The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-05-02
AN EXTENSIVE BOARDING HOUSE.

O6yS lu0 klluXudIu sbOuIu6ls "A OOolOu
merchant, now extensively engaged in
business on Summer Street, who posses
ses q rare fund of humor. relates this
amusing story OF Uncle 10. White"
who some thirty years ago was proprietor
of the most extensive boarding-housei in
Boston. 1t took in q whole block, of
dwelling houses standing on the side Of
the present splendid Lee Block, bounded
by Lincoln, Bedford aud Columbia
Streets. Many business men of Boston
pleasantly remember Uncle Joseph and
his many roomed boarding house, and
will smile as they read this account of
the potato peddler's tribulatiors:
Former residents Of Boston will recog-
nize the following incident, which occur
red so many years ago that there certain.
ly can be no harm in locating the precise
spot were it took place.
About the year 1919 there was board
ing house ON the corner of Bedford and
Lincoln Streets, kept by one of the best of
men, whose name we will call White
The reason Of our calling him by that
name is for the same reason that the
Dutchman called his dog "Grip"-be-
C1uSC tL0N WED ulS u0tuCs AuC ACPut0tlOu
of the excellent fare and superior accom-
odations, together with the kind -natured
and paternal care exercised over its in.
mates by our host and hostess, soon went
abroad, and so many APPLICANTS presented
themselves eager to share its comforts.
that Mr.. w. concluded TO hire the adjoin-
ing house, connecting the two by q door.
way in the rear. Tnis,house also was so
quickly filed with good paying boarders
at - so per week. that he soon after add
ed two more on the same street. Still
they came and filled this house as fast
and faster than he could accommodate
them, till at last he had four or five on
Bedford Street, three or four ON Lincoln
Street, and two or three on Columbia
Street, making in oil eleven houses, all
harnessed together in the rear, and easily
accessible in that quarter. No altcra-
ton having been made in front, they of
course all preserved the same one-fxmily
appearance.
The incident above referred to occur
red one bright morning in October, while
the writer was playing sick and was en-.
j"ying q game Of Backgammon with the
landlord, who had just returned from
market. The door-bell of house No. l
Bedford Street rang, and was answered
by the proprietor in person. A country
farm-wagon literally heaped with potan,es
stood in the street opposite the door
So full, indeed, was the aforesaid wagon
that no room was left for the driver to sit
! except on a very narrow board about six
inches in width. on which, it mus. be pre-.
sumed, so large a man could not sit with
any degree OF comfort. When the door
was opened the potato-man presented
himself with the inquiry:
do you want any potatoes to-day =
mo, sir, not to-day" was the answer
The good farmer asked the same o.
tlon 1t the doors number two. three
tour, same street, the bell being answx
each time by the same gond-nafu
party, who all the time preserved
same placid, happy countenance "
he always wore, and which seemed
greatly disturb the Elan of bulbs.
Nothing dannted, however, he quiz
and slowly walked down the steps, =
mounting the Aforesaid aix-inch pll
set his fees firmly ons On each shaft, +
then, giving one long searching r.