The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman PotterAdams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
General
The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman Potter
Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Political fiction
"Heaven having given the editors great success in their arduous
business of restoring me to favor, I was received at once into the
embraces of fashionable society. Brown, who digs graves for departed
sinners, and provides the parties of our aristocracy with
distinguished people, called to inquire what evenings I was
'disengaged,' seeing that he had several openings on his list, which
was unusually select 'this week.' He secured invitations to nothing
but the most refined and wealthy society-that which gave receptions
merely for the sake of doing honor to persons so distinguished.
Genin sent circulars to say that hats of the latest pattern could be
got cheaper and better of him than any one else. Tiffany & Company,
in a delicately enveloped card, reminded me, (for Mrs. Potter's
sake, no doubt,) that their stock of jewelry was of the finest
description. Ball & Black sent to say that swords and other
appurtenances necessary to a military gentleman could be got of
them, much superior in quality, and cheaper in price, than at any
other establishment in Broadway, or, indeed, in the city. Stewart, I
was told, had just opened an invoice of India shawls, which he had
ticketed at twenty-five hundred dollars each. But as his motto was
quick sales and small profits, he was running them off at two
hundred dollars less. It was hinted that Mrs. Major Potter better
call early or they would all be gone. Had Mrs. Major Potter been the
sharer of my adventure, and exhibited so wanton a determination to
rush her husband into bankruptcy, as it appeared was the fashion
with the ladies of New York, then Mr. Major Potter had gone one way
and Mrs. Major Potter another."
Here the major gave his whip two or three smart cracks, and bid old
Battle proceed at a more rapid pace, as his appetite caused him to
make sundry contemplations about the dinner he would get at the
house of Mrs. Trotbridge.
"Well, seeing that I was up and popular," said the major, resuming
his story, "Townsend piled my room with circulars, saying his
sarsaparilla was the only kind used by politicians and military men,
who invariably pronounced it the cure for those diseases which, it
is charged by a Spanish writer, of great learning, are incident to
their professions. Brandreth sent me samples of his pills, which he
said were unequaled for purging politicians of all those ill humors
they were heirs to. And both (moved by Brown, no doubt) sent me
invitations to parties given in honor of me at their princely
mansions on the Fifth Avenue. Barnum, too, considering me a
remarkable curiosity, sent two tickets to his great show house,
which the vulgar called a museum. And the Misses Whalebone &
Gossamer sent to say that their assortment of baby clothes was of
the choicest description, and that they would be much pleased if
Mrs. Major Potter would call and examine for herself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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