The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-15
STORY or A BILLIARD TABLE.
a Romantic Episode Recalled by a
ChicHE0nn.

Said Colonel Ford. of the famous Third
Michigan Cavalry. to u Chicago Inter
ocean writerh few days ago: What do
Eou think saw this morning? Hap
penlng into the salesroom OF IL big store
on wabash avenue. where they sell bill
iiard tables. ] ran across II table which
struck mo with somthing OF the sensa-
ton II man feels when wandering through
Il graveyard and suddenly encounters
the gravestone OF an old time companion
IN arms, whom lie still suppoSes to be
IN the land of the living. should have
recognized that table If one In q thou
sand The last time that had seen IL
was IN The drawing room OF the ill-fatcd
Ferdinand MaXimilian, Archduke of
Austria and Emperor of Mexico Tint
was Just thirty years ago this coming
iall. 1t happened this way: When |
was recalled from the front, few
months before Lees surrender, | was
ordered to report at the war Office in
Washington. | was then placed at the
disposal of the State Department and re-
ceiVed Il secret service commission for
duty In Mexico. My instructions were
Very simple. ! was to introduce myself
| IN the Mexican capital as n rich Amcri-
Gun from the North and Il sympat hiacr
with the Confedcracy. My work was 10
be entirely Independent of the Ameri-
can Minister and was to report hap
|
| the Department.
| Il had no difficulty in satisfactorily
| establishing myself on friendly terms
Win several perSonagcs Of Important
| In the Imperial party, which was then
| III power. and within Il week was pre-
scented to both Macmillan and his hand
| some wife, Carlotta. ! was soon n reg
| ulhr visitor at the palace. and upon call
ing one day found this child Empress
| in high Elcr because Of having n sur
prise in store for her husband who was
absent from the city. She was in an
ectasy of delight ut the thought of be-
ING able to break the dull monotony
their existence by something out of tho
daily routine. The surprise consisted of
a billiard table which she had Just re-
ccived direct from France. IT came as II
present from Napoleon III. She con-
strued the present as an assurance of
good faith on the part of Napoleon.
The table WAS marvel OF workmanship.
being handsomely inlaid with foreign
woods In variesatcd colors. Each alter
nate panel of the sides and ends con-
sisted of portraits of the marShals and
principal generals of France IN full un-
form. These were produced with re-
MAJ kablc fidelity to likeness. and ques-
ton if there is another piece OF nlaid
work of superior merit in the world
Certainly not In Il billiard table
One week from that time ! was or
dercd by the State Department at Wash
ington to privately impart To MaXmil-
ian the information that tho United
States intended To insist on an enforce
mcnt OF the Monroe doctrine as re-
CARDS the occupation OF Mexico by the
French troops. That was probably the
most painful duty that | ever had TO
perform The next day | left for Wash
ington. shortly after my return to
Washington the crash came and just as
anticipated the news that the Monroe
doctrine was to hc enforced by our Gov
ernmcnr scattered III" imperialisis like
chaff before the wind. Yes sir, | tell
you that old billiard table brings up 4
flood of memories"