Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-04-13
{ n AZ I LIt \ I.
A FAIR PROSPECT.


Lett alone with Beiden, that worthy
locked me over slowly, and then holding out
his hand, said
On my soul, LounsDury, you had best
shrive yourself. 10 tell the truth, IN
NIGHTLY afraid OF that fellow, who is no less
the brute l called him because offered TO
Try quits He would be inyincible with a
rapier, only he holds the light weapon with
too light a hand He is all points and ticks,
and, unless you disarm him, it looks to go
hard with you. You viii never get by his
guard.
Thanks, said /, laughing, and taking his
hand. I've a trick or two, myself. " hat
does the general want with me now:'
= have but fraction OF the matter, and
know my place too well to talk Of it. Let
US step out; but, man, you'll never appear
at headquarters in such a rig! You would
be barred at the door,.
" lis but the service OF razor and
shift of clothes | need, and will soon have.
Will you bear me company to my lodgings
He agreed 10 this, ana we set out down
thte Bowery Lane to the Fields, past the
provost prison (now the Hall OF Records,
City Hall Park and poorhouse, and so
along the Broadway, chatting like two old
friends as We walked.
Twas strange coincidence. | thought,
when | found my companion was attached
t. the Sprite, having been on board even at
the time | Was telling false tale OF myself
ii her cabin, he having been laid up below
through a wound received in duel while
10 Philadelphia \ jolly light-hearted. dis
sipated boy ne was, bat rampant a wor-
shipper OF royalty as has fallen to my lot to
inset.
lie could tell nle nothing vi Mrs Badely
and her ward, Gertrude King the latter to-
ward whom | had an instructive leaningl,
save that they had long ago lett the schoon-
Il and We're IN sumptuous quarters on Queen
street. Scammelis passion for the young
lady was no secret to him, and he made d
coarse joke at the expense OF both, Tor
which | could have wrung his neck.
But all We're alike in those days, it seemed
to me, and not once did hear woman re-
speetfully spoken of, though the maligners
OF the sex protested readiness to lie down
and be trodden on when in the presence of
The least OF the ladies of fashion. Such
Eulsome aping OF fine manners on the streets
and off; such backbending and courtesy
ing, froth, and hypocrisy; such atfectation IN
speech and attitude; such utter prostra-
ton before the god of mode and folly as was
Eracticed by these puppets OF the king IN
this small copy of the court, never before or
since has it been the fortune of man to see.
Insincerity, heartlessness, and an absurd
sensitiveness regarding so-called points OF
honor ruled the day. And these were the
spirits who were expected to subdue the
hardy yeomanry of America
But this is neither here nor there.
Well shorn, with a decent ribbon for my
queue, a suit but shade or two the worse
for wear, and a sword at my thigh for eff
feet, we set off for our destination, Belden
having washed his dirty face and generally
groomed himself.
At this time Clinton's headquarters was
en- the Broadway, at No. |, and opposite the
Bowling Green, being the same dwelling
wherein Washington had established him
self while the patriot troops occupied the
city.
Twas strange to me that the British com
mander should have hit upon this house, not
only because of its association, but from the
fact that it was. with some few mansions
to the north, cut off from the rest of the
city by the broad swath of ruin caused by
the great fire of September, I776.
This conhagration had started tGod
knows howl near the Whitehall, and, under
the tanning of a strong wind, had burned
northwest. crossing the Broadway below
church. and from there laying low
everything clear to the Hudson and north
ward to nigh the city limits. Trinity went
with the rest, but by some mercy st. Paul's
was spared, as well as Kings college lCo-
lumba college,, the fire stopping Just short
OF Robinson street now Park Placei, on
which stood the latter.
No attempt had been made TO rebuild or
even clear the ruins, and now twas a dan
gerous neighborhood, as the oifscourings Of
the camp bad taken possession of the whole
area, and utilizing old walls. beams, and
sails. had established colony OF violence
and filth. which went By the name of Can
vastOwn.
It might have been pleasant for Sir Henry
to look from his south windows over the
grand Battery, the bay, and the fleet be-
yond, but | take it he little cared for the
view. east. s--..k- : hl1ck desert of devasta-