The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-03-10

y
no hesitation in designating as ''classic"
the one that was surmounted with tenn
pie of Cupid, and figure of that god in
polychromatic pastry.
"a hit I" exclaimed the marquis. Bra
vol Rostain shalt hear of it, and his
heart will rejoice. All, monsieur, why
has it not been my good fortune to receive
you in my house few days sooner? /
might perhaps have kept Rostain, or, to
speak more truly, Rostain might perhaps
have kept me, for l cannot conceal the fact,
gentlemen hunters, that you are not in
the good graces of the old chef, and am
not far from attributing his departure,
from whatever pretext he may choose to
color it, to the annoyance he feels at Your
complete indifference. Thinking it might
be agreeable to him, l informed him
few weeks ago that our huntingsmeet-
ings were about to secure him concourse
of connoiseurs worthy of HE talents"
"Monseur lie Marquis will excuse me"
replied Rostain with sickly smile, "if l
do not share his illusions: in the first
place hunter devours and does not eat;
he brings to the table the stomach of a
man just saved from shipwreck, iratltm
ventrem, astHorace says, and swallows up
without choice and without reflection,
guLG parens, the most serious productions
of an arts; in the second place, the vic,
lent exercise of the chase has developed
in such guests an inordinate thirst, which
they generally slake without moderation.
Now, monsieur lie Marquis is not igno-
rant of the opinion of the ancients on
the excessive use of wine during meals it
blunts the taste, ersurdant vind pdlatumi
Nevertheless, Monsieur lie Marquis may
rest assured that l shall labor to please
his guests with my usual conscientious
ness, though with the painful certainty
of not being understood"
After uttering these words, Rostain
draped himself in his toga, cast to heav-
en- the look of an unappreciated genius
and left my study.
81 would have thought" said to the
marquis, that you would have spared no
sacrifice TO retain that great man."
"You judge me correctly, cir" replied
Monsieur de Malouet; "but you'll see he
carried me to the very limits of impossi-
bility. Precisely week ago, Monsieur
Rostain, having solicited private audi
ence, announced to me that he found him
self under the painful necessity of leaving
my service. 'Heavensl Monsieur Ros-
tain to leave my service! And where do
you expect to goP TO Paris What
to Paris! But you had shaken upon the
great Babylon the dust of your sandals!
The decadence of taste, the increasing de-
| velopment of the romantic cuisinel Such
are your own words, Rostainf He re-
Piled Doubtless, Monsieur lie Marquis;
but provincial life has bitter trials which
l had not forseenp l offered fabulous
wages; he refused. Come my good fell
low, what is the matter? Ali see, you
don't like the scullery-maid; she disturbs
your meditations by her vulgar songs;
very well, consider her dismissed \
That is not enough2 Is it Antoine, then,
who is objectionable?' Plldiecharge himl
Is it the coachman? I'll send him awayp
In short, offered him, gentleman. the
whole household as a holocaust. But, at
all these prodigious concessions, the old
chef shook his head with indifference
But, finally exclaimed, in the name of,
heaven, Monsieur Rostain, do explaiDl'
Mon Dieu! Monsieur lie Marquis then
said Jean Rostain, Il must confess to you
that it is impossible for me to live in a
place where | find no one to play a game
| of billiards with mep Ma fol | it was a
little too muchl" added the marquis, with
cheerful good nature. II could not really
offer to play billiards with him myself!
1 had to submit. l wrote at once to Par
is, and last evening young cook arrived
who wears a mustache and gave his name
as Jacquemart( of Bordeaux). The classic
Rostain, in sublime impulse of artistic
pride, volunteered to assist Monsieur Jac-
quemart (of Bordeaux) in his first effort
and that's how, gentlemen, / was able to
day to serve this great eclectic dinner, OF
which, / fear,we will alone, Monsieur and
myself, have appreciated the mysterious
beauties"
Monsieur de Malouet rose from the ia.
BILE as he was concluding the story of Ros
tain's epic. After coffee, followed the
smokers into the garden. The evening
was magnificent The marquis led me
away along the main avenue, the fine sand
of which spsrkled in the moonlight be-
tween the dense shadows of the tall chest.
nuts. While talking with apparent care
lessnes, he submitted me to sort of ex
animation upon a variety of subjects, as
if to make sure that / was worthy of the
interest he had 80 gratuitously manifested
toward me up to this time. We were fal
from agreeing on all points; but, gifted
both with sincerity and good nature, w
found almost as much pleasure in argu
ing as we did in agreeing. That epicuri
an is a thinker; his thoughts, al
ways generously inclined, has assumed
in the solitude where it has developed it.
self, peculiar and paradoxical turn.
wish could give you an idea of it.
As we were returning to the chateau
we heard a great noise of voices anC
laughter, and he saw at the loot of tn,
stoop some ten or twelve young men wht
were jumping and bounding, as if tryinj
TO reach, without the help of the steps
the platform that crowns the double stair
case. We were able to understand tn
explanation of these passionate gymnas
tics as soon as the light of the moon ena
bled us to distinguish a while dress on tn
platform. 1t was evidently a tournamen
in which the white dress was to crow
, the victor. The young lady chad she no
been young, they would not have jumpe,
SO high) was leaning over the balustradt
exposing boldly to the dew of an autumn
/, night, and to the kisses of Diana, he
fiower,wreathed head and her bare shoul
ders; she was slightly STOPPING down, an
held out to the competitors an objec
} somewhat difficult to discern at a distance
: it was a slender cigarette the delicat
, handiwork of her white fingers and he
5 rosy nails Although there was nothing
: in Che sight that was not charming. Mon
, sierr. de Malouet probably found in