Some of his remarks on Nassau are worthy of repeating. I said to him, “Chef, why don’t they raise vegetables on this fruitful island? Why bring them all from New York?”
“Monsieur,” he replied, “here you sow your seed at night, by midnight it is ripe and fit to cook; by morning it has gone to seed. The same way with sheep. You bring a flock of sheep here, with fine fleeces of wool; in a few months they are goats, and not wool enough on them to plug your ears.
BALLS.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The “Banner Ball”—How to prepare a Ball-room Floor—A curious Costume and a sharp Answer—The Turkish Ball—Indisposition of ladies to dance at a Public Ball—The Yorktown Centennial Ball—Committees are Ungrateful—My Experience in this Matter—I discover Mr. Blaine and introduce Myself.
In 1876, asked by a committee of eighty-two ladies to act as Manager of a ball they were getting up at Chickering Hall, in aid of the “Centennial Union,” to be called the “Banner Ball,” I accepted their flattering invitation to lead so fair a band of patriots.