Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-12-03
A Charming

A late Paris letter relates an exquisite
and at the same time bloodless v~engence
of a deposed official.
Mr.. Tesch is the Belgian Minister of
Justice. A few days ago he depoSed a
Justice of the Peace at Brussels, named
Mr.. Mastricau. Mr.. Mastricau was not
entirely satisfied with the proceeding,
and, restored to the elegant shades of
private fashionable life, resolved to en-
ploy his abundant leisure in rendering all
the graceful little attentions in his power
to the minister voluntarily deprived of
his services. Now, this is the way he did
1t.
Mr.. Tesch having taken a vacation, sets
out for Ostend; into the railroad car which
he occupies he beholds Mr.. Mastricau
enter; that gentleman salutes him. and
instals himself by his side. Arriving at
Ostend he finds Mr.. Mastricau getting
out at the same hotel; the minister goes
to take a bath, the deposed gentleman
plunges in two fathoms from him; his
Excellency takes an airing on the dixie,
the disgraced one follows close behind
him. Mr.. Tesch repairs to the Kursaal,
everywhere he turns his companion is
Mr.. Mastricau. Mr.. Tesch goes to admire
the dancing-girls in the concert saloon;
Mr.. Mastricau applauds with him in cho-
rus. Wherever is Mr.. Tesch there also is
Mr.. Mastricau.
Orestes and Pylades were less assiduous
in their Fellowship than the deposed and
his deposer. They were absol utely insep
arabic. Mr.. Tesch finally became alarm
ed. Perhaps this obstinate pursuit cover
ed sinister projects. To protect himself
from possible violence, the Minister OF
Justice requested that Mr.. Mastricau
shsuld be put under surveillance. Accord
ingly an agent of the police, in citizens
dress, and a gendarme, were detailed to
dog Mr.. Mastricau's footsteps wherever
he went.
Not one whit astonished at the recep-
ton of these honors, Mr.. Mastricau con-
tinued to follow Mr.. Tesch like the shade
of Banquo. He only changed his style.
Hitherto, on meeting the Minister he
was content with a single bow. From the
day that he was first attended by his two
acolytes, after having lifted his hat TO
Mr.. Tesch he turned toward the gendar-
me and saluted him-then toward the
agent of police and bowed again.
As they say in the theatrical pufs, the
appearance of the gendaFme and the
agent was a madaening success. The
great assembly of bathers at Qstend
caught the joke. They focked every
where in crowds TO see Mr.. Tesch, follow
ed by NJ. Mastricau, followed by the
agent, followed by the gendarme. They
make themselves into a perfect hedge.
Four days ago Mr.. Mastricau was in the
bowling vein, and at every ten PAGES sa-
luted the crowd, who, less respectful, re-
piled with insane braves. Mr.. Tesch
quickened his pace, Mr.. Mastricau did
the same, and redoubled his bows.
Nj. Tesch was obliged literally to cut
and run. There was no other escape
from the ridiculous scene. The e~xjus-
tice put himself upon his gymnastics, the
crowd wheeled, and all 0stend frantically
precipitated itself toward the Casino,
where Mr.. Tesch was flying to take ref
uge. That night the Belgian minister
quilted 0stend. Yesterday he arrived at
Baden. The first person he met in the
conversation saloon was Mr.. Mastricau,
hat in his hand, a smile on his lips.
Mr.. Tesch will be obliged to reinstate
the terrible justice in his Office, TO put a
stop to this pitiless persecution.