Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-12-19
A TERRIBLE NIGHT In BALTIMORE
BY PERCY GARNETT.

| BY PERCY GARNETT.
l AM no politician. l am a provision
dealer-a wholesale provision dealer, do
ing business in New York city. Havin.
commenced my veritable history with th'
above assertion, it is necessary that
should inform the reader how it was that
was member of the New York delega
tion to the Democratic Convention helt
in the city of Baltimore last year.
One evening in the latter end of May
l was seated with my wife in our pretty
house in Eighth Street. enjoying fra
grant cup of tea, for if there is one thing
that I'm good judge Of it is tea. My
wife had been shopping, and while was
slipping my Hyson favored with Orange
Pekoe, she was showing me her purchases
She was expatiating on "love of bon.
net," when We were both startled BY VIC.
lent ring at The bell; and in minute OF
two afterwards servant entered, inform.
ing me that Mr.. Lawrence Ardew wished
to see me Immediately. As Ardew was a
particular friend of mine, l Immediately
ordered him to be admitted.
"Gunby," said Ardew, as soon as be
had paid his respects to my wife | should
have told you before that my name is JON
athan Gunby) "Gunby, want you to do
me great favor"
"What is it, my dear fellow?" replied.
| could afford to be affectionate, for
knew that Ardew was too rich to want
money.
"You know l am politician" said Ar
dew.
Il know you are, returned, 'and much
good has it done you. To my certain
knowledge you have not received cent
YET; on the other hand you have spent
a good many hundred dollars"
'Just wait till - is elected president,
and then you will see what you will see
but, that is not the question. 1 am a
delegate to the Baltimore Convention, and
want you to act as nv substitute"
"What!!" l cried, jumping up from my
chair in excitement, 81, Jonathan Gunby,
wholesale provision dealer, act rs mem
Der of a political convention! never, my
dear friend, nevcr!"
"But you must. will pay all expens
es, and the trip will do you good. Ihave
noticed that you seem to lie a good deal
thinner than you used TO be, change is
the very thing for you. Baltimore is a
beautiful city. The fact is, have an i'm
portant law suit coming on, and it is ut
terly impossible that l can leave New
York. You must do this favor for me, my
dear Gunby."
"But, Arjew, 1 never attended politi-
cal meeting in my life," replied, some
what softened by the fact that all my ex-
penses would be paid. 81 should make a
blockhead of myself, for l know nothing
of the rules and regulations of such as
semblies"
"You don't want to know anything; all
that you have TO do is to vote through
thick and thin for -"
"But l don't like tho man."
"You have nothing to do with that. I
do like him and you will be voting for me"
"You are right forgot that"
jonathan shall-not 60 to that awful
rowdy city, Baltimore" said my wife. "He
will be killed by the plug Uglies,' Blood
Tubs or 'Black Snakes It's not safe to
walk the streets there. I'll never consent
to his going"
"You need have no fear on that head,
madam" said Ardew, "they have got a
new police there, and Baltimore is now
one of the quietest cities in the Union"
need not detail any more of the con-
versation, suffice it to say, that Ardew
persuaded me to act in his place, and a
hint of handsome present from the mon
umental city, SO modified my wife that
she too gave her consent.
On the appointed day, provided with
the necessary vouchers, started on my
journey-having first faithfully promised
my wife that would not venture in the
streets of Baltimore after dark. 1 shall
not detail the particulars Of my journey; /;
were I to do so l might describe how
crowded we were; how we were annoyed
by squalling infant that it was utterly
impossible to silence; how we were delay
ed in the crossing of the Susquehana by
some accident to the ferry-boat; how every
body talked politics until was perfectly
sick of it; how I tried TO read, but could
not on account of the perfect Babel arourd
me; how l endeavored to make fun of the
boys who sold apples, and had the laugh
turned against me by those youthful ven-
ders of that wholesome fruit. All this,
and great deal more, I might tell, but
as every traveller goes through the same
experiences it would only be repeating an
old story. srs
We reached Baltimore at last, and was
Immediately driven to Barnum's HOTEL
had some difficulty in making my way
up TO the clerks counter, the hall was so
crowded with people.
"All full, SIR" said the gentlemanly
clerk, as / pulled the book towards me to
enter my name. r M
There was no help for it; went round
to the Gilmor House, and received the
same reply. It was the same with the
Eutaw, the Howard House and half doz-