New-York tribune., 1896-12-27
GOSSIP OF THE CAPITAL.
A LEARNED CONGREsSMAN'S SUDDEN
LIMP AND ITS CAUSES.

AIR. CURTIS. OF THE Law LIBRARY OF CONGRESS-
PREPARING TO MAKE IT HOT FOR swITz-
ERIANp-pIPLOMATIC CHANGES
Washington Dec GA certain learned me"-
ber ~ Congress from the South. whose NINA -
never on earthly things. was invited recently u
n fashionable wedding. The bride "aS '"'
daughter OF one OF his oldest friends. ana "e
considered not only his duty but pleasure W
20 AT tho very last moment an aHa'r ol s0n0
inportance demanded his attention. anu "e
found Il impossible to be present AT the Ve''
rony IN church. but he sent mis- wife' rro'"'S'''
20 meet her at the reception an hour a''e'"','
They met accordingly. and no one oi al ~"
guests was so happy in his wishes 20 'he oiiuV
as this gallant NJ. c., no one was W'''o'' nus
wife was so filed with pride OF her h"spa"o
that {. was some time before she discovered tha'
re was limpng badly
Are YOU lame dear?" she whispered
"No. certainly not" he said. why DO YOU
askY"
"you linn so" she answered concernedly.
Lacking down at his feet this good lady dis
oovered the cause-her ethereal better half hdd
on one foot a heelless slipper. on the oihcr
shoe with a military heel. He had been inter-
ruptcd it seems when changing his SHOES anu
when AT leisure. forgot to complete the opera
zion and following the custom in6ueurated pS
"Diddle. dddle dumpln, my son John' went
40 the wedding with one shoe off ard one shoe
On.
Mr.. Curtis. the law librarian Of Congress. Is
ono crossest Of men when Switzerland is MEN,
toned for which little country he has nothns
nm, haired and contempt. 1t will be rcmem-
tered that Mr. Curtis is that unfortunate per
eon the victim OF mistaken identity, VINO Twice
during the summer was incarcera'ed ny ''o
Swiss Government. and could not obtain 'he
rights 10 which his passport entitled MIN. N'
The time the affair was serious matter bu' IN
reviewing IT Mr.. Curtis sees the humorous side.
IIe hopes however. to persuade the SWISS 'oV-
eminent that II has another than humorous
lie. and 10 that end has engaged Alexander
Porter Morse 10 sue that Government for large
damages
Eeinc a man of the world. Of fine appearance
snd aeroea hle address and armed with pass
mort and a personal letter from Secretary Olney
., The representatives Of the United States Gov
.rnnent abroad it seems impossible that Mr.
Curtis could have been mistaken for South
American desperado and net once but twice. ar
rested ard r,prisoned and brutally and incoH-
sidcratclv treated but such are the facts' anu
now Mr Curtis is going to make this h'ie
,ountrv nav for the stupid mistake of her hire
nngs and explain just how ii happened
There ave II he two changes in the Diplomatic
corns Alfred lie CHAT. the Minister from Bel
r,un. has been recalled and Lord Cough hfs'
secretary Of the English Embassy. who has been
ON autv in this country less than two years is
to be succeeded by Maurice William Ernest de
Runscn.
Mr. lie Chait who has represented Belgium a'
This capjtal since 1880 is of the most popu-
lar rner,bers of the foreign circ'e. lie Is 'a'''
graceful middle-aged man, with klhd anu
Genial temperament ard most charming a"-
dress and manners. During the ehiife uiHe VI
,Ar husbands service in this country Mi'e ~
ch,,, has romuned abroad. so that the Belgian
location has BEEN conducted on modest hhes'
.,d has not entertained to any great extent
lut the Minister is member or all 'he '"H"
,onab,e clubs. and very popular in society. Just
.r 600 Nr lie Chats son, Raymond lie
,.,,. O., ,ha, time attached to the legation
-. u.es married 10 Miss Payson. OF TINS cl'y
rha new English Secretary. Mr. De bunsen'
c,r,ord,r OF the Bath and an OXFORD NJ A.
,-ran his dirlomatic career in Washington aS d"
.,.achA some eighteen years ago. When Sir ru-
,rd Thornton was Minister from EnSlaho' MI
y. Runsen served here for the best part OF three
,,ars when he transferred to berne, ""''
lind Later he was charge d affalres at
and at OlUcfPnt tliiFN ma "''
,,cha5 70 the English legations at LISBON TO-
i,a and Bangkok. He is man OF pleasing pei :
.,rali,v ana has the broad culture that eNtehd'u
,.,,-.i and residence in different paris OF lhe
world invariably give. and although he spent
o,lv a short time he,e is Pleasantly remembered
4, her Tuesday receptions Nine. Romero VIE
~ the Mexican Minister serves a punch hlade oi
,u,,,e which - the national drink or Mexico
orcupving the same position and meeths 'he
same wants that Nhskey does in the Cn'led
Statas II is the juice Of the maguey pant
which Yields large revenue TO those VINO oul''-
yate H. The juice from which the liquor IS inade
resembles a thick. green milk. and Is SAID 10 De
q cure for all stomach troubles and for consump-
ton. IL collects In the heart of the plant ana Is
extracted in q primitive and not ahogelher
pleasing way by means Of sucking appara us
worked by the mouths Of the Indian laOorers; Inc
tuice thus collected is empted into skins ana SUD
tacted to a fermenting process lasting Two or
three hours IT is then ready 10 drink anu
should be used Immediately, as II spolIs altei d
few days The liquor used at the mouse OF tie
Mexican Minister is treated especially Tor Trans
portation, and the punch made from IL mas al