The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-01-07
S H Y L &C K
not THE JEW THAT SHAKESPEARE DREW.


Shylock was Jew, who kept a secondhand
clothing store in Venice. By buying low, and
selling for ali that he could get, dong his own
cooking by a gas stove having no washing done
and never spending a cent, he had accumulated
several ducats, which he had DO aversion To n.y.
pothecating on good collateral, provided the
borrower hadn't any conscientious ScrupleS
against paying twenty per cent. month or
such matter for the accommodation. AntO-
Mo was merchant of Venice. who specuIated
a good deal and owned numerous canal boats.
He had a bosom friend named BasSanlo. who
was III love with rich widow, Porta; but
having lived free life, driving fast horses, and
dining expensiyely at the st. Lawrence very
often, be hadn't the ready cash wherewlth 10
compete with his more wealthy rivals
His father, tired Of paying for his eXtrava-
gance, refused him any more money. ''Go 10
the ant. thou sluggard," the stern parent said
lie did, he went to Antonio, being as willing to
owe him as anybody Now Antonio had III
vested yearly all that he possessed in wheat.
the market being low but as soon as his canal
boats arrived he expected to sell at Il great adj
vance, and be fixed But. being anxious that
MS friend should have a stake, he agreed 10
borrow some ducats for him if his credit would
admit.
The next day meeting Shylock on the Rjalto
(which differs somewhat from the alto heard
ut concert saloons, not having 50 much rye in
it-he asked q loan Of three Thousand duratS.
Shylock bore no love to Antonio nor to any OF
his tribe, in fact. on account of the Scoru they
leaprd upon him. He dis<emblcd, however,
and SAID he would like 10 accommodate him,
but hadn't the money: that he would have to
see his brOther-ln-IaW. He at length agreed to
provide the three thousand durats for Ist three
months, tacetIOusly STIMULATING that Antonio
should append his autograph to written obi
CATION lit was such iOke) agreeing to forfeit
FOUND of flesh (Shy<Ock could hardly tell it
for laughing), to be cut off wherever he, the
lender, decided, in case he failed to pay the
money when due, $50 help him gracious"
Antonio, believing i'll the success of his wheat
speculation. ana having heard that his boats
were we'll on their way from Chicago, accept
ed the conditions, and signed the bond.
BassaEiO t"Ok the three thousand ducatS and
proceeded TO lay siege to the heart-and purse
of the rich Young widow He was most ar
duous in his attentions. He brought her pep
permint drops, lOZpnges. etc, whenever he Wis
tied, went buggy riding Sunday afternoons and
took her to the beer gardens eveay evening to
hear the music. In the sweet deirum of love
Bassanio became the accepted sutton of POr-
tia, notwithstanding his rivals were opulent,
one Of them owning the discovery" claim in
White Pine, with broad acres on the 1amhlll,
and another conductor on the G.. 7. Il. r., with
All abundance of 1905 in the bank of Winnie
1nucca. In the midst of his congratulations
Bassanio received a letter from Antonio in
forming him that all his boats were lost in a
gale on the Payette Lakes and he reduced to
beggarv. He had forfeited his bond to the
Jew, and was only waiting to know what pOr-
ton of his body Shylock would select to cut
his pound of steak from. He invited Bassanio
TO be present at the funeral, which would be
held at the house. No cards. Bassanio then
took the first train for Venice, filled with re-
morse; BassaniO was, and not the train. Upon
his arrival he found the temper Of Shylock had
not been improved any by his daughter running
away with a negro minstrel named Lorenzo,
particularly as they carried away stocking
full of ducats, Jewels Of much value and lot
Of 7-}0 bonds.
= He caused the arrest of Antonio, positively
refusing to receive anything but his pound Of
flesh which the bond called for. The case was
brought before Venitian Justice of the Peace
for adjudication. 'BassaniO had struck soft
thing at faro the night before, and when the
case came up he OHeTeu Snyloch tho 'diuo VI
six thousand ducats for the three, if he would
retire from the meat business and let Antonio
90. Shy took look at the greenbacks, but as
II was a marine disaster which had busted An
tonic, ard Bassanio had drawn the money from
a bank of jawbone security and issued only
Marine Bank notes. he refused to compromise
on those terms, but demanded his pound of An
tonios flesh, cut thin, and would be satisfied
with nothing else. He produced butchers
knife in court and began to whet it, thus show
ing that he meant business
The Justice had sent to Padua for learned
doctor to determine the case, which was one
of considerable interest, especially to Antonio
The learned doctor pleaded illness, and sent
another doctor, more learned than himself
and better doctored, whom he recommended
He was admitted in court, and, on account OF