Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-13
eLoReNcE's TeRRAPIN STORY.
An Experienced sheilback That Easily
Recognized Major Handy.
fChlcnrn NnXa.l

tChicago NeWs-l
"Dav before yesterday" says Mr.. VIII
liam ]. Florence, the comedian, met my
friend Handy of the Worlds Fair. Never
saw him looking so well before IN All my
Ife. have known him, too. for going on TO
thirty wears. / was mighty glad to see
him and we had nice long visit. Showed
me letter he had Just got from his little
giTl who is on visit somewhere in Texas.
'Dear Papa she wrote. you would Ike
tba soroiy frire down here in Texas very
rnucb Int the cuisine wouldn't suit you
Well. we had a great laugh over that let
Ter the result Of our meeting was that 1
agreed to dine with Handy at the Richelleu
fast night. He said that Landlord Bemls
wanted should try his stewed terrapln.
"'But, bless you, my dear Moses " says
T /" there's no such thing as genuine terra
min in the West: you may get the canned
article. but surely not the i've
GOb. yes,' answered Handy, 'Bemis
assumes me that it's the genuine thing.
And / guess it is, for I've seen it.
"'Ahve?' says J.
"Alive.' says he.
"Well, / went, anyway.
"'Do you like my terrapfn y asked Be
mis-.
the Wand. had eaten terraph IN Balti-
more, Washington, and ,Phlladelphia-
terrapin in every style-and nattered my
self thatif in all the world there was a terra
min oonnOisse,ir he was William j. Florence
and none other. Bemis's terrapin had that
distinct flavor which betokens long sea-
son of preservation. / should have said 1t
was canned terrapin; it was sapid. sayory,
and delectable, yet not quite the thing.
But. of course, | told Bemis that it was
splendid, and indeed the fine old Madeira
(S25 a bottle) made up for every deficiency
90 am glad to hear you say It, said Be
mis-; our friend Handy here has been in
sinuating that 1 don't keep the genuine
article; whenever serve IT ne lntlmates
that Ii is the canned terrapin.
40 All. but this is surely the genuine,
quoth /.
prove it. too. Here, waiter-garcon--go
down into the deepest moat under the
cellar-wall and bring me up one OF those
terrapin. Donnaymoy Won terrapln, toot
sweet, see VOC play
1.-THE waiter-a Frenchman, Of course
hustled off. Handy tried to. apologize.
4 don't mean to say that you haven't got
terrapin,' said he, for you've exhibited
'em alive every time you had terrapln IN
the bill. What do say is that your cook
ed terrapin tastes like the canned goods
"Bemis pooh-poohed the idea and pres
emily back came the waiter carrying a big
tray and on the tray sprawled a sure-enough
terranin. You can't fool me on the gen.
uine article. The terrapin has certain dis
tinct markings, colOrlngs, shadings. This
Bemis terrapin was splendid specimen,
"'Set it down in the middle OF the
table, said Bemis, and the waiter did So,
- I've got the cellar full OF 'em-more'n
million, ! guess said Bemis. Don't
r III TnInnp6 llVlr and
Bethesda water. All fat rs butter and
lively as crickets. When the nights are
still YOU can hear ZEN whistling like night
II was satisfied that l had done Bemis a
serious Injustice. Another taste of the
stew convinced me that it was not the
canned but the genuine article. 30 L ap-
piled myself with restored confidence 10
the Wand All at once Handy nudged me,
whispering hoarsely. Billy, did you notice
anythingP, u.ti.o 90 -
ghost and he tTembled. SGheS awe
what ails you. Moses?' | asked.
"'Do you notice anything queer-any-
thing strange OF VERDI he asked.
"'No, of course not. Why =
"'Then must have taken too much OF
the MADEIRA said he, and he called for o
bottle of Apollinaris.
But presently he said: There 1t goes
again-look at it-that terrapin-can't you
see-it's bowling at meP
VASTLY surprised looked up and fixed
nv eyes on the terrapIn. The creature
had crawled TO the edge of the tray and
reached its front claws over the side there
OF, its long neck was extended to its ut.
most capacity, its bead-like eyes glistened
with intelligence. and surely enough, II
was bowling its black head solemnly. Once,
twice, thrice II made obeisance-measured-
| ", grayely, reverently.
~ Maryellous!' | cried. 1t knows you
Handy, the creature really knows youl
"Bemis was greatly confused. Take II
away-send it back to Baltimore he
yelled. But Handy and l interposed
Handy understood il all now. 1t was G
| trick terrapin, the only one Bemis had. He
confessed-yes, Bemis owned up at length
| The terrapin ne served was canned terra
pin: Whenever any question arose as to the
| commences of the dish Bemis would send
| down into the cellar for 'one of those ter
rapin' and the waiter would bring back
| this same lonely, unique terrapln. 1t wa;
| q shrewd game, but 1t was discovered a.
| last, for, however timid it was at first, the
| terrapin became Injured by degrees 10 eX
hibitlon. and, having at last got familiar
with Handy's face. it finally made 80 bold
as to bow to Handy. not fippantly, but
gravely and reverently, as 1 have said.
THE terrapin is o sagacious animal,
continued Mr.. Florence. Before we
finished dinner that evening that intelli-
gent creature whistled an dir from Ia
| Grand Duchesse:' il had heard Billy Igor
sing it at a terrapin dinner that Bemis gave
last week. You may not believe this
Next time you eat at the Richelieu ash
Benis to show you the terrapin, and hC
will. Although, unless Handy is there
too, the critter may not bow and whistle
as he would do otherwise"