Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-16
SURPRISING THE ENGLIsHMAN
Banker Ralston's Efforts to Make a
Young Mans Visit Pleasant.
Fro1e the San Francisco Post.

From the San Francisco Post.
In the Kalston days, when Belmont was in
its glory. and it's profuse hospitality was the
talk of the country, young Engllshman OF
title called upon the banker with letters OF
Introduction from the American Minister
in London. an old friend of h alston. OF course,
he was invited to Belmont.
"kather fine place. you KNOW" ne re-
marked to Ralston, as his host toted MIN down
to Belmont. but some CT our Fellows VINO
were out here have told the most outrageous
stories, you know, about Californla-youf
Bears and immense regattas, and all THAT sort
of thing-so | have determined to keep my
ewes open. | imagine, you know, that they
have been hoaxed. By CAD, Mr.. Ralston,
have been all over the world, and IL would
take pretty wide awake fellow to hoax me,
don't you know"
During this conversation MIR. Ralston regis
tered mental oath that if money or lnhu-
ence could produce that wideawake fe low,
he would be forthcoming before the termina-
tion of that Dobeman's visit. at Belmont
were assembled a few chosen spirits. Leaving
his guest in charge of one of them. Ralston at
once called council of war.
This Engiishma an must be fooled" he SAID.
NOW let us put our heads together and give
hm something to talk about when he returns
10 the London clubs"
The private wire was busy that evening.
and close carriage was sent to meet q e
next train. No expense was spared to make
the Brltlsher's stay in every sense delightful.
-
the dining room the Englishman opened his
eyes and stared in bewiIdered astonlshment
at the table service. And well he might. The
bottles were of that colossal size. holding half
gallons, which the beer and wine men use for
advertising purposes.
Now, by Jove, you Callfornians must be
thirsty lot," SAID the Englishman. ~ never
saw such bottles in my life"
ION, nonsense" said Ralston, "don't you
nave that size in England? They used to have
them whenl lived there many years ago."
THAT size! great heavens, no."
-" ell, mere goes, anyhow. Peter some
champagne" and the bntler with impassive
face, opened half gallon bottle of izz, the
cork going of like the explosion of a rifle, AS
The dinner progressed, the guests piled the
Brltlsher with the most marvellous tales OF
the lawlessness of the country; the bears
lions and ante opes that roamed he nelghbor-
boring hills. and everything, in fine, that the
most fantastic Imagination could invent. 1t
was arranged to have the house attacked that
night Dy outlaws. but they feared the lord
might get suspicious, so that scheme was
abandoned. deer hunt was decided upon
for the next morning, and a fishing party for
tue afternoon.
The party were out before daynreak. and
the lord was stationed near a milk ranch and
instructed not to stir until one of the hunt ers
came to fetch him. When he was properly
planted the others returned to the house, for
the hunting grounds were not a mile away,
ana amused themselves until noon with lay
ing new plans for the delectation of their vic
tim. Meanwhile. though the poor foreigner
ala not see deer, he heard shots about him
at intervals, and when ne was informed that
the run was over, and that there would be no
more shooting that day, he was taken back to
the house.
II am awfuly sorry you did rot have better
luck" said Ralston when the disgusted Brit
Usher appeared Our fellows did fairly, you
| see," and he pointed to the carcasses of half q
dozen deer lying on the piazza. wnicn had ar
| rived from the market by The morning train.
Didn't you really get a shot? Confess,
now, you blazed away at a stag or two and
| missed"
) stag! | assure you, my dear fellow, 1
didn' see single beast" protested the morti-
fed nobleman.
ell, never mind. never mind" said his
host; well see how the fishing pans OUT"
The fishing took place in pond near the
house. But while every one else pulled out
trout. salmon and even rock cod, not fish
came near the Englishman's hook, though he
angied with the most Industrious persistence.
Of course the san Francisco fish market had
been Quilted to permit the supply, and SO
ceverly were the fish attached to the hooks
and hauled into the boats with shouts and
splashings that his lordship had not the faint
est idea that he was being most numerically
hoaxed. The rock cod staggered him little,
that the lake was connected with the ocean by
a subterranean stream. When every fantas-
tical hoax had been exhausted Ralston &C
companlet his victim to the city and saw him
homeward bound.
by jove, MIR. Ralston, you have wonder
full country" SAID the Britisher, as he babe his
host Rood-by. II tell you. 1t will open the
eyes Of those fellows at home when l give
Them history of this VISIT