The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-24
LITTER FROM THE GOVrRNOR
mn NFE's COSTLY DINNER.
The Practical Joke Of Two westerners on
the Iumorist


While Nye was not n mountain man 10
such an extent there were frequent occa-
siOns when he got into the same horizon
with sam Davis. and when they assoc
ciated there were hot times in the old
town
After Nye had become famous and had
taken TO lecturng he had an odd adyen-
ture with Davis. whom often before he
had met jOyOusly and parted from sadly
II was such an affair as the humorist used
10 delight TO put into print and II seems
impossible that he has not told the story
II he has the man who has read 10 hereto
fore can skip this column
Davis was working on a San Francisco
paper, and Nye. meeting him. asked II
II were true that one could get "A royal
banquet in the Golden Gate town for the
ridiculous prices mentioned by men VINO
had been there. Davis said the stories
were overdrawn. but still one could man
age 10 exist on what was set before him.
even If he did not have a kegful Of money
in his possession.
'I'll tell you what" he said: you come
along with me 10 dinner this evening and
I'll take you 10 a rOtisserie-One Of those
French restaurants YOU know where YOU
can get something for twenty-five cents
or II you prefer fifteen-cent meal"
Il guess not ~ cried NNe, who was
spending sl5 a day for being allowed 20
breathe in the Palace Hotel. "A quarter
meals cheap enough
After they parted Davis hurried 10 one
Of the finest eatng-hOuses In all the coast
country and had brief but convincing
conversation with the proprietor He also
called into his aid man with whom he
knew Nye had had some pleasant CORE
spOndence. and whom the lecturing
knight desired 10 meet. In the evening
the three gOurmets approached the lair OF
good eating. The menu card was pre-
scented. 1t was about as long as the
Canadian Pacihc's timetable. and made
mention OF wonderful things gastrOnO-
mical. But Davis and the other San Fran
clean behaved with il-temper when they
saw 10. There was no variety II was no
better than the ten-cent meals provided
on Kearney street. and here they were
prepared 10 pay two bits a head. Finally
these two impatienty directed the walters
TO bring everything that was on the bill
and they would select something 1T TO eat
out OF the lot Mr.. Nyc had very little
hair. but what he had rose in spiky
way.
do YOU mean to say" he casped that
the price Of such meal as YOU are order
ing Is "A quarter
well" said Davis. IN confusion. cot
course fifteen cents would be about the
right price. but something seems 10 be
wrong with the chef to-day. Try 20 make
out little. and Wen go somewhere else
tomorrow | am really filled with shame
al bringing you here 10 such a poor. dis
NAL excuse for "A dinner. but ] hadn't been
I'm here for month, and didn't know il
had run down So
The two coastwise men objected TO
everything. The wine was not more than
twenty years Old. whereas they were pay
ing money enough TO get good stun. The
Holsters were wrong In some way the
salads were faulty. they insisted. the bird.
the fish the sirlOln-eVerything clear
through 20 the fruit and ice cream and
pastry and coffee and cognac was cru-
n.s,. .H..f
a twenty-cent place. but at q shop where
the price was twenty-five cents 10 was
neXcusable. The worst Of it was that they
had a guest with them and he would
carry away poor opinion of san Francis
co hospitality. They again called the pro-
prietor over and forced him 10 apologize
TO the visitor for the wretched food he had
served. Then Davis paid tho checks
which were for twenty-five cents apiece.
and Nye nearly tainted when the cashier
humbly thanked him.
The next day Nyc slipped away from
all friendly hands and secretly went
around TO that restaurant. He wanted 20
have Just one more OF those stupeudous
twenty-five-cent dinners. So he ordered
about one-third Of what he had taken
on the previous day. There's no use
wasting food just because IL Is provided
so generously and al such a price" he
reasoned And he called for his check.
was for S22.I0.
The Davis dinner mad been 4 nice. pleas
ant little prearranged swindle put uD by
"Sam" and his friend and the restaura-
teur.
chief Justice Of the Supreme Court OF
Inc state Of North Carolina. though he
had never been in North Carolina.
Going East one winter the man from
the coast stopped AZ Laramie 10 renew
his troubles with Nye. WHO was then
iustice OF the peace. The court was busy
with a legal hearing. and when Davis
appeared in the doorway Nye Immediately
called him forward.
Gentlemen Of the bar" he said. ad-
dressing the two attorneys ~ auords me
Measure TO introduce Chief Justice With
erspoon OF the North Carolina Supreme
Court. Judge. your arrival is most oppor-
ture and / want you 10 sit here with me
and advise me on this case. Join me on
the bench" Then. In whisper Back
me up. you outlaw or ii commit you TOT
ten days as a Vagrant.
Never was a case argued with more
vigor. This was the first time these Wyo-
ming lawyers had ever confronted n real
chief Justice and they made the most Of
IL At Intervals Of about thirty minutes
tho eminent forensic light from the south
would request that the court be cleared
so that he might confer with his oistin-
euished colleague. Judge Nye. upon some
abstruse point Then. while the lawyers
and Others went downstairs by the front
hallway. these two false pretenders would
retire by the back stairway 20 the mar
lot of wet merchandise When the last
attorney had finished his grafton another
conference was held. after which Nye
calmly looked down upon the litigants.
and said.
"A serious doubt has arisen This is an
assault case such as I have frequently
dealt with for months past. | have tined
some defendants and released some. But
| / find l am In the wrong. Judge Wither-