The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-06-27
A French Fashion of Frightening a Dun.

Paris correspondence of recent date says:
The latest Partisan mode of getting rid of an
importunate dun, is both amusing and Instructive.
Victims to this species of annoyance will doubt
less feel grateful TO ne for letting them into the
secret. A certain Monsieur L., a young man of
aristocratic connections, has dissipated the larger
part of his fortune, and is now obliged to bear
the consequences of his folly. As usual in such
cases, Mr.. l.. is tormented by a horde of hungry
creditors, whom, instead of gratifying their de-
mands, he has made subjects of philosophical
study. The IS animal i" bootmaker, for example,
Is of q resinous character, and sticks himself to a
debtors SIDE with the tenacity of a Siamese twin.
The genus tailor is a calculating fellow, who con-
slders his customers as q sort of lottery in which
there are n couple more blanks than prizes, but
the prizes are made to compensate for the blanks,
and, at the end of the year, the profit side over
balances the account of loss. In the case of the
shoemaker, a plan generally found TO work well
is to heat your door key red hot, and slip it into
the lock as he is seen to approach the house.
Not 50 the tailor. He is excessively cunning,
and vulgar expedients have no chance of success.
Now, il is precisely a knight of the shears, and
one of the most artful ornaments of the tribe,
with whom our young Partisan has Just had :
tilt, deserving a description. Snip came to LIS
lodgings one morning before breakfast, for the
purpose of presenting for the fftieth time, /. that
small bill"
8" have come, once more, sir" said he, with
ceremonious politeness, sin the hope that you
VIII C(NNAS OaA ANoNCAo eA"olo 20 oA1
long outstanding claim. As a first transaction
between us, you will admit that We have waited
patiently for our money"
Oh! as far as regards a first transaction"
co0sy replied the other, . | shall be most happy,
1T 1t VII he any accommodation, to give YOU a
second e~der. But when you talk to me about
PsaymehtEspecially to-day assure you it is
eioquence thl,wn away. In short, my dear Snip,
the thing is imsossible."
lis that your iual answer, sir ?"
&. aarlnl an
sess 20 much penetratsp."
"Then, sir. L must a,nounce to YOU nv de-
liberate intention not tn t.aye YOU. until I am
paid"
with all my heart, Pray take a seat. and
make yourself as comfortable ne circumstance
will admit. You willfnd that armchair easy"
The tailor quietly accepted the satireal invita-
ton, and Monsieur l.. called his valet.
=. Baptiste,'' said he, = l give you n holiday.
You can go where you like until this evensg.
When you return, you will find several letters =
my desk, which you are to deliver IN person As
you go down stairs, tell the porter 10 admit no
one. / am not at home"
Bapsiste bowed, and, like an intelligent valet,
understood his masters wink. After the servant
had left the room, Monsieur l.. carefully closed
the door, locked 1t, and put the key in his pocket.
He then seated himself at n secretary, took from
a drawer several sheets of paper, edged with
black, and wrote a number OF letters, which he
sealed with black wax. At the head OF the sole
remaining sheet ne wrote IN large CAPITALS,
aThis is my last will and testament" After
filling up this instrument he requested the tailor
to witness it, which the latter did, with a know
ing smile, us much as to say, 9 You wont hum
bug me, my boy" The will was carefully sealed
and placed with the letters; and these prelimin-
aries being completed, the young man took from
a closet q packet containing n quantity OF cotton
padding, such as is used for stopping the chinks
in windows and doors. With the aid of "A ham
mer and a paper of taeks, L. proceeded to caulk
the edges of all the windows and doors IN the
room, an operation which consumed nearly an
hour, the tailor meantime leisurely examining an
album of Photographic celebrities. Without ap-
pearing to give himself any further concern about
his visitor, the young gentleman took from u
basket several pieces of charcoal, placed them in
a handsome bronze vase, which he stood In the
room, and calmly proceeded to light the coal.
The tailor began to grow decidedly serious. As
soon as the fire was under way, Monsieur l..
wrote upon n large piece of paper the words,
.. Let none be accused of our DEATH which he
pinned securely to the table cover. The tailor,
who commenced to smell the poisonous gas and
was now thoroughly frightened, rose from his
chair, exclaiming "This is going too far, sir
/ am n husband and father. sir - and he rushed
toward n window.
Stop" cried the other, grasping his creditor
by the arm. 1T is too late 10 retreat and, be-
sides. our determination is irrevocable !"
oh sir please let me out ~ implored the
terrified tailor. a. will promise not to trouble
you again, as long as | livei''
L., who with great difficulty RETAINED from
bursting into a shout of laughter, hereupOn open
ed the door and the half asphxiated victim went
down the stairs at one bound. The waggish
scapegrace has not since laid eyes upon either
tailor or bill.