The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-07-23
eARoN Won oERoLsre,N.
r1,e Huge joke perpetratcd Upon
Larry ,Ierome-HisO Opinion of For-

eARo Won oERoLsrElN.
Tho Huge joke Perpetratcd Upon
Larry Jerome-His Opinion of For-
eign Aristocracy below Par.
A New York correspondent writing
to Tie Cincinnati Time Star says: Mr..
II. H. Veuve and Mr.. Frederick Rand
Webster. of the Union club. San Fran
cisco. dropped into see Carl Otto Peters.
down in Beaver street, the other day.
Jerome Buck and the writer had drop
ped in few minutes before. Carl shot
the cork out of bottle of Clicquot.
Why the wine as 1t sparkled and gave
forth its color in the cup should have
called up reminiscence of Larry jerome
does not appear, but a great many were
called up. and presently Carl said:
Its funny thing that of all stories
the papers have printed about Larry
his practical jokes on this. that. and the
other person-no one seems ever to
have heard of the big joke on Larry
himself, in connection with the Baron
Won Gcrolstein. Phil Stevens was the
genius who laid the scheme. hap
pcncd to be the medium through whom
it was carried out Five or six years
ago Phil Stevens invited party Of ladies
and gentlemen to spend day or so
with him at his place in Rye. I was
one of the party. Larry jerome was
another. knew Larry. but he didn't
know me. He is acquainted with me
now. The day before the party was to
go TO Rye Phil Stevens came to sec me.
Carl said he, Larry Jerome thinks
pretty well ofthe foreign aristocracy.
and, as he is always playing jokes on any
one he gets chance to want to work
it OH this little trip so that we can get IL
good one OH him. Now, he dom t know
you. and I've made it up with Sam
Englc and the rest to play yon against
Larry as Baron Won Gcrolstcin, nephew
of Bismarck. and now in this country
as Il member of the German embassy.
Every one in the party will bo let into
the scheme, and all you've got to do is
TO carry the thing along, and you'll sec
Larry out-Larry himself in doing the
proper thing by so distinguished rep
rcscntativc of the blue blood of Europe ,
l fell right in. and told Phil he might
consider mo tho choicest specimen of q
German baron that ever baroncd. Tho
next day the party all gathered at the
Grand Central depot to take the train
for Rye. Larry was there arraycd like
Lilies. for Phil had told him of the dis
tinguishcd person who was to make one
OF the PARTY, and had explained to him
in the most crcunstantial and satisfac-
tory manner how he had become ac-
quaintcd with the baron, and had him
as guest. was the last one to arrive
al the depot. rolled up in style that
would have made the eyes of any Ger
man baron bulge with envy. was
met by Phil with dignity and ccrcmo-
ny that made me chew my tongue to
keep from bowling. He escorted me
rcvcrentally to where Larry was
standing bcaming with joyful expect
ancy.
Baron said Phil, permit mo to
present to you MIR. Jerome. a repre-
sentative of one Of our first families.
The Baron Won Gcrolstein, Mr.. de-
rome. nephew of tho Prince Won Bis
marck.
Say, l wish yon could have seen
Lar,y's bow. was afraid that he
never would get his spine in rcrpen-
dicular again as he assured me of the
happiness and honor he felt But lc
got back by and by and was radiant.
| was carrying sacl,cl. and it was
Il heavy one too. Larry stepped for
ward. and with another of his best
bows. said: Baron, permit me to re-
licvc You Of your bag handed the
grip over to him and he walked along
witt, ma to Tic train, carrying the
sacl,cl. could see that the rest of the
party had all they could do to keep
from bursting. didn't dare to catch
Phil Stevens eye. or Id have laid right
down and rolled over. Never had such
Il lstrnggglc to keep myself together be-
fore or since. Larry helped me on
board the train, selected the best seat
in the car for me, stowcd my bag away
in the rack. and sat down by me. No
ono cise' i'll the party had as vet been
presented 10 me rs the baron, and Lar
ry enjoyed the consideration that had
been shown him in giving me into his
charge. Every little while he would OK
cusc himself and step out Of his scat
and whisper TO others in the car that
the distinguisllcd-looking party in tho
seat with him was the Baron Won
Gcrolstcin, nephew of Bismarck. 1t
would have been worth ten years Qf
anyoncs $ life to have seen Larry in that
car. lie even button-holod the con-
ductor and told him what great per.
sonage lio was carrying with Inn that
day, and admonishcd the brakcmari to
be extremely careful how he dcportcd
himself, for the eyes of the Baron Ton
Gcrols:ein were upon him. It Isl good
the ride to Rye vas short. If It had
been mile longer there would other
have been a grand explosion in that
car or Il dozen or tw9 dead passengers.
The pressure was more than fifteen
hundred pounds to the inch.
"On the way Larry questioned ME as
t" matters ef etiquette In court circles,
and ! loaded him with information.
For instance, | mentioned that in the
presence OF persons of my rank it was
etiquette for all of lower rank to stand
until was seated, to rise when rose,
and so on until l indicated that tho
subsequent proceedings wero to shin
along saHS etiquette. This informa-
ito" i.arry duly impaired to tho rest of
the party, so that things should move