Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-03-28
CIRIoTs CoMaIssaess.

When Lafayette paid 4 visit to th.
United States, he intimated his desire =
become master of an opossum. and ,
Baltimore editor GLADLY undertook to se.
that the general had one te take hom,
with him. Anxious to make the most O,
| the occasion, he proclaimed lis want II
highly spiced appeal to his country
men, urging them 70 prove that repub
lies were moi always ungrateful. Ihey
responded cheerfuily-too cheerfaliy-
to tue appeal. Opossuns came In from
north and south, east and west, until thu
overwhelmed Journalist found himself
possessed OF two thousand one hundred
| and ninety nine too many. He could
not afford them separate accommoda
tion--he dared nat lodge them together
80 at night he turned them all loose il
Ia Monument Square to quarter them
selves as they could CT chose. Next day
opossumS were here, there, and every.
where In Baltimore, TO the delight OF the
black and the disgust of the white citi-
zensS who fervently wished that Lafay-
cite had never heard of an opossuni, OF
that the editor had executed his commits
sion with more discretion.
1t is possible. however, to be too dis
Greet. Certain Cincinnati capitalists,
Interested in q railway bill passing
through the kentucky Legislature, des-
Ps.caed an honest nan to Frankfort
with twenty thousand dulssrs, 70 be used
where il would do the most good He
stayed there until the bill was introduced
aud thrown out, when hs returned to
Cincinnati to report to bis employers the
result Of his mission.
Did yon distribute the whole of the
money!" they asked
Not 0ei1t," was the reply. The
members were willing enough to take it,
bat they wouldn't give recoipts, and
was not coming back without either mo-
ney or vouchers for it.
and the would be log grOi,era iiO longer
wondered at the non passing Of their
bill.
Being asked by friend to find him a
footman, an obliging>lnan of letters sent
on his own servant With the following
comictl letter of Recommendation:
:" / think the bearer will fit You. I
know he can run well, for no hath run
away twice from me, but he knew the
way back again. Yet, though he hath q
running hesd All well US rnnning heels
and who will expect f0otman 10 be a
stayed MANI would not part with him
We're 1 not to 60 post to the north. There
be some things IN him that answer for
his waggeries. He will come when you
call him; &c when You bid him; and shut
the d ,or after him. He is faithful and
stout, and lover Of bis master. He is
a great enemy to all dogs, if they bark
AT him in his running, Tor / have seen
him confront huge mastif and knock
him down. When you go a country jour
ney, or haye him run with yOu u hunting,
you must spirit him with liquor. If he
be not for your turn, turn him over TO ms
again when come back"
Howell had a knack of giving odd de-
scr.ptions of people. Deaired by Master
Thomas Adams to look up newly mar
ried couple in whom he was intereated,
Howell did 80, and reported that he never
before bekeld such = disparity between
two that were one flcsh; comparing the
husband to q cloth of tissue doubled, cut
upon coarse canvas; and the wife to q
buckram petticoat lined with satin. "A
blind man. he continued, Is fittest to
hear her sing; ono would take delight to
see her dance if masked; and it would
please you to discourse with her in the
dark, if Your Imagination could fOrbear
to run upon her face. When you marry,
1 wish you such an inside of wife. but
from such an outward phisu0my the
Lord deliver youe'