The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-28
THE MAYOR AND THE DUCHESS.
How Ex-Mayor Hodges of Baltimore
made a Mash"
From the Ladies Home Journal.

From the Ladies Home Journal.
''In 1878, on my way TO the Paris expo
sitlon, met the Duchess of Cleveland under
very agreeable circumstances. We were on
board steamboat crossing the English
channel from Dover to Calais She was
pointed out to me by an American gentle
man of leisure who was one Of my travel
ing companions. The duchess was accom-
panied by her husband, the duke, and their
grown daughter. She was not strictly hand
some, but especially symmetrical, stately
and graceful. On the Gay Of my departure
from London was late in reaching the
through TO Paris, and IL was pushed into
the baggage van just as the train was NOV
ing off.
ION reaching Calais was compelled to
look after my luggage and have it exam
ined by an officer OF customs and checked
to the point OF my destination. This, OF
course, required time, aud l was obliged to
part with my friends and take later train.
After this had been accomplished l went
into the well-known station cafe for
luncheon aud found a seat facing the door
at one Of the small tables. A gentleman
sitting opposite to me vacated his seat
simultaneously with the appearance Of the
ducal party at the door. The duchess, who
appeared to be the director general of the
group, mdue careful survey OF tue res
taurant and discovered three uuoccupied
seats to suit her. one at my table and two
elsewhere. The duke and his daughter
took the seats elsewhere and the duchess
came straight to my table and solicited my
permission in the most gracious manner TO
occupy the vacant chair. Her manner was
an admirable mixture of agreeability and
dignity. OF course. l could but make one
answer, and that was done with cordial re-
| al = vuO1l6 OnIxY ha fCn
you would do So
whether to address her by her true title
or simply as madam was a question OF UNI
certainty for only moment. | deter
mined to feign ignorance of her identi
and rank, because l thought that course
would secure more perfect equality of
compauionship at the table. She looked at
the bill Of fare with much terest. aud
evidently found some dishes to please her,
for she exclaimed with great satisfaction:
lone is always sure of getting some
thing good TO eat when they get on the
French side of the English channel
" Pardon rue, madam said /; Il scarcely
understand you. That is a very surprising
admission for an English lady to make
'WhyP she asked.
"Because I have been taught to believe
that your people think that the best of
everything is only procurable in England. ,
go, that IL a great mistake she said.
That vanity is monopolized by you Ameri-
cana
"Then turning again to the menu she In
quired what wine / was going to drink
with my luncheon. told her that was
awaiting the temperance of the garoon to
order small bottle Of Bordeaux. She
thought Bordeaux was a delightful wine,
and said:
"'You need not give an order I will Or
der q large bottle and We will drink IL to-
Rether'
II said that arrangement would be en-
tirely agreeable to me, but that must or
der the bottle of wine myself; that that was
the custom of my country.
40, nor she said. I could not permit
you to do that; will treat YOU
"'You are very kind said, but do not
understand, as an American. why | am
neither permitted TO treat nor to pay one
half the cost of the wine.
"B1t she was infexible, then added:
"'You surprise me greatly, madam, by
the familiarity with which you use the
words treat" and "treaing"-they are so
strictly American
Il know it, she said, and that Is why
used them. l like some American W ords
''In the midst Of our colloquy, which en-
braced comments on some of the more nota
bic events of the day, the conductor ap-
peared at the cafe door and shouted Next
train for Paris and was compelled to
tear myself away, but not until had ex-
pressed my regret that we were not bound
for the same destination. But it is due to
the occasion to say that | shall always re-
gard this accidental conversation as one of
the most fascinating l ever had with a re-
fined and elegant woman Of the world. She
knew how to be easy in her manner, and
how to maintain her dignity at the same
time"