River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-01-03
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MINISTER " i4ST'S VALET.

The Elegant asnalsslItnan Whose Acqaaint
ssnce Philadelphia Eagerly soH2hf.
From tle Philadelphia Times.
When Ln0el s. Sackyiile West, ths
new British Minister to the United States,
@as u 4s.ktsa fus Etnisae!pAI4 oA tAu utssr1
side If The Al mite, he BETRAYED consider
able anxiety lest be might suffer by landing
ut a port whore none Of The ar;stoemey, 50
far So ie kEaw. had landed before.
"isaa often heard Of New York, yon
know, he is reported to have said, "and
am told the facilities for tiarelinl from
there to Washington are quite comfortable.
They have railways all t6e way / am told,
bat Philadelphia never heard about the
travelling facilities FROM Philadelphia or
how travellers set from there TO Washing
ton, or the condition of the roads-but
suppose it will not take very much longer
to 90 to Washington from Philadelphia
then it would take to go from New York. "
To be IN the safe side, Mr. West sent
his valet on in the steamer ahead OF him to
examine the country and the roads an0 find
out the shortest routes, aud meet him and
report upon his arrival. Now it happens
that in his cor neotion with the diplomatic
service abroad Mr.. West found it conyea-
lent to have n valet who. W lie an English
man. still spoke French, and Mr.. Wills
tor that is the name the gentle nan OF the
be0 chamber bears upon his stylish visit
ing caId-egide from his natural gifts, by
reason Of his extensive travels and inform
alton, is o very agreeable and interesting
person. When, therefore, small, natty
individual, with fresh face and mutton
crop whiskers. fat hat. square shoes, and
overcoat reaching 10 his heels, appeared on
board (he Government vessel, crowded with
senators and Judges and colonies and CON-
modores, and men with tire endous bank
accounts, all intent upon meeting and well
coming the dir l1matist, there was Hntfer
on the quarter deck that extended, down
into the clbin, where duet was progress
between eraking JOKES and popping corks,
and everyone said: "Whois he2'
A fortunate in iiYidu4l who had previous
" got wind Of him and simply knew that
be- was an EnQlishnau and Mr.. Vests
avant courier. quickly had him by the arm
and vas introducing him. General So
end so, lei ne introduce you to my PAR
tieuiar friend Mr.. Wills. the new minis
ter's private secretary, Z" Judge Sueh-a1d
such, come here q Einute until | present
you to Mr.. Wills, the secretary of TIE iefa-
lion, and a personal friend Of Mr.. Vests;
.'excuse me, DR.. Willis. allow me to pre-
sent to you the Hon. Mr.. So-and. SO, one
| Of our most distinguished citizens. Ihe
| doctor. Mr. So. and-so, is in charge Of tht
British 8ifairs at Washington until Mr
/ West arrives"
This is about the way the thing went on
| EVERYBODY wanted to be introduced, an0
| Mr.. Wills was the lion OF the hour. If the'
| could not have MIR. West they at least coulC
| have Mr.. Wills, who was the next thing to
| him. SeyeIal distinguished citizens
| thought it disgraceful that Mr. Wills should
| be subject to pfoniscnous introdCci1onsi
and by the exerc; Sc Of considerable dlpio'
| macy engineered him off into the after cab
| in. where they had him all to himself anC
| feted him to their hearts content.
lie was unquestionably an entertaining
| companion, aud afterwaTd, with the selec
| party eoii down the river on the tug, sit
| ing in The cosy little room, it was delight
/ fui hearing him telling about Gortchakotf
| Deeuliaritles. character of the Yiennt
/ water. the condition of the road TO Mos
| COW, the style Of Eugenie in her palmies
| DAYS, ard great deal more such as tray.
| eled man of taste would observe, or lack
| ev be able 10 retail after hearing it iron
| other lips. But when the visiting part
| arrived on board the steamship NANTES
| change came over Mr. Wills A repofte
| had already noticed that Mr.. Wills ma,
| steercd clear of Mi. Adam, of the British
| embassy at WASHINGTON. and that Mr.. AID
| am. who had confidently told the reporte
| that his eodmother was Lady North. tool
| no more notice of Mr.. Wills thar he dis
/ of the wooden figure. head on the tug
| "Oh," said Mr.. Adam to questioner
hes only Nh. West's valet, my dear fell
| low, that's all.
Il