Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-13

sent the moment accepted Gen. Pixies sug-
gestion and the poem, the work OF Gen Pike,
copied or engrossed, leaving the blanks for the
signatures.
GEN. PIXIES WAKE.
The dinners and the evening entertainments
OF that period were alike in that particular.
''The Wake" which became 90 we'll known was
the outgrowth Of the return of Gen Pike to
Washington after he had been reported dead
His obituary read from the galley proof, was
written IN sad earnest by Alexander Dmitry
and was ready to appear In the columns OF the
National Intetligencer when the report should
be confirmed The day after its preparation l
met Gen. Pike on the avenue and greeted
each other most cordially. "why. Pike, they
said you were dead.' We'll if am, haven't
been 'waked!" BY Jove, you shall be on
Friday night"-and he was walked, Sponiane-
ously his friends came when they heard of it,
not waiting for invitations. and from this greet
ing grew the joyous night Aimmortahzed by
the corpse, who, with attendant pail bearers.
listened to his obituary read by Alexander
Dimitry. Gen. Pixies response was very beasti-
iui; no proved the report to be false and the
fun began 10 illustrate how impromptu the
poems we're that were read and sung
that night, l will mention two incidents:
Zen. Martin McMahon WAS told something was
expected from him, and he went into the
library and in a little while he handed in his
poeticai contribution. Mr.. Randolph Coyle's
contribution was written in this way, as were
some others. The letter contributed by Maj.
Ihomas l.. Smith, for years the register of the
treasury, So well known and SO kindly remem-
pered, deserves 10 DO rescued from the few
copies OF Tho Wake" extant. and will per-
perform that duty in one of my contributions
TO lHE STARS columns. At that day there
seemed to be always readiness for social en-
Joyment which needed no preparation. The
flow OF wit, tho JOYOUS song and the hilarity
AZ q fre RI mi
OF rulgarlfy. The flow OF wine was uninter-
rupted from tho opening OF the supper room
until rosy morn" and yet no debauchery.
The wit was free from faint, the double en-
tendre were inoffensive-in fact we were almost
boys again In our joyousness.
was sometimes embarrassed by the impress.
sion the song of Pixies return from hades con-
veyed--that was tho keeper OF a restaurant or
a hotei-and on ono occasion a gentleman to
whom was introduced at the Metropolitan
Hotel insisted on going to my house. sending
MS baggage there, changing his hotel. in fact.
Gratifying him by going with him and some
friends to my house ON his own invitation,
he discovered his mistake on reaching there
and made ample apology, but held the song re-
sponsible.
THE BoDIsco FAMILY.
The STAR recently announced the return of
Madame de Bodisco tho daughter-in-la of the
Madame de Bodisco so we'll remembered here.
with her SO popular and gallant husband. How
beautiful she was and what an excitement her
marriage occasioned. Years afterward she re-
turned to America as the wife of Major Scott
OF tho British army. still very beautiful Wal
demar Bodisco, the nephew of the Russian
minister was so we'll known here and so pleas
antly remembered. He was one of those
choice spirits who met round the festive board
at Hugh Caperton's and Robt Ould's and Mr..
Hunter s-almost the same guests ON each occa-
sion-whose wit, humor and enjoyment never
tagged saw Mr.. Waldemar Bodisco in New
York frequently while residing there. where he
was consul general of Russia. Sadly changed,
however, by the sad domestic affection he
suffered. JOHN +. CoYLE.