River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-02-11

so busy as when two old enemies meet
aS friends.
The emperor did visit London in
1886 and was well received. He die
not sack the city, but his own purse
was ''ioliment nettoye' by the trades
people of whom he made purchases.
And, apropOs of plundering, there
was another sovereign whom saw a
few years later, but have no desire to
include i'm the list of my acquaintance.
Ii it were not scan. mag. to breathe a
syllable against the moral grandeur of
men who are "hedged'' by divinity,
should feel disposed to say that he who
could send the scabbards of his sabres,
his DeltS, and coats TO Europe 20 be
decorated with paste jewels and then
wear them to dazzle the multitude with
an idea of his vast wealth in precious
stones, must be at least an Oriental.
No christian gentleman would resort
to the scheme which made the Shah
in-Shah, the ruler of Persia, the
cvnosurc of all ewes for a season.
Among NV contemporaries, next to
royalty in rank, but SURPRISING all in
merit aud ability, was the Grand Duke
of Wellington. Many men hold 1t a
disadvantage to nave had distin-
guished father, as il minimizes their
own pretentions. The dukes son was
accustomed TO say My father was
an oversprcading oak, and | have,
therefore, been regarded as a mere
mushroom, But there is no mistake
about the Superlative excellence of the
first possessor of the title. 1t was an
honor to know such man aud be adj
mitted TO his conversation. My par
ticipatiOn in the honor arose i'll this wise:
Some time in 1913 or 40 ball was
announced, under certain noble and
fashionable auspices, for the benefit,
of some CaledOnian institution, and i,
as a member of the fourth estate, re-
ceived a card of invitation. Going
rather late. ] was slowly ascending the
broad staircase, when heard shout
at the street entrance. who the
deuce is coming now?" | exclaimed
and, turning from the contemplation
of some eXotics, | confronted the VEN
cradle duke. ITS either you or |,
sir was his jocular reply-adding
Immediately, 'There is a great crowd
here tonight. Yes, your Grace,
but there will be no difficulty in max
ing room for the Duke of Wellington.
Suffer me to be yonr pioneer. : And |
led the way. A lane was speedily
formed for the duke, and, when we
reached the upper part of the ball
room, handed him over to Lady Pal
merston, one of the patronesses of the
ball, and, bowling said: II am much
obliged to YOU, sir. Pray, are you fond
of pictures?' Ireplicd in the aflirma-
tive. Then come to Apsley House
This residence the day after tomorrow
and | will show you mine. Come at
10 not n quarter of an hour before or
after, but 10.
OF course | was true to the appoint
ment. | found him standing at the
foot of the stairs. Come alOngi' he
said, as | entered, and up we went to
the drawing room. As we walked to-
ward the end he stopped every now
and then to point out some particular
work by one of the Flemish masters r
a Jan Stein, a Teniers. or a Wouver-
man. But. as / had expected to see
military pictures illustrations of his
own campaigns and portraits of his
fellow soldiers yentured to ask if he
had not any paintings of such incidents
and actors. No." he replied. Il
don't believe in what they call battle
pictures. They cannot be true, for the
troops are always in motion and artists
arc MOI often found in the tield!'
Noticing a large painting over the
mantelpieIe inquired if that were not
battle-piece. "Well, yes | bought
il because il might be true. It was a
representation of the closing event of
the battle of Waterloo from the French
side. To the right were Napoleon and
his staff, contiguous to the Village of
Planchenoit: and in the remote dis
lance, almost enveloped by the smoke,
might be traced the squares of British
infantry. | asked the Duke if it was
possibly accurate. II don't know;
was not on Napoleon staift' He
paid $4,000 for the picture, and doled
out the amount to the painter in bank
notes. Had not your Grace better
save your time and give me check"
What" exclaimed the Duke to Allan.
the artist, do you think L am going
to let my bankers know | am such a
fool as to pay $4,000 for that thing?"
He was usually very blunt, from old
military usage; but he tempered his
abrupt phraseolOgy with so much grim
humor that it was never taken as
meant Extensively. That he had rea-
son 20 disbelieve in military representa-
tons was shown on later occasions,
when | was invited by the proprietors
of a Gallery of Illustrations TO show
him some paintings. There was one
of the Duke and his secretary, Lord
Fitzroy Somerset, contemplating the
dead body of Gen. Crawford rs he lay
in his coffin at Cuidad Rodrigo, where
ne was slain. whats that?' asked
the Duke. told him. Me looking at
Crawford? Why, never saw the fell
low after his death, and wish to God |
had never saw him before he diedr 1t
was alleged that he was rather jealous
of Crawford's military reputation.
At picture representing the meet
ing of the Duke with Marshal Butcher
at La Belle Alliance on the evening of
the battle of Waterloo, when the
French were in FIJI and confused re-
treat, the old warrior laughed heartily.
Good heavens! where did the artist
get the idea that we took off our hats
TO each other in that formal way. Ell?
When Butcher came up to me he at
once threw his arms around my neck,
kissed my cheek, and covered me with
mud and snuff But Maclise has not
given that version of the interview on
the walls of the House of Lords. At a
later period an engraving was exhib-
tied of the Duke showing his daughter
in-law (the marchioness of Douro) over
the field of Waterloo. | inquired sof
the publisher if the Duke had seen it..
Yes, was his reply. land he said il
was a id lie, for he had never been
there with her. These things and
verbal misstatemepts irritated him.
Truthful himself, he abhOrred false
hood in others in any shape. He had
no mercy on an officer guilty of equiv
ocation. I'D rather a fellow should
tell me a falsehood at once than dab
bic in preyerication, was phrase he
addressed to Adjutant-General Brown
when an officer had subjected himself
TO a court-martial for trying to dis
guise the offense of another of which
he had cognizance. His notion was
that 'sOnly towards hesitate and equiv
ocate." About the oft-repeated story
that be cried aloud, up, Guards, and
AT them!" when the British Guards
were lying down to avoid the artillery
fire Of the French and the latter were
advancing on the final charge, the