The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-08
TWO STORIES OF DIR. EVANS.
His Pet Duck and His Moment of
Fear with Empress Eugene.
From the New York s.

When party of visitors called at DR..
Evans house, near the Champs Elysees, in
Paris some years ago, they heard sounds,
as they rang the bell from beneath the
white marble steps. where they stood, and
directly afterward DR.. Evans emerged
from below in his shirt sleeves covered
with cobwebs. but not in the least discon-.
certed by being caught in such a guise. He
laughingly explained that he was in search
of his pet duck Columbia, which could
not be found. AS he seemed much dis
tressed, his visitors followed him through
the garden, peering here and there. They
had heard of DR.. Evans 81, 900 dogs, his
horses and his wonderful collection of
birds, brought from every part of the
globe, but were surprised at the evident
pleasure with which he told the story of
the duck
1t seemed that when very young the duck
showed strong affection for Mrs. Evans,
following her about the garden, and even
INTO the house where she made herself
quite at home in the drdWing-room. The
bird proved so intelligent and affectiOnate
that Mrs. Evans devoted considerable time
in teaching her different tricks and the
proper manner for polite society, till the
duck finally became an acknowledged
member of the family, much admired by
all who came to the house
During the commune, when Paris was
starving, this adored duck suddenly dis
appeared, and great was the grief in the
Evans household Rewards were offered
and every effort made to discover the
thief, but all to no purpose, and the fam
lily mourned the loss of the duck with sin
cere grief, trembling as to the probable
fate of their pet. Some months afterward
While entertaining a number of friends at
dinner, servant whispered with much
excitement that a soldier was outside who
said the duck had been found. The good
news ran around the table. The man was
brought into the room, and there, perched
on his shoulder, was Columbia, much be
draggled as to plumage and far from be-
ing the sleek and naughty bird of the past
She blinked her eyes in the candle light
and then, suddenly recognizing Mrs. Ev-
ans voice, as the hostess called her name,
gave a joyful quack and tapped across
the fower-decked table to Mrs. Evans
bare shoulder where she nestled, rubbing
her head lovingly against her mistress
cheek.
Then the history of the previous months
was explained. 1t seemed that, the garden
gate having been left aJar on one day, the
soldier spied Columbia waddllng comfort
ably along the path fat sleek and to his
hungry eyes the embodiment of a goodly
meal. In trice he had the duck beneath
his coat and was speeding down the side
street, sitting as best he could the indig-
nant quacks of his prey. But on arriving
at the barracks and being set down in the
midst of the men, Columbia straightway
began her programme of tricks-waltz-
ing bowling, kissing, etc, ending by nest
ling lovingly against her captors neck
with an affectionate gurgle of satisfaction.
Her faith in human kindness saved her
life. The men, one and ALL voted to re.
fol,I
full creature, and Columbia was their
pet from that hour
His story finished, the soldier received
substantial reward, and all drank his
health with much laughter. while Column
bia nodded approval from Mrs. Evans
shoulder
AS DR.. Evans ceased spea king the hero
Inc of the tale emerged from beneath a
lilac bush and came waddling across the
lawn to meet the visitors, stopping now
and then to bow deeply to her master with
much dignity. When she was quite near
DR.. Evans began to whistle a waltz Co.
umbia stopped, then began to dance,
keeping perfect time to the music, and
surely nothing was ever more irresisti-
bly, ludicrOus than the awkward gravity
with which she went through her steps,
with head cooked coquettishfy on one side
and neck outstretched
The host then led his visitors to the
house, stopping on the way to show his
aviary. When they entered the large hall
lamps hanging from the groined stone cell
ing, he called attention to q small brass
tablet set in the floor at the foot Of the
stairs.
1T is here" he said where the En-
press Eugene first learned that she was
no longer an empress. She was brave
woman!'
From there he led the way to a long gal
lery opening out on the garden and filled
with beautiful things. The walls were
hung with portraits of many of the crown
ed heads of Europe given to DR.. Evans
by the originals. Splendid tables of ONYX
and malachite, also royal gifts, were filled
with curious and interesting things: the
first sword won by the little Prince i'm
seriab a tobacco pouch embroidered by
the late czarina of all the Russlas. and a
miniature of the Princess Louise painted
by herself when a young girl But the
most beautiful thing in the splendid room
was the frieze which ran around the ton
OF the walls. 1t was about three feet deep
and on its golden ground were the actual
portraits of his favorite birds in the av-
larry Their brilliant coloring and grace
were faithfully reproduced and DR. Evans
pointed out its beauties with more inter-
est and pleasure than he had evinced in
his princely gifts
Before the visitors left he showed them
the rooms upstairs. where Eugene dress
ed Tor her hight From drawer he drew
out the shabby plaid shawl, old-fa shioned
scoop bonnet and lace veil, which she had
worn, and had sent back afterwards as
souvenirs, Dr. Evans said as he folded
them away:
only twice in my life have I actually
known fear. The first was when proposed
to my wife. The second was when | told
the guard at the gate of Paris that had
a poor, mad woman with me whom [ was
taking to her friends. As he knew me he
was not suspicious; but If he had SO much
as asked the empress to raise her veil
neither of our lives would have been worth
five franc piece. 1 could feel her trem-
bling beside me and her breath coming in
faint gasps but just then she tainted.
which was the most sensible thing she
could have done"
The conversation turned on the bauties
of the new Paris. The many articles pub
Used recently in the American press. to
the effect that it was the empress who
gave Dr. Evans the tip as to the street
to be cut through the city. are emphatical-