The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-12-08
An Austrian Countess Appreciation Of a
Brilliant CgnvorsationaliB,.


An Austrian Countess' Appreciation Of a
Brilliant Convorsationalisi.
This amusing story is told by Paris
lstter-writer:
A good story is told of an adventure
which befsl the late Charles Nodier, from
yealdiRg too readily to the temptations Of
good Kitchen and a cellar. An Austrian
Countess, Of old family and great fortune,
spent the winter Of 1882 in Paris She
had met Charles Nodier in good many
dining-rooms, and had been delighted by
his brilliant AMI piquant conversation; he
was for long time reckOned the best
talker in Paris. She heard everywhere
his talents vaunted, and that nobody gave
dinner-psrty without ct least trying to
have Charles Nodier among the guests.
Some weeks afterward, the Countess,
having determined upon giving large
dinner.party, wrote to Nodier asking if he
would be good enough t., dine with her
and her friends the Thursday following,
and in postscript she said she would be-
very much obliged to him if he, accepted
the invitation, if he would come at four
o'clock. He accepted the invitation, and
and while he thought four o'clock rather
early for dinner hour, he remembered
the Germans we're early diners, and
suspected his amiabls hostess imported
her dinner-hour from home, At four
o'clock, therefore, he was at the door.
To his surprise, he found her alone, and
not yet dressed.
"Ah how do you do' am glad to see
you--and 80 punctual tool I hope you
have not dined yet"
Charles Nodier smiled and looked as.
tonished, and said
Certainly not"
$50 much the better Come, 20 to the
table. | have had your dinner served in
the little parlor adjoining.
Really, thought poor Nodeir to himself,
these Germans are odd fish, and do
things in the 9ueerest style. His surprise
was not lessened when he saw small ta-
BILE with one cover on it, and when he
was hidden to take his seat, the Countess
rang the bell, and the previously instructed
aerYants brought in the dinner Nodier's
eyes were like saueers, so large were they.
Great Heavens, Madame, thought |
was invited to dinner party; and here |
am alone--not a guest present. you in des-
habille, and not sharing the dinner
Really / don't understand it"
The Austrian Countess now manifested
ae much surprise as tho French writer,
and she said (allow me to show how her
strong German accent added to the ridio-
ulousness Of her remarks. "De zing is
very zinple; tare are twentee Of my franz
coming to tine wiz me to-daa, at seek
o'clock. | means for you to set down at
de table wiz dem; you muss talk for ZEN;
you muss be funnee, gay, wittie, and
makes dem all laH No bodice shall talk
butts you. Don't be afrades, dey will all pc
glads to hear you talks Now if you was
to stop to eat dis or to trink dat dare
would pc disagreeable silenoe your de-
hghtful conversation voulds be inter.
1upted, and dens do folks would lose de
jokes, dc troll anecdotes, ozer funee
sings you says pefore folks, and de
sharm wouldz be proke everee instant.
Butts asyou have tined, zen your mind
will be free. and you cans shatter aways
and pc delightful Dis is do reason
gives you your timer before 20 ozer
folks.
Charles Nodier looked quizzingly at the
Austrian Countess, burst into a horse
laugh, and went out of the room, leaving
her furious. Atsix o'clock twenty-five OF
thirty guests we're assembled, and after
soup had been served in the solemn si.
lence which BELTS that "oonsumation
wishedsS she said II did expect to have
. to-day a delightful literary man dc pest
talkar in Paris, to telight you turing tin.
ner;put zees literary people are 80 trolll
ho accepted re timer, he comes to see
me, and zen all at once he laff take bis
lat and run of wizout say ze why or re
pecausel' The guests were surprised,
and questioned their hostess; the secret
leaked out, and the Austrian ambassador
explainedtoher the mistake she had made.
she was mortified more than | can
express and wrote 30 kind letter tc
Charles Dodier, he could not but pardon
her, She looked (and not without some
ground or reason) upon literary man u,
,nnn n Y,uo;c;au who uoa noid to d.o,rx