National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-04
SHERIDAN,S HUMoR.
The English Dramatfst and HIS Creditors
Rich Scenes.

| Rich Scenes.
| Sheridan's coal merchant, one Robert
Mitchell, had O heavy demand against him for
Goals, which he could not get settled One day, hav
ing 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 so many shilings in his possession at the
time. It's very true, my dear Bob, all that you
say" replied Sheridan; al am really very sorry
but say, Bob, you don't want it all to-day, hey?
Won't part dor "No, sir" retorted the enraged
creditor, " it won't. must have it 4; will have
it; l daren't go home without every farthing of
it. My wife is distracted my house is beset with
creditors, and by Cd / won't leave this room
without the money!
Wouldn't half do -day?" pleaded the man
ager, and bill for the remainder" No, the coal
merchant would have his bond to the utmost
farthing. Then Sheridan paused and in a voice
of deep emotion exclaimed: "Then would to
Heaven could assist you'll cannot! but diving
hand into his pocket one thing 1 can will,
ought to dO-there," grasping MitcheIPs hand,
meyer let it be said that while Sheridan had q
guinea in his pocket he refused it to his friend Bob
Mitchell" Mitchell stood aghast for a moment,
then, pocketing 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 Kelley relates another story as good.
During the time that he was acting manager of
Drury Lane the narrator became responsible for
a debt he had contracted for the theatre, and
Sheridan, as usual failing to meet it, Kelley was
arrested. Sheridan at once sent for the hard
hearted creditor, demonstrated with him upon
his cruelty, reasoned with him upon the hardship
of the law of imprisonment for debt, pointed out
that he had acted in an arbitrary, unchristian
manner until he had so thoroughly softened and
convinced him that before the man left the house
Sheridan had borrowed f200 of him and left upon
his mind an impression that he had been highly
favored by the great manager deigning to accept
the favor. creditors leyee was held daily in his
house; his library, parlor buffers room, and even
the staircase, were every morning filed with mot
ley crowd, anxiously listening for the sound of his
footstep. When atlast he came, elegantly dressed all
smiles and urbauity, shaking hands with one,
nodding to another, he seemed to cast charm
over all; fellows that had been raging like tigers
a few minutes before could scarcely summon the
courage to state their GRAND; while others seemed
actually to forget what brought them there. By
ron relates in his journals how he once found
Sheridan at his lawyers, and learned that he had
come to stayeoff an action from his wine merchant
81 can vouch,n says Byron. that my attorney is by
no means the tenderest of men, or particularly ac-
cessible to any kind of impression out of the stat
ute or record; and yet Sheridan in half an hour
had found the way to soften and subdue him in
such manner that almost think he would have
thrown his client ian honest man, with all the law
and some justice on his side) out of the window,
had he come in at that moment.
His cool assurance never failed him in an ex-
tremity. One night he was stopped by footpads in
company with Challie, the wine merchant. my
friend can accommodate you," he said to the fell
lows and as for myself tell yOII what cau do
can give you my note of hand.'
Writing to Moore QS15). Byron says: Perhaps
you heard of late answer of Sheridan to the
Waterman, who found him bereft of that divine
particle of air called reason. He, the Waterman,
who found Sherry in the street, fuddled and be-
Mildered and almost insensible: Who are you,
sir? No answer. What's your name? A hic-
cough. Whats your name? Answer in a slow,
deliberate, impressive tone: 'Wilberforce ="