Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-21
Ass Expensive Boarding House.

A7t Expensive l;OdrdLlaU House.
Says the bingham Journal: A boston
merchant, now extensively engaged in
business on Summer Street, who posses
ses rare fund of humor, lelates this
amusing story Of Uncle 10. White"
who some thirty years ago was proprietor
of the most extensive boarding house in
Boston. 1t took in a whole block, of
dwelling houses standing on the side of
the present splendid Lee Block, bounded
by Lincoln, Bedford and Columbia
Streets. Many business men Of Boston
pleasantly remember Uncle Joseph and
his many roomed clearinghouse, and
will smile as they read this account of
the potato peddler's fluctuations:
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
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 scrip be
cause that YVES his name. The reputation
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 70 hire the djoin-
ing house, connecting the two by door
way in the rear. Tnis!house also was so
quickly filled with good paying boarders
at $3.50 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 all 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 family
appearance.
The incident above referred to occur
red one bright morning in October, while
the writer was playing sick and was en-
.joying game of backgammon with the
landlord, who had just returned from
market. The door-bell of house No.
Bedford Street rang, and was answered
by the proprietor in person. A country
farm wagon literally heaped' with potatoes
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 very narrow board about sil
inches in width. on which, it mus be pre-
sumed, so large man could not sit will
any degree of comfort. When the doc
was opened the potato-man presented
himself with the inquiry:
"Do you want any potatoes to-day2'
mo, sir, not to-day" was the answer
The good farmer asked the same ques
ton at the doors number two, three ant
four, same street, the bell being answered
each time by the same good-naturee
party, who all the time preserved tn,
same placid, happy countenance which
he always wore, and which seemed t,
greatly disturb the man of bulbs.
Nothing daunted, however, he quietl,
and slowly walked down the steps, ant
mounting the aforesaid six-inch plank
set his feet firmly one on each shaft, an,
then, giving. one long, searching, pene
trating glance toward the door where tn
old man still stood, and thinking, prob
ably, that he had gone as far that way u
it was advisable to proceed at that time
carefully turned his horses head in tn
opposite direction, and was seen to e
down Lincoln Street.
The proprietor again seated himself q
the table, with the remark, '9There,
guess I have got rid ofthat potato man.
But all human hopes are delusive. N
sooner were we fairly at work, than doc
bell No, 2 Lincoln Street rang It wa
no gentle ring, but regular hard pull
showing conclusive evidence that til
operator at the bell-wire was in no amiab
state of mind.
"There is that potato-man again, and
must co." said mine host, and, SUI
enough, there he stood.
Neither spoke, both looking intentl
into the others face, the one with h
long iron-gray locks and happy face run
ing over with fun and goodness the othe
puzzled, doubling, slowly taking til
dimensions of the goot man with his ey,
from head to food and from foot to heat
retreating all the time backward dow
the steps, and, with troubled, anxior
countenance, again mounted his Wagon
and feeling, doubtlesly, in his mind tbs
it would be utterly useless to proceed an
further in that direction, again turne
his horses head, determined this time I
make such circuit as to forever cles
himself from any possibility of agai
meeting what, to his mind, seemed littl
less than apparition.
BY this time the matter had assume
so comical character that we dete
mined to watch his movements. After b
was again seated, his innocent and III
offending horse was surprised to find hin
self receiving castigation from his us,
ally kind master, without, to him, suff
Gent cause. Casting one long, liagerin
look behind, he proceeded up to the CO.