New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-25

with an angry intimatiOn, that the reputa
ton of the lady was even now more ragged
and soiled than his apparel, when the jus,
tice terminated the case by Diminishing the
charge and advising the parties to make
peace and live amicably together"
Reporter-"But what of Tom Placide's
comfortable home in the Jerseys"
MacScrawler-"It is rather long yarn
but" looking into his brown mug to see if il
would furnish fuel enough for the run, 81
suppose must tell it,
Elm Lager-"Here, barkeeper, fill these
mugs"
Zxei Lager-"Gentlemen, it's my turn.
The mugs we're replenished.
MacScra wler-"TOm Placide was man
ager of the Varieties Theatre, mine host
lie had a glorious lot Of employers. They
gave him every thing he needed, paid sala
ries and losses, and at last growing tired OF
the administration, made Tom q present Of
the whole concern, lease, wardrobe, stage
effects, debts and several actions for salary in
which the administration we're defendants.
Tom was for four days the proud proprietor
]
day he was reduced to his natural state Of
careless poverty"
Zwei Lager-"HOw was that"
Mine HOSTILE was burned out Lease,
| wardrobe and properties went curling, and
Tom, once more rejoicing in insOlvent
impunity, snapped bis fingers at debts and
duns.'
MacScrawler-"We were great friends,
and two days after the fire Tom said to me,
| DO you know what Phoenix is" OF
course everybody knew that it was that in
consumable bird adopted by the fire com
panies and insurance companies. Sir,
said Tom, mo sooner had the last vestige of
my theatre disappeared under the joint
effects Of the fire and the fremen, than my
friends began to condole with me. Sir,
detest sympathy. 1t is bore however
we'll meant. The house and the id traps
were all gone, but then came first one and
then another, my dear Placide, ON Sin
cerely sorry for your loss, but with your
| energy and popularity the theatre must rise
| like a Phoenix from its ashes" ! have borne
this thing now for two days until see
Ph@nix in the face of every acquaintance
that meets me. / regard tho Phoenix
as fabulous bird. l have no idea
that any such Internal humbug ever
existed, and l have no doubt that
fire would have singed his feathers as
etfectually as it has done mine and that of
my unfortunate creditors. But if any man
shall mention that bird of evil omen to me
again l shall make ghost of him. do
not wish either to fly the country or to
figure in criminal procedure, so 1 have
determined to withdraw from provocation
and temptation; 80 come along with me-.
He took my arm and we walked to the
Picayu ne Office. 81 said he, let me have
500; have no idea when you will get it
town. Certainly said H, you can have
the money and wrote an order upon the
office which Tom put in his pocket and de-
parted. Now said he, 'acquaint no man
with our whereabouts. We seek our forest
of Arden.
Are not these
More free from peril than the envous court
Sweet are the uses of adversely,
Which. like the toad, ugly and venOmOus
wears yet precious Jewel IN his head;
And This one life, exempt from public haunts,
Finds tongues in trees. books in the running
brooks,
Sermons in stones and good in everything"
"We went to shop where Tom purchased
an outfit of fishing tackle proper for the
capture of anything from a sardine up to a
shark. With SOS he purchased boat and
furnished it with bread, tobacco and
whisky. He then contided to me the secret
of his exile. He knew bayou in the lower
river. 1t abounded in trout and other fish,
and was inhabited by one alligator whose
habits he had studied during the preceding
season, and to the further civilization of
which he intended to devote time and OBJ |
servation. He gave no other explanation |
at the moment, but, impressing upon me |
the duty of concealing every vestige of his |
whereabouts from those id Phenicians,' |
as he was pleased to term his condollng
friends, departed on the lower coast
steamer, with his faithful yawl swinging at |
the counter.
ut was six weeks before his return, EN-.
Drowned and blistered by the sun, but |
ruddy and redoient of whisky and exercise.
Come with me, he said, and l followed
him to the apartment which, like the cabin
Of Crusoe. contained everything essential
to the chase
"There,' said he, look at that box I
did so, and started back at the sight OF
little black reptiles, like lizards.
"'That's what 1 went for said Tom
That old alligator that 1 told you of was
true to time. She came out, laid her eggs
and patted them into the sand. l waited
until they were Matched by the
heat, and as soon as they began to run
lbout captured and Gagged them. Here
hey are. One l intend for each of nv
particular friends in New York. | shall
nut each in a separate box and express
hem. D-n it, won't they be surprised
when they open the box and one of these
little black reptiles runs out with his long
avs and crooked tail. Esad, I'd like to
70 there to see it.
"They were accordingly packed and ad-
lressed to relations and friends, who were
July shocked at receiving such remit
ance."
Einlager "Gentlemen, excuse me; but do
ou smoke"
Swei Lager-'Here, young man. don't let
ne be always telling you that these mugs
re empty, or I'll discharge you for neglect
t business
Mine Host-"Suppose you now go on and
ELL how Tom Placide came to occupy that
L L