The Washington times., 1903-09-06
INTERESTING ANECDOTES
OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW

provements in the garden, where he
showed himself no mean hoTticulturist.
One day he complained TO the director of
the gardens. Cavalliere Cesare Balzint.
that an ivy seemed to be in bad condi-
tiou. why are you letting this plant
die?" the Pope asked.
Holy father, the soil is so bad
You don't know what you are talking
about, or else you think we believe
everything you may please to tell US"
Then followed a dissertation on ivy
culture which led the mortified Cesare to
exclaim: He can teach everyone from
the cardinals to his gardener. You can't
get over him"
A Famous Chef.
NJ. Bignon, the famous Paris restau-
rant keeper, was not less notable for
his ready wit than he was for his long
bills. Some of the tales afioat concern
ing both. says the Westminster Ga
zette," are no doubt legendary, for they
have been related of other hosts. For
instance: What. NJ. Bignon, Is francs
for a peach?' asked Prince Narischkin:
peaches must be rare" NO, monseig-
neur," replied Bignon. but Narischkins
are" The same story was long ago told
| of George III and an English innkeeper,
with the variation of an 'egg" instead
of a peach" and kings instead Of
''Narischkins."
The anecdotes told OF Bignon at first
hand are probably more authentic. An
/ epicure, after dining at Bignon's, COM
| planned Of the sauce. Did you dine
here yesterday" asked Bignon- ''No," :"
replied the customer. "Ah!" said Big
/ non, that explains everything You
/ have vitiated your taste at some in
! feriOr restaurant"
One man. after the waiter had pre-
sented his bill. sent for Bignon for an
| explanation. 'I have breakfasted with
you for several days" said he, "and my
| breakfast has hitherto cost IS francs so
centimes. I have had exactly the same
| breakfast today and the waiter charges
me q francs IS centimes." BignOn
went to his desk and made a show of
| examining his account book. Then, re-
turning to the guest, he said: You are
! quite right; there is mistake. l find
| that have hitherto undercharged you.
! But, as the fault was my own, Will not
! ask you for the arrears" He once
/ charged King Milan $50 francs for a
| bottle of Bordeaux. His majesty has
| an Illusion" said he. that wine is not
! good unless 1t is very expensive"
The Telltale Tile
An Irish barr!ster named Sidney is
! fond Of telling this story Of the days
OF his early practice. He was defend
ing a boy who was suspected OF hav-
! ing entered a house through a window
4 in order to open a door and admit .
couple Of burglars. The evidence
/ against him was a hat found on the
| floor below the window-a hat which the
! police declared the prisoner had been
| in the habit of wearing and which he
/ could not produce when called upon to
do so. Sidney in his defense explained
/ to the jury that there were thousands
Of those hats worn daily. A verdict OF
not guilty was returned, and Sidney
turned TO his client. Go home to your
mother. my poor boy" he said. Bus the
boy fingered. "If ye please, sorr-''
GO home. my boy" repeated Sidney
with emphasis. But the boy had some
| thing TO say and meant TO say it. please.
sir" he cried at the top Of his voice,
as he pointed to the incriminating head
covering, which lay on the solicitor s
table. please. sorr. may have my hat
now?"
Punishment Fits the Crime
An Englishman resident in Philalel-
phia still continues to subscribe, very
Iaudably, TO his old home paper and to
the little magazine issue by the parish,
Wallasey, in which he used to live.
From this magazine he recently clipped
the following, which certainly needs 10
/ comment.
ST. Peter: Who are you?
Applicant: A resident of Wallasey.
ST. Peter: Did you subscribe TO the
Parish Magazine?"
Applicant: Yes.
St Peter: Did you pay your subscrlp-
tion?
Applicant: I forgot.
st. Peter: :