The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-12-26
sheridan, the Delishtrul Debtor.

Sheridan's coal merchant, one Robert
Mitchell, had heavy demand against him
for Goals, which he could not get settled.
One day, having lost all patience, he
attacked the great manager mercilessly, and
swore he would not leave the house without
the whole of his money, which amounted to
several hundred pounds. Sheridan had not
time. "lt's very tTpe, my dear Bob, all that
you say" replied Sheridan, "l'm really
we're sorry, but say, Bob, you don't want it
all to-day, hey 7 won't o part dol 7" No,
sir" retorted the enraged creditor, lit
won't. must have it, ! will have it,
daren't 20 home without every farthing of it.
Ny wife is distracted, my house is beset with
creditors. and, by Cd, l won't leave this
room without tho money" . Wonldn't half
do to-day ?" pleaded the manager, "and
bill for the remainder" No, the coal mer-
chant would have his bond to the utmost far
thing. Then Sheridan paused, and in a
voice Of deep emotion exclaimed: Then
would to Heaven could assist you can
not, but" diving hand into his pocket)
" one thing can, l will, / ought to do
there" grasping Mitchell's hand, never
let 1t be said that while Sheridan had a
guinea in his pocket he refused it to his
friend Bob Mitchell.ns Mitchellstood aghast
for q n,oiaept, then, fpocketing the guinea,
rushed out OF the house, and to the latest
hour of his life he never tired of displaying
the last guinea that his friend Sheridan had
in the world.
Michael Kelly relates another story as
good. During the time that he was acting
manager of Drury Lane, the narrator became
responsible for debt he had contracted for
the theatre, and Sheridan, as usual, falling
tn meet 1t, Kelly was arrested. Sheridan at
once sent tor the hard-hearted creditor, re-
monstrated with him upon his cruelty,
reasoned with him upon the hardship of the
law of imprisonment for debt, pointed out
that lie had acted in an arbitrary, unchristian
manner, until he had so thoroughly softened
and convinced him that before the man left
| the hopsa Sheridan had borrowed 9200 OF
him, aud left upon his mind an impression
that he had been highly favored by the great
manager deigning to accept the favor. A
creditors levee was held daily in his house;
his library, parlor, butler's room, and even
| the staircase were every morning filed with
| q motley crowd, anxiously listening for the
sound af his footstep. When at last he came,
elegantly dressed, all smiles and urbanity,
shaking hands with one. nodding to another,
he seemed to cast q charm over all; fellows
that had been raging like tigers few min
utes before could scarcely summon the cour-
age to state their errand, while others seemed
actually to forget what brought them there.
Ryrpp relates in his journals how he once
found Sheridan NJ bis lawyers and learned
that he had come 70 stage pr an action from
bis wine merchant. can youoh," says
Byron, "thst my attorney is by no meaps
the tenderest Of MEN, or particularly accsssi-
BILE to any kind of impression out Of the
statute or record, and yet Sheridan In hall
an hour had found the way to soften and
subdue him in such a manner that almost
think he would have thrown his client Can
honest man with all the laws and some JUS
| tice on his side) out Of the window, had he
cope iG at that moment" His cool assurance
never failed him In an extfemitY. One night
he was stopped by footpads in company with
Challie. the wine merchant "My friend
cen accomodate YOU" he said to the fellows
"and as for myself, toll you what can do
can give you my note of hand"
Writing to Moore (l6l6) Byron says
Perhaps You heard Of late answsr OF
Sheridan to the watchman who found hin
bereft of that divine particle of air called
reason. He, the Waterman who found
Sherry in the street fuddled and bewilIered
and almost iilsensible: WHO are you. sir 7
No answer. What's your name p A
hiooup. What's your namef' Answer
in slow, deliberate, impressive tone: VII
berforce 4 '-Temple Bar,