New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-10
A LUNDER IN HIGH LIFE.


From new work called L'Inde Contemporaries,
by f. da Lanoye, lately published at Paris, we
translate the following story which is almost too
good to be true:
When LORD Il, the recently appointed Gov
ernOr of Madras, going out to India he found at
Suez, comfortably Installed in the best sateroou of
the steamer, Frenchman whose bearing, costume
and language realized the conventional type of the
perfect gentleman; rreproachably shod, gloved,
barbered and cravattd, wearing immaculate linen,
and putting for every meal an entire dress of
the latest cut and marked by the finest taste If he
were travelling without suite and had entered on the
register only his first name it without doubt be.
cause he had good for preserving an ncognto
political reasons, perhaps. And if from the enor.
nous Of his baggage he might have been sup.
posed to be travelling clerk on his way TO the East
with samples of all the fabrics of Paris his pthy
conversation the gravity of his and his dgni.
fed reserve, sometimes slightly ironcal upon the pro-
auctions of the kitchen and cellar of the purser dis.
posed Of this suppositOn promptly as did the crown
of an earl which was boIe upon each Of his numerous
runks.
Besides, he spoke understandngly Of the salons Of
London and Paris, of the balls Of Lord c., the en-
tertaDments of Earl W, and the dinners Of Baron
R; giving such Diet ails that it impossible not
to suppose that he had taken prominent part them,
and more than that, few words careessy let fall in
his conversation induced the suppostion that he had
lived on intimate terms with Lord DahOusie, tho
Governor-General of India, who was then expecting
him at Calcutta. All these data, compared computed
and commented upon by the restless curiosity Of his
fellow travellers, led them, and Lord H first of ALL
to conclude that this mysterious parsonage must be
- Al IA.
establishments in India, at least the Governor Of
Chandemagore.
"This point being once settled, the stranger naturally
became the oD the center Of observation and attrac
ton of the little coterie Of the cabin Lord II. pro-
claims him to be without rival at whist, and would
have no other partner, and thought himself perfectly
happy when he could seated his right at table
man who on the first inspection relentlessly reduced
to the lowest deeps of the vnous hierarchy vines
which were presented to him as the products OF the
most favored soils. This Frenchman was in TACT
universal genius At the concert In the evening, u
the very moment even, when on the quarter aeck 10
exchar ged grave political remarks men and things
in Europe with Lord H., he would care essy approscn
the musicians to correct discordant note or TO sP-
prove by patronizing gesture difficult passage VIC
toriously surmounted About the tea table be wore
the same mastery condescensoD, not even disdanng
70 give bis advice in relation TO the best methods OIL
making the precious beverage, and he seemed to be az
well acquainted as Robert Fortune himself with all
the varieties of the aromatic plant Happy, then, the
soupg miss who was ntrusted with the delicate fnno'
tions of Hebe. if she succeeded in exchanging 0f
smile of appreciation the sweetened cup and the toas.
which she had artisticaly prepared for this pVesee
mortal for although it must be said that he hsa e'
IDENTIFY doubled Cape Forty, he might still DC csneS
handsome man, and they were almost certain 'n"' ~
was unmarried.
$50 he reigned King of fashion on the steamer HUN
Suez 70 Ceyop where he excused himself from an IN
ytatiou TO dinner sent him by the Governor Of tnas
leland alleging that he was indisposed; from Ceyon
TO Madras where Lord H attempted in vain 10 n-
duce him to remain, and at parting expressed hs regret
and esteem with such energy that he nearly brok0
three of bis fDgers; and from Madras to Calcutta
where his fellow travelling friends were stupehed WIN
horror to learn that he whose influence they had al
sought for, whose they had admired, whose msn'
Ders they had appauded; whose regard whose sni'ss
and preference they had been intriguing to gam Wa
none other than clever French cook, whom A""
Dalhouse was importing to take charge OF ms rssse
Zone must be all Epgishman to comprehend my
describe the confusion Of the voluntary dupes VI 'u
modification; when was in Calcutta and MaofS~
was the topic of conversation in all the Europe~
salons people were talking about it, and pernaPs~
still more in spirit OF sadness than Of jest; ana
sure that in all India no man but Lord Dalhos~
would have dared to laugh over il heartily"