Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-02-26
English American.

ne EnRllsn IeInale nOVelSt VINO re-
ferred to Massachusetts, cotton planta-
tions in one Of her recent novels, and the
poet Campbell who mentioned alIigators
as indigenous to the st. Lawrence, were
not more out Of the way than are most
of their countrymen who attempt to re-
produce the American dialects. The
following extracts from story in Lon
don Society is late and striking exam.
pie OF failure. 1t mixes few Eastern
and few Western provincialities with
a much larger proportion Of what was
never spoken anywhere on this cont.
nent. We quote:
! did not remain long in New York, as
i was anxious to commence shooting
So was not long in getting to the small
town OF ----, and putting up at the best
hotel the place afforded, which was not
very good one; sent for the landlord.
wall, Britisher, I'm glad to see you, "
commenced the American Boniface,
coolly seating himself at the table, and
commenced splitting at bluebottle fly
on the floor. $50 you've come here to
see our glorious Americen Constitution
Wall, / guess you'll be pretty considera-
bly, surprised-tarnation surprised, dog
goned if you won't. We're an almighty
nation, we air. Going a.shooting, air
your Wall, calkerlate we've got more
game hereabouts than would fill all Lon
don, and enough ships in our little river
the Mississippi to tow your little island
across the broad Atlantic-we hev, in.
deed, stranger. There's lots of grouse,
but nary bufferler, bar, nor alligatur
about here, But s'pose you means to
take up your fxens here in the feather,
bed bully hotel afore yeu makes tracks?"
/ assured him such was my intention.
Wall, then, stranger, what will yen
like2 Cocktail, mint julip, brandy smash
or cobbler2 I've few festive cusses in
the bar as will tell yeu all about shoot
ing. Let's hev a licker-up with them"
To this | assented, and walked into
another room with him, where there
were Yankees of all descriptions.
determined to make myself popular,
aud stood drinks to any amount
BUST my gizzard, but yeu air rip.
perl exclaimed my tall friend. "He
air amt he, bully boys"
What more they said was drowned in a
terrific row which took place at the
other end of the apartment.
"Hillop shouted my tall friend.
Come en-, stranger, eff yeu want to see
our pertikelur customs OF this hemis-
phere. Bet my boots it, Bully Larkins
and that old hoss from Caleriorney. Go
it, my cockeys" he screamed out, as he
mounted on a table; go it, old coon,
alluding to one of the combatants go
il Bullys gaining on yeu, and if yeu
don't look out he'll riz yer har with his
bowie knife, gouge yer eye, and fetch
yeu out of yer boots-he will, by
Such fearful row | never heard. All
were in state of frenzied excitement
knives glittered in the hands of many.
While all this was going on | made my
way out of the apartment, and locked
and bolted myself in my own.
In half an hour my landlord came Ia
the door, and knocked for admission.
Its all over, stranger, he said, as
he entered. "0ld Caleriorney carved
two Of Bully Larkins fingers off with
his bowie, and Larkins bit off hal
tother's nose. l guess be amt beaut
full. They're festive cusses here, anG
air always at it. Nary a day passes
without free fight.
/ need hardly say the next day | tool
my departure for New York, and wa
off to England by the first boat. | hat
had quite enough of my American
friends and their notions.
have given up sporting, as / found
could make no hand at it. l shoot oc
casionally for amusement, and fish oe
cssionslly, but never lay down the laV
as an authority.