Year: 1859

clearinghouse Amusoments-A Small


Party Pays Large Bill.


clearinghouse are an institution, and
although all have some qualities in common,
such as tough meat, villainous coffee, hard
bread, watery milk, scolding landlady, a
smoke-begrimed cook and consumptive
milliner-each has its own peculiarities by
which it is as completely characterized as
men are by the expression of their faces.
new phrase in the character of one Of
these establishments, located on Sycamore
street, was developed before magistrate in
the lower part of the city day or two ago,
which is worth relating.


On Easter Monday, which is but synonym
for day of rejoicing at the close of Lent, the
keeper of the house in question concluded to
give his dodgers, their friends and sweethearts
party, and to that end he provided some
excellent music, for the purpose of enabling
them the more pleasantly to while away the
night by gliding over its voluptuous waves to
the arms of the purple morn. The hours went
by, and song and dance made glad the hearts
OF those who participated in them, while whis-
pered compliments and loving looks were re-
sorted to by those who did not; and when supper
was announced they left the parlors to ogle
each other over almost empty tables, and smile
at the assurance of those who waited upon them
and persisted in calling the muddy liquid they
were invited to drink, coffee.


But this revulsion of feeling was only pre-
monitory symptom Of plague with which the
male portion of the assembly were about to be
attacked, and if they did not know the truth,
it was only another proof of the principle that
when the heart is happiest a sorrow is most
near. After they had become thoroughly
disgusted with the miserable stuff which had
been offered them in the name of supper, they
we're invited into a back room and told that
the bill Of each person was dollar and a half.
At this announcement some were indignant
and swore, some smiled, and others curled their
lips in contempt, while all were astonished and
inwardly resolved never again to be sold in the
same manner.


A young man, however, who unfortunately
did not have quite enough money to satisfy the
demand of the landlord, having very mpru-
dently left his porte-monnaie in the pocket of
another garment, protested mildly at first, and
said how mean he thought the whole perform
ance. This awakened the ire of the host, who,
after some harsh words, struck the individual
whose honest indignation had made him so
bold. Being thus doubIy provoked, the young
man resented the assault, and would, no doubt,
have succeeded in getting an equivalent for
the amount he expected to pay for his even
ing's entertainment, but for the interference of
some parties, who separated the combatants.


The next day the poor fellow was arrested
Upon warrant charging him with assault and
battery, and, as we have said, was taken before
\ magistrate, who, however, discharged him, as
the evidence plainly showed that he, instead
Of the assaulting, was the assaulted party. By
this dodge, the latest of which we have heard,
the house has lost caste, and even the pale mil
liner and the young man who sells tape on
Fifth street, have expressed their determine
ton to leave. From appearances, we do not
doubt the landlord will wish he had footed his
own bill, instead of so meanly fleeing his
guests for that purpose.