Washington sentinel., 1898-01-22
20 Temperanee Questlon. y

/
nent Eastern city and in Washing
ton, which he presented in due
time and was accorded the true
American hospitality. with big II.
In one Of these cities he pre-
sented his letter to the head Of
family which had a local reputa.
ton for its views on the temper
ance question, and which was re-
garded as being the most radical
of the radicals on this subject. He
was received with great cordiality
and shown every attention during
his brief stay, due to his high
rank. AS there were several mar
riageable young ladies in the
household, it was thought the
proper thing to suspend the rules
for the time being in regard to the
use of wines and liquors at meals,
and to give the distinguished tor
eigner an object lesson in Ameri-
can hospitality. So he was politely
urged to remain to dinner and
gracefully accepted the invitation.
Just before dinner his host, dur
l ing lull in the conversation, called
him aside and said: Count, as you
have doubtless been told, our fam
| lily is committed on the subject OF
temperance, and we never have
anything stronger than water or
tea and coffee on our table. OF
course, you Europeans use wine at
almost every meal, and it is per-
iectly natural that you should ex-
Pect it. keep little wine in the
house for medical purposes only,
and il you will accompany me to
my private room l will be happy to
have you Join me in a small bottle
OF Clicquot." The Count assented
and assembled with his host to the
latter's private bar, where he found
a couple ofpint bottles OF sparkling
champagne on ice, all ready to be
offered up. His host dexterously
persuaded the corks to leave their
moorings, and soon had the foam
ing nectar gurgling down the
Counts and his own esophagus.
They consumed the two bottles and
then went down to dinner feeling
greatly refreshed and edited.
Dinner over, the Count, accom-
panied by son of the host, took
a stroll in the conservatory, and
while discussing botany with the
bright young American, he was
reminded, parentheticaIly, "that
ours is temperance family and we
never use wine or whiskey on our
table"
81 am sometimes subject to
severe cramps, Count" said the
young man, "and on the advice of
our family physician, l drink the
very best whiskey that can be had.
II you don't mind, why, I'll have
you 60 up to my room and we will
have little OF 1t together" The
Count didn't mind" and went up
and kissed the baby" as the old
topers down South say, and then
went down into the parlor to find
that the young ladies had changed
their toilets and were looking as
pretty as pictures. One Of the
young ladies, a perfect American
queen, with a complexion as beau
titul as a summer sunset, took her
place at the piano-forte and played
IN the most charming manner the
Lullaby" from Erminie, and the
Count went into ecstasies thereat.
Pa and the young man. excused
themselves, as they had pressing
business at the office, and left the
Count in all his glory with madam
and the young ladies. Soon the
music ceased and madam eau
tiously broached the subject Of
temperance, with a view to ascer-
tanning on which side Of the fence
the Count stood. He assured her
in fairly good English that he was
not averse to little wine occasion
ally, and that he was accustomed,
when in France, to having IT with
his meals, where they drink it just
as they do water.
"Well," said madam, 1--WE never
use any strong drinks on our table,
Count, as it sets bad example be-
fore the servants. The girls and
myself, on the advice Of our family
physician, who is a very learned
and capable man, are drinking, as
a medicine purely, the very best
Holland gin, for our complexions.
Ifyou would like a glass Of that l
am sure that we would only be too
happy to offer it to YOU" said
madam in her blandest and most
persuasive manner. The Count
thought ne would not mind trying
ga leetle of re Holland gin," as he
wanted to be agreeable, and &C
cordinplv the bottle and glasses