The Portland daily press., 1881-11-26
A Little Mistake.
Philadelphia Times.]

lPhiladephia 1lmes.J
When Lionel 8. SackvilIe- West, the new
BIZ mister to the United States, was
booked for Philadelphia on the other side OF
the Atlantic, he betrayed considerable anx-
iety lest he might suffer by landing at a port
where none of the aristocracy, so far as he
knew, had landed before "I'ye often heard
OF New York. you know" he is reported have
said, "and I am told the facilities for travelling
form there to Washington are quite comfort
able. They have railways all the way, am
told, but PHILADELPHIA never heard about
the travelling facilities from Philadelphia or
how travellers get from there to Washington
or the condition of the roads-but suppose it
will not take very much longer to 60 to Wash
ington from Philadelphia than it would take
to go from New York
To be on the safe side, Mr.. West sent his
valet on the steamer ahead of him to examine
the country and the roads and find the shortest
routes, and meet him and report upon his ar
rival. Now it happened that in connection
with the diplomatic service abroad Mr.. West
found it convenient to have a valet who, while
an Euglishman, still spoke French, and Mr..
Willis-for that is the name the gentleman OF
the bed-chamber bears upon his stylish visiting
card-aside from his natural gifts, by reason OF
his extensive travels and information, is a very
agreeable aud interesting person. When,
therefore, small, natty individual with a
fresh face and mutton-chop whiskerS, fiat
hat, square shoes and an overcoat reaching TO
his heels appeared on board the government
vessel crowded with Senators and Judges and
Coionels and Commodores and men with tre-
mendous bank accounts, all intent ON meeting
and welcoming the diplomatist, there was
nutter on the quarterback that extended TO
the cabin where a dues wasin progress between
one said, "Who is hep" A fortunate iudivid-
ual, who had previously got wind of him and
simply knew that he was ami EDglishman
aud Mr.. Vests avant courier, quickly had
him by the arm and was Introducing him ali
around. General So-and-so, let me in-
trodnce you to my particular friend
Mr.. Willis, the new minister's private
secretary" Judge Such-and-snch, come
here minute until present you to Mr.. Wills,
the secretary of the legation and a personal
friend of Mr. Vests" Excuse me; DR.
Wills, allow me to present TO you the Hon. So
and so, one of our most distinguished citizens
The doctor. Mr.. Sp-and SO, is in charge OF
foreign affairs at Washington until Mr.. West
arrives"
This is about the way the thing went on
Every body wanted to be introduced and Mr..
Wills was the lion of the hour. If they could
not have Mr.. West, they could at least have
Mf. wills VINO was the next thing TO him. Sew
eral distinguished citizens thought it disgrace
full that Mr.. Wills should be subjected to pro
miscuous intro AUCTIONS, and by the exercise Of
considerable diplomacy, engineered him off in
70 the after cabin where they had him all TO
themselves aud feted him to their hearts con-
tent. He was professionally an entertaining
companion, and afterward, with the select pri-
vate party going down the river on tug, sit
ting in a cosy little room, it was delightful to
hear him telling about Gortschakoff's peculi-
arities, the character of the Vienna water, the
condition of the road to Moscow, the style OF
Eugene ia her palmiest days, and great deal
more such as travelled man of taste would
observe or lackey be able TO retail after hear
ing it from other lips. Aud when the visit
ing party arrived on board the steamship
manifest change came over Mr.. Wills A re-
Por.er had already noticed that Mr.. Wills had
steered clear of Mr.. Adam of the British en-
bassy at Washington, and that Mr.. Adam. who
had coniidentially told the reporter that his
grandmother was Lady North, took no more
notice of Mr.. Wills than he did OF the wooden
figure head on the tug. son. said Mr. Adam
TO quessioner, hes only Mr.. Vests valet,
my dear fellow; that's alb