Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-01-17

\ HUCE JoKE.-A huge practical joke
was played upon Mr.. Phillip Lee. young
Englishman in New York, the other day.
Mr. Lee is the husband Of the popular
young actress. Miss Nelson, and was natu-
rallo thrown into the society Of the habit.
ueS of the stage. Among others he met
SOthern. the actor to whom he complained
that he found - no society hele.' On in
quiry Sothern ascertained that he had
mingled in Fifth avenue circles exclusively
and coolly told him it was not strange tina.
he thought we had ne society. Fifth avenue
was nothing but shoddy he must come out
to the east side and dine with him, and he
would introduce him to the - knickerbOck-
ers. whom he would find cOngenial. Lee
gladly accepted, and promptly presented
himself. iaultlessly arrayed in a tull-dress
suit, at the appointed hour. Meanwhile,
Sothern had let few choice spirits, we'll
known sporting men. into the Joke, and en-
gagged them to assist him. Mr.. Lee found a
sumptuOus banquet spread, and was intro
| duced to the foppishly dressed gentlemen
around the table, thinking he was meeting
the very ariStOcracy OF the land. The
- aristocracy' was made up of Neil Bry-
ant, Chris O'Conor, Nelse Seymour, Dan
| BRYANT, William Florence. and other lights
| Mr.. Lee was placed between Florence and
/ Neil Bryant. Oysters were placed upon
| the table, and while everybody was talking
| glibly. Neil Bryant tied his napkin around
| his head in grOtesque manner, which made
| Lee stare at him in much surprise, which
| changed to astOnishment at his next action,
for taking up his own dish of oysters he
smelled Of them. and pronouncing them
| bad, reached past Lee and seized FlOrenee's
| plate the contents of which he commenced
eating with his fingers. While this was
| going on, Dan Bryant, at the foot of the
table had quietly taken from his pocket
| large six-shoOter, which he deliberately com
menced to load. Lee thought that was
/ queer for - first society" but Just then his
| right and left hand neighbors attracted his
| attention. Florence had drawn 4 deadly
| bowie-knife, and was reaching over trying
TO stab Neil Bryant, who in return was iurl-
ously swapping a huge navy revolver right
| in the face Of his asSailant. Lee tried TO
| lump up, but was pinned down by those
| leaning on him. lie looked about him in
| fright /; every person present had drawn
some weapon, knives flashed, pistols were
| fired and terrible bloodshed seemed immi-
nent SOthern protested to Lee his great
regret that their high American blood had
| led these gentlemen into sucha q quarrel, and
/ placing a long ulFk IN luc AA>uAiidu
hand, told him to defend himself Amid
the tremendous noise and confusion Lee
managed to escape, and stopped not till.
weak and trembling with fright, he had
reached his hotel. He thought he had met
Horatio Seymour, William Cullen Bryant,
and other distinguished gentlemen, and was
astounded at the bloodthirsty character of
our great men he had been assured that
such sceHes were not uncommon in arIstO-
cratic circles. and it seemed unaccountable
A sequel to the joke happened, next morn
ing Somebody informed Judge Dowling
that SOthern and Florence were intending
to fight duel, and he Immediately issued
papers requiring their presence IN court.
He soon learned that these gentlemen had
been prominent in the previous evenings
performance, and rightly concluding that
this was a continuation Of the affair, he al
lowed the two actors to come to the court
room and wait several hours before he pre-
sented himself, when he at once discharged
them.