The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-05-03

Asunted light as thistle down.
James R,xssen Lo,ceH IN A,nerisd
From the London worldl
THE F1TZROY VASES.
What l am about to relate is absolutely
true. 1t has never appeared in type be.
fore. shall merely make ? necessary
change in names and locale, leaving the
facts exactly as they were detailed to me
by one personally interested in the story.
In rambling old rectory in the Mid
lands there had stood for more than forty
years two china vases-not specially ad.
mired or valued by the owner-dusted
by the sacriligious hands of every chance
housemaid, yet, curiously enough, uubro-
ken during that long period of time.
There were quantities of china living
about and ranged along the walls, appa.
rently of equal or greater value. The
place was vast china warren-why. no
one seemed to know.
At the end Of the forty years the rec
tor, who had more dignified ecclesias-
teal title as well, died. Like Mr.. Bardell
he "glided almost imperceptibIy from
the world" and left his china behind
him. hinc ih@ 4sehurym@
The rector left two sons, Robert and
James Fitzroy. The property was divi-
ded pretty equally between the two, ex-
cept that to Robert the older went the
furniture, pictures, plate and china. Be-
fore the final settlement, however, James
Fitzroy said to Robert, have fancy
for those two vases out of the hall-more
for auld lang syne than anything else" :"
To which Robert replied, with generosity
more conspicuous than discrimination {:
" All right, don't care about them
You may have them with pleasure"
The incident, which seemed to be both
trivial enough, did not dwell in the minds
Of either of the brothers. James, who
was a barrister by profession and q far
mer by preference, took his spons away.
The vases were placed in the drawing
room of his country house, where his
wife, partly because her husband from
old associations attached value to them,
busted them herself
One day q lady Of their acquaintance
called at the Briars. After the asual
platitudes about the weather and the dull
ness Of the season, the visitor glanced
round the room in search OF q new sub
ject. The ineptitude of ones friends
sometimes gets worn threadbare under
discussion in the country, and violent ef-
forts after novelty have to be resorted to.
The errant gaze lighted on the strange
vases, and the quest was over.
"Oh, what lovely vases! Where did
you get them, Mrs. Fitzroy? ?"
"Tbey came from my husbands faith
er's.' Were they not in the room when
ycu called last, Mrs. Hemming?"
"No, that am sure they were not.
do admire them tremendously don't
you?" Here the visitor crossed the room
to inspect the delicate ware more closely.
The pantomime of devotion which
follows can be more easily imagined than
described.
81 like them very WE'LL" replies the
hostess unsympathetically; but / have
seen great many vases like better"
The visitor returns to her seat, but can
not keep her eyes and thoughts from the
object of her. admiration. ..,..e
A week afterward Mrs. Hemming calls
again. This time she is accompanied by
Lady Sarah Mordaunt, who is unknown
personally to Mrs. Fitzrov, but who is An
ardent china-maniac. Mrs. Hemming in
PRODUCES her friend. Together they strike
becoming, appreciative, and, TO the un-
sympsthetic, somewhat ludicrous attitudes
before their idol. Mrs Fitzroy plays
second fiddle to her own china. Lady
Sarah Mordaunt is even louder in her
praises than Mrs. Hemming. Together
they insist unmoved by the passive resis-
tsnce OF their hostess. on removing the
contents of q glass case hitherto filled
with bric-a-brsc, aud installing in it's
place the two vases. Departing with q
solemuity becoming to the occasion. they
thus exhort Mrs. Fitzroy: "If you and
your husband do not really valne this
china, why not send it to Messrs. Chris
tie q Munson, and let them sell it to
some one who viii ~ .an.r| SELF
Lady Sarah Mordaunt, with indeed, an
enthusiasm worthy of the csuse, wss quite
rude abont it. The world outside china
mania is, 70 the true believer, very mnch
what Maccedonia was to Athens in the
day of Pericies-a bstbatism only to be
touched with the tongs ''a ~ =
!. These exhortations sank deep into the
receptive soul Of MrA Fitxroy. and even
tually peTmsated5 even the more pachy-
derma.ous entity which composed her
! husband The tarfister communicated
with the fsmoas Arm Of auctioneers-
They asked for description Of the china,
which was given Ultimately, by their
aAvics. the vssss swseeo sent up to King
street. 81. James squase, 70 be inspected,
ana sold for Whist they Would tatc6. 9di
~ s Lat ps have ! little jaant up to town,
nv dear" remarks Mr.. James Fitsroy 70
fi3 11iifhs III ;"sYf tsS chtns ii sil tksy say, The
vaassf saehe1se 9fssA . xeny pound nots
.Ssch, . shaA Ithst' twitbPsy oos.expensss.
! We have Q pst Asa 4 shelidsy forsjs long
/ tin" !; Ike tqhPt lfeilplgA, when 81 propos
lnSwsu1tslI sstaat' the future fd7etu vas Zig with
ii. :. n An sS.S - ~ lixtA -a3s