The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-05-15
BAKER PASHA.
History Of the Affair that Blasted His Liz
-HEorts for His Pardon.

= bAkEk fANllA.
I History Of the Affair that Blasted His Lib
-H6orts for His Pardon.
London Letter to San Francisco Argonant.
The most engrossing topic of CONVEX
satiUt IN all circles at presentseems I'M
questionable to I've the proposed rein
/ statement in the army Of Colonel: VAL
| cntine Baker--or Baker Pasha, az he is
best known nowadays and the incidents
of the event which caused his social
downfall are called back to mind and
discussed with an interest as keen as
though they took place yesterday.
In order to understand the matter
properly, it will be necessary to go back
to the wear 1875, in the summer of which
ear Valentine Baker was the lieuten-
ant-colonel Of the Tenth Hussars, one
of the, if not the, SWEETEST light
regiments in the service. He had been
in the service since before the Crimean
war, and had served throughout that
campaign as lieutenant in the Twelfth
1gnccrs. After that he saw service in
India and China, and became noted not
alone in those tlashing qualities and
good looks which are supposed by the
readers of "Ouida" to distinguish all
Typical "plungers" as light-cavalry
Officers are called-but for Il thorough
knowledge Of his profession, particularly
that branch which embraces light cavalry
tactics. Indeed, when he became COM
handing officer of hle famous Tenth,
he was looked upon as the finest light
career rs u successful general in the
next European war that should break
out and involve England was accepted
ass, forcgone conclusion in the minds
of his admirers.
Although married man, with nearly
grown children. and though streaks of
white were growing painfully marked
in his dropping mustache, he retained
with the fair sex those fascinating
grares Of speech and manner which had
ever made him the charming companion
he was. alike in drawing boudoir,
club smoking groom. or ut reglmental
nfess-t table. Brilliant, handsome, gift
81, clover, brave, and able, he was Il IA
vorite among men and a pet among wo-
men, He Was q great friend Of, the
Prince of Wales-or. rather More prop
crlv speaking, the Prince of Wales was
great friend of his. The prince was
t'le colonel of the Tenth Hussars Gan
honorary position which gives pay and
uniform without requiring any duty. in
rcturn), and his being so, of course,
gave an extra eclat to the corps and its
officers.
In June, 1875 the Tenth were quar-
tered at Aldershot, and on the afternoon
of the seventeenth day of that month,
Colonel Baker left North Camp Station
Ivy the southwestern train for London,
occupying tirst-class compartment all
to himself. At Working station, just as
the bell was rung to start the train on
arain, wagonette and pair dashed into
the station yard. In it were Mr.. Click
enson "a gentleman residing in the vi
6inity), who was driving his wife, deugh-
ter and groom. With barely time to
catch the train, the first compartment
Mr. Dickinson reached he opened the
door of, and put his daughter into. II
happened to be Colonel Bakers. ]
dob't know if her father thought any
thing of it at the time; but as it turned
out it was the most unfortunate selec-
ton that could have been made for both
its passengers. Had Miss Dickinson
been put into any other impairment in
the whole train her name and fame
would not he the public property it has
been for years, and the promising career
of one of the cleverest officers in the
my blighted.
J Miss Dickinson was known as a great
beauty at this time. It was the period
when blondes were all the rage, and she
WAS regarded as sample to swear by
Her brother was an officer in the Royal
Engineers, and she herself was by nc
means unknown at garrison balls and
PLACES where officers do mostly resort
and her golden hair and azure eyes were
set off by a form and figure that might
have been a model for a sculptor. MOI
WAS her dress the least of her attractions.
On the present occasion she was dressed
in q short travelling costume of blue
serge, which fitted her like a glove, and
displayed beneath her scant draperies-
lit being the zenith Of the pull back'
period-a pair of fairy-hke feet in pat
emit leather boots and golden clocked
blue silk stockings A jaunty blue vel
vet round hat with white g1llls feath.
er in it crowned her head, while. a. mar.
row strip of black lace served as an ex.
c,1se for a mask veil.
: A friend of mine who happened to bt
. in the train, has given me this descrip
ton, accompanying it with the remark
eff the judge had seen her then, per
haps he wouldn't have been so hard or
Baker," - !, -
1t may perhaps be only fair to remark
here, without wishing to say augh
against the young lady, that her repu.
tation among those who knew her wa:
one that would lead a person into calling
her free in her mnnners with men.
At all events the train went putin s
on again and seemed all right until il
stopped at 'Clapham function: 'rher
the passengers We're thrown into d great
state of excitement by the intelligence
: that when the train had come dashin&
:, >'n to the platform, tledoor. Of Colpne
= oaker's compartment was wide open
and the colonel holding fast with on,
hand to Miss Dickinson, who stood hat
rtxs upon the step outside. A grea
" ccmmotion followed With many tear
and sobs the golden-haired beauty tolt
her story, the gallant Baker was take1
into custody, the young lady's relations
telegraphed for, and the train went OF
its way again. 4
Briefly, Miss Dickinson's story wa
that she did not know Colonel Bake
even by sight; that the train he'd hardi,
left Working when no entered into con
versation with her; that her short re
plies had no effect, but that in spite o
her GOODNESS his manner became NOR
familiar and his language improper
his off"~sive actions eliminating in hi
stopping down and grasping her by on
of her ankles; that therupon she jumped
up and tried to set the alarm in motion
but being intercepted by Colonel Baker
and not knowing what else, to do, ssh
sprang to the door, burst it open, ant
swung herself out upon the steps, the
train going at the rate of forty miles, al
hour; that Colonel Baker sprang afte
her, and unable to draw her bacl
into the compartment, held her frml,
from falling, as she might otherwis
have done. In reply, Colonel Bake
had 4 not word to say <excep
=, tdgive an absolute denial to the who'll
story or at least Miss ,Dickin
sons version of ii. The al
fair happening during the height of th
= ~