The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-13


cleared up, which promised me some
little excitement, and was also curious
to know whether he talked of " the
Land'' as though it were alive, which l
was assured he did. My information
upon this point, as it turned out, was
correct. The one supreme effort of
originality which Mr.. Dornoway-Dicke
had made was to personify the landed
interest in this peculiar fashion.
"What the Land wants, sir" he
would observe very slowly and males
tically ESQ that you had plenty of time
to suggest to yourself top-dressing,"
coprolites," and what mott, "what
the Land wants, sir" he always re-
peated this charming phrase, SIS fair
play"
"The Land" wanted so many things
in the course of our conversation at
dinner, that l had begun to think it
somewhat exacting, and indeed to get
little impatient of Mr.. Dornoway-
Dicke himself. But / am never, or at
least hardly ever, discourteous, and
though boredto extremity, like a wooden
ship exposed to the action of the teredo
been made of iron. / had asked the
man to dinner, and in one sense had
certainly paid for it, so felt constrained
by the duties of hospitality to be civil
till the meal was over. When it was
finished and we repaired to the smok-
ing-room had no such scruple. "The
Vine," says the classic author, g is the
Evoker of Truth" and this is even still
more the case with the Cigar. Imagine
then my indignation at that amazing re-
mark of my companion, 81, for exam
pie, occupy position in the country
beyond my talents; while you possess
talents that are considerably above
what 10 necessary-ahem-to person
of your condition in life.'
"Pray," said 1, "Mr. Dornoway-
Dicke, confne your observations to
yourself, as you generally do. AS to
your talents, have no reason to doubt
your own modest estimation of them,
but as to your position in the country l
was not aware that you had any,"
L hope this was not rude. | spoke in
the gentlest tones of which the human
voice-or at all events my voice-is ca
pable, and in manner that was GER
tainly winning, for l felt that l had
scored. To my establishment Mr..
Dornoway-Dicke remained quite unruf-
fled; he carefully removed the ash from
the end of his cigar with his signet
ring, and answered quietly, almost
humbly, "You quite mistake me. [
said my position in the country, of
which, as you tell me, you know moth
ing. You are not then familiar with
MangelwurzelshireP'
l was certainly not. 1 had heard of
it of course, but 1 felt myself fortunate
in not having to spell it.
"Ah, L thought So" he continued,
blandly. "You should come down to
Dornoway Court and see me at home.
Then you would understand why l
don't oftener visit London. In town l
am, comparatively speaking, nobody,
but in Observation-Disclosures do
you say now to running down to us for
the first week in Septemberp''
Five minutes before l should have
said emo" without the slightest hesita-
ton; but the outrageous vanity of the
mans manner tickled me to the core
felt curious to see those natives of
Mangelwurzelshire to whom Mr.. Dor
noway-Dicke appeared to be person
of Importance, and moreover had not
yet discovered whether he wore wig
or not. "The worst part of wig" says
the old riddle, "as of love, is of part
ing;" but Mr.. Dornoway-Dicke's part
ing was perfect, and so delicate that
one would have almost said it had been
effected by female hand. Among the
simpler inhabitants of Arcadia he
might take less extreme precautions to
deceive the public; and he certainly
would not get his hair cut, if cut il ever
was, so often. 81 will come to Dorno-
way Court with pleasure" l said; and
on the appointed day went.
Important as my hosts position in
the country may be, it is not my inten-
ton to describe " Mr.. Dornoway-
at home," as though he were public
character. Suffice it to say, that he
was better at home than abroad Cor at
least in London); and as his family
were pleasant people and his house
full of cheerful company, l did
not regret my visit. The Court" as
he loved to call it, was however so pc
culiar that must say a few words about
it. 1t was the only edifice with which
am acquainted which gratified ones
sense of humor. 1t was quite spick-
and-span as respects newness, but built
and furnished in the medieval style.
A gravel drive, rolled to perfection, led
up to frowning entrance, with huge
oaken portal in which was inserted a
little hole barred with iron for purposes
of espial. Through this the porter was
supposed Though he never did it) to
take cognizance of the approaching WIS.,
itor, and if peaceful, to unbar the mas
sive bolts of the great door to let him
in. Everything in the house was ap-
parently of the same epoch, but in real
ity about three years old. In the din
ing-room was a Fireplace as big as an
ordinary parlor, and before which one
would not have been surprised to see
pair of trunk hose airing, as a couple
of jack boots. The sideboard, to the
modern and inartistic eye, resembled a
kitchen dresser; while in the morning
room was spinning wheel with the
flax in it, as though the thrifty house
wife had just been called away from
that occupation to superintend the con-