, 1888-03-06

@"R degs; south p Of the
PAUL Du CHAlLLU. urned to New
York in 1859, bringing a large collection of
native arms and implements and numerous
specimens of natural history, including 1000
stuffed birds, which he had shot and pre-
pared himself. He set out on another expe-
dition in 1854, and penetrated among tribes
previously unknown; but, coming in conflict
with the natives, he was obliged to return
without any specimens in September of the
following year.
1t is especially to Du Chaillu that we are
indebted for information concerning the
habits of the gorilla, that interesting animal
who walks through the African forest on
two legs like n man, and whose strength
would put a modern cannon ball man in a
circus to the blush.
M. du Chaillu, on the occasion of one of
his visits 10 London, was lionized by tho
great men of England. His collection of
curiosities was deposited in the rooms of the
Royal Geographical society, md excited a
good deal Of attention, drawing visits from
personages personally unknown TO one who
had speHt so much time in company with tho
chimpanzeo and the gorilla. He had heard
OF tho Duke of Argyll and of GIadstone;
possibly tho Bishop of Oxford, but did not
know that this bishop has long been accus-
toned TO sign himself "Oxon." Tho three
mngnntos wrote Du Chaillu on the same day.
Tho complications which Cnsued are so well
told in London Court Pump that its story
thereof is here "liftedn bodily:
Mr.. Gladstone wordcd his letter in the
usual way, inviting NJ. du Chaillu to
breakfast. The Duke of Argyll wrote sub
~stantially as follows:
The Duke of Argyll presents his compliments
to NJ, du Chaillu, aud beGs TO inform him that he
will visit his collection at $3.50 on Thursday next.
The bishop wrote:
DEAR Sm-wfl you do me the favor of lunch.
ing with me at IS j. street, on the TIL IA day
previous to that mentioned in Mr.. Gladstono's
nOteD Yours truly, DIXON.
M. du Chaillu answered Mr.. Gladstone's
invitation, accepting it. But, not being ia
miliar with ducal and episcopal ways, he did
not understand the second and third notes.
The former, indeed, he seems to have rather
resented, for he replied as follows:
NJ du Chaillu presents his compliments to the
Duke Of Argyll. and begs to inform him that his
collection at the rooms of the Royal Geographical
society is open TO the public ut large. Should his
grace present himself he will, doubtless, be
courtcouslyr received by the officials in attendance.
The bishops note was, however, a hopeless
poser; NJ. du Chaillu had never heard of any
public man of the name of Oxon. Sc n happy
thought struck him. Before answering the
note, he would reconnOiter the house that the
writer dated from. So he proceeded to 55
j street, and, perceiving in the dingy
window of the first floor evidences thai q
tailor practiced his art there, made no fur
thcr inquiry. 1t never occurred to him Us
possible that a public parsonage might have
rooms above a tailor's shop in a good local
ity. 10 did not even pause to compare the
tailors name with tho signature at the bot
tom of the note. Tho whole thing was clear.
Oxon was n vulgar tradesman,n who, pre-
Stunning on his wealth, had written him. Such
n fellow deserved no answer, and none was
given. NJ. du Chaillu duly appeared at Mr..
Gladstones house on the morning mentioned
in the note of invitation, and there met u dis
tinguished company. He mentioned to his
the Duke of Argyll, and described its
tenor. Mr.. Gladstone, then in the
same political boat with the Duke of
Argyll, begged NJ. du Chaillu to excuse any
apparent Superiority in his grace's epistol-
airy style, on the ground that he chad not
received n public school educationI' Among
the company whom NJ. du Chaillu met at Mr..
Gladstone's was the bishop of Oxford, and he
found him the most urbane Of gentlemen and
most delightful OF companions. As they
were leaving together the bishop said:
MY dear sir, why did you not como to
lunch with me the other day. Lord Elgin
was there, and some other men l think you
would have liked to meet. From your not
answering my note, I made sure you were
coming"
but l received no note from your lord
ship"
That's very odd; I posted tho note myself
on Monday night. You ought to have had it
on Tuesday morning"
81 received no note from your lordship, but
l did get an invitation to lunch from an i'm
pertinent tailor called Oxon, whom l never
saw in my life, and never was intro
duced tor
"Oxon, my dear sir, why c'est moif'
"But your lordship's name is not Oxon, but
Wilberforce.n
"Butmy see, my seer'
And after some explanation M. du Chaillu
did see-and lives to tell the tale.