papa; also: flashy looking

[Laurence Horn]

At 11:48 PM -0400 5/31/10, George Thompson wrote:
>         A flashy looking young woman, walked into the Police Office,
>yesterday, in a state of gross intoxication.  Her first exclamation
>on entering, was directed to Mr. Hopson, who sat on the bench.  "He
>is my husband," said she with an accompanying hiccup, "my own
>husband."  "Well," said the Magistrate, "he has a drunken wife, who
>ever he is."  "Me drunk," replied she, "not I, papa, but it's a
>miracle that I'm not, for I have been drinking gin all day."  The
>husband here entered and begged the Magistrate to confine her until
>she should become somber, which was accordingly done.
>         Morning Courier & New-York Enquirer, October 22, 1831, p. 2, col. 2

Did the wife really turn "somber"?  I like the idea of a somber
drunk, but I suspect it's just a garden-variety typo.

LH

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