SUCCESS OF T H E. Y E A R. 245 



violent abuse and the physical strength of several 

 of the hands of the boat, and where he amused him 

 self by pawing steadily, and occasionally backing on 

 the horse directly behind, and thus causing much ex 

 citement, bad temper, and coarse language during the 

 entire trip ; and fairly on the stone pavements of the 

 city streets. 



By this time I had lost all fear, having resigned 

 myself to perfect recklessness, like the man who, aft 

 er being exposed a thousand times to death, no longer 

 dreads it ; and I drove up Thirty-fourth Street, across 

 the tunnel at Fourth Avenue, and into Fifth Avenue, 

 as though there, was no such thing as peril in my 

 path. Down our fashionable thoroughfare I pro 

 ceeded, assuming rather a jaunty and professional 

 air ; I squared my elbows, held my whip in my hand, 

 taking great care not to touch Dandy Jim, however, 

 and looked round at the foot-passengers, as much as 

 to say, &quot; I am not afraid to drive this wild animal ; I 

 do it every day.&quot; Unfortunately for the triumph of 

 my assumptions, there was a piece of paper lying di 

 rectly in our path. 



Now Dandy Jim has an objection to paper, why 

 I never could discover ; but paper, white or brown, 

 newspaper or blank paper, leaves or letters, is to him 

 a thing of horror his very soul revolts at it. It cer- 



