The New York herald., 1872-08-11
DEPARTURE OF THE FRENCH BAND.
An Interesting Scene in the Bay Yestsrday-A
Sad Scene of eparture-Frerchmen kiss
ing Each 0ther-The Last Of the
Garde Republcaine.

Precisely at halrpast nine O'Clock Yesterday morn-
ing the noble French steamer Washington formerly
Napoleon Ill., cast loose her moorings from pier 90
North River and steamed into the Hudson To de-,
pict the enthusiasm the wharf is no light task !.
gray Boards women and children, joined in the
chorus OF 'Vipe Ia France" till the welkin rang.
On board the steamer mirth, merriment and kindly
expressed wishes of meeting again, should the ates
SO ordain, was the order Of things. To witness
a French leavetaking is the only way to
realize its earnestness Men hugging each other,
and when the final movement Of departure drew
near, kissing each other frantically on either
cheek and giving the loudest smacks possible.
Nor were the fair sex absent In the drama which,
was being enacted. Frenchwomen, who had
migrated years back to Gotham, found long loss
cousins, OF first, second and third degree, and
great was the sorrow exhibited at the leave-tak-
ing. Whether Sternes dictum applies "that they
manage these things better in France" applies
to leave-takings Is an open question:,
but certain it Is their excitabiiity, high
strong grief, and untempered sorrow, was char
acteristic OF the parting scene. In the centre Of
one OF these tempests of the heart was to be seem
Mr. Joseph Strauss, old Algerian soldier, the late
Private Secretary Of the Superintendent of Police
Jourdan who was seen presenting to Monsieur
Paulus the director of the band, photograph o
his worthy self. decorations and all. 1t appears
".
Alsace, two miles distant from where the battle
o. worth was fought IN the late Franco
mother OF Monsieur Pauius also saw the light.
Champagne c0rks popped from instant to instant,
and casual observer might have believed the
gathering to be marriage ceremony instead Of q.
departure for the Old World. Mr.. Mackenzie, the
agent of the TRANSATLANTIC Company, stood at the
gangway which led to the deck OF the Washington
and warned the curious or who came with the inn,
petuous desire OF visiting their friends, and, per-
enthusiasm cooled
think that they dwellers OF the New World and
not prospective residents in the Old. At length the
last embrace had been given and the shrl whistles
OF the steamer made 1t known that departure Was
the word. At rapid rate the visitors made for the
shore and the steamers deck merely neld its pas
sengers. The mail was on board, the boatswain's
whistle was heard and the ropes were thrown
AS the last connection which bound the New
World to the Old was thrown ashore an American
French Band, stationed amidship, opened their
lungs and gave three huzzas, supplemented by q
t terrible tiger Meanwhile, the captain Of the
struck In the engineers room, and the feet
craft also headed from her wharf into the
vessels gided into midstl cam. The French
Band on the Washington played the soul.stir-
towards a Bee ance Mas
Whistles rent the air from all the puny steamer 10
tilla in the neighborhood, and the two vessels
bounded away in the outgoing tide. The Sleepy
Hollow was gaiy decorated with tri-c0Or bunting
around her decks, while the well-loved red, white
cry OF farewell was heard from the hundreds OF
Frenchmen and Frenchwomen remaining on the
wharf, and both vessels were seen gliding over
the Hudson, side by side bound for Sandy Hook
while the "Marseiaise Hymn'' foated in the ar as 9
last remembrance Of the best foreign band that has
ever played in this country 1t was their last ap-
pearance, probably forever and DAY, ana Frencn
residents who have made this city their home felC
sadness at losing sight Of the able musical repre-
sentatives OF the Fatherland: simultaneously the
band of the Guard Lafayette struck up "ShOuld
Auld Acquaintance be Forgot" and GOOdby, john"
Thus with alternate airs down the bay, with the
shipping dipping Its coors as the gay procession SOD
Staten Island. the Gem OF the Bay,n on
they progrc ssed through the Narrows, with Long
Island and its pleasant scenery on the port side,
till Sandy Hook is reached Bouquets were thrown
across the intervening chasm between the two ves-
sels airs gay sentimental and comic were played,
when La Joyeuse Garde." to quote the famous
LauncelOt, bade farewell to all that was American.
Returning to New York, mourning was forgotten,
and dancing took place on board the Sleepy Hollow
till the wharf was reached The Washington was
followed by the Abyssinia, City of New York, Egypt
and vessel belonging to the Anchor line.