Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-19
MOttester 4ailp Syn

A SUPPER AT ALEXANDRA DUMAs's.-A
writer in Bentley's Miscellany thus describes
supper given by Alexandra Dumas:
yesterday, at eleven o'clock in the even
ing, crowd of artists, literary, and even
learned men, as also ofpretty women, friends
OF the poet-romancer, crowded the ground
floor, which, decorated for their reception,
was dazzling to contemplate. The most beau
tiful gilt, medieval statuettes, works of mod
ern fancy, detached themselves all around
from the garnet-hued paper hangings, which
were here and there soberly relieved by great
golden nails; whilst on the vast chimney the
antique "thief," in bronze, four to five feet in
height, raising up its arms between two i'm
mense china vases, flowing over with flowers
and leaves, heaths and creepers, seemed to
applaud the great Venus of Milo, who, white
and serene, stood opposite to him on the top
of a sculptured pedestal, dominating all the
other statues
San Oaken frieZe extended from the floor
to the height of the elbow all round beneath
the garnet-hued paper hangings, on one side
of which was an admirable gothic prize Dieu
with colored sculptures of the annuncation /;
on the other, side table loaded with bronzes
of Baryl, crystal and china; at each side an
Algerian divan; beyond oaken arm-chairs
carved in pointed arches, and on each side of
the Venus of Milo, who stood opposite to the
fire place, were two colossal jars full of plants
and flowers. Ample curtains, of deep-toned
scarlet, hung before the three windows and
the doorway.-These were spoils brought
away by the poet from the shoulders of SNUG
glers of Malaga aid Of Seville, to whom they
served as capes during the day and as beds at
night.
''In the centre of the floor covered with
Tav xUith
was extended the terrible spoils of a great
white bear Of the icy ocean, that had perhaps
seen the brave and unfortunate Sir John
Franklin pass by under the Attic Pole. And
then, over all these beautiful things, imagine
floods Of light poured fourth from lamps of all
forms and by myriads Of wax candles, modern
lamps with arabesqueS. antique candelabra,
in the style of Louis Kill, fixed to rejecting
mirrors; in the centre lustre of Bohemian
glass, with leaves OF green enamel, and lotus
flowers in opal with golden stems.
''But it is time to go to supper; the oysters
are opened. Let us descend into the little
winter garden, which the poet had construct
ed and decorated, where was before the court
yard of the house. Figure to yourself light
dome of glass, clothed with graceful climbers
and creepers, tropical plants with exotic
flowers; amid which humming birds fitted to
anu ITO, WHILST nlgnlngaleS WarDleu III tne
leaves; burning lamps and candelabra twist
ing their golden branches amidst the foliage
and lastly, beneath this vault of light and YER
dure, feast of Belshazzar. Supper was laid
for sixty; the long table filled the winter gar
den and the vestlbule that preceded it, and
which was adorned with Chinese lanterns,
Japanese vases, cabinets of lacquer, yatag-
hans, knives, and other arms.
"But instead of the sixty guests that were
expected, some eighty to hundred had come.
1t is always so at Alexandra Dumas, where
each f.iend has right to bring his friends to
40 honor to the French proverb. The great
table had the good fortune to possess all the
ladies-Belgian, French, and Spanish-and
they did justice to the hosts hospitality. The
v1ands, the pates, the fish, the melons, the
dishes of fruits and flowers, circulated with a
wondrOus profusion. Rhine wines were pour
ed out in floods as an accompaniment to oys-
tiers of Ostend; the Beaune did duty to nearly
similar extent to the pates dAmicus; cham
payne frapee attended upon the Holsters
whilst the grapes of Malaga and the oranges
of Valence were kept company by the golden
vintages of Xerxes Val de Penas, Rota, and
Pajerete, compatriots of the savory fruits and
of the senoreS and of the senoras who were
lmbibing them in our company"