The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-18
COUNTESS IN THE CITY.
A DfsTTNGCTSHrD PARTISAN Is
STOPPING ar THE JEFFEEsON.
The Countess Embarrassed a Times Re
porter Who Was Playing Pool-she
Likes the Americans Socially.

The daily life OF the average newspaper
reporter is seldom anything more or less
than one continued routine grind. lie
gets up. goes through his duties, and re-
tires 10 his honest couch, with the same
methvdical mien that characterizes a
machine. Occasionally. a murder, a fire,
an elopemont. or suicide occurs, and he
Is given a chance 10 display his genius,
and secure libel suit against his paper.
Sometimes a great man VIII die at +"
O'Clock in the moising, and then the
sleepy scribe has fun writing an moor
rect sketch OF the deceased, for Which
he must apologize on his knees 10 the
dead mans family. and promise never
to do 1t again
But these exciting incidents arc few
and far between.
Yesterday. however, While playing poor
in the Jefferson with two companions, /
had an experience that. TO say the least
was novel. and not a little embarrassing.
II clearly illustrated 10 me that me Gus
toms governing the women Of America
and France are widely different, and, be-
sides. from a point Of experience, : have
never had anything Ike il 10 happen 10
me before.
WERE PLAYING POOL.
My companions and myself. Invested
Of our coats. and with chalked cues We're
leisurely engaged IN an exciting game OF
pool. Let me say here that the pair OF
trousers ] had on were badly snagged.
l had completed a shot. and was stand
ing with my back 20 the lobby quietly
chalkng my cue when the sound Of "A
dainty footstcp caused me 20 turn
around.
no.. TO-. A. . .t.t. . coll beautiful
brunette, whom 7 had never seen before.
was in my shirt-slloves, and there was
a hole in my trousers.
The fair intruder was beautifully
dressed. She wore a brown skirt or
some heavy cloth material. and brown
velvet body Of a darker shade. ON her
dainty feet were pair OF hlgh-heel
slippers She appeared TO be about
thirty years old Her skin WIS very
fair, and she had a beautiful set Of teeta
On the whole she was an unusually
handsome woman.
THE COUNTESS DE D..
Please imagine Tie situation and my
feelings As ] afterwards learned, I
stood IN tho presence of the Countess de
D.. OF Paris. who Is al present regis
tered az tho Jefferson.
1 felt funny. there was no place 10
hide and the lady. who was gazing az
US as If We were statues. did not appear
40 all embarrassed. on the contrary, she
quietly advanced and took seat IN one
Of the chairs. and began to watch the
game. ] FASTENED 90 turn around. so as
10 hide the snag above referred TO.
What was 90 be done2 How was I to
escape? ] had just resolved TO rush for
the grill-poom. when the Countess. with
a pleasant smile. and In a soft musical
voice. asked me. M decidedly broken
English. if the game was a very diff
ncult one.
REPORTER EMBARRASSED.
] did not answer promptly Her pres
ence embarrassed me. under the cir
cumstances. but the idea of her opening
the conversation vas one too many for
me
Finally, I stammered ont something
about the game being easier than bill
lizards
She smiled. and said: ooh. yes: there
are fewer balls IN the latter. and that
makes IL more difficult"
At this juncture, 10 came my turn TO
shoot Oh. that hole, / never blushed
before In my life. but I frankly confess
IL klow that ! turned the color Of "a beet.
It'required more m.ntal. moral. and ply
steal bravery 10 fun my back 20 the
Countess and may my shot than
any one man was ever required 10 exc
hibit before.
After the game ] FASTENED 10 get into
my coat. and finding the Countess willing
TO resume the conversation. had n most
pleasant talk with her.
CHARMING OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
She chatted in the most agreeable and
graceful manner. and appeared as much
at home as if dropping into Billiard
rooms and starting conversations with
men whom she did not know was AN
everyday affair.
She said that she was at present tour
ing for pleasure, but thar business was
the original cause Of her visit TO Amer
lea.
How do YOU like the Americans"
asked.
Socially. they are charming She re-
piled, but on matters of business.
Here she shrugged her shoulders. and
finished tho sentence in French
! found the Countess de D. very well
informed concerning the history of this
country. She expressed surprise that
Major Ginter had built such large
hotel in such a small city.
SHE LIKED THE JEFFERSON.
She said that the jefferson was tie
finest hotel she had seen On America.
and declared that Paris had nothing thar
could compare with o.. We chatted on
for some time. anC ] learned that tho
Countess proposed 10 return to New
York from here. where she viii I'm the
near future take steamer for Europe
The Countess proved herself such a
charming cOnversatiOnalist that / forgot
all about that COMPOUNDED hole IN my
trousers.
BY the way, ] missed the shot that 7
tried 10 make when / turned my back TO
the Countess.