The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-31

inns. however, saw that IL the pieceof ,pa-
ner was good for anything she had q right
Ia keep e.: for was IL nat enclosed to Mr..
Barney williams, and therefore his pro-
uerty9 This sort of reasoning was too
much for the young man of business, and
he accordingly took his departure. When
Mr.. Williams returned home the check was
shown him, and of course found worthless.
He had no money transactions whatever
with Dir. Thayer, who, by-the-by, is not
manager of the Boston Theatre, but one OF
it's proprietors. The forgery of MIR. Thay-
er's name, however, was pronounced per-
feet, and certainly was worth more than
1874 as work of art. The result of this
transaction was that the skilful forger was
out to the tune of two cents expended in Q
portrait Of the Father Of his Country on .
revenue stamp.
FRIEND FROM LUNNUN.
1t is rather strange that after this failure
| the young man should "try it on" again
with another actor. But whatever doubts
he may have entertained concerning the
gullibility of Barney Williams he had none
whatever of Billy Florence. Deceived, no
| doubt, by the reckless prodigality and con-
tempt for filthy lucre displayed by Irish
| gentlemen on the stage-as 30 admirably
delineated by these distinguished actors
he probably thought that though he failed
in diminishing the exchequer of MIR. vii.
liams, he would surely tax the pocket of
Mr.. Florence. But he took different way
of attempting it. It must here be stated
in this strange, eventful history, that it is
taken for granted that the young gentle
man who offered his 1853 check for the
miserable compensation Of 1874 to Mrs.
Williams was also the genius who attempt
ed to relieve Mr.. Florence Of his loose
greenbacks. Mr.. Florence is well known
in London, and has there, as here, host OF
| friends. Among the most valued OF these
in the British metropolis is John Oxentord,
dramatic critic of the Times. Now, any
body coming from Mr.. Oxenford to Mr.. Flo
| renee would be sure of warm welcome.
Thus thought the young gentleman men
toned but he didn't think the matter out,
or perhaps the want of the 1874 rendered
him unable to carry out his ideas in proper
fashion. He procured sheet of note-paper
(ruled) and yellow envelope, and with
pen and ink at once threw himself into the
throes Of composition and produced the fol-
lowing letter:
"LoNDoN, September 10, 1869.
" Mr.. W. j. Florence, Neao York:
"Dear Sir,-This will be handed to you
by my nephew, Mr.. Henry Bishop, who
visits America on business. ANY favors
extended to him will be duly appreciated
by your friend John Oxenford.
Mr.. Bishop may require little assist
ance while in America if so, you will
confer favor by extending to him what he
should require and draw on me in Lon
don. j. OXENFORD."
Armed with this document, the young
man proceeded to the Fifth Avenue Hotel
and asked for Mr.. Florence, and in due
time was ushered into the apartments of that
gentleman. With bow worthy of Ches-
terfeld he removed his hat and handed the
letter. Mr.. Florence read the epistle twice,
and looked sharply at the youth several
times. Then there was IN awful pause.
Locking at o mirror opposite, the youth OBJ
served with dismay that big drops were
standing on his forehead, and there was
something remarkable in the conduct of
the room-it turned round so. Doors banged
behind him ominously, and the'intellectual
1t was a curious letter, thought Florence,
and the youth was curious youth. Here
was the elegant John Oxenford, you
know, asking him-on ruled paper in
yellow envelope-to lavish his float
ing capital on q young gentleman travelling
in America for the purpose of studying re-
publican institutions, without cent in his
pocket. What, ho! 1t can't be 1t is!
No, it isn't! All, I have it thought Mr..
Florence. The play of feature accompa-
nying these alarming thoughts produced
terrible effect on the youth, and lie momen-
tarily expected "header," and glanced
nervously around for supernumerary shll-
lelahs. At last Mr.. Florence broke the
silence. and in doing so dashed the high
hopes of the youth to the basement floor.
"Young man." he said, i hardly know
whether to give you the money or send for
policeman"
From the appearance of things it seemed
that the latter course would be preferred
by the irate actor. To prevent such ter
rible result the youth accordingly tried to
explain matters and to show that the
amount of money he intended to ask of the
friend of his friend Oxenford was so mis-
eraDly SIuIll tual tueIe WOuiu NC uo OCed'
sion for any unforward proceeding like
that alluded to in the closing remarks of
the last speaker. But while he was in the
midst Of q most touching appeal Billy
wreathed his handsome face in smiles, and
walking up to within an inch of his VISITORS
face, gently mumured the talismanic
word ''Scoot! :" and he did. The broad
stairs of the Fifth Avenue Hotel are not
favorable to loose running. The brass
stair-rods don't agree with nailed boots,
and strongly suggest the propriety of easy
carriage and dignifed stepping. Neverthe-
less, the youth made the quickest time on
that stairway in the memory of the oldest
mailman. He got his second wind when at
the door, few toward Sixth avenue, and
struck fire out of the cobble stones at every
bound. OF course he got away, and of
course he told the tale of his disappoint-
ment to all his friends. But for fear that
he may have hid his chagrin in his bosom,
the foregoing is written, SO that every artist
in the profession of thieving may know
that playing on players is q played-out
game.