Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-04-23

Boucicaulted from the Danbury NewsI
A round decade OF years ago
there was stationed at Mare Island,
California, a gay young officer,
blonde and handsome, who shall be
known as Sam, and who was at
that period industriously engaged
in disseminating his hayward oats.
Jovial, generous, popular, and con-
flung, he naturally met in San
Francisco many congenial souls;
for where can be found a more
open-hearted, open handed, social
city in the universe? So liberal
were the favors Frisco friendship
was wont to bestow that the ven-
turesome recipient was often over
burdened with the hospitable out
pouring. Who has sojourned in
that wOndrous land in years gone
by and does not wildly recall the
picturesque men of "49 and
the Spring of 49," who noctur-
nally congregated in the broad
corridors and gorgeous restaurants
of the great hotels, and consumed
the waning hours in recapitulating
glowing adventures of early days,
singing of auriferous times, and
circulating the flowing bowl that
cheers the occidental system. When
chance precipitated the unseasoned
stranger upon a group like this,
that fated mortal must bid adieu to
balmy sleep and stand prepared for
deep immersion in the moistened
romance of Ell Dorado. That our
Sam should become entangled in
such friendly gatherings, and that
he should carry thence at times
more overpowering and spontane-
Gus outpourings of kindness than
he could conveniently get away
with, is not astonishing. Neither is
it very surprising that his over
strained coppers would occasionally
weaken under the unusual pressure
and seek the Esculapian dock for
repairs.
On the evening of day succeed
ing an extraordinary symposium,
Samuel meandered through the
Navy Yard, on the homeward tack.
Before he finished his circumam'
bulations he ran across a friend,
who lowed him over to the Marine
Barracks for little game of cards.
Sam was attired in a loose white
linen suit, and one of the wide
pockets of his ample coat was half
full of peanuts. Every minute or
two as the game progressed, he
would vary the monotony and pro-
coed to refresh the inner man by
diving into that spacious recerta-
Gle and fishing up lot of roasted
pindars.
Nav, u certain waggish Captain
of Marines had been cunning that
day, and had unearthed nest of
white mice in the course of his per-
ordinations. Not knowing exactly
what he would eventually do with
them, he deposited the entire find
in the pouch of his shooting jacket,
buttoned them up, and brought
them in. He entered during the
game, without attracting the at
tention of Sam, and watched pro-
ceedings over that wOrthy's shoul-
ders. Presently there was dive
for peanuts, and the Captain had a
revelation as to the disposition of
his mice. He gently dropped one
into Sans pocket. Soon there was
another plunge, and the diver
brought up, instead fthe expected
sustenance, white mouse. If
it had been an ordinary mouse,
| SANS amsZement might have
been less. He turned little pale
as he surveyed 1t under the edge of
the table, threw it on the floor,
SAID not u word, and went on with
the game. From force of habit, or
fondness of peanuts, or both, he
soon dived again, and seemed re-
assured to get simply what he went
after. The roguish captain intro
duced another mouse. Ere long
Sans hand wandered for O fresh
supply. The trepldatlon attending
the discovery Of the second mouse
was very marked, yet he compress
ed his lips, affected to scrutlnize his
cards with augmented intentness,
and managed to enunciate, II 60
you fifteen better"
Once more the Intrepid diver
went for peanuts, and found moth