The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-06-08 00:00:00

STOPPING at the "HOTEL RADZIWILL."

The Court Journal relates the following pleasant story

An Englishman and his wife, not speaking a word of
German, but having some knowledge of French deter-
mined to visit the capitals of Prussiaand Saxony. They
had been recommended to an hotel at Berlin. and were
proceeding to it in a hired vehicle, when suddenly the
lady espied an imposing-loaking building, on which
was inscribed in large letters, " Ilitel Radziwill." She
immediately exclaimed, "There's a fine hotel, and what
a nice open situation !" "Well, should you like
to go there?" Oh, yes ! " No sooner said
than done; the driver was made to set them
down there. Several persons were around the door
of the hotel, but to one that spoke English or
French ; they were made to uudeiegand, however,
that the luggage was to be taken within doors, and
' with much ceremony they were jut, oduced to al. apart-
ment. The lady made signs to he shown a bedroom,
which was done, and, on her return, she said, "Well,
I never saw an hotel as charmingly furnished as this!
I should like you to step up and tiok at the bedroom;
and such a dressing-room.' The husband, also, was
fide of admiration ; he had been examining the few
paintings which hung upon the walls, and pronounced
them valuable pictures.
•

Hiving male some necessary changes of apparel,
they rang the bell, and made the attendant acquainted
that they would dine at five. On their return horn a
promenade, a gentlemanly-looking man entered the
salon, bowed, and said something in German which was
not understood, and the Englishman, thinking his
manner somewhat free, eareleoily replied with a
" Good morning—bow 'rye do?" and the stranger
retired. A sumptuous little dinner was served,
and wine of a recherche character, and in due
course coffee, and a chasse-coffe of some delicious
liqueur. When the two servants had left the
room, the husband observed, "This is all very
capital, my dear; I only hope we shall be as well
satisfied when we see the bill." His wife rejoined,
"I'm sure this is a very first-rate hotel, and very ex-
pensive ; if I were you I would have the bill to-morrow
morning, that we may know how we are going on."
They went on, however, for a day or two, delighted
with everything, and then the lady's prudent warning
so far prevailed, that the bill was directed to be
brought the following MI ruing at break fast. Breakfast
came, but no bill, and it %km; then peremptorily de-
manded, and when the room was cleared, the husband
said, "I begin to partake of your suspicions. I don't
half like this reluctance to bring the bill, and I expect
when it does come it will be enormous." Very shortly
the same personage who had made his appearance on
their first arrival entered the room, and advancing to-
wards them, the following dialogue took place in
French :

Stranger: "lam the Prince Radsiwill."
Englishman, rising and presenting a chair: "To
hat may I ascribe the honour of this visit?"
Stranger: "You have evidently taken this to be a
iblic hotel."

what

"Englishman: Undoubtedly !—what is it then."
Stranget : "It is my private hoteL"
The Englishman NVELB so petrified that he made no
immediate apology, but explainA the affair to his wife,
who looked pet fectly aghast, and began assuring the
prince in English that they saw "Hotel" written on 1
the front of the house, and of course they supposed it
to be one.
The prirce saw, and no doubt secretly enjoyed, their
confusion, but expressed himself highly delighted at
having had the opportunity, even by mistake, of ex-
tending his hospitality to a gentleman and lady from
England, the inhabitants of which country, he was
pleased to say, were always objects of interest and
esteem. The Englishman having made'a suitable reply,
or attempted it, for his ideas continued somewhat
confused, the prince went on to say that, if it met their
convenience, he should be very glad if they would
favour him with their company for a few days
longer, when they would he more immediately
his guests. The lady however, declared to her
husband, aside, that he shouldn't recover her-
self until they were out of the house ; the invitation,
therefore, was politely and gratefully declined. The
Englishman contrived to give a handsome douceur to
the domestics, and the prince insisted on sending them
to their hotel in his carriage. On being asked after-
wards if he had given the prince his ,at!, the English-
man replied, " No! what was the use of resenting
him with a card with 'Mr. Jones' upon it ? '