The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-30
SHORT STORIES
OF THE DAY.

What Had Marked Influence on Frank r.
btocIton's Life.
At the annual dinner of Sorosis, given a
few weeks ago at the Waldorf-Astoria,
there were a number of prominent gentle
men present. this being the only occasion
during the year when gentlemen are invited
to partake of the hospitality of sorosis.
Needless to say it was a very elegant af-
fair A popularity of the after-dinner
speaking was that a subject had been Sc
lected, and all the speakers were expectd
to discuss that particular thing. The sub
ject in substance was: what Incident or
Thing Has Had Marked Influence Upon
Your Life?' Various speakers, women and
men, responded to this toast, relating Incl
dents that had marked influence upon
them, reports the Spectator.
Among others was Frank r.. Stockton, the
well-known author. Mr.. Stockton, in his
quiet. droll way, went on to tell the story
of little girl who lived upon farm and
was very fond of all animal and outdoor
life, and was especially fond of horseback
riding. Whenever opportunity offered she
was sure to climb upon a horse, with or
without saddle, and take a gallop about
the farm in the roads.
He told how one day this little GIRL being
out in the fields, saw horse running loose;
she coaxed him up near the fence ana
jumped on his back He grazed around ana
ran about the fields, to her great delight,
but finally he saw that the stable door was
being opened and he made sudden break
for the stable at the height of his speed.
The young girl enjoyed this very much
until she came near the stable, when she
saw the door for which he was making
was too low to permit him to pass throush
with her on his back. She was somewhat
frightened, not knowing how TO get on
before the door was reached. but nnaily
she slipped quietly from his BACK anu
landed on a heap of dirt without oeihe
especially injured. :.
NOW this little incident, simple as IL
NAV seem said Mr. Stockton, mad a won
derfuI influence upon my life, for that lit
tie girl grew up to be woman anu ."eh's
years later she became my mothef'
Couplet IN Repartee
In her volume of "reminiscences, Mrs.
Sherwood tells this tale of Nathanlei r
Willis: l was present at many dinners
when willis was the life of the company
and. although l did not hear the famous
repartee of the Washington dinner SO
often recorded, L will record it here. IL
was Mrs. Gales, think, who at one Oh
her own dinners wrote a card TO ner
niece at the other end OF the .ape
"Don't firt so with Nat Wills ohe waS
talking vivaciously herself to Mr.. Camp
bell Willis replied: f.-z ~.
Dear aunt. don't attempt my young Feelings
to trammei,
Nor strain at Nat while you swallow
Campbell
probably the quickest-witted couplet on
record. That man could turn over
card at a dinner and remember a text SO
appropriate was wonderful and the nav
ing a pencil with him (being an autnor}
was still more wonderful.
1 once heard him quote with prefer
natural MISUNDERSTANDING TINS, too' was
original-these lines:
A lady was complaining to him or her
wrinkles He Immediately improvised the
following:
oh, talk not to me of the charms of youths
dmples;
There's more sentiment centered in ladylike
wrinkles,
They're the triumph of Time. which marks
Beautys decay,
Writing lines to the charms which CO., not
fade away.
Now, if Winthrop Praed had written
that all London would have been on fire
and have quoted it STILL Willis had the
true Italian gift of the improvisatore and
the French facility for vers de societe.
Willis was born a century to early for
himself He had the Amphytrion spirit
of Ward McAllister. He had the sense
of coming luxury; a pamphlet of his,
written fifty years ago, perfectly fortels
the present state of New York society,
then undreamed of. f5+.rz - .rf
Judge DILLON as a Juror
Ex-Judge John A. Dillon delights in tell