The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-02
A Justice Court Judgment Oh.
talked Against ]. Talbot
Clifton.
HIS ARTISTIC SENSE SHOCKED
Andirons and a Fender That Were
Ordered and Not Paid For by
the Nobleman.

Lord Sholto Douglas isnot the.only scion
OF the English nobility who holds the DIS
tinction of having been summoned before
the courts to explain why he does not pay
claims against him, for J. Talbot Clifton,
erstwhile patron of the turf and leader OF
the sporty Four Hundred, has joined the
ranks of those who writhe under the hound
ings of plebeian plum ers, tailors and attor-
neys who want their money.
J. Talbot is nothing if not particular in
the things which go to make up the rou-
tine of daily life, and the lack of harmony
IN the color of a portiere and the furniture
of q room is as serious a shock to his nerves
as the loss of q favorits dog is to the
average man. This delicate sense of the
beauty in art was the indirect cause of his
being sued because of his neglect to pay
bill for one pair of andirons and ore
fender.
One cold day in November last his lord
ship was reclining in an easy chair in front
of the CRATE in his leased apartments, when
suddenly his eyes dilated as they saw the
paraphernalia of the heat-giving fireplace. .
Heayensi they were entirely out of keep
ing with the fittings of the mantel and
with the costly furniture of the room.
Such discord of color and design could
not be tolerated for a moment. With the
perspiration standing out on his noble brow
and hands that opened and shut convul-
slvely he sprang madly for the belIrope to
summon his valet.
The violent jingling of the bell convinced
that worthy that nothing less important
than case of life and death had agitated
his master, and he flew to the rescue with
goods usually labeled handle with care"
in either hand.
His lordship's look of distress, as he
gazed at the offending fender and irons
run for physician when j. Talbot recov-
cred his speech, and in weak and sepul-
chral voice said:
"Take EN- awav."
The valet was some time in learning the
cause OF his lordship's anger, his own ar
tistic sense not having been developed in
the upper tendon, but he finally I'M
derstood, and hurried for tradesman to
remedy the matter. His steps led him to
the establishment of Bush & Mallet, on
Post street, where he straightway ordered
the most expensive fender and set of and
irons in the place, and sent the firms de-
livery wagon on the gallop TO install them,
lest his lordship should have hemorrhage
through taxing second glance at the
crate.
His fears were ungrounded. for ]. Talbot
had taken flight, and the valet soon had
the new appliances in place and roaring
tlre burning. He was congratulating him.
self that all danger was past when his
| master returned, and casting one wither-
ing glance at his servant kicked the fender
into the fire, declaring that the valet had
no more taste than 1.-THE beastly landlord,
you know" The new articles were no
more appropriate, though far more costly,
than the ones they bad superseded.
The firm that furnished the goods re-
fused to take them back, claiming that
the fire and the kick from the aristocratic
foot had made them unstable except as
scrap metal. J. Talbot demurred about
footing the bill, eagerly as he had footed
the fender. Then the firm decided not to
daily with his lordship, but placed the
matter in the hands OF one j. S. Reed,
vulgarly known as collector of bad debts.
and the latter brought suit in the Justice
Courts for $75, the value OF the articles.
Though served with a summons J. Talbot
disdained to put in a defense, and Justice
Kerrigan when the case came up vester-
day promptly gave judgment for SIS prin-
cipal, 81 10 interest and So 90 costs.
Unless the judgment is settled soon an
execution against some of the noble scion 8
property will be issued.