The Mineral argus., 1884-05-22
BAKER PASHA.
History Of the AFai that Blasted His life
Efforts for His Pardon.

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Efforts for His Pardon.
London Letter to San Francisco Argonant
The most %engrossing topic of onv
sation in all circles at present seems I'M
questionably to be the proposed rein
statement in the army of Colonel Val
entine Baker-or Baker Pasha, as 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
wear Valentine Baker was the heuten-
a~nt-colonel of the Tenth Hussars, n
of the, if not the, SWEETEST hght-cavalry
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
Lancers. After that he saw service in
India and China, and became noted not
alone in those dashing 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 a thorough
knowledge ofhis profession, particularly
that branch which embraces light cavalry
tactics. Indeed, when he became COM
handing officer of the famous Tenth,
he was looked upon as the finest light
cavalry officer in the service, and his
career as a successful general in the
next European war that should break
out and involve England was accepted
as q foregone conclusion in the minds
of his admirers.
Although a 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
graces of speech and name which had
ever made him the charming companion
he was. alike in drawing-room, boudoir,
club smoking-room, or at regimental
mess-table. Brilliant, handsome, gift
ed. clover, brave, and able, he was a Ia
vorite among men and a pet among wo-
men. He was a great friend OF the
Prince of Wales-or rather, more prop
erly speaking, the Prince of Wales was
q great friend of his. The prince was
the colonel of the Tenth Hussars ian
honorary position which gives pay and
uniform without requiring any duty IN
return, 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
by the southwestern train for London
occupying a first-class compartment al
to himself. At Working station, just a:
the bell was rung to start the train oil
again, a wagonette and pair dashed int
the station yard. In it were Mr. Click
enson "a gentleman residing in the vi
cinitv), who was driving his wife, daugh
ter and groom. With barely time t,
catch the train, the first compartment
Mr.. Dickinson reached he opened TIN
door of, and put his daughter into. L
happened to be Colonel Bakers.
don't know if her father thought any
thing of it at the time; but as it turnet
out it was the most unfortunate selec
ton that could have been made for bot
1JS L1du MISS OAChOhSO
been put into any other compartment i
the whole train, her name and fam
would not be the public property it ha
been for years, and the promising caree
of one of the cleverest officers in tn
army blighted.
Miss Dickinson was known as a grea
beauty at this time. 1t was the perio
when blondes were all the rage, and sh
was regarded as a sample to swear b.
Her brother was an officer in the Roy
Engineers, and she herself was by L
e unknown at garrison balls an
places where officers do mostly resor
and her golden hair and azure eyes We
set off by a form and figure that mig
have been a model for a sculptor. N
was her dress the least of her attraction
On the present occasion she was dressC
in a short travelling costume of bll
serge, which fitted her like a glove, al
displayed beneath her scant draperies
it being the zenith of the pull bacl
period-a pair of fairy-like feet in pa
emit leather boots and golden-clock
blue silk stockings. A iaunty blue Vi