Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-24
A POINT OF HONOR.

only country of Europe where decent
dinner is still to be got at such places,
when my attention was attracted by a
tall, reserved man, in the Uniform of a
cavalry offierr, who sat ut the head Of a
side-table. Beside me was a Queens
messenger, Capt. Bolton, who, of course,
knew everythingand everybody, from the
gossip of the legations which he visited
in professional capacity; so l asked
him who the grave-lookiug soldier
might be. His reply was astartler.
"That is Field Marshal E;senberg,"
answered the Queens messenger cool]y,
naming one Of the first soldiers Of our
age. "He always dimes here, and has
done so ever since l have been in the
line.
"Odd place to pick up Field Marshal,
at dinner in public house, isn't it, at
least in these piping times ofpeace''
"Hsw p exclaimed Capt. Bolton, who,
like several of the distinguished corps
to which he belongs, is an agreeable
Rattle. "Ha, thereby hangs tale
don't you know it p
had just returned-for l, too, am sin
the line"-from Barataria, whittier |
had been sent by grateful country for
not belonging to one Of the governing
families then in power, so replied,
somewhat to Bottoms astonishment, ~
did not know it,
"Well, then," remarked the Captain,
.gaily,'I will tell it you when I have
done with this pheasant and melop
salad, which is too good to spoil for an
anecdote"
He eat for some time in silence and
with such an evident sense Of enjoyment
that | did not venture to question him
further, though | noticed certain preoc-
cupied air about him, as though he were
trying to recall some half-forgotten
incident, or were, perhaps, trying to
put it into language would do more
credit to his reputation as an expert
narrator BY and by, when the coffee
came, he lit cigar, which had been sent
him by little Jinks, our Vice Consul at
the Havana, and as the first wreaths of
perfumed smoke curled round about
him, he thus delivered himself 1.-THE
Marshal used to have q SON.
As he spoke the gaunt, upright figure
ofthe famous military commander strobe
by. He turned his haggard face towards
us as he did so, but there was no specula.
ton in his eyes, and the life that was in
him seemed to serve only to carry heart
that was dead. Though every one a,
the hotel made way for him with sort
of awe-stricken respect, he saluted no.
body, but passed out into the street like
some mournful spectre, not terrible, hui
unutterably sad. Then we heard tht
clank Of his harness in the ante-room
and once his sword smote against his
spurs as he grded it on. Then he was
gone. His appearance had served but
to emphasize Capt. Bottoms statement
that he used to have a son."
The Queens messenger, who had beer
Interrupted by the solemn apparitior
above mentioned, threw back his head
perhaps to get better view of his sub
iect, took long pull at his cigars, fin
ished his coffee, began his liquor ant
then went on with his story.
Yes, rs was saying. Field Marsha
Count ElSenberg had son who was on
of the finest young men in the army. Fl,
was in light cavalry regiment, and al
the girls went mad about him. Yol
never saw fellow better built, or witt
more downright pluck in him. Han!
it, sir, he deserved to be an Englishman
and | used to tell him so when I passet
through here, and could get day
shooting with him at Edelsheim-:
grand place his Governor had then. L
is sold now Never was more cheer,
or better companion than Rudy Elsen
berg. He could ride as well as Lore
Cork, and shoot snap shots with any on
you like to name. 1t wasn't all glitte
either about him. He had been out in
big war, aud done all sorts of fine things
His nerves We're said to be wonderful,
steady under fire, and he had riddel
we'll to the front in one of the bloodies
hand-tO.hand fights on record. Of cours
he did not rise in rank very quickly, TO
the Marshal would not hear of his beiny
promoted out Of his turn, and there wa
nothing Of the cocktail about him, so h
did not put himselfin the way OF specia
y al fa4 5