Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-04
MISCELLAN Gus.
[From the Alta Californian, May 6.l
A High-toned Housebreaker-The
Amenities of Burglary.

The other night we'll to do citizen was
reused from his slumbers by ysomething stirring
in his room, and started suddenly to his feet
stood face to face with genuine, live burglar.
"What the -- are you doing here ?'
demanded the proprietor of the house, with
voice that trembed a little with honest rage
and natural excitement. Thereupon the
burglar presented very ugly looking knife,
as the citizen discovered
"By the misty moonbeams strugglin" light,
And the (stree) lantern dimly burning'
And thus delivered himself: Gently, my
good friend, gently don't want to hurt you,
assure you, and as have got through with
M. work for the night, am prepared to leave
you in peace but do not attempt to touch
me if you do, must act upon the first
great law of nature That law need hardly
say is selfpreservation. [ am, sir gentle
man, reduced to follow the dirty business at
which you have surprised me, by untoward
circumstances. | have seen better days, and
am not thief by choice or natural depravty
of heart IF l had my choice | should be
conducting bank with capital of eight or
ten millions of dollars; but financial operas
tOns to that extent are at this time little
beyond my means Now. don't stir or attempt
to call for help before | get out of hearing,
or it will be worse for you. 1t is painful for
me to be compelled to put you to this trouble,
but circumstances over which [ have no
control compel me to do it, Good night, or
rather l should say, good morning sir ~ and
he quietly backed to the door, bowed sOlemnly,
and departed as he came, our friend not
having the heart to hurt the feelings of such
Il gentcmanly and high toned burglar under
the circumstances. 1t is needless to say that
the gentleman who had seen better days
carried off everything Of value which fell in
his reach that night.
A few mornings later wealthy member
of the medical faculty, who resides in the
immediate vicinity, discovered on rising in
the morning that the lower part of his house
was all open, and that somebody who had no
legal right to be thepe had been through it.
There was nothing missing, save a fancy
plated candelebra from the mantle, which was
found wrapped up in cloth and thrown in
the neighboring premises, and fancy Japa-
nese cabinet. Next day, the front door bell
wgs rung, and on going to the door the servant
found the cabinot, wrapped in a cloth covered
with sand and dust standing on the door step
On the top of the cabinet was letter, written
in a fauItess hand, and grammatcally worded
as follows: We copy verbatim:
SAN Francisco, May l. 1SGS.
MADAM: [ called, uninvited, at your
residence this morning. Having spent the
previous portion of the night convivially, all
my ideas were confused, and, to my chagrin,
day dawned as l entered your dining room.
This is the reason l did not explore your
sleeping apartments for money, watches, &c,
and took your gem of japanese art from
pique at my disappointment, and hid it under
the sidewalk in the sand, as people were
gazing curiously at it.
If had got to business at ! a. m. your
house and that of your neghbors adjoining
would have been stripped before a. NJ. as
it is, have furnished another illustration of
the folly Of attending to business after
pleasure.
Seeing the we'll selected books on your
shelves, the Bible on your etagero, ,thaportrait
of the immortal Webster on your mantle, [
judge that you are neither foreigner nor a
Democrat, hence l return your property, and
pledge my honor never to annoy you more.
l came to California firmly resolved to be
honest in a strange land hunger and cold
forced me back into my old career; but when
have got out of the present scrape 1 will
cut my throat rather than steal again.
If you are pious, pray for me, for I have a
mother whose gray hairs would 90 down in
sorrow to the grave if she knew of my misera-
able fate. Yours, IsuMAEL.