, 1870-05-08
RCCENTRICITY,
Some OF the Antics OF the Count oj
EhntcuuIillart1.

l
ChntcAuIilllru.
From Liprineott,s Monthly.
10 enumerate tho freaks Of the eccentric
subject OF this sketch would require nearly al
the pages in this magazine. One dav he rode
up the steps Of the Jockey Club Uhen At the
corner Of Rue Druet and the Third boulevard
and played game Of billiards on horseback.
] Equeatiianism waa his passion. He rode for
come tune moat vicious horse A friend
said: VT you ride that horse three months
longer, III bet that be will Kill you" "What
viii you bet ?" asked the Count. "TwentJ!
felt in honor bound to lis friend to ride tho
horse every day, and the horse showed himself
to be SO very vicious that the Count had his
coffin made and sent home, for ha was sure
lie would require it before long. His wife,
who had long been extremely uneasy lest the
look upon the animal as dangerous as she her.
self considered him, no sooner saW the coffin
placed in her husbands dresBing-room than
she went to the stable, armed with a pair Of
pistols, and shot the dangerous steed through
the head
On one occasion tho Count was asked by q.
friend, Ma1quisc, to eco her to her carriage.
They we're at a ball. Going down Stairs,
somebody trod On her dress and tore it. She
asked for pin. The Count took from his
scarf q diamond pin, worth about ESQ, and
presented it to her: Size declined, saying,
CLJ AOAAlkY IL - GuluGlG LOQ VAlH3OlG, l9
that the only objection to the pin P" Seer,
tain1y." This word was no sooner ont Of the
Ma1quise's mouth than he broke of tho dis,
mopd, threw it out Of the neighbo1ing win
dow, and gave the golden pin to her.
tho Counts courtship. The lady who after;
wards became his wife-and who married him,
as SO many otheE women have douo their low
e1s, to effect in Mm reformation, which is,
perhaps, being at onco cruel and mcrciful- it
haf 1inIsko fcr Inn,
much music. She could not, for in
stance, bear the opern, and mover touched her
own piano without . sigh. Now, the Count
was not precisely devoted to music himself,
but 60 whimsical man could not refrain from
4 whim to win the lady,s love by affecting an
consequently protested delight in harmonies (
that was positively uncomfortable. He cama .
a-wooing first with an accordion. It's prelim- /
1naIy notes were torture TO the ears Of his love,
and sha bade him be Oh with it and never re-
4.Permlt me TO bring my cane, at least" he
said, bescechingly.
"Ce1tainIy, your cane but that is all"
Mher he next presented himself it was
with his cane. After while, however, leaY-.
ing of sucking tho end, he crept lower down,
and, balancing the stick properly, breatbed
into newly made holes. It had become q flute!
Again he was banishcd un1ess ho promised
to give up his cane He agreed, and when he |
called in due season Ias hands were empty,
but he had a new hat on. This, in the course
of the evening, transformed itself marvel /
lonaly enough into d musc-bo1.s
The lady WAS furious. Sho vowed TINT sha |
would never mary him in the world, so their
courtship had better como to M end ut once. |
He was quite independent, however, and pre-
pared to 60.
nittcd, abe said, III he placed his hand on the
knob of the door
stNo-for two reasons"
What arc they p
lenhess, and 60 nm T."
So you suppose yourself capable of read
Ing character, I perceive. But Try me-"
:" It would be- useless; you would say posi-
tTe1y no"
Bnt then u9o perseverance,"
To do that. answered the Count, "would
be 10 this case wasting most excellent virtue"
Ah, you are very peculiar, Count. Well,
7ou may como agAin; but bring no cane. no |
nueical hat--nothing OF tho kind"
He took her at her word, for on the next
occasion he appeared not only without the |
'ther prescribed articles, but oven without
ny hat at all The evening went gay1y by.
When be aroso to 60 he stopped for an Instant
fringe to relate, as ho walked atterwarl there
zero sounds Of music Issuing from the heels |
i his shoes! In flct, since lis last adventure |
lo had provided himself with little instru- 4
oent which mndesa sort Of melody when
Iessed cpcn, and, having p1hced it under his
oot, IN moving about it was quite successful
4 producing all the music necessary. This
'as too much for the lady Of tho Counts
ore; she surrendered without conditions.