The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-04
The only Personal

few years ago and can testify to It's
truth.
NV friend, Paul, is a French news
paper writer, a "rara avis, that IS
to say, an excellent man full of kind
ness, incapable of hurting any n or
If taking an unfair advantage by
means of his profession or OF ms
newspaper. On the contrary MS
greatest pleasure consists in DONG
good. To please, to serve his friends
and give happiness to politicians, lit
:erary men and artists enchants MIN
81 cannot understand" sale me-
the modern newspaper, aggressive
! exploiting private life, commercial
PRACTICAL. I am not practical. Salts
fed with the little money l make,
avery day when retiring I like to
think that 1 have given pleasure to
some one
Truly" said I, like kings you
have an epithet. Everywhere they
,all YOU The Good Senator A. says
ne does not know how to how his
| gratitude for the puffs you have given
him. The Duchess K. spends the day
pointing out the notices you write on
her balls and dinners. You must
have a great many friends
"a great many. I am n who be-
lieves in friendship and this year l
| shall revel in it,
Howl"
"You shall see. Now that we are
! alone I shall make a confession to
you. You know that six months ago
abandoned the theatrical column
to take charge of the society notes,
The wished it because he
said I treated the actors and singers
! entirely too we'll and it is true. IN
two years I have declared all the &C
| tors, actresses, tenors and baritones
! 20 be the most eminent. What does
! it cost to give them pleasure? And l
! have the satisfaction of being able to
say that 1 have done it gratis; that
! no one can claim that I have even
asked as much as a ticket"
You were not so kind to all, for
poor Gueral-"
"Ah, Gueral!"
eyes, you have not been in the
habit of treating him well, far from
it."
1T is strange" exclaimed my
friend. cit is incomprehensible, mys-
FERROUS, but the human heart is thus.
He ia a fellow that irritates me.
When they applaud him, I regret it
with all my soul. 1t is my only re-
morse, but he annoys mel
HE sings very we'll, and is a very
good actor"
1T may be, but I detest him"
$50 on with what you were say
ing"
"Ah, yes, you will see. What I
wish to confess to you is that 1 am
very appreciat:ve of presents"
"Indeed?"
mo matter how small; OF better
still, I prefer that they be small. AS
am incapable of asking anything in
exchange for the thousand favors that
do, so I am happy if presented with
a flower for the %buttonhole, I'm petit
rien, as we Parisians say. And as to-
{; morrow is my feast day"
"You ian count on my present, and
the first of all"
"No, I forbid it, for you are a
! friend of the heart, the only one that
! must give me nothing. Promise that
you will not give me anything"
81 promise, and get off easily"
But to all others, bankers whom I
have dubbed opulent and who do not
| own two rooms, women I have called
handsome and who brighten little
| children, orators, poets, duchesses,
widows who give receptions, ladies
of doubtful social success who give
balls, to all who spend and triumph
and whom I ~1atter, I have told that
tomorrow is St. Paul's day. You
know how it is done. DO not expect
me the day after tomorrow, for 1t is
my feast day. ON Thursday I shall
not dine out for it is my feast day.
And so, everywhere the announce
ment is made"
"It is customary"
"And I hope that more than four,
yes, more than ten will remember me,
don't you think 500"
How can you doubt it,"
"You shall dine with me. Here,
we two, served by my faithful SER
want, Mary, we shall drink a bottle
of champagne"
And drink to goodness .. =; &.
and to puffery!"
That is decided"
Well, l went to spend the whole
afternoon of his feast day with him.
The table was full Of visiting cards.
1t was 4 o'clock when I reached the
house. Paul a playing a waltz on
the piano.
Many returns Of the day, Paul,
Let us see what has come to us"
Nothing Yet. Cards . . a
telegram from the Marchioness NJ.
from her castle. The FORTRESS wished
tiat God might grant me a thousand
years. The baker, while felicitatine
me. told me that henceforth bread
will be dearer."
What were YOU p~laying?"
And we spent the afternoon sing,
ing ballads, until Mary began TO set
the table. And the cards continued
to arrive. One was from 4 friend who
regretted his inability TO give a pres