Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-07
OLD TIMES.
A Practical Joke on a Prominent citizen
of Albany.

From sAe At6qny Ca N>,os,
Just before the outbreak of our late
war, Albany claimed among her citizens
a very remarkable man, one ). Il. Nix.
Mr.. Nix was q mechanical genus, and in
many other respects was an unusual
character. He was perhaps more noted
for his keen sense of humOr than ANY,
thing else, and be was famous for the
practical jokes which he was perpetually
concocting and perpeTatingOn mis- friends
and fellows. NIX was proprietor OF the
Isabella house, hotel that was located
on the lot now occupied Dy the building
OF Kemp Il Mock.
Beyond the alley, next to this building,
was a clothing store owned by Capt. +.
II. deGraifenried, better known in AL
bauy as Hop" deGraGenred, Hop"
was . live, active fellow a good bust
ness man, but sensitive and quick OF re-
sentiment.
On'the occasion am about 70 allude to
Hops clerk was absent, aud Nix, VINO
was an incOrrigible loater, dropped into
the store for chat. DeGateuried had y
business engag cement that called him
away from the store tor an hour or more,
ana was glad when NiN appeared. Nix
kindly agreed to j. OK after the store for
that length of time. DeGraiienreid had
scarcely turned Wech's corner when the
mail-rider from some distant backw0Ods
post Office rode up to the Albany office,
which was adjoining tae store, and dis
mounted and deposited his bag. MA was
On the alert. and as soon as the fellow
emerged from tine office called him into
the store. He was a green backw0Ods
youth, Is or 20 years Of age, but very re-
bust and strong. Nix informed him that
he had been observing him (tne youth J
Tor some months, aud that he had taken a
fancy to him, that be was throwing away
mis- time footing with that mail line, which
only paid So month; that he would give
him immediate employment in his store
at $50 per month to begin with. The boy
was astonished and evidently delighted.
Nix then asked him TO take charge Of the
store for a few NONE uts, saying he would
soon return, and instructed the mail-rlder
TO familiarize himself with the stock while
he was gone.
'Just take down the clothing from the
shelves and overhaul it. and get used to
handling it. Take it all down and mix it
up. I'll he back Directly lie then turn
ed to the young man and said: 81 forgot
to tell you there was crazy man in town
who imagines that every store in town
belongs to him. He is harmless. howev-
err and if he troubles You before / return
Just be positive with him ard put him
out, and you'll have no more troublew with
him."
Nix then hurried across to Gilbert Il
DickinsOn's drug store, opposite this
store and awaited results. Dettraffen-
ried soon hurried into his store, and per-
ceiving stranger behind his counter,
asked, Indignantly;
Nv hat are you doing here? Get from
behind my counter, you - scoundrel?'
sSNOW. look a-here. Old cbaD: l'Ve hearn
of you before. so you jist git outen
here" and leaping the counter cOllared
deGrafienried, who, by this time, was
white with rage, and turning, Hop
dealt him stunning blow with his fist,
and kicked him ten feet into the street.
Then suddenly ''Hop" realized that Nix
had put up the job. he seized bis revOlv.
er and toaming with anger, rushed forth
wildly on hunt for Nix, who had obserV
ed the whole scene from the window OPP
pOsite. Nix went TO the country that day
I and remained a weak