The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-17

anu WiltTa
Ofcoursc, the two antagonists parties met as
rarely us possible, but there were occasions when
they could not help meeting. In winter for In
stance, when II was found absolutely necessary
In ord'r 20 avoid softeung Of the BRAIN To have
some social relaxation, weekly d tnce, took place
at the assembly y.rOOms where the two parties
met as on neutral ground. The Young people
were naturally compelled 20 dance together or sit
muWchauyu, but it was tarity agreed that no
claim 90 intimacy should be raised on this
account. Hence, when Miss Flora MuuutchesncY
met her partner Of the previous night Mr.
l'it el, ON ihy Ictfy, tuCy passed each other AS
UT.H' s'raugcre. Such was the agreeable hor-
n,l.. est into which ], poor nnOc.nf, ycntu-cd.
The leader OF the ari'tocrlts was VI gJr VI mt
chesncy, masculine parent Of the uf1r', ud Miss
Flora, and he claimed the proud distinction
through his rank ana his wealth. He W., really
well off, for % wonder, having married the sister
uI tg Lord. Lieutenant, Sir Charles DlshOycr,
who gave Lgrse.fu no slisht airs, by the way; but
even ha0 he not done so, h. martial dGmCluor
would have entitled him Co respect BIuoned
up 20 the chin and displaying as little white as
possible, be parudCd the ietty every inch q sol
dtOr 1li, clean shuyCu chin would have glad
dtu.d the heart of Sir George BrDvn, nlI his
black whiskers were compromise between the
mutton chop and the nov fashionable artillery
siy e. Still there was mystery attaching TO tho
major; according to his own hints no bad seen
service in nearly every part of the world, but
none ever remembered noticing his name in das-
patches; but there was no doubt th1l he was "a
kAhul huh hl0lIINNl1utl veteran OF Ilt Old
wars, and consequently entitled TO look down on
the CrmCans; which, to render him Justice, he
dia tn a considerable extent.
Although ranger to every one, / hattcr nv
self that produced a sensation in Pcntgaic. My
letter Ot introduction, il not particularly hrued-
Cial to my health, was Of service in makiu1 me
known and as my doctors position rendered
him an enforced neutral / was soon on friendly
terms i'm both camps ! did not see any reason
why should pronounce for either narty The
civilians gave exec lent dinner-parties. which
were not matter OF frequency among the mintiry;
while ihC latter, regret TO say smelt terribly of
the shop. This was not surprising; forced on the
society of their fellows they told each other old
Worn.out tales, which they tacity agreed to
accept as novel and original. Before had known
Pay masicr-with-the-hO hOnOrary-ra of Major Wo-
therspoon more than a week. that distinguished
veteran had favored me thrice with his story
about his memorable duel with Ensign Widgcon
of the Clonakty Fencibles.
The first time, | remember, the tcteryiar causq
was an impertinent remark made at a ball TO
young lady to whom Wotherspoon was paying
his addresses; on the second, it was a disputed
bet at a billiard table; and on the third, a card
quarrel after mass. | can only account for the
divergent statements on the suppOsitiOn that the
pcppery paymastcr had been engaged in 50 many
affairs of honor that he had in the course of time
contounded them. However, | was on good
terms with all except Major MOuntChcsney, who
informed "his young friend" as he was pleased
TO term me, that this friendship depended on my
iNolbhlNk VIC ltllbNbulp Vi INC NlNlllhus. Nrre0t
as the honor of his amity was, there were certain
reasons of perfectly private nature which rem
dered il impossible for me to give up visiting at
least one house. Hence ! sacrificed the patronage
OF MAJOR MountcheSney, and trust that l bore
the loss with manly resignation.
Another circumstance materially enhanced nv
popularity. In Pentgate, as in all seapOrts, the
fishermen were starving in the winter and con-
sidered that they had vested interest in the
charity OF the townspeoplc they ignored all idea
OF the wOTkhOusc, and sat down patiently while a
committee was collecting funds for their support.
lt had been found by experience that the charita-
Die liked to nave something in return for their
money, and hence II had become a rule to engage
a lecturer, or orrery or the musical glasses, as
a means Of augmenting the funds. ANY amuse-
ment was such rarity in Pcntgate that people
looked forward to the lecture a complete mental
dissipation Somewhat TO my surprise our excel
lent rector waited upon me with suggestion that
l should deliver some lectures on the Indian
mutiny--a subject not so hOneycombed then as
II is at the present day.
Probably the cold bathing had strengthened
my nerves, for after little consideration the idea
smiled on me, as the French say, and assentcd
TO make an ass of myself in public. IL Is true
that l had delivered several lectures, while in
India, to the troops, but that was q horse of
another color into whose mouth people did not
look. But in the present case my audience would
pay, and consequently had right 10 be critical
However, jUtted down my recOlecton5, sent
them to literary friend in London to be licked
long, though, 1 received another "facer" from
fate the town was placardcl with handbis an
nouncing my lecture, with footline to the effect
that "Capain Maueyerer Smith (my name,
ladies' and gentemeD) would, by particular re-
quest, appear in the uniform OF the Mustee Fus-
tee lrregulars, which regiment he had COM
manded during the mutiny."
Now l had fought the last campaign in mess
Jacket pair of very ragged oycralls, and straw
hat and these articles, had they been in exist
encc, would not have conveyed a very exalted
idea of the tabled East. l thought therefore,
that there would he no harm in stealing a march
upon the worthy Pentgautes, and | wro c to my
agents, requesting them TO procure me the uniform
of an oX-Captain in the O>manli horse, with which
Holywell street was gluttsd. As every officer in
the Bashis invented ms own costume, my agents
suffered from an embarrassment Of riches, but
they picked me out one which was, perhaps,
tTite gaudy. 1t consisted of light blue very
tight-ttting tunc, without buttons or collar, and
covered with, AT a moderate estimate, two thou
sand yards of gold lace; over this was a sleeve
less tabard, open in front, consisting of a pink
ground all worked over with gold and the rest
of the costume was composed Of cheTy-red
nearly all gold stripe, Napoleon boots
silver silt chain gauntets and gorget, and very
rakish red husSar cap.
In this attire and with my medals on my chest,
| made my appearance on the platform, before a
most fashionable audience. / was greeted with
loud applause, only slightly marred by Major
Mountchesney leaning across three benches aud
y
Wotherspoon, no wonder we lost caste in the
Crmea, when fellows are allowed 10 mounteOank
In that way. Great God | wonder what the
DOok would have said to it," To whom the pay
toot, Major the service has been
going TO the dogs ever sin ye left It," Wother-
spoon was an old soldier and knew that this pub
lie compliment would secure him dinner, which,
am glad to say, it did. After taking the usual
sip at the glass of water, which forms the lee
inrers lenten-fare, and which / may be pardoned
for having fortified with couple of wine glasses
DfGlen Liyat, plunged boldly into my harangue
and succeeded beyond my expectations NV sue
,ess was extraordinary, and the lecture brought
in sum OF money such as never had been known
before, and became quite Triton among the
Pentgate minnOws
Shortly after these occurrences, England was At
lacked by the periodical Gallo phobia, which, on
his occasion, came TO a head in the volunteer
movement. OF course, Pentgatc was not behind
The rest Of the world, for every man felt con-
Einccd that the French, If they did come, would
inevitably land at their jetty. This excitement
was intense, and for while nothing less would
satisfy the population Of one thousand five hun
ired than establishing corps d'arwoe at least.
The hali-pays put themselves at the head of the
movement, but, sOOa finding that II they occupied
they might be called on to subscribe /
largely towards the uniforms, they gradually .
backed out, and formed themselves into a com
nitee of management which enabled them to |
Jtlera maximum Of advice with minimum of |
ash. was almost unanimously elected captain /
)t the first company my subs were iJlly fellows,
,hielly from the civilian class, who subscribed .
handsomely, and matters were soon in train.