Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-02-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Newspaper Correspondent at a Fair.
A correspondent of the LOuisvill Democrat

A correspondent of the Louisvill Democrat
gives bit of his experience as follows:
NY last letter was dated at Chicago. I
don't expect to date another from that enter
prising city. My maleyolent star has been in
the ascendant, else l should never have wander
ed out to Chicago. 1 had no particular bust
ness there, only to fish, and was under the im-
preston that could catch them in a bucket
at hydrants, utterly forgetting all about the
great lake tunnel.
My first visit to Chicago was in my tender
years, in 1856. 1t was a time when Chicago
took such rise, by means of jack screws
BY these machines they raised the entire city,
house by house, some two or three feet,
1 know all about various confidence games,
but consider myself just as likely to be taken
in by the simplest of them as the veriest of
Posey county greenhorns. How oft these
sharpers must have bewaied their bad luck at
my not having plenty of money.
With all my experience L dropped into a
fair, held for the benefit Of some confounded
society or other. [ thought l would expend
a dollar or two. So [ bought myself ticket
aud slid in. I went to a table where refresh
ments were sold, and called for some oysters,
chicken salad and coffee A beautiful siren
with big black eyes, little white hands and a
before me. don't know how it was but [
felt strong affinity for that miusteripg angel
at once. While eating and drinking, and
devouring her with mine eyes in the meantime,
we struck up n scattering conversation. AT
last arose and handed her five dollar bill.
She put it in little box and forgot to give
me my change, but instead thereof sweet
smile, unto me saying:
care YOU stranger in Chicago Z!
eyes, madam, am from Kentucky"
"Is it possible? lam Kentuckian also" "
"Ahi [ knew it"
The reply was whispered, but 1T produced
faint blush, dropping of the beautiful eye
lashes aud gratifed smile.
"Would you like to walk around the room
and look over our fancy articles 2" quoth the
siren.
eff you will show me-" quoth the spoouey.
She took my arm, and raising herself by 1t
to her toes, she murmured, ''we are not
strangers, you know"
Go away Grant with your Presidency, L
would not change places with you this minute,
Nor with Colfax who was married this morn
ing. Go away jack screws. You cant raise
me any higher.
We wandered through that room talking
sweetly talking, of things that had been-of
be- Pretty soon we came to a silver tea set
that was to be raflled off Would 1 take a
chance? OF course [ would.
Then a wonderful cake, with valuable
ring in it, appealed to the cupidity of the
chance takers. l was persuaded to take a
| chance in the cake. And so the things went
on until concluded that if took many more
| chances my chances for getting home would
he rather slim. So [ refused to tempt fortune
any further
Anon costly work box met our eyes, but
I bravely resisted all appeals, until the little
black>eycd scoundrel took me on a new tack.
Leaning heavily on my arm, and absolutely
resting her cheek on my shoulder, with those
wicked eyes and silvery tongue, she said:
Wont you take chance for ME?" Oh
WELL Hutcher, folks preach about the fall o!
Adam, but never blame him, though dom
think the old fellow had half the excuse
had. l needn't tell you that. took that
chance, and kept on taking chances for the
unprincipled and beautiful wretch that haC
me in tow until had not dollar left. Yes
[ was pennyless, and then it began to dawr
upon me that the young lady was working
for the success of the Fair, and that I haC
made first class fool of myself as usual.
There l was bankrupt in money, in eelfre
pcct. had been robDed-ycs foOOeu' LOT VIVA
is the difference between pair of Derringer'
and pair Of black eyes and robbery! You
part With your money because you can't hel[
it. know that society looks with lenient
eyes upon these female guerrillas who haun
these charitable fairs, but it is my opinion
when all the robbers come to take their .fna
sentence, that little Chicago robber will tak'
her place by the side Of JACK Sheppard.
A CURIOUS EXPERIMENT.-Take piece