Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06


in Richmond, and determined to try the
novel experiment of taking an orchestra
with him. He secured number of receAtly
arrived German immigrants who had some
knowledge of music and formed them into
band. AS it would have been rather ex-
pensive to send them to Richmond by rail
he secured passage for them on a sailing
vessel, the Margaretta, bound from New
York to the Virginia capital. They were
placed in charge of young Florence, and
that youth was ordered TO accompany them
on the voyage.
The Margaretta weighed anchor one day
In 1S4S, but had not proceeded far when it
was discovered that through someone's
blunder there was no cook aboard. The
vessel was off Stapleton, Staten Island
then, and boat put ashore in order that
some one might be hunted up to manage
matters in the galley. The German immi-
grants became famished and broke open the
heads of barrels of apples that formed part
of the cargo and made the fruit disappear in
q most alarming manner. Florence began
TO fear lest these voracious musicians might
want to feed upon him, SO Unsuitable ap-
peared their hunger, when the boat returned
with a man who professed to be acquainted
with all the mysteries of marine cooking.
HIS INTRODUCTION TO DUFF.
Then, and even now, the most welcome
dish that could be placed upon a cabin
table was duff This is somewhat
similar to what children call "roly-poly."
1t is a combination of dough and butter put
in cylindrical shape; a sort of apple dump
ling without the apple. The Captain of the
Margaretta was firm believer in duff"
To his mind all culinary ability centered
around a cooks skill in preparing it. A
IL. L., IL ii,
in a most enticing way, but if be failed in
'sduff" he could not remain master of the
Margaretta's galley.
The first meal that the newly-secured
cook prepared had duff as the piece de
resistance. When the dish was placed be-
fore the Captain he ordered the cook to
stand by while judgment was passed upon
it The Captain raised a large knife aloft
with an air of deep portent, while the rest
OF the company looked on with grave
aspects. The blade descended slowly, and.
with serious gesture, the Captain cut out a
quarter section. He eyed the soggy mass
for moment critically and then, picking it
up with one hand and without saying a
word he threw it with all his force at the
head Of the hapless cook. The soft, warm
mass struck him in one eve, and, with q
wild yell of alarm, he fed. The Captain
wanted to throw him overheard, but was re-
strained. There was no more "duff" on
that voyage, and the Captain consequently
wore an air of gloom. They got to Rich
modd In safety, notwithstanding, and there
Florence made his first appearance in
speaking part
A LITTLE LOVE AFFAIR.
One incident which Florence will relate
In his Memoirs" occurred in New York
many years ago when the old Broadway
Theater stood at Broadway and Ann streets
He was then q rosy-cheeked, round-faced,
big-limbed youngster OF 18 and was con-
nected with the Broadway Theater's stock
company as first walking gentleman"
II was, in fact, he says, "lIttle more than
big, bashful boy and dreadfully afraid of
the girls. Connected with the company was
a young woman who was afterward we'll
known to the Thespian world as Sallie-but
never mind what her name was. Suffice it
to say that at that time her father and
brother were actors, and, at the present
time, she has two or possibly three daughters
upon the stage. She is long since dead and
i was one of the pall-bearers at her funeral.
She was a most estimable girl.
'I had several times acted as her escort
from the theater to her home; my converse
tion during these journeys being somewhat
abbreviated by the tact that when beside the
fair Sallie my tongue positively re used to
do my bidding. Upon one memorable occa-
sion, however, being emboldened by the fact
that was the possessor of nearly 81. / de-
termlneu to invite my companion to supper
after the theater. Never before had l sufi-
cient audacity to make such proposal to a
girl. Appearing only in the early part Of
the performance, we left the theater shortly
ter o'clock, and then with deep blushing
and much stammering, l succeeded in ask
ing Sallie if she would not take supper
with me. I need not tell you of these mod
ern DAYS that Sallie promptly accepted.
ONE OF THE EARLY RESTAURANTS.
"At that time the Institution that we now
call a restaurant was unknown in the city
of New York. When that term was first
brought to this country from France the
wits told the uninitisted that the term was
derived from the Latin words res, thing,
and taurus, a bull, and that it meant "a |
bully thing But 40 years ago such places