Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1875 — The Duke and the American. [ARTICLE]

The Duke and the American.

A correspondent of the Chicago InterOcean tells the following story: It seems our hero went down to Ohatsworth, the Duke of Devonshire’s estate, in England, a princely domain, which all tourists visit. There is a little village on it, where an inn is built for the accommodation of visitors; and when Mr. A. reached there, after having been through Chatsworth, he was naturally much impressed with its beauty, and he couldn’t refrain from saying so to a quiet-looking man, the landlord, who was sitting on the inn piazza with him after tea. “ Quite a- place, isn’t it?” said the American. “ Yes, a pleasant place enough,” said the Englishman. “ The fellow who owns it must be worth a mint of money,” said No. 1 through his cigar smoke. “ Yes, he’s comfortably off,” answered No. ,2, quietly. “Wonder if I could get a look at the old chap,” said the American after a short;.silence. “I should like to see what sort of a bird he is.” Fuss, puff, went the English cigar, then said the English voice, trying hard to control itself: “If you” —puff—“ look hard”—puff, puff—“ in this direction you” —puff, puff—“can tell in a minute.” “ You! you!” faltered Mr. A., getting up; “ why, 1 thought you were the landlord.” “ Well, so I am,” said the Duke, “ though 1 don’t perform the duties. I stay here,” he added, with a twinkle in his eye, “ to be looked at.” There never was a more disconcerted man than the tourist, but he sat down and talked for an hour with the Duke after his rather abrupt introduction. Chatsworth is the Duke’s show house. He lives farther in the country, but there he keeps his pictures, gifts and plate, and the general bijoutry belonging to the third richest nobleman in England.