The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-07-07
4 SLIGHT MISTAKE.
A Royal Brnqaet That came Near
Terminating In AN Aerial yoy age.

Quo OF the most courtH Of 4 grand
coterie Of gentlemen to which be be-
longed He was tho boon companion
Of gifted Tom Marshall, brilliant Prem
t &C and glorious Clay; the Prescotts.
Breckenridges and Shelbys of the Blue
Grass region where his friends, and be-
cause Of Major Throckmorton's notili-
ty of character, high family rank and
social qualities as well as for the fact
that The hotel which he owned was a
splendid establishment, the Calf house
was in those days the head quarters of
the ellie OF Kentucky when that ele-
ment sojourned in the metropolis OF
the state.
Upon the occas: on of Charles Dick.
/ ems visit to this country, during the
time when he was gathering the ma
ierial for his sassy" American
Notes" and Martin Chuzzlewit" in
which he SO successfully ridiculed the
people of this republic. he was hospit-
ably entertained in Louisville. as well
|
other hours of those self same days he
was engaged at those works in which,
though at times ho told unpleasant
truths, he advanced far beyond the
frontiers of fact at other times, and
allowed his Imagination and his pen to
run away from common decency and
the natural gratitude that even beasts
frequently ovince for disinterested hos
piiality.
While in Louisville. Dickens was the
guest of the Gait house, and during
his stay Major Throckmorton brought
it about that he should receive distin-
guished consideration at the hands of
somo of the brightest lights in litera-
ture, craftsmanship and social life of
the region and the time
One evening Major Throckmorton
busted himself about the preparation
of glorious little dinner which was
set in quiet refectory of the elegant
hostelry. 1t was n triumph OF culinary
art. and was 10 be covered with the
most sparkling wines and the rarest of
quors. To this, for the purpose of
having them meet Mr.. Dickens, as his
guest, Major Throckmorton had invited
George ID. Prentice. Thomas F. Mar
shall, DR.. Theodore Bell and numerous
other lumnaries of literature, and the
learned professions generally. 1t was
gallant Throckmorton's plan for lit
tie surprise for his friends as we'll as
Mr. Dickens. and everything was
working Ike q charm. The visitors
had arrived and were being received in
the handsome apartments which had
been assigned to Mr. Dickens. Guest
after guest arrived who were presented
in person by Major Throckmorton.
until at last the list was checked of,
and the propitious moment having ar
rived, Major T. entered for the purpose
of preparing Mr.. Dickens and the 9TH
er gentlemen for what they were to
expect in this matter of the pretty
feast which he. had intended as
browning, though unexpected, turn to
the pleasures of the evening.
Dickens had brought with him to
this country the English idea of inn
keepers. and being more or less
parvenu snob himself. he was disposed
to put on airs; and when Major Throck-
morton entered. and fell into familiar
terms with the gentlemen present,
Dickens ill-conccaled his displeasure,
and ut last when Major Throckmorton
approached Dickens with his broadly
hospitable intent suggested to the nov
elist the idea of leading the way to the
the banquet room. this man who pre-
sumed TO know more about Americans
than Americans know of themselves.
said something to this effect: You
arc getting quite too officious landlord.
When desire your attentions shall
call for you. For the present you may
retire"
The scene which ensued was a re-
markable one. The honest, buff. gal
liant and hosp'table Kentuckian was
for n moment simply astounded. And
then he became indignant. The idea
that such gentleman as he, because
he had condescended to the personal
supervision of some extra Inequalities.
should be taken for lackey. or a
head laekey. or something of that ma
ture. at first astonished him. and then
fred his southern blood. why"
said he. 'you damned coxcomb. I'll |
throw you out of tho windowr' and he |
was proceeding to put the idea into |
execution, when his friends present,
who were but little less ind :gnant,
easily persuaded the irate. vet still
hospitable host to desist Dickens
quickly saw his mistake. and offered
apologies, which were accepted, but
the dinner was not bowling success.
There seemed to be large "chunk of
cold shoulder lying at numerous
places about the table. Even the
champagne. which followed the barely
tasted viands, was not effective in
OUVue buO WulCu
should reign on such occasions. The
dinner was. in fact. exceedingly brief,
and yet not very much to the point.
and Mr.. Dickens was shortly left
alone in his glory"
Though he wrote of many things
unpleasant to him. with which he
came in contact in this country. he did
not write of his escape from an erial
voyage from Gait house window,
nor. in fact, anything in connection
with that episode of his visit
The facts here presented were given
ne more than twenty years ago by
enc of the most distinguished of the
gentlemen then present. all of whom
have gone to banquet where even
snobs cannot make mistakes, il they
should happen to get in, and where
fall from one of the windows would
land the unfortunate, very much bro
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