I then hired for the day for $20 a shut-up country place; got plenty of English bunting, quantities of flowers; saw that my champagne was of the best and well _frappéd_; made a speech to the waiters and cook, urging them to show these Britishers what the Yankee could do when put to his stumps; and then with a long cavalcade of cooks, waiters, pots, and pans, heading the procession myself, went off to my orange-grove retreat, some five miles from Nassau, made my men work like beavers, and awaited the arrival of my sixty English guests, who were coming to see the American _fiasco_ in the way of a country dinner and _fête_. In they came, and great was their surprise when they beheld a table for sixty people, _pièces montés_ of confectionery, flowers, wines all nicely decanted, and a really good French dinner, at once served to them. I only relate this to show that where there is a will there is a way, and that you can so work upon a French cook’s vanity that he will, on a spurt like this, outdo himself. Marvelous to relate, the _chef_ positively refused to be recompensed. “No, sir,” he replied; “I am well off; I wish no pay. Monsieur has appreciated my efforts. Monsieur knows when things are well done. He has made a great success. All the darkies on this island could not have cooked that dinner. I am satisfied.” I was so pleased with the fellow, that when he broke down in health he came to me, and I had him as my cook two Newport summers. I kept him alive by giving him old Jamaica rum and milk fresh from the cow, taken before his breakfast,--an old Southern remedy for consumption. 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.