New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-25
ShylOk.

| We drank nom the same canteen.
|
Shylock.
/ Sbylock was q Jew who kept SECOND
hand clothing store in Venice. By buyin
low and selling for all he could get, dom
his own cooking by gas stove, having n
washing done and never spending cent
he had accumulated numerous dncate
| which he wasn't averso TO lending on co
laterals, provided the borrower had no cor
scientiOus scruples against paying twent
per cent q month, or such q matter for tn
accommodation.
Antonio was merchant of Venice, VII
had specialized q good deal and owne'
canal boats. He had bosom friend Bas
aanio, who was in love with rich widow
| POrtia, but having lived a fast life he hadn'
the ready cash whereby to compete will
his more wealthy rivals.
| His father, tired Of putting up for him
| refused him any more money. "Go to tn
| ant, thou sluggard.'' said the stern parent
! He did; he went to Antonio and besOugh
him to ante for him. Now, Antonio, in an
ticipation Of the grasshoppers, had invested
| all he had in wheat, and as soon as hi
boats that we're laden With it should arrive
he expected to sell at q great advance anG
be fixed. But being anxious that his friend
should have q stake, he agreed to borrow
some ducats for him il his credit would
permit.
The next day he met Shylock on the
RialtO (which differs from the alto heard al
concert saloons, not having SO much rye
with it), he asked loan of 5000 ducats
ShylOck bore no love to Antonio, nor to
any of his tribe, on account of the scorn
they had heaped upon him and his race. He
dissembled, however, upon this occasion,
pretending he hadn't the money by him
mould hove to aoo his hrOfhor-;r- HI
at length agreed to provide the 1000 ducats
for three months, facetiously stipulating
that Antonio should sign a bond lit was
such joke!) agreeing to forfeit pound OF
flesh 1.-THE Jew could hardly ell it for laugh
ing), to be cut of herever he 1.-THE jew
decided, provided the money was not paid
when due-''so hellup me gracious!' An
tonic, fully believing in the success of his
wheat speculation, and having heard that
his boats were on the way, accepted the
conditions and signed the bond.
Bassanio took the ducats and proceeded
to lay siege to the heart and purse-of the
rich young widow. He was most assid.
uous in his attentions. He brought her
chewing gum, peppermint drops, etc I,
whenever he came. took her out buggy rid
ing and escorted her to the gardens Sun
day nights. In the swift delirium of love
the days and ducats sped swiftly away.
Portia, notwithstanding his rivals were opu-
lent, one owning stock in a grasshopper ex-
terminatOr, and the other being street Car
conductor on line that had not yet intro
duced the patent bell stamp. and was i'm
proving his opportunities In the midst of
his fluctuations he received letter from
Antonio, informing him that his boats had
been lost during fearful gale on the Miami
canal and be reduced to beggary, although
he was not one that would beg-ary time.
He had forfeited his bond to the Jew, and
was only waiting to know what portion of
his body Shylock would prefer to have his
pound of steak from. He urged Bassanio
to try and be present at the funeral, which
would be held at the house. BassaniO took
the first train for Venice filed with remorse
The temper of Shylock had not been i'm
proved any by his daughter Jessica running
away with negro minstrel named Loren
20, particularly as they carried away a
stocking full of ducats, Jewels and Southern
railroad bonds. He caused the arrest of
positively refusing to receive any
thing but the pound of flesh that had been
forfeited. The case was brought before a
Venetian Justice Of the peace tor aojudica-
ton. Bassani0 had made lucky hit at
bunko the night before, and offered to pay
ShylOck 5000 ducats instead of 5000,
if he would retire from the meat business
and let Antonio 60. The Jew was obdu- |
rate; nothing but pound of Antonio's
satisfy him. He produced butcher knife
n court, and began to whet it on the stove !
hearth, to show he meant business. The |
Squire had sent to Padua tor learned doc |
or of laws land the laws needed doctOring |
pretty badly if they allowed man to take |
t out Of debtor that way) to determine |
he case, which was one of considerable |
interest, especially to Antonio. The learned |
loctOr pleaded illness, and sent another |
lOctor more learned than himself, and bet. |
or doctOred, whom he recommended. This !
after, on his arrival, was admitted to the |
curt, and on account of his exceedingly |
Outheul appearance was derided by lot |
+ shysters from the police court, who filled |
be best seats.
The case was plain one. The bond was
reduced in court, and told it's own story.
Antonio confessed TO it, and it was evident
hat he was liable to leave that courtroom |
ghter by pound. The learned doctor
old ShylOck that he must be merciful. but
hylock said he didn't have to. Then the
octor reminded him that the quality of
lercy was not strained, no strainer having
cen invented at that time for anything
ut new milk. He said that Antonio must
ay the forfeit if the jew refused mercy
o power in Venice could alter the decree,
bylock cried out in the very ecstacy of JOY.
A Daniel come to iudgment!-yea. yerv
'aniel!" on account of the striking resem.
lance between the learned doctor and
aniel Rice.
The doctor told Antonio he must bare
is breast. ShylOck brandished his knife
eager to carve. He even had a
Air of scales in the pocket of his linen
lister to weigh the flesh with, 80 perfect
ere his arrangements for making the
fair success. He acknowledged that he
I'd neglected to have a surgeon ready to |
Op the bleeding, because it wasn't $50
in the bond"
Antonio had lost all his money. and hav.
6 seen enough to realize that life without
lcats would be uncomfortable, he calmly :
ePared tor his obsequies. Exposing his ,
oolen undershirt, he bade the Jew proceed !
tn bis carving. He was about to do 30 :
hen the learned doctor reminded him that :
bond did not give him one jot of blood. +
IN securing his pound of steak, he shed | i
9 drop of Cher-r-r-istian gore his lands :
d goods were cOnfscated to the State. | n
ZEN, too, if he cut LEES or moro than six. | =
N ounces exact, his life and second hand | y
'thes were forfeited. +
hylOck, seeing that Antonio wasn't bis ! Z
at, offered to take the principal of the y
bt and say no more about il, but was re.
nded by the learned doctor that, as he
d already refused it in open court, he
lst take the forfeiture or nothing.
'hylock's goods were divided on the spot.
e-half going to Antonio, whose life was "
lspired against. and the other half going r.
yard the extinguishment of the national -
ot, which helped materially in making q
the July estimate. Antonio did not il
p his share; he turned it over to the
We daughter, who married the negro tr
,strel, enabling him to retire from the m
fessiOn with q handsome farewell bene. m
and set himself up in the saloon bust. hi
8. -,
he learned doctor turned out to be the r
rming Widow POrtia. for whom Rassanio | b;