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〃bhoys;〃 of New York。 To 〃run with a 'fire' machine。〃) He ordered
the seats in the room to be wheeled round so the audience would face
the table。 He said the people on the front seat must be tied with a
rope。 The order was misunderstood; the rope being merely drawn
before those on the front seat。 He reprimanded Mr。 Davenport for
not understanding the instructions。 What he meant was that the rope
should be passed around each person on the front seat and then
tightly drawn; a man at each end of the seat to hold on to it。 This
was done; and George expressed himself satisfied。 There was no one
near the table save the medium。 All the rest were behind the rope;
and those on the front seat were particularly charged not to let any
one pass by them。 George said he felt first…rate; and commenced
kissing the ladies present。 The smack could be distinctly heard;
and some of the ladies said the sensation was very natural。 For the
first time in our eventful life we sighed to be a spirit。 We envied
George。 We did not understand whether the kissing was done through
a trumpet。 After kissing considerably; and indulging in some
playful remarks with a man whose Christian name was Napoleon
Bonaparte; and whom George called 〃Boney;〃 he tied the hands and
feet of the medium。 He played the guitar and jingled the
tambourine; and then dashed them violently on the floor。 The
candles were lit; and Miss Davenport was securely tied。 She could
not move her hands。 Her feet were bound; and the rope (which was a
long one) was fastened to the chair。 No person in the room had been
near her or had anything to do with tying her。 Every person who was
in the room will take his or her oath of that。 She could hardly
have tied herself。 We never saw such intricate and thorough tying
in our life。 The believers present were convinced that George did
it。 The unbelievers didn't exactly know what to think about it。
The candles were extinguished again; and pretty soon Miss Davenport
told George to 〃don't。〃 She spoke in an affrighted tone。 The
candles were lit; and she was discovered sitting on the tablehands
and feet tied as before; and herself tied to the chair withal。 The
lights were again blown out; there were sounds as if some one was
lifting her from the table; the candles were relit; and she was seen
sitting in the chair on the floor again。 No one had been near her
from the audience。 Again the lights were extinguished; and
presently the medium said her feet were wet。 It appeared that the
mischievous spirit of one Biddie; an Irish Miss who died when twelve
years old; had kicked over the water…pail。 Miss Eighme took a seat
at the table; and the same mischievous Biddie scissored off a liberal
lock of her hair。 There was the hair; and it had indisputably just
been taken from Miss Eighme's head; and her hands and feet; like
those of Miss D。; were securely tied。 Other things of a staggering
character to the sceptic were done during the evening。
1。43。 MR。 BLOWHARD。
The reader has probably met Mr。 Blowhard。 He is usually round。 You
find him in all public places。 He is particularly 〃numerous〃 at
shows。 Knows all the actors intimately。 Went to school with some
of 'em。 Knows how much they get a month to a cent; and how much
liquor they can hold to a teaspoonful。 He knows Ned Forrest like a
book。 Has taken sundry drinks with Ned。 Ned likes him much。 Is
well acquainted with a certain actress。 Could have married her just
as easy as not if he had wanted to。 Didn't like her 〃style;〃 and so
concluded not to marry her。 Knows Dan Rice well。 Knows all of his
men and horses。 Is on terms of affectionate intimacy with Dan's
rhinoceros; and is tolerably well acquainted with the performing
elephant。 We encountered Mr。 Blowhard at the circus yesterday。 He
was entertaining those near him with a full account of the whole
institution; men; boys; horses; 〃muils〃 and all。 He said the
rhinoceros was perfectly harmless; as his teeth had all been taken
out in infancy。 Besides; the rhinoceros was under the influence of
opium while he was in the ring; which entirely prevented his
injuring anybody。 No danger whatever。 In due course of time the
amiable beast was led into the ring。 When the cord was taken from
his nose; he turned suddenly and manifested a slight desire to run
violently in among some boys who were seated near the musicians。
The keeper; with the assistance of one of the Bedouin Arabs; soon
induced him to change his mind; and got him in the middle of the
ring。 The pleasant quadruped had no sooner arrived here than he
hastily started; with a melodious bellow; towards the seats on one
of which sat Mr。 Blowhard。 Each particular hair on Mr。 Blowhard's
head stood up 〃like squills upon the speckled porkupine〃 (Shakspeare
or Artemus Ward; we forget which); and he fell; with a small shriek;
down through the seats to the ground。 He remained there until the
agitated rhinoceros became calm; when he crawled slowly back to his
seat。
〃Keep mum;〃 he said; with a very wise shake of the head 〃I only
wanted to have some fun with them folks above us。 I swar; I'll bet
the whisky they thought I was scared!〃 Great character that
Blowhard。
1。44。 MARKET MORNING。
〃Hurrah! this is market day;
Up; lads; and gaily away!〃Old Comedy。
On market mornings there is a roar and a crash all about the corner
of Kinsman and Pittsburg Streets。 The market buildingso called;
we presume; because it don't in the least resemble a market
buildingis crowded with beef and butchers; and almost countless
meat and vegetable wagons; of all sorts; are confusedly huddled
together all around outside。 These wagons mostly come from a few
miles out of town; and are always on the spot at daybreak。 A little
after sunrise the crash and jam commences; and continues with little
cessation until ten o'clock in the forenoon。 There is a babel of
tongues; an excessively cosmopolitan gathering of people; a roar of
wheels; and a lively smell of beef and vegetables。 The soap man;
the headache curative man; the razor man; and a variety of other
tolerable humbugs; are in full blast。 We meet married men with
baskets in their hands。 Those who have been fortunate in their
selections look happy; while some who have been unlucky wear a
dejected air; for they are probably destined to get pieces of their
wives' minds on their arrival home。 It is true; that all married
men have their own way; but the trouble is they don't all have their
own way of having it! We meet a newly…married man。 He has recently
set up housekeeping。 He is out to buy steak for breakfast。 There
are only himself and wife and female domestic in the family。 He
shows us his basket; which contains steak enough for at least ten
able…bodied men。 We tell him so; but he says we don't know anything
about war; and passes on。 Here comes a lady of high degree; who has
no end of servants to send to the market; but she likes to come
herself; and it won't prevent her shining and sparkling in her
elegant drawing…room this afternoon。 And she is accumulating muscle
and freshness of face by thes