The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-04-13
Summers Dialogue with the Empress.


Dom Piatl relates the following Incl
dent in the GALAXY for February
My friend Colonel Sumner, subsequent
lv famous in our civil war rs Maior-Gen-
cral sumner, was a friend and tavorite of
Mr.. Jefferson Davis. when that gentleman
was Secretary of War, and had been for
over Il year laboring with his chief at re
forms in the little army of the United
States Their gigantic efforts had ended
In the invention OF hat for the common
soldier that combined in its ugly finish
ease and economy. 1t was light as u
feather and ugly as an old stovepipe. Al
the end of these labors the Black Warrior,
lI American merchantmen, was fired into
upon the high seas by a Spanish man-oi-
war, and the opportunity came, 50 long
hoped for by the manifest destiny party of
Young America for Il quarrel with Spain
that would end it was hoped in the acqui-
~ltiol. OF Cuba. Dispatches were pre-
pa,cdhy the Secretary of State, Mr. Marcy,
demanding immediate explanation and re-
plration and at the request of Mr.. Davis,
Colonel sumner was made bearer of these
dispatches to the impatient Pierre Soule
then Minister of the United States at Mad
rid. Permission was also given Colonel
Sumner to visit various parts Of Europe
for the purpose Of inspecting the army or
carnations of the several war powers. In
this official guise Sumner visited Paris, at
ter delivering the important dispatches in
To- the hands of Mr. Soule
Colonel Sumner was anxious to be pre-
scnted at the Imperial Court; and after
the proper application, the honor was tc-
corded him, through our Minister the Hon
John Y Mason; also to Colonel ID. X .
McCrca, then our Consul at Paris The
day selected was Sunday, the one ordin-
mily given to such ceremonies by the
Court. Ii was beautiful morning, with
Il sunlight sollencd from the glare we
suffer by the moist atmosphere through
which it shines in Paris. Colonel Sumner
had his apartments directly above those
and for hours after breakfast | could hear
Ms heavy tread while busted in the I'M
portant preparations for the grand cere-
mony. The preparations We're SO pro-
longcd, that at last | assembled on a tour
of inquiry. His appearance somewhat
startled me His uniform. none of the
newest, had not been in its best days more
picturesque and becoming than American
uniforms were. Certain stains upon the
coat might be Indian blood, and might be
tobacco. But TO cap all, ON his solderly
head was that hat, the result of jeff
Davis's anxious inquiries as to how best to
reform our army. | said nothing, but as
sisted the Colonel in putting finishing
touches to his toilet, all the while enjoying
the anticipated pleasure of witnessing the
shock evinced when my rotund and good
natued chief, the Hon. John Y. came to
see that hat.
At eleven A. NJ, the Minister'S carriage
ratified to the door, and the Minister, ac
companed by the Hon. ID. X. McCrea, as
ccnded to our little drawing-room. SO
soon as Old Nirginia's specimen of diplo-
matte adipose could get breath for the
purpose, ii attacked Sumner:
II say Sumner, what's that ?"
That why, that's our soldiers hat
I'm going 10 show it to the Emperor"
YOU'RE not going to wear it ?"
Yes, am
'.Wcll. III bc-, won't 90; we'd
get put out by the servants. We couldn't
get in. Why the devil don't you send it
to the Minister of War? He will show it
to the Emperor"
Now, Colonel Sumner had two objects
in view in soliciting this presentation, as
he subsequently coniided to me in a very
injured tone. He wished to exhibit this
hat to the Emperor, and himself TO the
Empress But the Minister was master
of the situation. His wishes could not be
ignored
"Confound it," said the Colonel in u
sulky tone, ''I've got no other"
'.Wcll, buy one" said Judge Mason ;
and the bonnie was dispatched for that
purpose to the street. and soon returned
with IN elegant French chapeau with the
French colors. Sumner swore that he
would moi sail under false colors
We'll, then, pluck the feathers out, ;"
9rowled the Minister, land let's 60, for
times up"
Now" said the Minister, while rolling
along toward the palace, "Sumner. when
YOU are presented to the Empress, be care
iul to say nothing to her about Cuba
She's an ill-tempered woman, and won't
stand much, l can tell you"
Sumner was busy pulling out the obnox-
ious feathers, and did not seem to hear
the admonition Judge Mason repeated
it, and received no response. Wishing to
impress the important advice upon his
friends mind, he repeated it again, when
sumner angrily exclaimed
''Do you think am fool, Judge Ma
son, know what to talk about"
As subsequent events proved, he had
not heard word his friends had uttered.
The interview with the Emperor was
pleasant and satisfactory His imperial
insigniiicance was evidently struck with
the soldierly figure and bearing of our
Colonel, and the talk about Indians and
Indian lighting was long and interesting.
When it terminated, Judge Mason and his
friends were conducted to The reception
apartments of the Empress. She stood
surrounded by the ladies and officers OF her
household, in the subdued light of the
painted windows, beautiful as royal poets
dream. She was then in the MONDAY
glory of her lovely womanhood. Her
sweet face, with features regular to u
fault, was framed in by hair delicate and
bright rs the silk upon the corn, with q
golden chestnut tinge impossible to de-
scribe Her lovely head sat on her white
rounded neck with the ease of bird on a
swaying limb, while her graceful figure
carried its drapery as if every fold Of the
costly fabric were q part of her quecnly
self, and had been woven into grace by
fairy fingers.
Judge Mason presented his two compa-
triots, and Colonel McCrea, an accom-
plished, self-possessed gentleman, took up
The conversation, and for some time it
flowed on gracefully and well. AT last,
Colonel Sumner thought it time to say
something, and he said it.
81 have Just returned from q visit to
your native land, your Majesty. found
Il yery beautiful, but regret that had not
time to visit its famous battle-felds."
"Ah, Colonel Sumner" she responded
graciously, "and why were you so hur-
red?"
81 was bearer of dispatches, your Ma
jesty, in the Black Warrior outrage" he
replied. !.
Here was trouble, here was diplomatic
complication. Judge Mason broke into a
profuse perspiration, known to us at the
bureau as "a diplomatic sweat" and the