Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-25
UP-T0-DATE EQUIPAGEs,
A Few Years Ago Washington
Had Scores Of Them.
French Diplomat Once Upon Time Rode
to Party In = Hearse-Presidcnt
Arthur Mounted on an
Indian Pony.
Especial washington letter.

arthur mounted on an
Indian Pony.
Especial Washington letter.
Twenty odd years ago the greatest
luxury of life on the Iowa prairies was
on oyster stew; and we were only ia
vored two or three times in the winter
when the ladies of the church gave an
oyster festival for some charitable OBJ
ject.
The oysters came In large tin cans,
and they were usually frozen solid in
order that they might be preserved on
their journey; for the distance from
Baltimore then was four or Ave days,
but now 1t is less than two days. The
cars go faster, and everybody goes
faster nowadays.
After living on the Atlantic sea-coast
for several years, and having oysters
right out of the salt water. and in every
epicurean form conceivable, the sue
culent bivalves are no longer on the list
OF Injuries. We look upon them here
us plain everyday food; just as you
look on ham and eggs, spare-ribs, grid
die cakes, buckwheat cakes or mashed
potatoes.
Things which are hard to get, either
because they are scarce or costly, are
luxuries. Things which are easily OBJ.
tanned are not valued as they often
should be. We long for something new
In each breast there is wish we scarce.
lywould care to own, for something bet
ter than we have known. Time changes
our appetities and aspirations. Circun-
stances also alter our views and desires
Twenty years ago when we regarded
oysters as the greatest of all luxuries
on the prairies, we were surrounded by
some Of the finest horses on the cont.
nent. In the cities only they who were
most prosperous could afford to buy
and keep horse. The man who kept
two horses In town was regarded as a
rich man. Now that electricity is fur.
nishing very cheap transportation in
and the days of stylish turn-outs are
numbered.
Only few years ago the diplomats
| society leaders and political somebodies
were distinguished in the national CAPT.
tai, in great measure, by their equip,
| ages, their footmen and their liveries
Society on wheels would furnish the
heading of an amazingly entertaining
little volume If one could but collect
the bits of history, shreds of romance
and, often enough, harassing financial
data, that lie back of and environ many
Of those turn-outs on which the harness
| jingled loudest.
Probably never outside of foreign
court was greater style ever observed
in the matter of equipages than that
with which old Baron de Bodisco de.
lighted the residents of this city in the
days long ago when he represented the
court of Russia as minister plenipoten.
tiary to this country. Living always in
splendid style commensurate with his
wealth, the baron, on his marriage ia
the beautiful young Miss Williams, SET
up magnificent coach drawn by milk
white horses. Gradually, as children
were born to the minister, lie added to
the number of his team, until six white
horses driven tandem in pairs was the
sight that attracted attention whenever
Baron and Nine. de Bodisco took thei,
airing in the fine coach to which liveried
outriders gave the finishing touch OF
splendor.
To go from matters grave to gay but
a step is needed to chronicle mention OF
the weird vehicle, the black-plumed
hearse, in which one of the earliest
French ministers was compelled, in
default of another conveyance, to ride
from the legation to dinner party
on Georgetown heights. The instance
has long since become matter of his
tory as to how, 1t being found at the
last moment that no carriage could be
secured for the minister, he declared
rather than disappoint his prospective
entertainers he would avail himself OF
the only vehicle then left in the livery