The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-04-06
shcridan's Talent for ssssiiidiinC, and his
Britiiant success in the Ay0ca;ioH.

That amusing and gos-ipping volume,
. The Wits and Beaux of Society, gives
numerous instances OF Sheridans natural
talent for swiudling II, fact, he had such
born genius that way, that bat for the
brobaty aaGn e BSs Bf aIsIs hsIf5fd 81 tIs BE rsSki qp
or transported to Botany Bay While yet
in his teens, just after leaving Harrow
school, Sheridan, we are told, was spend
ing few days at Bristol and wanted
pair OF new boots, but could not afford TO
pav for them Shortly before Le left. he
called on two boot makers, and order ed
from each a pair. promising paymcn, on
delivery. lie fixed the morning OF his
departure for the tradesmen to send in
their goods. When the first arrived he
tried on the boots, and complained that
that for the right foot pinched a little, and
ordered Crispin 10 take it back, stretch it,
aud bring il again at nine the next morn
ing The second arrived soon after, and
this time it was the boot for the LJt foot
which piucled. Same complaint; same
order given: each had taken away only
the pinching boot, and left the other there.
Tie same afternoon Sheridan left in his
new boots for town, and when the two
shoemakers called at niue the next day,
each with a boot in his hand, we can ina
CINE their disgust at finding how neatly
they had been dupcd"
Here is n companion anccdote extreme
IL characteristic, which is generally accep-
ted as having Sheridan for its veritable
hero -Chalier, the wine merchant, was
his creditor to q large amount, and had
stopped supplies. Sheridan was to give a
grand dinner to the leaders of the Oppo
sitIon, and had no port or sherry to offer
them On the morning Of the day fixed
he sent for Chalier, and told him he want
ed to settle his account The importer,
much pleased, said he would 90 home and
bring it at ence. "Stay" cried the debtor
will YOU dine with me to day? Lord -,
Sir -, and So-and-so are coming
Chalier was hattered, and readily accepted.
Returning to his Office, lie told his clerk
that he should dine with Mr.. Sheridan,
and therefore leave early.
At the proper hour he arrived in full
dress and was no sooner in the house than
his host dispatched a message to the clerk
at his Office, ssyng that Mr.. Chalier wish
cd him to send up at once three dozen Of
Burgundy, two or claret, two Of port, etc.
Nothing seemed more natural, and the
wine was forwarded, just in time for din
ner. 1t was highly praised by the guests,
who asked Sheridan who was his wine
merchant The host bowed toward Cha
ler, gave him high Recommendation,
and impressed him with the belief that
hc was telling polite falsehood, in order
to secure him other customers. Little did
he think that he was drinking his own
wine, and thar it was not, and probably
never would be, paid for
Sheridan, even when he had not shil-
ling in his pocket, would still feast his
friends.-He had credit, and he freely
used it. He heard OF young man IN
tentiou to pay all his bills, ondropping in
to large legacy, and seriously remonstra-
ted on wasting money IN that way.
q. But" we are told, "his finest tricks
were undoubted dly those by which he turp-
ed, harleauinlike, creditor into lender.
This was done by sheer force of persua-
sion. bv assuming lofty Indignation, or
bv putting forth his claims to mercy with
the most touching eloquence, over which
he would laugh heartily when his point
was eained-He was often compelled to
do this during his theatrical management,
when q troublesome creditor might have
iuterfered with the success OF the estab-
lishment He talked over an upholsterer
who came with a writ OF t3oO, TIL the lat
ter handed him, instead, a check tor t2Oo-
"He once, when the actors struck Tor
arrears of wages to the amount OF t3ouo
and his banker refused fatty to Kelly to
ad7anee another penny, screwed the whole
sum out of them in less than quarter ol
an hour by sheer talk. He got a gold
watch from the manager, with whom he
) had broken several appointments, by com
!, rlaining 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 affectionat'
! friends, he was such an adept at it, tha
; his reputation as dun destroyer is quit
on par with his fame as comedian ano
orator"