A SURPRISE PARTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 941, 30 April 1880, Page 3

A SURPRISE PARTY.

There has been an attempt in Sheboygan this winter.which is worth mentioning for the able and successful manner in which it was combated. The intended victim was a physician who had recently moved into the town, and who seemsjtohave been a singularly bold and enterprising man. As usual, the aggressors made their appearance at about half-past 10 in the evening, when the physician and his Wife were in bed. There were no less than 30 criminals in the band, some of them being old and hardened offenders, and others being young men and women Just entering upon a career of crime. The physician and his wife rose, dressed themselves, and ’welcomed the invaders with guard. There was only one thing which seemed to, mar the doctor’s delight at seeing his “ friends,” as ho termed them —perhaps with a recollection of Gov. Seymour’s famous speech to the Now York surprise-party miscreants, during the draft excitement. This,was Ills fear, less they might have contracted typhoid fever by passing near a sewer-opening some distance from bis house. Ho told them that although in the daytime the sewer-gas was comparatively innocuous, he should be afraid to pass within reach of it at night, and that he could not bear to think that his friends should 'have 'incurred [any risk of health by their delightful and unexpected visit to his humble home. The “ friends” laughed at his fears, and refused to bo in the least degree alarmed. They made themselves at home by scattering cake-crumbs on the carpet and the furniture, and playing airs from “Pinafore” on the piano in a way that showed that they wholly disbelieved in any world beyond the grave. When the physician brought out wine they accepted it gladly, and there was not one who refused hisjearnest request to drink a full glass of wine to show their hearty good-fellowship. Five minutes later a strange silence fell simultaneously upon the assemblage. Strong men began to grow pale, and several ladies remarked that it was late, and that they must immediately go homo. The good physician said he was afraid that some of them were feeling the effect of tire sower-gas, and begged them to try a little more wine, but they all declined in much haste, and began looking for their hats in a hurried and preoccupied manner. One man rushed suddenly to the door, and vanished without that or overcoat, and in a few moments the invaders began a panicstricken retreat. In vain did the physician urge them to stay and have a dance. In vain did ho press more wine on them, and offer to have some nice little pork chops cooked if they would only wait a little longer. They fled, without waiting to say good night, and as tho doctor and his wife stood smilingly at tho front door holding the lamp to light them on their way, strange and awful sounds came through tho darkness of the night, and the fence on the opposite side of the road seemed to be hung with limp and agonised criminals. Tho next day the physician was sent for by 27 of the 30 marauders, who informed him that they had been taken very ill from the effect of sewer gas, and were on the brink of typhoid fever. He soon cured every one of them, and thus laid tho foundation of what promises to he a largo and successful practice. One of the invaders, a fat old man, notorious as a leader of surprise parties, needed no medicine, for he was found dead in the street, the morning after the surprise party, and, in geueial joy over the event, the Jury declined to inquire closely into the cause of his death, but attributed it to cold and alcoholism. Tho physician has, of course, since replenished his stock of antimonial wine, and frequently remarks that he greatly enjoys surprise parties, and will always be happy to have his friends call on him at midnight and take a friendly glass of wine.—New York Times.