The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-05-21
ox n. ~ Snowman.

un,thly Gossip" in the June No
nf L,p1,ncritS Magazine contains '''''
,,,od story about Thackcray:
Years ago. when Tmckeray was a''iNt'
IND, his lectures al, 1.-THE Georges . ana tii'
English Wits and Humorist'" 10 large
ouricuccs in southern city. he asked us
tmg,,i.hcd literary man whai chance OF >o'
,css there would he in 4 certain othcf Gil.
not many miles away.
Il really don't know. Mr.. IhacHciHE.
was the reply. . never succeeded there
bat am nobody, and yoil are @reat gun
II seems to me YOU Ought Ia succeed an.
where. Still, T cannot conScicnt'"llSlv au''>.
Won 10 make the attempt; you hii"it posi-
bly fail, and lay the blame ON me-. A'tf'
some reflection he added: "PcrlmpS II YOU
wore 70 make q special lecture, compounded
of the best and most diverlng parts OF l"'
mr. more of vour series, you might ara"
,nl,,Yb,y rood house But will not g'laran
tee anything. o,.,,. ma
Tbackerav thought the matter over az
,,,,tnI thn s,,r,rcstion, made up tho com
nn,,,a ,rrture advertised. "bi!led the town,
and went over .,o, Lin, ., RI.
nn his return his friend met hun III Tue
car. and after the usual greeting, ~''o
..y,u s;. how did y,hl make out
.uh. :" >ld Thackcray. mrrrllf. ha' :
,osn ,,,.vipu the mountrhank for SXprGfr.
"Wlat do vou mean 10y that
..1'hr rirht YOU know, was Il wrHriit"
ono The audience WAS thin not above III!
mr. -iytv Drl sons, and Il more qlllct ana al'>o-
,u,aIy r,I,rr sci never attempted 10 enter
ram did nv best, but SO profound was
thnir rpspact-thcir awe NAV >'y-oi me
that NOT y murmur of applause. not SiloS'
of smile. escaped them: Soici'inNi hn
rcrrlv. pioll>ly, they stared Ill me- ~" n
I;evr they thought was preaching l'lh'Iai
sermon. At the close OF the lecture i '"'i
expected committee 10 come i"l"'," . .I''
,',,,,n,, ;, c,uy of my obituary on the
cnrr,,eS for publication in the morning p'-
ur>. and felt disappointed ti'al l'!e uooi.
k,,.,rr did not stop me rs "en' o"t " pu'
crane on my arm and wcfper on NY MT
r. wa. t1uly = solemn and refreshing season.
T,a. ury, morning. after paying my adj
v.rti,inp bills and the hotel charges, found
| mad cleared enough to pay my return iai'
t. ihi- place. aud ii'r d"liar- over. on
rr.,,l,Lliny mv>rli Oh this fact. Strodc
iui.iE.uth down 10 the station. and was III
thy :,rl ii stepping ON the train when tell
ln,>,ll touched on the back. turning around
ia..lrld Il small man with the aspect OF
turnkey, who. in no complimentary terms.
made INQUIRY. Amt YOU man by the name
a riiarkcriy
"'rhat i my name, sir.
".Well. didn't You give show here last
NIGHT
""Why, yes. think it was decidedly IL
'shoW'.'
"Wrll, tl,ar's Il law i'll this town that any
mal, thai eivcS show has got To pay tiNe
dollars license for a-@iyin' NV the show, ana
Won didn't pay no license; aud I'm the SIT.
gent NV this town. and here's the bill, ami
you got to pay it before YOU Kin get to I'll III
them keels.'
This was too good. handed the fierce
little sergeant the live dollars, paid my railroad
fare out "t my own pocket, and 20, con.
rludrd 1'hackcr.iy. with Il Jolly laugh. "
PLAYED the momtebank for slXpenre. and
upon my honor I enjoyed it,