Evening journal., 1894-08-09
BRANDY AND THE BUTLER
Mrs. Paran Stevens Figures In
a One Act Farce.
ALL NEWPORT IS LAUGHING AT IT


In Goid-The Bottle Was Found, but the
Discharged Butler Sues For Damages.
NEWPORT, r. l., Aug. "a bottle OF
brandy Is at the bottom Of the latest piece
Of society gossip and it was the very finest
brandy over imported too. Mrs. Paran
Stevens who owned 10, declared II was
worth its weight in gold 1t was OF tho
kind known as Dock Samples.
It is probable that ncvor before did a
bottle Of brandy figure in society story
In so innocent "a fashion, for there is no
scandal attached to the tale, but only an
CRY words accusations and prOtcstations
and much deep mystery, tho clearing up
Of which has provoked storm Of ridicule
and laughter and ,omo "reminiscences and
incidentally lawsuit. And the brandy
bottle has not been emptlod set
Today all Newport, with the exception
Of Edwin Burgc Mrs. Stevens cx-butlor,
laughs.
Mr.. Burgo had been head butler as
Marietta villa only five days when tho
Pandora bottle Of brandy was opened, and
tho evil spirits and spirits of dlscord gath
cred around his head. Last Friday week
tho guests az the villa included Mr. Beau
mont Of England and Mrs Edward La
the head Of the Wall street banking firm
of I.adonburg Thamnn * Co. Of 46 Wall
street
The Trouble Bursts.
A large and elaborate dinner In their
honor was served by Head Butler Burgo
with much skill and due solemnity As
a function IL was "a great success but I'M
mediately after its conclusion Mrs. Laden
burg whofe health has been delicate for
some time past, was seized with an at
tack Of faintnoss and begged for some
brandy
No brandy was procurable i'm the dining
] room, and Mrs. stevens won't mp stairs to
hor own apartments for tho stimulant
| The bottle of Dock Samples she produced
/ was % present from a London friend and
the hostess declared that ovory drop was
! pearl, and that such things as cross words
were unknown between tho neck and tho
bottom. II was good brandy, and it had
the desired effect. The Dock Samples was
praised and discussed, and then the talk
turned TO othor things, and in due course
of time the household was closed up for
the night. 1t must have been undor oovor
OF the darkness that tho Pandora imps
took shape and form and began to do
business.
The next morning Mrs Stevens and the
head butler mot i'm the dining room. Mrs.
| Stovons glanced at the sidcboard, exam
| incd puitcd palm that stood in the win
dow, darted glancos about the room,
/ turned a shado paler, opened her eyes "A
! bic widcr and at last turned on the butler
Where is that brandy" she demanded
angrly.
MIR Burgo responded solcmnly, and
with an air of truth missed with well bred
surprise said that he had not seen it since
the previous evening
"Whatr gasped Mrs. stevens. Then
she took breath, and with rapid opera
tion of memory arrived at a deduction
that for its simplicity and suddenness
would have startled tho closest friends
and admirers OF Sherlock Holmes. She
declared that tho brandy had been stolen
and that Mr. Burge was the thief.
The storm Cloud Bursts.
In sulemn and we'll bred way tho but
Ter announced himself Mortified at the ac-
cusation. lie did not weep and wall and
wrilg his hands like maid whom Mrs.
stevens once charged with stealing her
diamonds. In fact, he was not in Mrs.
Stevens employ nt that nevor-to be-for-
gotten i'm. society time whom all Newport
was i'm tumult until the gems wore
found i'm neat brown paper parcel tied
with twinc under Mrs. Stevens pillow,
whore she had placed them. Mr. Burg,
contonted himself with entering gentle
and general denial of any knowledge
| Whatsoever of tho Dock samples.
81 will give you one hour in which tC
produce that brandy or else to leave my
service forever, was Mrs. stevens i'm
passionod declaration. Mr. Burge, NOT
r knowing where the bottle was, failed tC
produce &C.
Mr. Burge emerged from the villa strip
ped of the yellow jacket at the end of TN,
hour, and no went Immediately to the
Office of Lawyer =. Calvin. Ho has be
gun suit for salary and for damages fol
defamation OF character
But tho bottle of brandy--oh yes Mrs
+ Ladonburgs S maid came down stairs will
, | it fow moments after the hoad butler
dismissal. Mrs Stevens in the morning
d was sure she had hidden it behind th
, palm i'm the dining room for safe keeping
r over night She really quite forgot tina
. by her own suggestion it had been re
d tanned I'm Mrs. Ladenburg room in cas-
% OF % second fainting attack.
b. The case Of Eurge versus Stevens viii
r be tried I'm November
Mrs. Stevens was back from New y Norl
n and out driving ON Bellevue avenue to
day A new butler has been engaged
and Marietta villa Is peaceful as "a sum
a.