The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-06-11 00:00:00

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THE SWISS IN LONDON.

The Swiss inhabitants of London spert the evening
of the Derby Day at a "tea-light "e -which they called
soirde riligieuse et patriotique. The reporter of the
Dully 2'eligraph, who describes this gathering, says
that with the Swiss the love of country is sa thoroughly
a religion that one con well understand the little colony
of them in London, who meet Sunday by Sunday in
the church in Endell-street, gathering once a year ti
blend their patriotism and religion wilh music and
tea-drinking. Everything about the tea-party was
as nice as it is proverihilly and unmistakably
nasty under ordinary circumstances. The-re were
pretty Swiss girls, in their trim national costumes,
minstxring coffee which wan made "as in France,"
and tempting one with delicious little cakes. Then
the merry laughter that rang round the table,
and the polyglot conversation—German, French,
Italian, and half-a-dozen incomprehensible potain—all
went to make up a scene sti generic, and quite on.
English. The after-tea proceedings commenced with
a prayer by M. Is Pasteur POtavel, of Endell-street
Church. A Mani de eireons:ance entitled "A Fin.
spiration"—also written by M. Peitavel—was then
sung to a fine choir-like sir. This really concluded
the religious portion of the programme, with the single
exception of a final hymn. Some vocal music by 111.
Gustave Kuster's choir, "L'Helvetie," and a couple of
overtures by an amateur band, too weak for the room,
followed; but, weak or strong, the audience were
determined to be pleased with everything. Mr.
Kepi [sang a song, of which the canto alone would
have sufficed to bring down the house Ma
chhro patriot" while the vocal m maasties of that
gentleman, Jam sure, recalled to the hew Eaglieh pre-
sent the efforts of Herr von Joel at Evans's mime years
ago. Being encored, he substituted a Bernese comic
song, which must have been very funny, for everybody
laughed; but its point was too recondite for any hut a
SWifig critic. M. le Fadtenr delivered a brief address
on "Christian Joy," and then occurred tine clenti.teure
d inlirruption, when the Babel of languages was re-
sinned. The climax was reached when the well-known
" Raz des Vauhes " was sung by the whale assatmbly.
This, of course, created a genuine Prone, and /19 one
beard it from the lips of that little band of Swiss
colonists, one c Auld appreciate the story of Napoleon's
forbidding it to be sung by his Swiss s defiers because
it made them die el home.sickne 83. Altogether, adds
this writer, it was a pleating sight, this soiree Salem—
this little band of voluntary exiles grouped around
their past, r, and from the Great City sending back
their thnuglits to Fatherland.
The body to which M. Petavel belongs is the Calvi-
nittic ; but the motto which met one's eye on entering
the large room at lianover-srmare was " Un pour tons
CO tons pour un "—and it is, I believe, faithfully acted
up to at the church in Endell-street. It should be, if
it is to represent fairly a country where all religions are
not only tolerated but supported, and where, I am
seemed, it is not unusual to find two religious bodies
using the same edifice for worship at different hours.
They are but a small congregation - only some GOO
being present at the soiree—but their charities are
numerous and well organised. At all events, they are
a happy as well as an united band; and! can only say
in the words used of that worthy citizen, when next
the Swiss demoiselles preside a their pretty tea-tables.
and give themselves to their simple festivity, "May I
be there to see."