Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-20
FIFTH STORY ROOMS.
The Rev. Peter Cartwright's Ac
count OF His First VIsittO New York.

1
count OF His First yIsittO New York.
Cartwright's account of his first visit to
a great city is peculiarly rich. 1t was when
he went to New York to attend the meet
ing of the Missionary Board.
| After great deal of trouble and vexa-
ton &c spirit, he at last drew up in front
of the old Irving House on Broadway. We
| give what followed in his own words:
We made our way to the Irving House,
and asked the clerk If two of us could get
lodging and board with him for a day or
two.
He replied: eyes, but We are very much
crowded"
"Can you give US alower room, with two
beds in it?" l asked, and informed him
that l was sick and could not eli mo many
flights of stairs.
He said all the lower rooms were occu-
pied, but he had q nice room in the fifth
story-Toom 555.
l said could not go up and down so
many flights of stairs.
"Oh," said he, 81 have the best of por-
ters, and if need be they will carry you up
and down at all times"
"But," said l, ''if they carry me- up and
retire, if l want to come down, how am l
to get the porters to bring me DOWN."
"Oh," said the clerk, when you want
anything, you have nothing to do but to
ring the bell, and the porter will be there
instantly"
1t was now getting dark, and 1 said:
"We are IN poor fix, in a strange city, to
hunt other lodgings, and Isuppose we must
stay"
''Do," said the clerk "and in the morn
ing will give you lower ROOM"
said to the porter, "Tske US to our
ROOM"
Up we started, and winding to every point
of the compass, we got at last to the 555th
room, and more filthy, dirty place l never
saw for a bedroom in the frontier back
weeds of the far West. 1 said to the por-
ter, "You rascal, are you going to put US
in this dirty pig sty?"
80, sir" said the porter, stake your
seats, and I'll soon put the room In trim"
And he did trim it very nicely, for it had
evidently been the lounging place for the
porters. When ne had nicely finished the
room down he went. l sat few minutes,
and then re.ng the bell. Up came the
porter.
"What's warning, sir?"
l said, 'SeDd up some fresh water to
drink and to wash"
1t was quickly brought, and down went
the porter. He had hardly reached the
lower floor before 1 again rang the bell.
Up came II le porter.
"What's wanting, sir?"
"aave you been out of doOrs?"
"No, Sir"
els this house on fire, or is any fire near
"Nc,, sir"
By this time the porter was in free
persI Jiration. My room mate made an ex-
cuSi for the porter, and said: "Sir, would
yoTl kill the poor negro?"
81 replied, "Heis free, and gets good
" ages, and am determined to trot him
through"
Down went the porter. He had hardly
time to reach the lower floor when rang
the bell again.
Up came the porter.
"What's wanting, sir?"
Said /, "Have you any Ratchet about this
house?"
mo sir; what do you want with hatch
81 want to blaze my WY down with
notches, SO that if the house should get on
fired could find my way out.."
''Oh, sir, the landlord yRon't allow that;
fthe house takes fire YOU'D an ring the bell"
"Why," replied, ''ifth q house takes fire
l might ring the bell to the day of judg-
ment. Have you no see ling wax or chalk
that can mark my wa down With?"
81 tell you the lsndb ,rd won't allow that,
either"
replied, Il don't 'care what the landlord
allows Ii the hor Use takes fire, do you
suppose I'll stay her and be burned up like
fool"
Next morning " paid two dollars each,
and left for better quarters.