Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-01-11
De ChailIu and the Bishop.
From Pump Court.


Some years ago, when M. de Chail-
lu-the most romancing Of the explor-
ers of the Ozark Continent" who is,
perhaps, even more responsible than
Mr.. Darwin himself for having raised
the distressing question, is man the
greater ape ?-arrived in London, he
found himself, and his collection of
curiosities, which he placed in the
rooms of the Royal Geographical So
clety, the objects OF attention, which
was, no doubt, fattering, but was,
also embarrassing. His table groaned
under invitations to breakfasts, din
ners and receptions from nobilities in
society, literature, science and poll
tics. Among others, Mr.. Gladstone,
the Duke of Argyll, and the late Bish-
op of Oxford wrote to him on the
samed day. Mr.. Gladstone worded his
letter in the usual way, inviting M. de
Chaillu to breakfast. The Duke of
Argyll wrote substantially as follows:
"The Duke Of Argyll presents his COM
pliments to M. de Chaillu, and begs to
inform him that he will visit the col
lection at $50 on Thursday next"
The Bishop wrote: "Dear sir.-Will
you do me the favor Of lunching with
me at 55 Street, on the tn
Ia day previous to that mentioned in
Mr.. Gladstone's note. Yours truly,
Oxon." M. de ChailIu answered Mr..
Gladstone's invitation, accepting it.
But, not being familiar with ducal
and episcopal ways, he did not under
stand the second and third notes.
The former, indeed, he seems to have
resented, for he replied as follows,
an. de Chaillu presents his compli-
ments to the DuSe OF Argyll, and begs
to inform him that his collection at
the rooms of the Royal Geographical
Society is open to the public at large.
Should his Grace present himself he
will, doubtless, be courteously re-
ceived by the officials in attendance"
The Bishops note was, however, a
hopeless poser; M. de Chaillu had new
er heard OF any public man OF the
name of "Oxon." So happy
thought struck him. Before answer
ing the note, he would reconnoitre the
house that the writer dated from. So
he proceeded to 55 J--Street,
and, perceiving in the d1ngy window
of the first floor evidence that g. tail
or practised his art there, made no
further inquiry. 1t never occurred to
him as possible that public person
age might have rooms above a tail
or's shop in a good locality. He did
not even pause to compare the tail
or's name with the signature at the
bottom Of the note. The whole thing
was clear. "Oxon" was q vulgar
tradesman, who, presuming on his
wealth, had written to him. Such q
fellow deserved no answer, and none
was given. NJ de Chaillu duly ap-
peared at Mr.. .Gladstone's house on
the morning mentioned in the note OF
invitation, and there met a. distin-
guished company. He mentioned to
his host thai he received g note from
the Duke OF Argyll, and described its
tenor. Mr.. Gladstone, then IN the
same political boat with the Duke OF
Argyll, begged NJ. de Chaillu to excuse
any apparent ''superiority" in his
Grace's epistolary style, on theground
that he chad not received q public
school education ~ Among the corn
pany whom M. de Chaillu met at Mr..
Gladstone's was the Bishop Of OK
ford, and he found him to be the most
unbane o. gentlemen and most de-
A1ShCAOA VI SNAA EIcVAiC1iOs ~A0 CAOE "OAC
leaving together the Bishop said, "My
dear sir, why did you not come to
lunch with me the other day Lord
Elgin was there, and some other men
/ think you would have liked to meet.
From your not answering my note
made sure that you were coming"
"But | received no note from your
lordship." "That's very odd; Ipost-
ed the note myself on Monday night.
You ought to have had it on Tuesday
81 received no note from
your lordship, but did get an invi-
tation to lunch from an impertinent
tailor called Oxon, whom l never saw
in my life, and never was introduced
TO-" "Ozon, my dear sir, why c'est
moi" "But your lordship's name is
not Oxon, but Wilberforce." ''Rut
my See, my See !" And after some
NJ. de Chaillu did see
and lives to tell the tale.
III