The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-04
MINISTER WEST,S VALET.

The Elegant Englishman Whose Acquaint
ance Philadelphia Eagerly Sought.
From the Philadelphia Times.
When Linoel S. Sackville West, the
new British Minister to the United States
u.,oheu FOR fulIutielpula on the oluer
side of the Atlantic, he betrayed consider
able anxiety lest he might suffer by landing
at port where none of the arstocracy, so
far MS he knew, had landed before.
I've often herd of New York, you
know. he is reported to have said, "and
am told the facilities for travelling from
there to Washington are quite comfortable.
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 Washing
ton, or the condition of the roads-but I
suppose it will not take very much longer
to go to Washington from Philadelphia
than it would take to go from New York" {"
To be en- the safe side, Mr.. West sent
his valet on in the steamer ahead of him to
examine the country and the roads ana find
out the shortest routes, ond meet him and
report upon his arrival. Now it happens
thnt in his connection with the diplomatic
service abroad Mr.. West found it conveN-
lent to have valet who, ile an English
man. still spoke French, and Mr.. Wills
for that is the name the gentle man of the
beo chamber bears upon his stylish visit.
ing card aside from his natural gifts, by
reason of his extensive travels and inform
alton, is very agreeable and interesting
| person. When, therefore, small, natty
individual, with fresh face and mutton
| chop whiskers, fiat hat, square shoes, and
overcoat reaching TO his heels, appeared on
board the Government vessel, crowded with
| senators and judges and colonels and COM
| md with two l.
| accounts, all intent upon meeting and well
coming the diplomatist, there was futter
! on the quarter deck that extended. down
| into the cabin, where duet was progress
| between craking jokes and popping corks,
! and everyone said: WHO'S he?"
A fortunate individual who had previous
| ly got wind of him and simply knew that
| he was an Englishmnn and Mr.. Vests
avant courier, quickly had him by the arm
and was Introducing him. General So
nnd-so, let me introduce you to my par
ticular friend, Mr.. Wills, the new minis
ter's private secretary, Judge Such-and-
| such, come here Einute until | present
you to Mr.. Wills, the secretary of the Ieea-
ton. and a personal friend of Mr.. Vests
"eAcuse me, DIR. Willis, allow me to pre-
sent to you the Hon. Mr. So-and- so, one
of our most distinguished citizens. The
doctor. Mr.. So. and-so, is in charge of the
British affairs at Washington until Mr.
| West arrives"
This is about the way the thing went on.
| Everybody wanted to be introduced, and
Mr.. Wills, was the lion of the hour. If they
could not have Mr.. West they at least could
| have Mr.. Wills, who was the next thing to
him. Several distinguished citizens
thought it disgmceful that Mr.. Wills should
| be subject to promiscuous introdrctions,
and by the exercise of considerable diplo-
macy engineered him off into the after cab
il. where they had him all to himself and
feted him to their hearts content
He was unquestionably an entertaining
companion, aud afterward, with the select
/! party going down the river on the tug, sit
tirg i'll the cosy little room, it was delight
full hearing him telling about Gortchakoff S
peculiaritles, t 9 character of the Vienna
water, the condition Of the road to Mos
COW, the style of Eugenie in her palmiest
days, and u great deal more such as g trav-
eled man of taste would observe, or q lack
ey be able 10 retail after hearing it from
other lips. But when the visiting party
arrived on board the steamship manifest
change came over Mr. Wills A reporte,
had already noticed that MIR. Wills had
steered clear of MIR. Adam, of the British
embassy at WASHINGTON, and that Mr.. Ad
am, who had confidently told the reporter
that his godmother was Lady North. tool
no more notice of Mr.. Wills thar he die
Of the wooden figure e-head on the tug
oh" said Mr.. Adam to a questioner
hes only Mr.. Vests valet, my dear fell
Low thDts nil "