The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-20 00:00:00

tan, a memorial so invaluable. Ido not, however,

answer for all this—
"I do not know how the truth may be,
I tell the tale as 'twas told to me."

I had not intended in the limits of my present
letter to return to the subject of hints to strangers
in Paris. I had already written some eighteen pages
of Paris gossip and other absurdities, and I consi-
dered myself fully warranted in laying down for the
evening my pen, and assuming, not my sword, but
my pipe. Yes, I admit the soft impeachment, and
I trust that no elderly maiden ladies will withdraw
their subscriptions from the Franco-American if
their correspondent confesses himself a smoker ; he
sees in his old friend an antidote to and remedy
against both mental and physical over-taxation, his
pipe forms for him a link in the past, and in the blue
wreaths of smoke that curl fantastically around him
he sees in freshened tints the photogra,3hs long since
Ltded beneath the mouldering breathe of destiny.
But I come back to my muttons. I have a habit on
these occasions to combine the utile duke by taking
up the Franco-American, and finding in the various
powerful articles that adorn its pages, an interest-
ing and instructive lesson for myself. This
evening my eye has fallen upon a brief para-
graph from our illustrious chief, in which
he not only graciously expresses his approval
of my attempt to be useful in a small way, but re-
quests of me its continuance. Of course, I need
not tell my excellent reader that such a request is
equivalent to a command, and though I am almost
inclined to hope that his approval will be followed
by that of my reader, yet, if such be nct the case, I
beg that all remonstrances thereon may be sent to
the right quarter, and if not then attended to, I
know of no more infallible method than to stop the
paper for awhile.
Throw it behind the fire, and never more
Let that vile paper come within my door.
However, I trust that fearful ultimatum may be
avoided. As regards the company of which I spoke
in my last letter, M. Jules Condor has forwarded a
tangible proof of its existence in the shape of an
advertisement, to which I beg to refer the reader.
I am happy to add that these apartments are
comfortably and neatly furnished. With regard to
the language spoken it is, of course, evident that
of so large a number in the French capital by far
the greatest proportion must belong to French
owners, though it is possible to obtain where Eng-
lish is spoken.
A grand treat will be given to-morrow to the
lovers of music, in the competition which takes
place between the military bands of nine different
countries—viz. :
( 76AG
reu
axs
nte ria.ud t a —n t
8-
Duchyl 1) giom
uoe
vnf
et r ofpt
u art
deh
ees
nuDuk .
r—aGe roe fn lu
a GuillaumeVd
ierr te msio,bef
lul :
e
Guard: Leader, M. Burg (54 excutants)—" Finale
de Lovely."
Bavaria.-Ist Regiment Royal Infantry : Leader,
M. Siebcnkaes (51 excutants)—" Introduction et
Chceur Nuptials de Lohengrin."
Belgium.—Belgian
Grenadiers: Leader, M. C.
Bender. Belgian Guides : Leader : 111. V. Bender
(59 excutauts)-.--4'
Fantasie sur Guillaume Tell."
Spain.-Ist Regiment du Genie : Leader, M.
Maime (G 4 excutants)-4t Fantasie en lo Airs Na-

ionauic."

France.—Guides de la Garde Imperiale : Leader,
M. Creponnais (61 executants)—" Fantasie sur la
Venise" (62 executants). Garde de Paris : Leader,
M. Taulus (56 executants) —" Choeur et Marche
Fiancailles de Johengrin." Pays de Bas.—Grena-
diers et Chasseurs : Leader, Demkler (56 execu-
tants)—" Fantasie sur Faust."
Prussia.—Regiment of the Royal Guard and
Grenadiers of the Guard, Regiment of the Empe-
ror Francois reunis : Leader, M. Wieprecht (90
executants)—" Fantasie our le Prophete."
Russia.—The Chevaliers of the Guard : Leader,
Daerfeld (71 executants)—" Overture de la Vie
pour le Czar."
As the author of " John Gilpin" remarked, in
reference to the probability of his hero making
another excursion, " I hope to be there, to see and
to hear also."

When the first idea of entertaining the Belgian
Volunteers in London took possession of the Eng-
lish nation a special commission hid to be formed,

and the first care of very competent members was
to enter into matters concerning the expediency of

launching forth a general invitation with what was
considered inadequate funds for the purpose. When
it was provea, ii _CP WVV VT , thwb atossoarocma wore forth-

coming, it became evident that the Belgians could
come. The question next debated was, whether or not
a banquet could be offered them, and a few details
were entered into which, if your readers, or simply
I, had been the intended guests, would have im-
pressed us with a feeling of discomfort. The
knowledge that we were to be a fearful expense to
our hosts would have taken off some of our antici-
pated pleasure ; but it is to be hoped the family
matters of the English Corporation, though pub-
lished abroad, did not affect the Continent very
keenly. Now that the Belgians have been the
nation's guest', it must be confessed that sense and
feeling presided over the debates when a banquet was
proposed; more feeling for Belgian digestion, indeed,
than sense in finally voting for the banquet. The
Belgians alone can know whether " enough is as
good as a treat," or whether it would not have been
a treat to have just enough ; but, at all events, the
banquet of goodwill, thoughinsufficient for alimen-
taarrey purposes,net
likely
to be troubled with bills for the is probably paid for, and the guests
breakages, which some, in tempting moments of
ravenous hunger, were guilty of.
A very different course, at the close of a banquet,
has been enforced this week at the Tribunal Civil
de la Seine, before which the Comte de Rentiepout
appeared against 111. Boileau, the proprietor of the
famous pie-nic institution called the Chalet des
Fles, situated on the Bois de Boulogne. A few de-
tails respecting the fete de nuit there given, the costs
of which amount to five thousand francs and a law
suit, will convey seine idea of social pastimes in
Paris. The affair was conducted by the honorary
members of an aristocratic club called " Le Circle
des Moutards," a most demonstrative appellation for
the noblesse of France. Invitations to the Chalet
were sent out to the queens of the demi-monde, who
all accepted, and were attired as
prescribed, the
order at the bottom of each card, "en grisette."
On arriving at the lake near the Chalet they were

of six French horns, and the ladies who enjoyed
welcomed each in turn by the vigorous " hallah"

dancing began, and at one o'clock,
this reception most were the following celebrities :
—Barucci, Manvoy, de Lucenay, Planteaux. When
the hundred and
eighty guests were assembled
supper was an-
nounced. Nothing had been spared to make this
night banquet memorable, not only on the follow-
ing dawn, alas, but*
on ensuing legal papers. There
was salmon h la Benoiton, lobster h la Benoiton,
ham a la Benoiton, beef i la Benoiton, and when all
the Beuoitonnements (vide modern slang) were
exhausted, Russian salads, Italian ices, Sicilian
creams, Potnpeian
preserves, and all the exquisite
etceteras of Roman refinement, were savoured with
the assistance of ample libations of Medoc, Saint
Julien, Poniard, Chambertin,
Champagne, punch,
serops, coffee, 84e. But not sufficient unto that
night was the evil thereof ; all the Benoitons had
to be paid for, and the Comte de Rennepont's hor-
ror was extreme when he ascertained that having,
asiresident of the ~ Moutards,”
club, have to pay signed the invita-
tion cards, he world, as representative of his noble
for all costs. Now among the
latter figure divers plates and dishes, for, w hen
enjoyment was wildest doring• supper, some of
the ladies testified their satisfaction by throwing
plates full of " primeurs" at each other's heads, by
dashing champagne in cavalier's faces, which face-
tious play is prejudicial to crystal and porcelain. It
is true that the Comte de Rochefort and other noble-
men, having anticipated a little boisterous fun, had
requested of the police the favour of the attendance
of four
in the company of
municipals, but municipals, in three cocked
hats, are human after all, and partook of the cheer
boatmen, firemen, coachmen, and
thirsty horn-players. Thus their quota has some-
what increased damages also, and though the Comte
de Rennepont considers himself a very ill-used man,
he being the head of an august body, has not only to
pay for everything,
but all law expenses into the
bargain, Lie has every one's syinpatby besides, and