The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-03-26

OH tins point, as IL turned out, was cor
rect. The one supreme effort of origin
ality which Mr.. Dornoway-Dicke had
made was to personity the landed inter-
est in this peculiar fashion
"Wha. the Land wants, SIR" he
would observe very slowly and majes-
tically $50 that you had plenty of time
so suggest to yourself stop dressing'
s'coprolltes," and what not), "wiat
The Land wants, SIR" he always re-
peated this charming phrase, sis fair
play"
ssThe Laud' wanted SO many things
in the course of our conversation at
dinner. that had begun to think it
somewhat exacting, and indeed to get
a little impatient of Mr. Dornoway-
Dicke himself But / am never, or at
least hardly ever, discourteous, and
though bored TO extremity, like a
wooden ship exposed to the action of
the teredo navalis. endured it as
though L had been made of iron. /
had asked the man TO dinner, and in
one sense had certainly paid for it, so
telt constrained by the duties OF hospi-
tality to be civil till the meal was over.
When it was flushed and we repaired
to the smoking room l had no such
scruple. "The Vine," says the classic
| author, "is the Evoker of TRUTH" and
this is even still more the case with the
Cigar. Imagine then my indignation
at that amazing remark of my compan-
ion, 'I, for example, occupy position
in the country beyond my talents !;
while You possess talents that are con-
siderably above what is necessary
ahem-to person OF your condition
in lite"
"Pray," said I, "Mr. Dornoway-
Dicke, confine your observations to
yourself, as you generally do. As to
your talents, have no reason to doubt
your own modest estimation cf them,
but as to your position in the country
was not aware that you had any"
| hope this was not rude. spoke
in the gentlest tones of which the
human voce-or at all events my
voice-is capable, aud in manner
that was certainly winning, for felt
that had scored. To my astonish-
ment Mr. Dornoway- Dicke remained
quite unruff1ed he carefully removed
the ash from the ED OF his cigar with
his signet ring, and answered quietly,
almost humbly, "You quite mistake
me. / said my position in tie country.
of which, as you tell me, you know
nothing. You are not then familiar
with Mangelwurzelehire ?'
/ was certainly not. bad heard of
it, OF course bur felt myself FORUM
ate in not having to spell it.
"Ah, thought go" be continued,
blandly. "You should come down to
Dornoway Court and see me at home
Then you would understand why
don't ottener visit London. In town |
am, comparatively speaking, nobody !;
bnt in Mangelwurzelshire- do
you say, now, TO running down to US
for the first week in September ?''
Five minutes before should have
said 'No' without the ightest hesita.
ton !; bat the outrageous vanity OF the
mans manner tickIed me to the core.
/ felt curious to see those natives OF
Mangelwurzelshire to whom Mr.. Dorno-
way-Dicke appeared to be person of
importance and moreover, had not
yet discovered whether he wore wig
or not. .'TLe worst part of wig,"
Gays the old riddle, 'sas of love, is the
parting - but Mr. Dornoway-D Dicke's
parting was perfect, and so delicate
that one wonId have almost said it
bad 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 it ever was, SO often. 81 will
come to Dornoway Court with pleas
ure," said and on the appointed
day went.
Important as my hosts position in
the country may be, it is not my in
tention to describe "Mr. DornowaY-
Dicke at home'' as though he were
public character. Suffice it to say,
that he was better at home than abroad,
or at least in London and as his family
were pleasant people and his house full
OF cheerful company, | did not regret
my visit. The "Court," as he loved
to call it, was, however, so peculiar
that must say few words about it.
1t was the only edifice with which