Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-07-19
SrArF OF NfIssouRI,l
DISGUISED AS A WAITING MAID
Young Woman's Queer Experience In
TennyYon's Household.

A Young Woman's Queer Experience In
Tennyyon's Household.
Some of the difficulties of living up
to a disguise is illustrated in an old
story recently printed in BlaclSwood's
magazine. 1t is part Of a lady's jour
nal kept in the year 1899, and tells her
experience in visiting the Tennyson
family in the guise OF ladys maidI
Her friend, Mrs. Neville, who was in
vited TO make the visit, could not af-
ford n maid or nurse for her little girl,
so the young woman volunteered to
act in that capacity. under the name
Of Marion Langlais." They both be-
longed TO the same literary club, which
included Mary and Emily Tennyson,
but as she had never met them she con-
sidered herself safe from suspicion.
She arranged her pretty tresses under
a coarse black wig, and quite trans
formed herself into II conventional
lady's maid.
As soon as they arrived at the poets
house her troubles began. She VIZ
expected to sleep with the housemaid,
and aside from her unwelcome com
pany she found II awkward To dispose
Of her back wig and had to wait for the
wondering girl to fall asleep before
she could settle herself for the night.
After a few days she was called upon
10 appear in the dining room as wait
ress. and had her first glimpse OF the
poet. Her journal says: ~ was 10
wait at table, and my heart beat so fast
as went in that could hear nothing
else for a few minutes, for on entering
the room i saw Alfred Tennyson at
lastl And Frederick, Horatio, Emily,
Mary, and the mother. Was IL a delu-
sion that stood there behind them,
changing their plates, helping them,
and they so little dreaming OF my
identity with the servant 'Marionp
Was 1 asleep when the maid of all
work thrust a handful of dirty forks
into my hand bid me Cut and wash
'em quick and bring 'em up?' did do
all this many times before dinner was
over, and though did IL very well, my
hand shook so the first time | took
Alfred Tennyson's plate that thought
II must be seen. The romance Of tho
affair rushed over me-"
closely after this, and she became so
nervous that she nearly forgot her
part. One day as she wal passing the
open door of his room, where he lay
smoking and reading, he called her in
and asked her 10 bring him book from
down stairs He attempted 10 describe
II, but II was German work and he
thought she could not read IL. 81
know" she said, and quickly went
down and brought II TO him. $50 you
understand German" he said, and She
gave an evasive reply and left the room.
That evening atdinner Tennyson could
not draw cork from beer bottle,
and after every one had tried and failed
he said TO Mrs. Neville: "lYhere Is your
Marion, she can do IL; she can do every
thing, from reading German to waiting
at table. Let her try" Marion came,
and, amid a chorus Of apologies and ex-
plantations, she drew the cork. An
other day at dinner she was summoned
10 the table for some trivial reason,
and it was found out afterward that Il
was 10 settle dispute about the color
Of her eyes. Eventually her identity
was revealed, and the family took the
trick all In good part Toledo Blade.
A New Kind of Coal.
"Do they get good soft coal In these
mines?n
MADAM. II Is 30 soft that we call il
he plnnissilno brand. Judge.
what makes you think he Is in
owe with you2' 20. know It, because
ho Is 90 attentive 10 other girls wliep
II.. n4...nu a. ~ - IIDltlI N' w." '''~