The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-29

iCcoit w utetk do u iuUlo COpiVuS anu
flexible language
This was certainly very we'll, even for
gardener so acute and we'll instructed
as Scottish gardener generally is.
While thus climbing up Richmond
Hill, / bethought myself of a man with
whom had some slight acquaintance,
who had recently taken to himself new
house, furniture and fittings, which last
included new wife. l passed his house,
and looking through the gates on to the
lawn saw the man himself, with the
placens uxor in the distance. I hailed
him through the open gate, and he re-
sponded with effusion.' He showed me
his gardens-very pretty gardens in their
way, and gardening is the loveliest
amusement with which an Englishman
can delight himself. He showed me his
furniture. and, being of an ecclesiastical
frame of mind, there was plenty of old
oak and stained glass, and the walls, in
paper and pictures, were excellently
toned in unison. He insisted on show
ing me every reception-room, and would
have shown me the rooms upstairs, only
| was content to take the upstairs for
granted. Of course | congratulated him
on the tellus ct domus ct placens uxor.
He then suggested that we should con-
verse, and left me to choose between the
library and the garden. Now in my
tour the rooms had noticed, not with
out appreciation, well-illed gazogene
and lemonade-siphon in one room, and
some delicions fruit in another, and in a
third the tea things though fancied,
from the appearance of things, that tea
was over But my friend was a great
deal more intent on improving my
mind than improving my body. He
was pre-eminently serious char
acter. He enlarged on the painful
subjects of the frivolties of Richmond,
and the necessity of providing improving
literature for the masses. Ny intelligent
readers will perceive that by this time of
day I had right to be hot and hungry.
But while my friend did full justice to
his considerable natural eloquence, he
did net show the slightest symptoms in
the direction of the fruit and lemonade.
But my own mind was now strongly set
in that direction, and so, having improved
it by his conversation, | betook myself to
a pastrycook's. Hospitality is not now
what it was once, and probably it was
even more than brbaric virtue. More
over We hardy y look for it in the suburbs
of London as in the country. Still one
likes to see an hospitable intention,
which in this cas- was conspicuous by its
absence. Above all, avoid people who
insist on showing YOU their new houses,
and expect you toadmire their furniture,
and call upon you to praise their menage
generally. They are generally profound
ly self-satisfi sfid, fussy and conceited,
thinking so much of themselves that thay
have M time 10 think of Others. / be-
thought myself, however, that | had a
friend in the noighborl,ood, an old good
friend, valde dilectus, of whom, however.
had lost sight, as people do lose sight
of each other when severed by distance
and by circumstances. l had had a
pressing invitation from him for many
months standing, and / thought that an
evenings talk with him about books
and art might wind up the dry profitably.
1t was not 50 to be. And let me warn
the reader that, if you mean to accept
an invitation, not to be too long about
taking it up. Because it may become a
dead letter in the course of time. The
people may 60 away, or become i'll, or
drop into fortune, or Dust up With
a great deal of difficulty, a difficulty
which every one will appreciate who has
hunted up suburban addresses, / rang
and asked if Major Leslie was at home
When the door was opened there stood in
the hall a tall and stately aged gentle.
man, very different from the, Slight
graceful, youthful figure which Isought.
He advanced very courteously, however
and said:
'I am the new tenant, sir. Major
LIE lie went away just fortnight ago.
was very sorry. had made up my
mind for talk with the LeIies. I hac
made up my mind for some tea. And
really did not see why should 20 with
out my tea because the Leslies didH'
happen to be still in the house.
81 hope, SIR" I sid, with my mos
winning gesture, "that you will have tht
kindness to invite me to stop 10 tea"
The stately old gentleman turned pale
In the course of a useful and prolonged
life he he'd never hitherto met such an in
stance of GOODNESS. All the legislation o
ctiauette and formality was suddenl,
tabolished. If had had feather in M
hand, / could have knocked him dow
with that feather. But am bound tt
say that he responded very nobly to thi
csll upon his hospitality. He introduced
lne to most charming family, he CAV,
me a most excellent tea, and it was on
the fear that my visit might be an intru
sion which caused me to withdraw very
early. O, why can not Chris; ians have
their tea together oftener, and without
fuss and ceremony?
/ made my way to Richmond Bridge
I bunged on the bridge admiring th'
prospect on either side, and going dowr
the steps was. soon opposite the littl'
hotilla Of pleasure boats. Presently ,
stalwart form in fannels WAS by me, ant
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