The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-01
geleft Storr,
4 MONARCH ON THE MooRs.
From The London truth.

From the London Truth
Every one will remember the occasion
(of which, therefore, | need not give the
date, when that great Yorkshire lnagnate,
the Marquis of B, entertained GER
tain Imperial parsonage at his prineely seat
in the East Riding, for the opening of the
grouse season. OF the distinguished party
hidden to meet the Imperial guests | was
by far the least distinguished, being youn-
ger son of a house, noble indeed, but al
most bankrupt, and much too respectable
to have any chance of achieving smartness.
But have great and deserved reputa-
ton for one thing-for my shooting In
fact, am among the dozen best shots in
England. On that account, doubtless,
the Marauis of B had invited me,
having an eye to the size Of the bags which
he hoped to secure over his moors on that
important occasion.
/ need not say that had accepted the
invitation with delight. The Marquis
grouse moors are some of the best in the
country, but also had welcomed the in
yitation for another reason. As a young
diplomat out of work, badly needed some
snug appointment. The government re-
garded my claims coldly. Indeed, it was
reported that a leading member of the
cabinet had had the bad taste to remark
that too many members Of my family were
foisted upon the taxes already. Its true
thai my father, two ofmy uncles and three
of my brothers all held posts of more Or
less Yalue-mostly less-under govern
ment. But that was no fault Of mine.
WHY should suffer for it? That the ad-
vancement If one kith and kin should be
one 5 own detriment was surely the most
unreasonable and unnatural state of affairs.
| did not, however, despair of getting
something The Marquis of B had
been rather civil to me- and if | could only
induce him to put forward my claims, |
knew it would be all right; his influence
in government circles being immense.
When. I had last met him in town, had
entered to hint a request for his good
Offices, And he had half promised to do
what he could for me. Since then had
heard nothing further; but | hoped that
my visit to B Castle would give me
the opportunity to put him in mind that
was still left unproyided for.
[ went down to B. Castle on Aug
II. 1t was brilliant gathering that |
found there assembled; indeed, to have
been privileged to form one of such house
party was thing to remember for the rest
of one life. We were ten guns, all told;
and Of the ten, nine were as good shots as
you were likely to meet in day march.
The tenth was less efficient. Dare [
breathe the truth Have | the audacity
to hint Of one who fancies himself as Ad-
mirable Crichton that in the use of the
shotgun he has his superiors ? | heard 1t
whispered first of all in the smoke room
that evening, when the elders had gone to
bed and left few of us juniors there by
ourselves. Some one, more disrespectful
than the rest, raised the question of his
Imperial Majestys proficiency with the
fewling piece.
ssWhat | want to know, he said
perhaps it was his third whisky and soda
that had emboldened him So what
want to know is-can the Emperor really
shoot p
The newspapers say thathe is one of
the finest shots in Europe, 2 replied some
body else.
ssAh.l The newspapers But of what
value are their statements In these DAYS of
wholesale inspiration, my good fellows
you ought to know. | believe
you We shot with him, haven tyou2 What
do you say
He turned as he spoke to young Wis
count Morden, who had been lately at
tached to the British embassy at
where he was understood to have made
himself persona gfata TO tine nrorIaigl -rvboui.
they were now discussing
81 have shot with him, admitted the
yiscount, laconically.
ssAnd can he shoot
s.Is it discreet to discuss the matter just
low y remarked his lordship, looking ap-
at the door
saOhl it's all right Nobody will come
Il. this time, said the first speaker.
Don be afraid, Morden. They can't
end you to a fortress in this country. Tell
ls-do.
Mordenlooked again at the door tomake
ura that it was shut Then he gave ut
eEance to the following significant obser
alton
ST only pray God that B. doesn'
daee me next on his left tomorrow.
aPhew The is dangerous then
Except to the birds i
ssDoes B know it
He does.
''Then what the devil did he invite him
lere to shoot for
Ny dear fellow, it was not BIS
Ioing. AS is necessarily the case on these
occasions, H l. NJ invited himself
Has the Emperor ever shot Anybody.
ssSh-sh. There was that sad affair of
-oung Won 2. in the forest of F., whis-
,ered the discount. But the Imperial
napslaughterer's aid-de-camp was made
he scape-goat. And the editor of the
My paper that dared to publish the truth f
5 stifl languishing in the fortress of H.
There have been other accidents Ito beat
II but they scarcely count. However,
EoaId recommend all you fellows to be
ea6y to fling yourselves fat on your stonl
chs at.aHg moment, in case the Imperial
'arrels swing round in your direction. It Il
J better to offend an Emperor than to be
without notice, into the King
lena Come
The Yisceunt had, also, by this time
consumed his third whisky and soda; and
an sequently become more talkatiye. &
You prayed God, just now, | said,
that our host wouldn't place you tonior- f
ow on the Emperor left. But some one y