The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25

enough for plain American c'u1e"s' IKE
myself. who cal a space a SPADE
TO practically steer clear or French
phrases and quotations. approaching the
fact that the ma iority OF his listeners
are not Frenchmen. and have a thorough
knowledge OF only one phrase Je ne
sails pas
The manner in which learhed the
meaning OF that Phrase, by the way. Is
unique. Four OF us were III fashionable
cafe q always put up at the Desu' and
I was literally starving. having return
ed from a 6 o'clock tea. Inc menu was
printed I'm French. Two ladies and a
gentleman gave their orders. Inc menu
was then handle me II was a case Of
trusting TO luck, for ! was determined
not 10 display my dense ignorance.
F1ourishing the publication with a know
it-all AFR. a hundred or more or those
MISUNDERSTANDING little acute and cir
cumhex accents, apostrophes, and the
like, aroused my suspicious. IL looked
like the flies had been roosting on the
paste-board- to employ unreflned rarfance.
II wasn't a time for minute observation.
however. so I indicated by way OF in
PRODUCTION the first and last Item on the
card. Twenty minutes elapsed. | was
ravenous. Finally the waiter entered,
and after serving the other members OF
the party. gave his waiter a highly orna-
mental flourish. and placed before me a
glass of water and a tooth-pick. Had
not the aides been present. l would have
been safe in clubbing the fellow with
every abusive epithet the English Ian
guage contains. for his knowledge OF
Angio-Saxon was about as scanty as my
acquaintance with French.
Professor Boatwripht probably had
stored up In his mind the details of some
such experience. when he determined to
eliminate from his lectures all unneces-
sary expression OF the French tongue.
Perhaps one OF the most conspicuous
figures that will be seen at the ball TO
be given in Washington on the 18th OF
this month by the Ladies' Confederate
Auxiliary Association. Of that city. for the
benefit OF the Confederate veterans of
Washington, will be that Of Governor
O'Ferrall. There are few men, even i'm
this State. which has produced so many
Chesterfields. who can more readily sus-
tain their regulations as true Virginia
gentlemen thar Colonel O'Ferrall. He is
a typical son Of the Old Dominion. and
has a skilful little way Of making you
feel at perfect ease in his company.
Whether buried in a great pile Of public
documents AT his desk In the morning
debating important official letters. or min
Cling with a group OF society people at a
select entertainment. he wears the same
smiling co%untenance. greets every one
with the same cordial grasp Of the hand.
and has always ready "A genial. sunny re-
mark for all with whom he comes in con-
tact.
Naturally enough. Governor O'FerralIs
presence at a social function IL I'm great
demand. He receives invitations from
every direction. and his popularity is by
no means confined 10 local bounds. He
makes friends everywhere. az one anus
ing little instance Of the many that trans
pire In the Governors office will serve TO
illustrate. a pretty North Carolina belle.
while on a visit to this city, accompanied
her hostess and a couple OF gentlemen
friends for a flying visit TO the Lesisla-
ture. When about to leave the Capitol
one Of the gentlemen proposed that the
party pay their respects to the Governor,
who arose from his desk literally covered
up with legislative bills and papers. and
greeted the visitors in his w~ell-known hap
py way. After the usual exchange of
courtesies and a pleasant five minutes
spent in conversation, the party were TAX
ing their leave. when the young lady said.
with a view OF mischief:
Now thai I've met both Governors. |
should like 10 see them together and hear
what the Governor Of Virginia would say
10 the Governor of North Carolina
why, I can relieve your curiosity now"
said Governor O'Ferrall. smilingly. II
would most likely propose a toast 10 a
fair visitor from the Tar-Heel State and