St. Landry democrat., 1888-04-28
HACKENSACK'S HOTEL.
1t Arrived on Time and Was Sue
cessfully Opened.

When Mr.. Hiram Hackensack az
rived IN Oak Getty, "a very new ''city'
in Nebraska, his financial condition
seemed in no respect an enviable one.
In the first place, his total available
capital consisted of exactly sixty-three
cents in cash, which jingled conspicu
ously in his capacious pockets when
ever his hand happened to be at lib.
erty, and four trunks containing per.
sonal property of questionable value.
Then he had family to support, con-
sisting of blooming Mrs. Hackensack
and five young Hackensacks in various
stages of childhood up to fourteen
years, ali of whom possessed appetites
in first-class order.
The morning was a cold one, and
Mr. Hackensack had some difficulty in
finding accommodations for his family
within the city limits, not that the inc
habitants were SO numerous, but the
houses were so few. There was no
hotel at Oak City, and the lady pro-
prietor of The railroad boarding house
at first refused to take in the Hacken-
sacks. even for day, without pay
ment in advance. The sight of four
ample trunks, however, finally over
came her caution, and the family were
allowed to install themselves in a scant-
ily.furnished back room on the second
floor of her esta blishment.
In very short time Mr.. Hacken-
sack. whistling cheerily, was seen on
his way around town carrying sup
ply of small bills, hammer and tacks,
for the purpose of posting in every
available place the startling announce
ment that the Celeb rated and Only
North and South American Specially
and Novelty Consolidation would
give one of their refined. chaste and
incomparably grand entertainments
at the City Hall on that evening
'NoW," said MI. Hackensack, con-
fid emily, to his wife, Il think this town
is good for fifty dollars tonight, and
that will take us to the next stand i'm
fine shape
But suppose we don't draw here,''
suggested Mrs. Hackensack, sitting
forlornly on her trunk,
Draw" echoed the head of the
family. 1--WE shall draw The whole
town is aroused. They are suffering
here for amusement. There hasn' t
been show of any kind since the cir
Gus last summer The house will be
packed; take my word for it.
The house, however, was not packed.
The consolidation, consisting
wholly of the Hackensack family, in
GLIDING the 'Infant Prodigy" played |
to. in theatrical parlance, the sum of |
seven dollars and fifty cents. The
rent of the hall was five dollars, which |
the cautious owner deducted from the |
receipts, a dollar a, a time, as |
the people came in; the local |
who officiated at the piano,
claimed two dollars. but finally COM
promised on receipt of fifty cents; the
drayman who hauld the baggage from
the station charged like sum, but
was also forced to accept half dol
lar The proprietor of the ..consolida-
ton" returned to the boardin g house
with the remainder of the receipts
rafting dismally in his trousers
pocket.
The Hackensacks, however, slept as
soundly as usual, being people Of a
philosophic turn of mind. The fol-
lowing morning Mr. Hackensack ten
lered his landlady one dollar in small
change.
Owing to unforeseen circum-
he remarked. politely. Il
anl unable to liquidate the remaining
two-thirds Ct my account at the pres
mt time.
you mean to say that you can't !
raw me but one dollar for all them
,hildren has etP" cried the indignant |
widow. We'll. not one of them four
runks goes out of this house to-day" {
.sThat is q very proper thing to say.
aadam,n replied Mr.. Hackensack. !
erenely. There is really no reason |
Thy the trunks should go out to-day {
! fact the trunks need not go till we
o. Is
The landlady was for q moment .
oeeehless with establishment. When .
Efficiently recovered she sarcasticallv /
,quired how long he expected to stay Il
her tirst-class clearinghouse. 9
Most unfortunately. madam. the G
me of my departure is exceedingly ]