Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03

Gnt me basket of fruit; will you allow me the
pleasure Of sharing it with you?' .'Oh, GER
| tainly, captain; / will be delighted, and how
welcome such present at this season"
My readers must remember that California
fruit was then unknown on this side. My
friend came TO me the next morning to 60 with
him and select some fruit for this lady, for whom
he expressed the most boundless admiration.
| suggested there might be some difficulty in OBJ
tanning fruit in the depth of winter, when his
usually placid face became disturbed and he
| said: But l must have it. l told Mrs. b.
friend had sent me basket Of fruit. and Of
fered to share them with her and she expects
| them. must get them"
''Well," l said, 'lets 60 and zee Gautier; he
will do 1t IL anybody can; but it would have
been safer at this season to have said oysters"
When the captain told Gautier what he wanted-
| q box Of fruit-he almost laughed, and Jackson
began to see he was in q bad scrape. Gautier
| suggested that as Baltimore was a more extern
sive fruit market he might succeed there, and
| as 1t had become a serious matter with him, for
he swore he was banished from the hotel until
he had fulfilled his engagement. telegraphed
Bill Guy, the great caterer at Baltimore, to
send on Immediately box Of fruit of such va
riety as he could find. This soothed my poor
| friend and on going home to dinner found q
disturbed my domestic peace. Mrs. c. had
| opened the telegram, which said: ''Sorry I
could not send fruit ordered by the afternoon
train: shall send it now. Will it be too late for
| your dinner"
I told the truth about it, of course, but nv
own dinner was not as cordial usual, for the
demon OF distrust had entered, but I tele-
graphed Guy to send box by next train.
In the morning after breakfast called to see
If the fruit had come. / went to the captain 9
room, and opening the door found him in I'M
dress uniform taking an inventory of his pur-
chase and with two colored walters asserting
| enough fruit to set up a half dozen sons Of
sunny Italy in business-two kegs of Malaga
grapes. box Of oranges, lemons, dates and
love apples were spread before him. The scene
was SO ludicrous laughed, of course, but Jim
said he saw nothing to laugh at and requested
would say nothing about it. I promised
would not but it was too good to keep, and
soon after meeting Arnold Harris l told him
Jackson desired to see him, and meeting other
mutual friends, told them. and that evening an
advertisement appeared in TIE EVENING STAR
| announcing that cargo Of fruit had Just been
received. and being more than the purchaser
| had use for, would be sold, &c. Apply at Room
CJackson's ROOM. National Hotel. Poor
Jackson, how we ran him on that. Mrs. Crit
| tenden held it in terrarum over him and his
only recompense was the gratitude of Mrs. b.
| for the delightful present he sent her.
The dinner parties Of Washington continued
to be leading feature of the days preceding
| the war, and on the return of peace the friends
who had left US came back to be welcomed to
the same hospitable enjoyments they remem-
bered so well in the ante-bellum days.
A DINNER TO ARCHBISHOP spALDINo
About this period the right reverend bishop
Of Louisville, Monsigneur Spalding, was ele-
waited to the primacy as archbishop of Balti-
more As my honored relative and guest in
vited the members Of the foreign legations,
cabinet ministers and distinguished citizens to
meet him at dinner. Baron Gerolt. the doyen
Of the legations; Sir Frederick Bruce, British
minister, and Lady Elmer, the Marquis de
MonthOlon and Marquise de Montholon, the
daughter OF Gen. Gratiot, who presided over
the French legation with such grace when it
occupied Mr.. Corcoran's residence; the Spanish
minister and the charge de affairs of Portugal,
Col. Raaslof Swedish minister; Mr.. Cantigalli.
italian legation; the Peruvian and Gillian
ministers and the diplomatic representatives of
the South American countries, lately rendered
30 conspicuous by the Pan-American congress;
ing, Secretary Of the Interior: Gen. and Mrs.
Vincent, relatives of the archbishop, Col JAS
G. Berret and other distinguished citizens and
their wives This dinner is especially memoir
able from the fact that the Difference paid by
the representatives Of the Catholic countries
made it etiquette for them to appear in court
dress, with the exception Of the British min
lister, who wore the star of the Order of the
Bath, while the archbishop appeared in canon
ical robes. The scene was very a brilliant one,
the ladies in full evening Dress decolette, cos
tune de rigueur. among whom were the ladies
| OF the Presidents family. At the conclusion
Of the dinner a formal reception was held and
presentation to his eminence Of large num-
Der of the citizens of Washington. His urbane
manner impressed most favorably all who came
in contact with him.
SAVED FROM BEING THIEF.
On subsequent occasion I had tho pleasure
Of entertaining the archbishop at less formal
dinner. having invited the Kentucky delega-
| ton Of the Senate and House of Representa-
tives to meet him; Mr.. Crittenden and his
wife, Mr.. Breckenridge, Judge Trimble and
| others, with them Capt. James s. Jackson my
old friend, and the hero Of the hamper of
fruit. When I extended the invitation to him
Met him ~ he said; '.yes, have met him,
| and he is one of the best men on this earth; he
once saved me from being thief"
So astounded at his reply I exclaimed:
when? How? What do you mean?"
"Well, I'll tell you" said he. "A friend of
mine married daughter of Mr. Breckelier of
| Louisville, and l was his best man on the occa-
sion, and as such was deputed to call for the
bishop and escort him to the residence Of the
brides father and at the same time was handed
given the bishop as the wedding fee. 1 was at
that time very hard up and thus argued with
| myself: Here is q chance to recuperate. What
use can a bishop have for hundred dollars? 1
will take seventy-fvo and give him the bal
| ance. He won't know but it is all right and
safe. had never seen o Catholic bishop in my
life and I imagined the higher the dignity
the more solemn and austere would be his ap-
pearance. l called for him and was deeply i'm
pressed with his genial manner and appear
ance. After the ceremony wedding breakfast
was served and the duty devOlved upon me to
accompany the bishop to the table. As we en-
tered the dining room the bishop said Excuse
me, Capt. jackson, know, think, this house
better than you do. and have had an opportu-
nifty Of testing Mr.. Breckelier's hospitality and
little Of his good brandy will give us an
appetite for our breakfast This was q revela-
ton to me and l ut once suggested that a
bishop who could appreciate Mr.. Breckelier s
good cheer must be gentleman of taste, and,
therefore, l determined to divide with him.
When we sat down to breakfast which was a
sumptuOus repast, the bishop said, Captain
/ know Mr.. Breckelier's wines and il you will
| allow me will select those which will best suit
this delightful breakfast 4 thought to my
self, said the captain, this gentleman has use
| for money and will content myself in NV
present needs with S25.' At the conclusion Of
the breakfast, the ladies having left the room,
cigars were circulated, and to complete my
surprise the bishop said, handing me cigar,
Captain, ii you smoke can recommend these
This last coup convinced me Of the enormity
of my intention, and, seeking suitable oppor-
tunity, presented the good bishop the entire
wedding fee."
OF course I was not to tell his grace. but
who could resist 80 good a story? At the dinner
inquired of the archbishop II he he remem-
bered the wedding breakfast, and then by de-
grees told the joke, which ''set the table in q
roar"
ryYrp