The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-18
Manuscripts OF IN Old Bachslsr.-He IA.
"REMINISCENCES OF ALEXANDRIA.

spectatum admissi risum tene.tis 7-HoRAcx.
Admitted 70 the sight, would you not LAUGH!
There was in old Alexandra, in the days
Of which write, much hilarity and good
humor-much enjoyment Of rational fun
and innocent frolic. There were, also, sevs-
raj eccentricities, as we used to call them;
some ways famous for their keen sense OF the
ridiculous; and an occasional display OF
practical jokes which would set the town lin
roar" and be the subject of merrlment
for months, to those who had perpetrated
them, or been privy to their commissl"n.-
Some how or other, think the citizens, IN
former days, were heartier than they are
now in their feelings, and could un6end with
more, readiness and grace than their success
sors 1t was not then mira indig., for
grave burgher, holding the reins tightly
enough upon himself and others, to indulge
in sallies of wit, and recreate his friends, as
we'll as amuse himself, by the exercise of
his talents in that particular. Some had
penchant for px,as, some an inimitabe way
Of telling story; the mind Immediately
calls up G. NJ. P. j., j. E., and others
Their native good humor did not lessen the
respect in which shey were held, or encour-
age undue familiarity on the part OF those
who had no right to presume upon their
bonhomie. How many Alexandria. are
left who remember the then locally famous
laugh of S. s., Is he used to stand. bare
headed, dressed in shorts and white top
boots, at the corner Of King and Royal
streets, near his Office, listening to the anec-
dotes of the day. 1t was said to have been
contagious-and being caught up by others,
on the street, was answered and echoed
along, until it died away among the flour
stores at the upper end Ut town. He visited
the theatre once, when. the celebrated Mat
thews, the English comedian performed
and that actor waited upon him afterwards
to say, that he had heard nothing 50 inspi.
riting since he had played in America, as
that laugh-nolhing which had told him
half 50 plainly how much pleasure he was
giving to an audience, by his efforts to
please them.
Practical jokes are often very dull ones,
frequently rude ones, and when designed To
iajurc feelingsor wound proper sensibllities,
every way worthy of censure and condemna-
tion. 1t is only when they are innocent
or untalnted by malice-that they can be
ut all countenanced Ly right thinking pep
pie. Upon the whole, as, like edge tools,
they are dangerous to handle, they had bet
ter be left untouched. 1t was not thong ht,
however, that it was infringing upon this
rule, when A. u. prevailed upon Joe Will
liams-''a colored gentleman" OF the old
schvol-for a suitable reward, to play that
curious antic, OF running, one afternoon, up
the centre Of King street from the dock,
stopping every fifty yards, cutting caper
with his leg,, tantiscaly twisting his arms,
and calling out at the top Ut MS Voice
Joseph upon the goat--bah !"-The clt'zens
ran to their doors aud windOws-sh0uts and
huzzas were Observation-Disclosures and flags
were utlU OuC-du luImOuoC VAOOp "a IVY 2
gathered in the wake-Ihe police sGuod
ayhasb at the sudden cummoJloG, not know
ing what it meant--women alarmed, ran aud
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT horses tore OFT and upset
carts-three persons near Pitt street were
knocked dowu cellar by the rush--several
hats, caps and shawls We're lost in The me-
Iceland in the midst of il on went Juseph
apparently unheeding the confusion int
which the whole town had been thrown
never stopping Until he had reached Che
Diagonal pump, accomplished his task, and
won his wager! lie disappeared imme
dately afterwards, and was not seen again
tor week.
AIN not favorable to Thespian societies
or amateur actors and acting. Young mel
had better seek almost any other kind .
amusement than that which Is to be touut
in performing plays ON the stage. To sa.
nothing of the manner in which the dram
is, niue times out Ut ten, butchered by thes
amateurs, the habits contracted are by Il
means conducive 10 health Or happiness
un.ess great care he taken by those engaged