The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-05
quite on par with his fame as CONNIE
dian and orator. ~ -, VI -.tL----.- nm.

His friend, Fox, one of the most noted
gamblers of his time, made point of paw.
ing his (so,called) "dehts of honor" while
his honest creditors might starve. One of
these was incautiously admitted into Fox's
private sitting. room about breakfast time,
and found the gambling patriot with large
pile of gold before him, which he was dis
tributing into several smaller heaps. 81
am glad to perceive, SIR" said the creditor,
taking Fox's bond for G300 out of his
pocket-book, +" that you have got the means
of paying this" Fox answered with his
usual GOODNESS, won these $4,000 guineas
last night, and am about paying my debts
of honor with them, and there is not enough
here to discharge them all" With ready
tact which had its reward, the creditor tore
Fox's bond in two, and thrust it into the
fire which was burning before them in an
open CRATE, after the invariable fashion in
England. "There, sir" be said, mine is
now debt of honor, also, and probably of
an older date than many on the list before
you" Fox smiled, and Immediately paid
him in full.
There is another anecdote of Fox, which
may be related in connection with his and
Sheridan's known improvidence. One of
Fox's duns was an Irish cabinet maker,
with small means and large family. This
mans name was Murphy, and he held Fox's
note for what, to an industrious and not
wealthy tradesman, was considerable sum.
One day he was admitted, by some blunder
of new footman, into Fox's presence.
"YOu have come about that money, l sup.
pose? 1t is wholly out of my power to pay
you now" But Mr.. Murphy had read in
the morning paper that Mr.. Fox had had
great run of luck at the gambling table in
Brooke's Club. He knew his man and
carefully adapted his reply. "No, Mr..
Fox, l do not expect my money ifyou have
not got it. But I have presented this note
of yours so often during the last two years
that, being only on paper, am afraid it
will wear out. l just came around to ask
you to renew it upon parchment, which will
bear good deal of handling" Fox could
not help smiling, and said, "There's your
money, you rascal-your wit has earned it,"
Sheridan did great many reprehensible
actions, but, when the miscalIed delicate
investigation" into the conduct of the Prin-
cess of Wales was made town-talk in 1906,
the Prince sent for Sheridan and asked bis
aid. The latter replied, "Yo our Royal High
ness honors me, but will never take part
against woman, be she right or wrong"
We shall conclude this article, already
too desultory, perhaps, by some extracts
from the paper on Sheridan in The Wits
and Beaux of Society,"" already mentioned /:
His extravaganza was unbounded. At a
fip,o xuhop n;ofou Low, fl,so1z h1,,,
and bailiffs were hourly expected, be would
invite large party to dinner which
prince might have given, and to which one
prince sometimes sat down. On one occa-
sion, having no plate left him from the
pawnbroker's, he had to prevail on my un-
cle' to lend him some for banquet he was
to give. The spoons and forks were sent,
and with them two of his men, who, dressed
in livery, waited, no doubt with the most
vigilant attention, on the party.
AT one time his income was reckOned at
$4,000 year, when the theatre was pros.
porous. OF this he is said to have spent
not more than $4,000 On his household,
while the balance went to pay for his for
mer follies, debts and the interest, lawsuits
often arising from mere carelessness, and
uCuto oSoiuoU CAC VuCoVACs L AOOaViy
great deal of it was betted away, drunk
away, thrown away in one way or another.
As for betting he generally lost all the wa
gers he made as he said himself Il never
made bet upon my own judgment that 1
did not lose and never won but one
which I had made against my Judgment
His bets were generally laid in hundreds,
and, though he did not gamble, he could of
course run through great deal of money
in this way. He betted on every possible
triAe, but chiefly, it would seem, on politi-
cal ossibilities-the state of the funds, the
result of an election, or the downfall of
ministry. Horse races do not seem to have
possessed any interest for him, and, in fact,
he scarcely knew one kind of horse from
another. He was never an adept at field
sports, though very ambitious of being
sportsman.
His extravaganza was well known to his
friends as we'll as to his creditors. Lord
Guilford met him one day: "Wel, Sherry,
so you've taken new house, hear"
ayes, and you'll see now that everything
will 60 on like cIock.work." "Aye," said
my lord, with knowing leer, stick, TICK"
Even his son Tom used to laugh at him
for it. "Tom, if you marry that girl I'll
cut you off with shilling" "Then you
must borrow it," replied the ingenious
youth. Tom sometimes Disconnected his
father with his inherited wit-his only in-
heritance. He pressed urgently for money
on one, as on many occasions. II have
none," was the reply, as usual; "there is a
pair of pistols up stairs, horse in the sta
BILE, the night is dark, and Hounslow Heath
at hand"
81 understand what you mean," replied
young Tom; "but tried that last night,
and, unluckily, stopped your treasurer,
Peeke. who told me you had been before
hand with him, and robbed him of every
sixpense he had in the world.'
So much for the respect of son to father!
Papa had his revenge of the young wit he
had begotten, when Tom, talking Of Par
lament, announced his intention Of entering
it on an independent basis, ready to be
bought by the highest bidder. II shall
xvrto ms, forohoo1 Il l., an, la