The Washington critic., 1890-02-23
HIS JEHUNEss REBELLED.
How IA Colored Coachman Amused "a
Washington Crowd,

"dehinbtoh CroWNs
Society is still enjoying itself hugely
over funny incident which took place
few days since, in which the drGnaatis
persona were Mrs. and Miss Blank,
the wife and daughter Of Senator
Blank, and the sable dignitary
who, up to that time, enjoyed the dis,
tinction of driving the spirited team to
their stylish turnout Miss Blank,
because of the mans unusually
inky hue, had dubbed him Crow"
and, though never addressing him per-
sonally by this soubriquet, Invariably
spoke of him to her friends as such.
BY some chance this came TO the mans
ears, and though not daring openly to
resent what he considered fragrant in
dignity, the smouldering fire of his
wrath only awaited q fitting opportu
nifty to break forth. This arrived few
days since, when the ladies attended a
crowded reception at one of the most
fashionable houses in town. When
Mrs. Blank finally emerged from the
house and descended the steps with her
daughter the street was so densely
packed with carriages that their
own could not be distin'
guished. Turning to the police
man who stood at the curb to preserve
order in the arrival and departure of
equipages, she briefly said: Call my
Crow" Without moments hesita
tion the stentorian cry rang out in the
crowded street: Mrs, Blanks Crow"
A burst of hilarious laughter from
the collection of liveried coachmen
greeted this order, but the "Crow" sat
unheeding in his ebony dignity as
though turned to stone. Another sec
ond and the street was alive with the
echoing cry, Mrs. Blanks Crowl'
as one after another the men passed it
down the line. Then the driver turned,
bringing the whip sharply down on the
horses backs, and as the Victoria swept
to the curb jumped from the box
vowing that Mrs. Mitchell could drive
herself home if she wished, unless she
wished to walk there that afternoon, as
under no circumstances would he do so
for her. BY this time the crowd of in
terested spectators on the pavement
far outnumbered those at the reception.
After o brief but excited parley between
the coachman and the policeman, the
former was compelled to remount his
box, the officer declaring that it was
against the law for the driver to leave his
horses. The Grow" looking blacker
than ever in his wrath gathered up his
reins, and as the ladies seated them.
selves in the Victoria turned before the
assembled crowd to inform them in the
most emphatic manner that since the
law compelled him to drive the horses
to place of safety he would go direct
TO the stable, from where they could re.
turn home as best they might, since no
human power would induce him to
drive them beyond that place. Thus
in the most ignominiously crestfallen
manner the ladies drove from the re-
ception which they had attended in
such overhowing good spirits, for, true
TO his word, the crow abandoned the
carriage at the stable; and now another
coachman of lighter hue adorns his
former post of 6 lory on the box.
Quite the most interesting bit of gos-
sip afloat this season is that which con
meets the name of one of the wealthiest
widows in Washington with that of a
veteran beau, member of the Metro
politan Club, without whose co-opera.
tion no debutante for the last two score
or more years has been successfully
launched If report is correct as to the
matter of settlements projected, when
the groom expectant leads his blushing
bride to the altar and swears in the
presence of witnesses to endow her will
all his worldly goods, she will settle or
him life income of $15, 900 per annum
This sum is larger by S., 900 than tina
enjoyed by the late lamented, who some
half dozen years since was gathered tC
his fathers.