The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-27
FLoRENcs's TERRAPlN STORY.
An Experienced Shellback That Easily
Recognized Major Handy.


friend Handy, of the Worlds fair. Never
saw him looking SO well before in all my
life; have known him, too, for going on
thirty years. / was mighty glad 70 see
him. and we had nice long visit. Showed
me letter he had just got from his little
girl, who is on visit somewhere in Texas.
Dear papa she wrote, you would like the
SAVIOR faire down here in Texas very much,
but the cuisine wouldn't suit YOU Well,
we had q great laugh over that letter. The
result of our meeting was that l agreed 70
dine with Handy at the Richelieu last
night. He said that landlord Bemis
wanted should try his stewed terrapin.
but bless you, my dear Moses says I,
there's no such thing as genuine terrapin
in the west. You may get the canned arti-
Gle, but surely not the liveP
"'Oh, yes answered Handy. Bemis
assures me that it's the genuine thing, and
guess it is, for I've seen it,
''Alive? says l.
"'Alive,' says he.
'Well, l went away. What superb
hostelry the Richelieu isl It's unique in
its way. Upon my word. I never saw its
equal! Such furnishings, such woods,
such upholstery, such china, such glass,
such service, such winesl l declare there's
nothing like it elsewhere in all the world.
Remis, too, is so cordial so hospitable and
SO intelligent He seemed so glad to act as
my host, and he wasn't the least backward
about telling me where everything came
from and how much it cost. These are Sc
crets which some landlords are mean
enough not TO disclose. Bemis is not that
kind. He is free with his information. and
was glad to get it.
when the terrapin came on, attention
was called to the elegant solid silver chat
ing dish in which twas served. This dish
was made in Paris out Of South American
silver. 1t cost, as | wis told, 5000. The
ornamentation, relieves and embossings
were ornate beyond description, and on the
cover appeared the Bemis crest, gar
nished with diamonds and emeralds. The
contents of this Incompatible dish were
steaming hot | was served upon hand
painted Dresden plate which, as was told,
was worth its weight in gold.
"'Do you like my terrapinT asked Bemis.
"Now, honestly, was disappointed in
the Wand. had eaten terrapin in Balti-
more, Washington and Philadelphia-ter-
rapin in every style-and 1attered myself
that if IN all the world there was terra
min connoisseur he was William J. Flor
ence and none other Bemis' terrapin had
that distinct flavor which betokens long
season of preservation. should have said
| it was canned terrapin; it was sapid, savO-
~ and delectable, yet not quite the thing.
| But, of course, I told Bemis that IL was
| splendid; and indeed the fine old Madeira
| TWENTY-FIVE dollars bottleD made up for
| every deficiency.
| 4 am glad TO hear you say IT, said Be
| mis-; our friend Handy here has been in
1 sinuating that | don't keep the genuine
/ article; whenever ] serve it he intimates
that it is the canned terrapin.'
"'Ah, but this is surely the genuine,
quoth L
Indeed it is said Bemis. and can
| prove it too. Here, waiter-garcon-Ec
| down into the deepest moat under the eel
lar wall, and bring me up one Of those ter
| rapin. Donnaymoy Won terrapin, too'
sweet, see VOC play
1.-THE wsiter-a Frenchman, of course
| hustled off Handy tried 10 apologize. :
don't mean % say that you haven't got ter
| rapin,' said he. for you've exhibited ZEN
| alive every time You had terrapin in TN
| bill What / do say Is that your cooked
/ terrapin tastes like the canned goods
"Bemis pooh poohed the idea, and pres
/ emily back came the waiter carrying bis
tray. and on the tray sprawled = sur
| enough terrapin You can't fool me OF
| the genuine article. The terrapin has Ger
| tain distinct markings, colorings, shsd
inzs; this Bemls terrapin was splendis
! specimen.
.'Set IL down in the middle Of the table.
said Beuis. aud the waiter did 30.
I've got the cellar fall OF 'em-mors'
million, | guess sad Bemis. Don
feed 'em anything but minced liver an
Bethesda water AL fat a. butter am
lively as crickets When the nights AZ
! stilI sou can hear 'ern vhistIing ike nizat
iagales-'
Il was satisfied that I rad done Bemis
serious injustice. Another taste of 81
stew convinced ne that IL Wa not th
canned, but the genT article 70 az
rlied rnvseif with red confidence Z
the Wand All Al once Handy undgsd ne
whispering hoarsely: Billy. cid yo1 uotsc
anything
4 looked up a. him He was white a.
ghost, ard Re rem D&fTl- 1ahes =4sfEA - "a
ails YOU. Mosesp / asked
DO you notice anything quser-auJ
thing strange or VERDI he asked
/ No. q course not WbyF
Then / must have :, en- To rnrch 9
he Madeira- sad be, and be called t0r
bottle q spoiiinar-z.
@But presently Re sald, There Z 20
aZzfn-Icok 81 It--thai tsrrapia-caE't 50
SETS 5oTing a. ne
Vastly surprised, ] looked up ard hxs
nv eves On the terrzpin- The creature Ia
crzvled 20 the edge q tie tray and rsacbe
, ia front claws over the side thereoi y
long neck vas exteadsd - Is u;zos. p
, racity. "a b.eadfke eyes glistsEsd with Il
tellszsuce. AID surely enough i Was boz
Ing is black head solemla!y Oacss tsTlo
, fnrice = made Che-zz-lce ulsAz1reall
: grzvely. reyereztlT.
Aszrvelo1sg cr.sd Z E1oEs JoE
Handy: tbs creature really knows ToaF
'Beulis was greatly eoufussei- ! Axe
: away-ser.a i hzck - B2-t more Z
yelled But Handy a1d in;srFso@s'
Handy understood &. az nDE. - S1s
trek terrasgn. fhs only o7s ts@rn-A "a
He couEessesi--yes. BSE-.s oTDs1 Ep
Ienz4h- Taetaerapsn he served 'FGs f-s.l4se
] terrzylu. Whenever a1g Question Areas
: = TIE cenzsue1zss = tee c-ta k>eau
2 .rould sd aogn Eafa re flag t1r 'oas
= .soae terrarsu. azd tts vsaiisr s1O1sd ofan
: t,a~s tAss ss,us !ouslg. ullg2s teTrFo!n-
= - = sf.-ass-e ezrue rus Il va cssgJTsEs