Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-01


falsehood. He was not naked. l saw it all
: he had his shirt on. -
Colonel Sumner was anxious to be present
ed at the Imperial Court and after the
proper application, the honor was accorded
him, through our minister, the Hon. John
Y. Mason: also to Colonel ID. X. McCrea
I, then our consul at Paris. The day selected
was Sunday, the one ordinarily given TO such
ceremonies by the court. 1t was beautiful
morning, with sunlight softened from the
glare we suffer by the moist atmOs phere
through which it shines in Paris. Colonel
Sumner had his apartments directly above
those we then occupied in the Rue de RivOli,
and for hours after breakfast | could hear his
heavy tread while busted in the important
preparations for the grand ceremony. The
preparations were so prolonged, that at last
l ascended on tour OF inquiry. As L ap-
preached, through the half-open door heard
the Colonel addressing Madeleine, our bonnie,
very pretty girl. by the by, who had learned
just one English phrase, and that was
= Yees, sir
. Well, my good girl" l heard Sumner
ask in his bass voice, '' can you speak En-
glish2"
. Yees, sir
q Very good now will you have my boots
/ polished?"
III est done drole, ce monsieur Ia, avec
ses bottes,' responded Madeleine solIlOquiz-
ing.
.'Eh what, can't you speak English -
- Nees, sir. =
Well, l say, black my boots. -
" II parle Francais CONNIE unne vache
Espagnole, " she continued.
l saw that 1t was another case Of q lind me
the loan of y'r gridron,' and so went to the
rescue of my friend His appearance some
what startled me. His uniform, none Of
the newest, had not been in its best days
+ more picturesque and becoming than Ameri-
can uniforms were. Certain stains upon the
coat might be Indian blood, and might be
tobacco, But TO cap all, on his soldierly
head was that hat, the result of JEFF Davis's
anxious inquiries as TO hoY best to ref.rm
our army. | said nothing, but assisted the
colonel IN putting the finishing touches to his
toilet, all the while enjoying the anticipated
pleasure Of witnessing the shock eyrnced
when my rotund and good-natured chief, the
Hon. John Y. came to see that hat At
eleven An, the minister's carriage ratified to
the door, and the minister, accompanied by
the Hon. d. X. McCrea. ascended to our little
drawing-r0om. So soon as Old Eirginias
specimen Of diplomatic adip0se could get
breath Tor the purpose 1t attacked Sumner:
- | say, Sumner, what's that p
" That? ? why that our soldier hat. m
going to show It TO the Emperor"
9 You're not going to wear It?
Yes, am.
"Weil, III be - l won't 20 Wen
get put out by the servants. We couldnt
get in. Why the devil don I you send it to
the Minister of War? He viii show it to
the Emperor
Now. Colonel Sumner had two objects in
view in soliciting this presentation, as he
subsequently cOnhded to me in a very injured
tone. He wished TO exhibit this hat TO the
Emperor, and himself 10 the Empress. But
the minister was master of the situation.
His wishes could not be ignored.
- Confound it" said the Colonel, in
sulky tone, = I've got no other"
" Well buy one said Judge Mason ;
and Madeleine was despatched for that pur-
pose 10 the street, and soon returned with an
elegant French chapeau with the French /
coloTs. Sumner swOre that he would not
sail under false colors.
d" Well, then, pluck the feathers out, " +
growled the Minister, " and let's 90, for /
time up.
Now, said the Minister, while rolling
along towards the palace &" Sumner, when
you are presented 10 the Empress, be careful
10 say nothing To her about Cuba. She's an
woman, and won't stand much,
l can tell YOU.
Sumner was busy pulling out the obnoxi-
Gus feathers, aud did not seem to hear the
admonition Judge Mason repeated it, and
the Important advice upon his friends mind,
be repeated it again, when Sumner angrily
exclaimed Il
= Do you think | am a fool, Judge Mason
know what to talk about
As subsequent events proved, he had not
heard a word his friend had uttered
When Judge Mason reached the magnili-
cent reception hall of the palace he found,
TO his alarm and disgust, that he had thrust
\ huge piece of tobacco III his mouth, that
nae to be got rid of before the Emperor ap- ,
Deared. lie looked anxiously about him
The polished floors were like marble, no con-
-eniences could be found, the windows were
inaccessible, the freplaces gorgeous shams.
At last, and Just in time, the troublesome {
contents were deposited in a rich antique ]
-ase that graced a niche in the wall. We T
lsed 10 laugh ut the legation over the sur :
lriSc that must seize upon the servants while :
ngaged in cleaning that vase, when they !
would come upon this strange compound, =
wondering what it could be, and ending, /
perhaps, IN sending the curiosity to the 4
Academy of Sciences for analysis. That this 7
earned body would eventually pronounce it t
nasticated tobacco, we were satisfied !; but Q
whether a learned and ingenious essay would :;
lot follow, as to whether the ancient Greeks !
new of and used the weed, made up the Il
question.
The interview with the Emperor was r
,leasant and satisfactory. His Imperial In c
ignifcance was evidently struck with the c
oldierly figure and bearing of our Colonel,
nd the talk about Indians and Indian fight
ng was long and interesting. When it
erminated. Judge Mason and his friends "
we're conducted to the reception apartments s.
f the Empress. She stood surrounded by n
he ladies and officers of her household, in 2
he subdued light of the painted windows,
eautiful royal poets dream. She was L
hen in the monday glory of her lovely q
gomanhood. Her sweet face, with features o
egular TO a fault. was framed IN by hair s.
elicate and bright as the silk upon the u
orn, with a golden chestnut tipge impossi- .
lie to describe. Her lovely head sat on her j
rhite rounded neck with the ease of bird =
n a swaying limb, while her graceful figure 4
arried it's drapery as if every fold of the Il
ostly fabric were part of her queenly self, s
nd had been woven into grace by fairy h
ngers- 77+-. z.o-f.st al. Id
Judge Mason presented his tive ompatri- 4
is, aud Colonel McCrea, an aceomF lished, :,
gentleman, took up the con- .
ersation, and for some time it flowed on 4
racefully and well. At last Colonel Sumner d
hougkt it was time to say something, and he q
aid it. --f74 ia 1-ff a
q have just returned from visit to yeur il
ative land, your Majesty. 1 found it very hl
eautiful, but regret that had not time to 3
isit its famous battle fields" r --re-4z H7sfl
. Ah, Colonel Sumner she responded, =
and why were you SC. hurried ~ l.,
g was bearer of dispatches, your Msjes- IL
=, in the Black Warrior outrage he re-E
lied. - -.--.v II a
Here was trouble, here was diplomatic g
omplication. Judge Mason broke inte7a 4