The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-08-19
A POINT OF HONOR.

Twas dining at table d'hote in the
only country of Europe where decent
dinner is still to be got at such places
when my attention was attracted by 6
tall, reserved man, in the uniform of 8
cavalry officer, who sat at the head of q
side.table. Beside me was a Queens
messenger, Captain Bolton, who Of
course knew every thing and everybody,
from the gossip OF the legations which
he visited in professional capacity; SC
asked him who the grave looking
soldier might be. His reply was q
startler.
THAT is Field Marshal Eisenberg,' -
answered the Queens messenger, coolly,
naming one of the first soldiers of our
sge.' HE always dimes here, and has
done SO ever since l have been in the
line.n
"Odd place to pick up a Field Mar
shal, at a dinner in public house, isn't
It. at least in these piping times OF
peace?'
"Hap exclaimed Captain Bolton,
who, like several of the distinguished
corps to which he belongs, is an agreea-
Die rattle. . Ha, thereby hangs a tale
don't you know it?'' &
8" had just returned-for I, too, am
in the line'-from Barataria, whittier /
mad been sent by grateful country for
not belonging to one of the governing
families then in power, so / replied,
somewhat to Bottoms astonisbment,
that g I did not know it,
We'll, then" remarked the Captain,
galy, Il will tell it you when l have
done with this pheasant and melon
salad, which is too good to spoil for an
he eat for some time in silence and
with such an evident sense of enjoy
ment that | did not venture to question
alm further, though noticed a certain
Feoccupied air about him, as though
ae were trying to recall some half-for-
gotten incident, or were, perhaps, try
ng 70 put it into language which would
20 more credit to his reputation as an
saPert narrator. By-and-by, when the
eofee came, he lit cigar, which had
n eeen sent him by little Jinks, our Vice
consul at the Havana. and as the first
wreaths OF perfumed smoke curled
,ound about him, he thus delivered
almself: The Marshal used to have
:. as ne spoke the gaunt, upright figure
y tne famous military commander
arode . by. He turned his haggard face
soWard us as he did so, but there was
~ - speculation in his eyes and the life
uat was in him seemed to serve only
y carry heart that was dead. Though
ss.ery one at the hotel made way for
IM sa Wltha sort of awe-stricken respect,
~ ~ saluted nobody. but passed out into
NC :. street like some mournful spectre,
nv terrible, but unutterably sad. Then
-. - heard the clank of his harness in the
sase-room and once his sword smote
gsa,ns. MS spurs as he girded it on.
lss sil ae was gone. His appearance
psa Ra,. served but to emphasize Captain
lsal ,.on statement, that IS 'he used to
b.al ae Queens messenger, who had
~ ssea interrupted by the solemn appari-
n.y.. ssa ABOVE mentioned, threw back his
ssa' H. perhaps to get better view of
sn;sa II subject, took a long pull at his cigar,
tIaa I'snea . his coffee, began his liquor and
.l NV went on with his story.
Cor. les, as was saying, Field Marshal
~. oOsn1 Elsenberg had a son, who was
s. sru OF the finest young men in the
maa, as' de was in light cavalry regi-
b;s bu' ana all the girls went mad about
ha;n ,'.l lou never saw a fellow better
saa sa,,'' or with more downright pluck
4 = IN nm. Hang it, sir, he deserved
IN - an Engglishman, and / used to tell
ean,s al 20 when passed through here and
Esa, @ geea days shooting with him at
ba'saeim--a NJ = grand place his governor
~ snen: 1t is sold now. Never was
Rna,l ule =. CHEEKY or better companion than
) aIy ! Elsenberg. Hecould ride as well
m ola Cork and shoot snap shots with
n ~ @ one you like to name. 1t wasn't
hs.s a.ler either about him. He had
a ~ :. VI. IN big war and done all sorts
i aue thlngs. His nerves were said to
Isa a"so1derfully steady under fire and he
,Ss tl1een tliaaen well to the front in one of
''ioest hand-to-hand fights on rec