have proved fatal to him but for his woolly wig; Do you intend to give up society or the minstrels?"
 Society,"" exclaimed Elegant Tom Dillar with sarcastic curve of his finely chiselled lip;. Society be -"
 will not repeat the very coarse expres sion lie used; for, since his new associations he had grown rather rude and low in his Ian gnage:
 What should an honest man care for society,"" said he. "When. I was an idler living on the property which my fathers in' dustfy had procured me, society petted me aud cherished me. When lost my proper ty, society turned cold shoulder to nae, but petted the villain who, had robbed me of it When by an honest exercise of the only ac lcomplishments had been taught, l was en abled to appear like gentleman, society a0ain received mo with onen arms although