LETTING OFF STEAM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 438, 9 October 1869, Page 3

LETTING OFF STEAM.

: .» Firing, pistols is certainty an unpleasant American practice; but there is all the difference in the world between " shooting " and "shooting down" — and in nine cases out of ten the former act is merely performed with a view to "gazing," " blowing," or "letting off steam," and is harmless in its results. As an exemplification of this, we may perhaps cite the well-known story of Colonel Wuggsby. The incident occurred, say, at Atlanta, Georgia. Colonel Wuggsby was going to a ball, and he had engaged a hackney-coach to convey him to the festive scene. On the way, however, it occurred to the colonel that he might " take a drink." He entered the bar-room^ say, of the National Hotel, clad in full evening costume, and holding in one of his white-kid gloved hands a large bouquet, which he intended to offer at the shrine of youth and beauty. A slight " difficulty " was in. progress at the bar of the National when Colonel Wuggsby appeared on the scene. Captain A. had felled Major 8., and, with one knee on his chest, was, as the story goes, " roughing him up with an ice-pick " — a sufficiently disagreeable implement of admonition. Colonel Wuggsby was equal jto the occasion. " Ah," said he, smelling bis bouquet, "flowers for ladies; and "—drawing bis revolver from his dresscoat pocket—" pistols for gentlemen. Go it Reuben!" Whereupon Colonel Wuggsby "fired free." Reuben was the revolver. Everybody " scattered," . but nobody \raa

hurt; and the captain refrained from further " roughing up " the major with the ice-pick. The gay proprietor of Reuben was master of the situation; and, after firing two more shots at the chandelier for luck, he took his departure, saying to his charioteer, " Coachman, drive Colonel Wuggsby round promiscuously ! " There were other laurels, perhaps he thought, to be gathered that night. Now, Colonel Wugg3by was only " letting off steam."