The History and Records of the Elephant ClubDoesticks, Q. K. Philander
General
The History and Records of the Elephant Club
Doesticks, Q. K. Philander
American wit and humor
"Fat gentleman impatient. Reasserts his previously-expressed conviction,
that the stage is an imposition: says he'll get out. Driver insists on
payment. Fat gentleman passes up a quarter. Driver passes him back a
ten-cent piece and eight cents. Fat gentleman insists that he is
swindled to the extent of one cent, which he demands. Driver very
obliging, and 'don't he wish he may get it.' Fat gentleman gets out, but
finds himself completely surrounded by vehicles, and without a
possibility of being able to reach the curb-stone in safety, concludes
to enter the stage again. Driver refuses to open the door. Fat gentleman
demands to be admitted. Driver says he'll see him blowed first. Fat
gentleman frantic, but driver incorrigible. At last fat gentleman gets
on his hands and knees, and, after crawling under a team of horses and
the tails of two carts, reaches the sidewalk. Again moving. Irish
female with native infant pulls the strap. Driver accommodating. Female
inquires if this is a Bowery stage. Driver says no. Female insists upon
getting out. Driver insists, with equal warmth, that, as a prior
condition, she must disgorge a sixpence. Female indisposed to comply.
Old maid with the poodle dog gives the strap three convulsive jerks.
'Whoa-'p.' Old maid says that native infant, belonging to female from
Ireland, has the ship fever. Female from Ireland indignantly denies the
statement, and says that it is _only_ the itch. Old maid swoons. Poodle
dog barks at all the passengers generally, and the female from Ireland
particularly. Dropsical gentleman puts some smelling-salts under the
nose of old maid. Happy result. Old maid revives, and asks if anybody
beside herself was injured by the explosion. Sight Fulton street off our
starboard bow. Enter Fifth Avenue and Amity street stages, R. 1st
Entrance. Exit Irish porter with a load of band-boxes, L. 1st Entrance,
in time to save his bacon and band-boxes. New feature coming up Fulton
street from the East River--'The Sour Krout Guards, Captain Wilhelm
Stein,' in return from target excursion. Still another feature coming up
Fulton street from North River--'The Patrick Gaffney Grenadiers, Captain
Timothy Leahey,' on a return from target excursion. Two companies
approach one another. Menacing looks on the part of the Sour Krout
Guards. Bellicose attitude of the Gaffney Grenadiers. Belligerent
manifestation of the Sour Krouts; corporal of the Gaffneys throws a
brick at the Sour Krouts. Sour Krouts boiling over with indignation,
make a demonstration. Both companies unused to the management of
firelocks, but accustomed to war and carnage. They lay down their arms
and take up their fists. General, promiscuous, and miscellaneous
shoulder-hitting by the strength of both companies. Enter third party.
Mad bull rushes down Broadway and pitches into the hottest of the fight,
with horns down and tail up. Sour Krouts and Gaffneys in consternation
fly from the scene of the struggle in all directions. Mad bull makes a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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