Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-13
sheridan's Talent for swindIlng, and his
Brilliant sueoees in the Avocation.

That amusing and gossipping volume,
The Wits and Beauz Of Society, gives numer-
GUS instances Of Sheridan's natural talent for
swindling. In fact, he had such born
geniuf that way, that but for the high sta
tion in which he moved he would probably
have been exalted on the gallows, or trans
ported to Botany Bay. While vet in his
teens, just after leaving Harrow school,
Sheridan, we are told, twas spending few
day at Bristol, and wanted pair Of new
boots, but could not afford to pay for them.
Shortly before he left, he called on two boot
makers, and ordered of each pair, promis-
ing payment on delivery. He fixed the
morning of his departure for the tradesmen
to send in their goods. When the first ar
rived be tried on the boots, complained that
that for the right foot pinched a little, and
ordered Crispin to take it back, stretch it,
and bring it again at nine the next morning.
The second arrived soon after, and this time
it was the boot for the left foot which
pinched. Same complaint; same order
given; each had taken away only the pinch
ing boot, and left the other behind. The
same afternoon Sheridan left in his new boots
for town, and when the two shoemakers
called at nine the next day, each with boot
in his hand, we can imagine their disgust at
finding how neatly they had been duped."
Here is a companion anecdote, extremely
characteristic, which is generally accepted
as having Sheridan for its veritable hero
Chalier, the wine merchant, was his creditor
TO large amount and had stopped supplies.
Sheridan was to give a grand dinner to the
leaders Of the Opposition, and had no port or
sherry TO offer them. On the morning of the
day fixed he sent for Chalier, and told him
he wanted to settle his account. The inn
porter, much pleased, said he would go home
and bring ii at once. Stay" cried the
debtor, "will you dine with me to-day?
Lord -, Sir --, and So-and-so are
comingn Chalier was fattered, aud readily
accepted. Returning to his office, he told
his clerk that be should dine with Mr.. Sheri-
dan, and therefore leave early.
At the proper hour be arrived in full dress,
and was no sooner in the house than his host
dispatched message to the clerk at the office,
saying that Mr.. Chslier wished him to send
up at once three dozen of Burgundy, two of
claret, two of port, etc. Nothing seemed
more natural, and the wine was forwarded,
Just in time for the dinner. 1t was
highly praised by the guests who asked
Sheridan who was his wine merchant. The
host bowed toward Chalier, gave him high
Recommendation, and impressed him with
the belief that he was telling polite false
hood, in order to secure him other custom
ers. Little did he think that he was drink
ing his own wine, and that it was not, and
probably never would be, paid for.
| Sheridan, even when he had not shilling
in his pocket, would still feast his friends.
| He had credit, and he freely used it. He
| heard of q young mans intention to pay all
his bills, on dIoppinginto large legacy, and
! seriously demonstrated on wasting money in
that way.
"But," we are told, ''his finest tricks were
undoubtedly those by which he turned,
harlequin. like, a creditor into lender. This
was done by sheer force of persuasion, by as
! suming lofty Indignation, or by putting
| forth his claims to mercy with the most
| touching eloquence, over which he would
laugh heartily when his point was gained
He was often compelled 10 do this duriug
his theatrical management, when a trouble
some creditor might have interfered with
the success of the establishment. He talked
over an upholsterer who came with writ
of 9350, till the latter handed him, instead,
check for f200.
"He once when the actors struck for ar.
rears of wages to the amount of f3, 900, and
his bankers refused fatty to Kelly to ad.
vance another penny, screwed the whole
sum out of them in less than quarter of al
hour by sheer talk. He got gold watct
from Harris, the manager with whom he haC
broken several appointments, by complain
ing that as he had no watch he could never
tell the time fixed for their meetings; and
as for putting off pressing creditors, and
| turning furious foes into affectionate friends
be was such an adept at it, that his reputa.
ton as dun destroyer is quite on par with
his fame as comedian and orator"