The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-28
xMTrYyfLLrs FUNNY YOUYo MEN.
Some OF Their Lively Prnnks-Why n Free
Reading Room was Closed.

Amityville, L. l., contains many young
men from 1s to rs years OF age. who in the
spring and summer are mostly engaged In ilsh-
ing or hunting for clans In the Great South
bay. In winter their occupation Is gone. and
then surprise parties. billiards. and practical
jokes are in order for them. Some time ngo
donation party was given to one OF the minis
ters Of the town. and invitations were freely
distributed. Pies. puddngs cakes. jcllcs. and
swcetmeats were sent to the minister by all his
parishioners on the day on which the party was
to be given In the evening the donors met In
the house to feast on the good things and to pay
their respects to the minister. But they were
disappointed A few hours before the window
OF the pantry. whore tho sweetmcats were
stored had been, slyly opened and the shelves
Ii was learned afterward that the young mon
who had eaten the pies had also attended the
meeting In the evening and Ind appeared to be
nounccmcni Of the theft being made. In fact.
rs one Of the d"acons said Yesterday. thcy
rather ovordid H. you see-they were altogether
too much surprised. and | suspected them all
At another time. Can't Freeman. who kept
ono of the hotels. gave an entertainment in
honor OF his daughters wedding. He wouldn't
allow the young men TO come In at all. They
and their friends. however gathered outside
and waited. They saw that some cOlored men.
customers OF the Captains, wcro allowed 10
entor the house and knowing that the Captain
was near sighted they cOOrcd their faces with
burnt cork and knocked loudly ut the door. II
was opened by the Captain himself. and luillng
to recognize them he allowed thrm 10 enter.
Aftcrward he found out his mistake and he told
thcm to 10 out. This they refused to DO.
criminal suit was the result 1t ended disas-
trously To the young fellows. aud they were
very quiet for some time.
After this the fact that gates were no longer
unhung and thrown into adjoining lots. nor
their fences taken down and set NJ IN the mid
die ~ the road was very gratifying to the
farmers Of the neighhorhood, who began 10
! think TINT the young men had determined to
their pastoral reposc They concluded. there
upon, to- open n free reading room. and to invite
| tn" young men to par@ tucir evenings in II. To
! this end large room IN the Debating SO'irty's
! hall was arranged Tor the accommodation OF
| books aud papers. -Four well known gentle
men. Dr. Preston. and Mc~srs. Gilpot Williams.
! j. i. HUI and G.. \. Hooper. cOmulctod the ar
| rangemcnt. and the reading room WAS opened.
! At first II was a great success. The young mon
attended in "A body and appeared 10 he deeply
/ absorbed in study and research. Each would
/ take dozen books from the shelves and neg
/ lect To put thcm up again on going AWAY.
| Then rule was made that only one book
could be taken down at u time. and member
Of the society stood hy tu srr TINT the order was
/ obcycd. After u while the young mon would
come in. take down u largo book. such as an
! atlas. and 20 To sleep behind II.
! Finally. Mr.. Townsend Wright who keeps
the Assembly rooms opposite. announced the
! free distribution OF clam choWdcr in the even
! ing. DingOnally across y" way from wright s
is the Revere House Mr.. A. NJ Benton. tn.
| proprietor. hearing OF the free chowdcr. and
| being determined not to b. outdOn" gave free
! oyster soup and beans. This was too much for
/ the young men. They deserted tn reading
! room in body. and. Ia the sorrow of the good
! people ui the town. they hay" fallen back into
/ their old ways. On Monday Dr. Pr Ston offered
/ preamble and resolution for the CLOSING. Of the
reading room. and It WIS ordered 10 be closed.