The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-29

either slde by httle-wiudOwed houses, tall,
dingy, and mysterious "lookinR enough to be
hauDted-or at least in Chancery However, IL
was the organ mans lodgingsn that we dld
mean, ana so we manfully struck into the un-
clean crevice known as Little Saffron Hill
But tnough we perambulated the dingy
thoroughtare In the most careful manner no
organ man CoulQ we ind, either entering or
emerging from MS domicile. Once my com
panion thought that he deserted the object of
our pursuit ascending the steps of distant
house, ana with q subdued exclamation of
triumph ne h started Off to- see; in few
late TO report the mistaken figure a
woman with a clothes-basket. At that in
slant, however, and while we were at a stand.
still, the lively notes of q polka suddenly
greeted our ears, and eagerly following the
welcome sound, we presently arrived m the
house from whence IL proceeded. It was n pTi
yate mouse, quite an ordinary-looking nabita-
ton, with the same closed shutters and dingy
door as the rest, and no more than the AVERAGE
amount OF light glimmerng through the chinlEs
to bespeak 1t place OF amusement Still,
however, as we stood and listened on the stems
of the house, we were CONVINCED that II
must be-. The polka ceased, and was instantly
followed by q jig in the SAME lively measnre.
moreover, mere was the hum of many voices,
and the sounds of the shutting of feet.
at is threepeDny hop@there can't be n
doubt OF lt," SAID we; and feeling in our pocket
for the necessary entrance.money, we boldly
pushed opened the door and entered
The passage was dark, but at The end of IL
there was door OF room, in which there was
evidently plenty Of light and in which nc we
could now piaIniy make out, the music and
dancing was without moments hesitation
we stepped up to this door, as to the first, and
pushed 1t open.
Our expectations, however, were not exactly
realized. In an instant we found ourselves NOT
in a dancing-room but in workshonIan esta.
| blishment for the manufacture and repair of
street organs. 1t was a small place, no bigger,
probably, than an ordinary diningroom, but
| 1t was Chock full of organs, old and new
stacked against the walls, on the floor, and on
| work benches. Eight or ten bare. armed.
bearded Italians were busy patching an polish.
| ing and tinker1ng at the instruments. The iip
tune that had attracted us was still proceeding
| as we entered, the organ from which it was
| produced standing on the ground and the per-
former kneelng before it gravely grinding at
the handle. 1t was the property as it seemed
| OF an unmistakable street grinder who stood
| by watching the music doctor as he ex-
| amlned the ailng organ, with as anxious and
distressed countenance as though it were
| nothing less precious than his eldest born
| brought to be tested on account of some sus-
pected intestinal disorder.
Patchers polishers, tinkers-even the man
that was grinding the jig-paused in their
various occu pations and regarded us nqui-
| ringly. The situation was embarrassing, the
more so that the door had slammed to, and we
labored under the disadvantage Of not knowing
| word OF the Italian tongue.
'Vat you bisniss?" demanded the street
grinder, presuming on his knowledge of our
| language to be spokesman.
| we udu no DuSlneSS-QOle, AZ least, Jnab
could be explained in an ofhand and satisfac-
tory manner. My companion attempted the
explanation, however.
"Its all right" said he, with an insinuating
| little laugh-'1ts q little mistake-We thought
there was something going on-don't mind u.s."
The organ-glinder merely replied "AhaW as
| tar as we could make out; but, turning to the
| workmen, the traitorous william must have
| altogether misinterpreted to them my COM
panion's observation, for they rose, with Warlike
gestures and calculations, land turned as one man
against us,-1uckily, however, with so much
noise that the proprietor of the premises, who
| disturbed. and came hurrieoly in to see what
the row was about. He was civil fellow, and
| listened with polite attention to what we had to
| say. His knowledge of English, however,
! could scarcely have been so 'perfect" as, at
starting, he assured us it was; that is, judging
| from his answers. ~,
"Oh yes what you say Is exact, gentlemen;
but you cannot do ace here for threepence or for
any money. If you will dance, you must go to
| Badessa, or to Sugar Loaf, or to Golden Anchor.
Good evening, gentlemen" And he showed us
| to the door.
Although this little adventure could not be
said to be in all respects gratifying it was in
the main, inasmuch as it provided us with
clue. Clearly the places enumerated by the
| worthy organ-builder were places of public
| entertainment = places where dancing was
encouraged. Where was the Golden Anchor
Opportunely there came by policeman.
| keep straight on and cross the road, and it's
| the second public on the left"
! ut is place where organ men assemble for
| their amusement, is it notW
You'll precious soon find the sort OF place
| it is before you get within dozen yards OF
| it,"replied the policeman. And so directed we
once, more stepped out through the mire and
the drizzling rain, with hope revived.
Since we paid visit to the Golden Anchor,
| that hostel has earned for itself a hideous noto-
riety. Murder has been done there. At least
| that is how the law, mlsled by ponce pig
headedness and the reckless oath-taking OF false
witnesses at first called it; but now, as tappears,
the result of the bloody broil there enacted was
merely man slaughtered and not murdered
one man slaughtered and two or three others
manned and gashed and prodded 1t was q
| pity that the disgraceful bungle was not COM
pleted by the hanging of an innocent man before
| NeWgate. The Golden Anchor would have
"drawnr then with a vengeance, and done such
a trade as never was the like; as it is, the enter
prising and conscientious landlord reaps little
or no advantage from the perpetratlon III MS
house of the pretty little tragedy.
At the time we were IN search Oh IL, however,
had no special attractlon; ana y ;NCoyoreS was no
lt-a low, broad house, gay with gas Clean ta
looking, and standing at the corner of lane
leading to that dismal waste opposite the rall-
way station in New Victoria street, patroni2ed
by that miserable dreg of humanity, the pettlhg
blackguard.
In the distance the house looked so quiet and
decent that, despite the emblem OF nope
blazoned in gold above the doorway, we shoulu
have thought ourselves again at fault had u noI noI
been for the tokens the policeman had hlHteu u
at, and which were made known TO us, nov az az
one dozen yards distance of, but az three aI
the very least. 3.
1t was not sound of mirth, neither could u
be mistaken for quarrelling. IL was an upIIotar
composed of single CALCULATIONS, delivered oy
many voices, and with vehemence tnat .L mJs