The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-06-10 00:00:00

FRENCH VISITORS AT FOLKESTONE.

There was an interesting tete at Folkestone on
Monday, the occaeion being the visit of some thousand
Frenchmen, members of friendly societies in Boulogne.
A fortnight ago, it will be remembered, the French
watering-place was subjected to a similar invasion from
the representatives of our benefit unions, whose remi-
niscences of their voyage across the Channel have every
reason to be of the most pleasant description. Whit
Monday having been fixed for the return of the compli-
ment, Folkestone resolved to be seen at her beet, and
accordingly set resolutely to work erecting tents, hang-
ing out flags, painting words of welcome, and otherwise
preparing to give a cordial greeting to her Gallic friends.
The Frenchmen, who were generously conveyed free
from Boulogne and return in three of the finest boats
belonging to the South Eastern Railway Company,
viz., the Alexandra, the Napoleon, and the Lord
Warden arrived at Folkestone in the forenoon and
- were met and welcomed at the pier by the mayor and
corporation. There were also Odd Fellows, Druids,
and Foresters in their quaint sashes, and bearing their
still quainter insignia; there were Kent and Sussex
labourers, with bouquets of flowers and bucolic
emblems ; there were Good Templars, with richly em-
blazmed banners; and lastly, and above all, there
were great crowds of spectators. The weather un-
fortunately interfered with the outdoor arrangements,
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Chaplin Henry, and Mr. Watson took part, originally
announced to have been given on the lawn in front of
the West Cliff Hotel. Notwithstanding the depres-
sing influences of the weather the visit appeared to be
thoroughly enjoyed,
Toe Alexandra was the first to arrive, her
freight coesisting of members of the Societ6 de
Bienfaisance and the Scc:6 6 de l'Union, with contin-
gents from the Socie.e Musicale and the Societe
l'Orphdon ; then came the 1 I apolecm, IIL, with the
Societes de l'Emulation Nautique, La Boulonnaise,
and La Fourmi; while the Lord Warden brought up
the rear with the Societe's de Alutuele-Securs, L'lTflion

and

des Travailleurs, and des Sapeurs-Pompiers. Each
arrival was heralded by the firing of guns, and as soon
as the noise and smoke had passed away there came
peals of " kleep, heep, 'ooray I " from the visitors, fol-
lowed by bursts of merriment at their own perform-
ance in the way of cherleng. Two magritgent
bu-
quets, brought °leer in arge chests, were Wesented,
one to Mr. J. Sherwood, Mayor of Folket4one, the
other to Dr. Mackeson, Mayor of Hythe, by M.
Doault, president of the Soci6t6 de Bienfaisance.
Sir Edward Watkin, chairman of the South-
Eastern Company, received the excursionists on
their landing, and an order of procession
being formed, the visitors proceeded into the
town, amid the discordant hubbub caused by the play-
ing of a score of bands and the cheering of hundreds
of proceesionists and spectators. While the procession
was,in progress, there was a profuse exchange of in-
ternational courtesies and likewiso of international
criticism. For the fatter there was certainly some
excuse, for nothing could be more dissimilar than the
appearance of the Saxons and of the Gauls (remarks
the Daily Telegraph). The English processionists
were clad for the most part in plain home-spuns, and
the spectators in the careless costume usual in
watering-places. The Frenchmen, on the contrary,
were in the main decktd out in dress coat and glossy
black hat, while not a few—notably those of the
Soci6 6 l'Orpheon—h ad a copious display of shirt front,
set off with white neckties. The majority of the men
were considerably less in stature than their Britilth
friends and they seemed themselves to realise the fact,
for there was nothing which excited their wonder so
much as some stalwart linesmen and Highlanders, who
stalked about in the crowd. In one thing the national-
ties were alike—their determitation to be jAly under
inauspicious circumstances, for the Frenchmen Fang
merrily during the drizzling rain, and their halting
efforts at "Heep, heep, 'ooray," were answered by
sonorous British cheers.

When the West Cliff Hotel was reached, on the lawn
of which a spacious luncheon-tent had been erected,
with four long tables, the excursionist? were regaled
with a substantial lunch of beef, ham, &c.l.- which had
been provided for 1,000 guests. "The band of the
Coldstream Guards played during the repast, which
was washed down with good English ale. Those who
partook of this midday dinner were loud in their
praises of the arrangements made on such a liberal
scale for their reception. After the repast the Mayor
of Folkestone addressed the assembled hundreds in
a speech of welcome. The Mayor of Hythe and
Sir Edward Watkin welcomed them in French with
great effect. M. Poire!-Aciam returned thanks in
the name of. the Municipality of Boulogne, and M.
_ .

Doualt, President cf the SJcitid de Bienfiasance. The
official speeches being ended, M. Teneissien addressed
a few impressive words on behalf of the workmen then
assembled. The band of the Coldstream Guards and
of the Fanfare Bonlonnaise played several pieces till
three o'olock, when English games were announced in
an adjoining meadow, where good humour and kindly
fellowship increased. The band of fifes and bagpipes
of the 78th Highlanders performed during the latter
part of the afternoon, the bagpipes eliciting round
after round of cheers from the French. At 3.30 the
Mayor of Folkestone gave a lunch to the Presidents
and officers of the French Societies, members of
the Municipal Councils of Boulogne, Folkestone,
Hythe, &c., who sat down, eighty in number, to an
early dinner. During dessert the Mayor proposed the
healtha of Her Majesty. the Prince of Wales, and
the Marshal-President of France, which were heartily
responded to. Sir E. Watkin' in proposing the health
of the Mayor and Municipality of Boulogne, drank to
the everlasting friendship of the two nations. Several
other speeches followed, both French and English. In
the course of the day l'Orphean, a choral society which
has taken several prizss at musical competitions,
sang, a piece called France' being more_ particu-
larly admired. Owing to slight rain in the after-
noon the late concert was held in the marquee,
when the Orphdons won renewed applause, the 78th
Highlanders again playing, to the immense delight,
of the Boulonnais, who appeared to enjoy the day and
entertainment the more they had of it. The marquee
and lawn were crowded. There was a vocal concert
under the marquee by six English professionals. The
Highland pipers danced a Highland reel, which like
'kiss in the ring,' immensely pleased the French
visitors. This general fraternization increased till the
hour. of parting. The three steamers left by nine
o'clock, amid great cheering and the music of the
bands. All the approaches to Folkestone harbour
pier were crowded. The passage was effected in less
than two hours. On arrival at Boulogne the quay and
port presented the appearance of a fete day from the
numbers who had gathered to welcome back the
travellers. A Frenchman, in expressing gratification
at the visit, said (remarks The Times), Voila, in
vrai entente cordiale. Si les peuples et les classes
ouvribres pouvaient se frequenter et se connaLre entre
enx, ii n'y aurait plus de guerres."