Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-02-09
o went to the rescue q my friend.

so went to the rescue os my friend.
His appearance somewhat startled me.
His uniform, none of newest, had not
been in its best days more picturesque
and becoming than American uniforms
were Certain stains upon the coat
might be Indian blood, and might he
tobacco. But to cap all, on his soldier
ly head was that hat, the result Ct jeff.
Davis anxious inquiries as how best
to reform our army. / said nothing,
but assisted the Colonel in putting the
finishing touches to his toilet, all the
while enjoying the anticipated pleasure
of witnessing the shock evinced when
my rotund and good natured chief, the
Hon. John T., came to see that hat.
At eleven A. =. the minister's carriage
ratified to the door, and the minister,
accompanied by the Hon. D. X. Nc
Crea, assembled to our little drawing
room. So soon as Old Virginia's spec
linen of diplomatic adipose could get
breath for the purpose, it attacked
Sumner:
say, Sumner, what's that?"
Chat why that's cur soldiers hat
I'm going to showis to the Emperor. u
You're not going to wear it3"
eyes, am"
"Well, I'll be -" / won't 90
we'll get put out by the servants. We
couldn't get in. Why the devil don't
you send it to the Minister of War
He will show it to the Emperor.
Now, Colonel Sumner had two OBJ.
jects in view in soliciting this presenta-
ton, as he subsequently confded to me
in very injured tone. He wished to
exhibit this hat to the Emperor, and
himself to the Empress. But the min.
lister was master of the situation. His
wishes could not be ignored.
"Confound it," said the Colonel, in
sulky tone, "I've got no other"
"Well, buy one, said Judge Mason;
and Madeleine was dispatched for that
purpose to the street. and soon return.
ed with an elegant French chapeau
with the French colors. Sumner swore
that he would not sail under false colors.
"Well, then, pluck the feathers out, >
growled the Minister, "and let's 60,
for times up"
"Now," said the Minister, while roll.
ing along towards the palace, "Sum.
ner, when you are presented to the EN-
press, be careful to say nothing to hel
| about Cuba. She's an i'll tempered
woman, and won't stand much, l Car
tell you"
Sumner was busy pulling out the OBJ
noxious feathers, and did not seem to
hear the admonition. Judge Mason
repeated it, and received no response
| Wishing to impress the important ad-
vice upon his friends mind, he repeat
ed 1t again, when Sumner angrily ex.
claimed:
"Do you think l am fool, Judge
Mason? know what to talk about.
As subsequent events proved, he had
not heard word his friend had ut
tered.
When Judge Mason reached the
magnificent reception hall of the palace
he found, to his alarm and disgust, thai
he had thrust huge piece Of tobacco
in his mouth, and had to be got rid of
before the Emperor appeared. He
looked anxiously about him. The
polished floors were like marble, nc
conveniences could be found, the win
dows were inaccessible, the fireplaces
gorgeous shams. At last, and just il
time, the troublesome contents were
| deposited in a rich antique vase that
graced a niche in the wall We used
to laugh at the legation over the sur
prise that must seize upon the servants
while engaged in cleaning that vase,
when they would come upon this
strange compound, wondering what il
could be, and ending, perhaps, in send
ing it to the Academy of Science fol
analysis. That this learned body would
eventually pronounce it masticated
| tobacco VT were satisfied: but whether
a learned and ingenious essay would
not follow, as to whether the ancient
Greeks knew of, and used the weed
made up the question.
The interview with the Emperor was
pleasant and satisfactory. His Imperial
Insignifcance was evidently struck with
the soldierly figure and bearing of oul
Colonel, and the talk about Indians and
Indian fighting was long and interest.
ing. When it terminated Judge Mason
and his friends were conducted to the
reception apartments of the Empress.
She stood surrounded by the ladies and
officers of her household, in the sub.
| dued light of the painted windows,
beautiful as n royal poets dream. She
was then in the MONDAY glory of hen
lovely womanhood. Her sweet face,
with features regular to fault, was
framed in by hair delicate and bright
as the silk upon the corn, with golden
chestnut tinge impossible to describe.
Her lovely head sat on her white round
! ed neck with the ease of bird on a
swaying limb, while her graceful figure
carried it's drapery as if every fold OF
the costly fabric was a. part of the
queenly self, and had been woven into