The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-23

GheQntell1aettter:
NOT JUST YET.

Parliament Were unnnlbn6uj u was Just
big, brown, busy city, with splendid
river running slap through 1t. For II had
river then, with shores and noble
bridges; now II has but q stone trough
with iron drain pipes across It. One rode
on the top Of buses then, or dArted
shout In hAnsoms; now, i declare, when ]
visit London, / spend all my tune In q
coal cellar, where there Is an escape Of
gas, and where all the, hot cindeTs IRON
the kitchen fire are emptled-I mean the
Metropolitan Railway.
Twenty years ago l was In London
living on a slender pittance, and much
troubled 10 the matter Of dinners. AS a
rule, dined in the middle OF the day, on
chop, sent In by nelghbOring publican,
and made out with bread, cheese and
beer. But there were times when the soul
craved more luxurious living. Those
times generally cOnincided pretty accu7
rsiely with the advent Of q quarter day
and then one would go in for cut OI
Simpson's mutton, or, II more reckless
for q dinner at the Wellington, at that
time Just opened vice "Cfockiord's."
SUNDAYS were the worst days for din
ner arrangements. BY .breakfasting al
noon, indeed, one avoided the necessity oil
any luncheon; but, at about five o'clock,
desperate craving would come over me,
gnAWing vulture in the stomach would
ceaselessIy cry for food. frequently, l
confess, anlempiy pure conceded with
an empty stomach, and the vulture cried
in vain; but sometimes one had few
shillings in ones pocket, and then, ovon
then, the problem was difficult one
where TO dine on Sunday.
went often, on such occasions, TO an
underground chamber called the ReCesses,
not far from Long.acre. The promises Of
that establishment were excellent. Soup
fish, and ioInt-all for the modest sum OF
eighteen pence. The performance, how
ever, was somewhat feeble. 1don't mean
10 saw II wasn't an excellent dinner for
tue money-lt was. But 1t wasn't Hn in.
yigorating dinner. The soup was some.
what thin, the fish were generally "lresh"
herrinCs, and they'd have been better for
u little salt originally. The joint was
usually boiled beet, and you see, the joint
snd the soup were like the two buckets
of well-the stronger the soup the less
succulent the joint, and rice rerSG,
Ono Sunday, remember, my funds
were getting low, very low. l had deter.
mined to remain in my lodgings and sup.
port nature on tobaccosmoke; but my
hunger was too strong. 81 had q few shil.
lugs left, and as the evening wore on and
the craving OF my appetite increased, res
Olution broke down. / put on my hal
and hurried out in quest Of Il dinner.
How is II everything looks so ghaslly on
Sunday Don't tell me about tho prick
invs Of conscience, misspent daY, and all
that. Cook luck | wish I'd nothing
worse than that to reprOaCh myself with.
But | believe It to be physical fact,
that on Sunday tho air Is loaded with
bile. don't think II rises aboY1 GER
tain altitude. I've escaped 1t on the
heights Of Hampstead; on the hills Of
Surry; but, within certain distance
above the level. oil the sea, believe the
air, between eleven o'clock in the morn
ing and eight at night, on Sunday, TO b
OyerchOrged with bile. Perhaps its ow
Ing TO 30 many people being In church OIL
chapel, and that they leave their bile out
side, as they do their umbrellas on wei
day, p.
When made up my mind to go to the
Recesses for dinner, II was because ]
knew that there was no other place open
the price of which would be within my
means. How dismal 1t looked this Sun
day evening, that long low room It's Ia
bles almost deserted, save for one or two
men nOdding over u plate OF biscuits
There was pea soup that night, remem'
Der, and 1t was rather good too. The fish
was lishy; the Joint was reduced 10 q
stump.
Waiter" cried, lean dispense with
the other courses, and dine oil the soupW
at you wish, Of course, sir" said the
waiter.
had three helps of that excellent pea
soup, and in each plato | put a spOoDtul
Of dried mint. But the alter result was
not eXhilarating; 1t rather Clogged the
pores, | think, that soup. Miserable and
depressed as ! went into the Recesses, l
leIt still more miserable, more depressed
after my dinner. had spent my pre-
SCribcd allowance. couldn't go any
where or do anything. l could only 60
back to my gloomy lodgings through the
sloppy street, and cit, and lonely chew the
cud Of bitter meditation.
The idea seemed to me horrible; and
yet now, as ever, there appeared to be no
escape for me from the embraces OF THU
dull melancholy fend. | couldn't hell
saying TO myself, as | sat with my CHR
resting on my hands, ~ wish | were
dead -
didn't mean 10 say II aloud, but l sup
pose must have whispered 1t audiblyi
l1rSm man who was sitting opposite me at
The table-who had been sitting there
smoothing his heavy red mustaChe all the
time had been dining, his eyes fixed on
bis plste-looked up Of q sudden, and
gave me quick and searching glance,
knew him then; 1t was Medhurst, ar
old schoOliellow. As boy he had al
Wsys been a mystery to US; that quick,
sudden glance Of his had always hat
such a strange effect upon all upon whom
iell. We used TO say he had the Evil
Eye, and wonderful tales used 70 DO tolt
school about the effect Of Medhursti
lOok. Still, ! was glad TO Gee him; any
relief from the loneliness and mOnolony
o. my life was pleasant. He recognized
me also, and came over and sat beside
me.
well" he said, alter VIC had shaker
asnds-he had strange, ilabby, chilly
hand, which somehow sent an icy thrill
10 my very heart-"wCll, and so you wIsl
you were dead"
did you hear moH" asked. "Ohl /
was nonsense, Of course. often say so. 4
foolish habit l have. / don't mean IL
ut was nonsense ~ he said; he tAlkeI