National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-20
i GREAT PANTHER FEAST.
TEE scLRNrIsrs AND MAMMALLsTs
As EPICURES.


TEE ScLENrLsTs AND MA1fMALIsfl
As EPICURES.
CHAMPAGNE As A WASH FOR PANTHEt
nEAT-FIsH VS.. METEOROLOGICAL RE
SEARCH As AIDED AND DEVELOPED b
THE DISSECTION OF THE AMERIcASPAN
TBKR-HEADs OF DEPARTMENTS DE
CLINE TO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
wAszIHsroz, D. O.
Edftor Auaerfcdn SportsmaA: 4--r "a. - ~
The quarters at the Smithsonian institution
occupied as the ONCE OF the United States Fish
Commissioner, were filled few days since with
deTotees 70 science and the doctrines Of Epicurus
the occasion being . grand banquet on panther
: mesh, hne specimen having been received from
the Rocky Mountains.
vIAEDR DE la EELIs coNooLoR-
The nesh Of the animal being as rigid As when
but recently It len the severe cold OF It's native
Nlds, It was decided 70 take advantage oil the OPP
portunity offered for practical Is veil as scientific
lryestigation. Hence the novel idss Of
. PANTHER FEAST.
/. Invitations were SaIstlg 1Esueu " 1850 y
euicurians and scientific of1cialS 70 the city, who
with but few exceptions responded IN person,
while letters Of regret from some VINO were IN
Shla "a nartictpate were read op the occasion.
!. ms quests ass embed Il about eleven IN the
norning, aadyoar eorrssP29dsat bsins ne OF tne
fcgunste ..ss, was, from tbs familiar faces Of the
majority pfesent, Impressed with the fact thst
The event was Of no ordipafy character.
: - S(tEK H6sT, RRosHSsoz BAIRD,
the ven Known United States Fish Oompissioner,
appeafsd ali that could b desired, his enyisbls
urbaniES rshderlnk the most diftidsht sat home.n
His nleasknt cOuntenGn6e oetokenipE the m
dwelling o. the happy spirit which renders BIN
ieyeTyWhefe fS9ortie, was never more cnesrfuliy
RADIANT aid showed proof positive that extensive
knowledge, Whils expanding the intellect, dam
ages not the heart. . -. - -
Not being pronoient In Sanscrit, which was the
language used IN oonversation while waiting, time
hung heavy on my hands. Some Of these scien.
tsts arghed that SAnscEt should be adopted - the
court language Of wsshlnEton, and that pro
fciency therein should be the only passport In
future to .asoclety.n- This idea took hugely, and
several present - onse tsisgraphea abroad q
PRESIDENT professionally" -
1, But am OF The track somewhat, and ssnserit
has but little % de With our
SSS Dim 81 ffLIs ooEooIoR.
q. As the clock stuck the appointed hour the
assembled guests were IfarshaIed by the we'll
known surgson-nAtaral Or. q. Q. Ysrrov, as
msstet Of eeremonleI Passing through thS long
;;hSu 81 .the fhusesim as smooth floor sna great
tsneth suggested to isTefl, Of more than usual
fertility Of iuSFfRation, that hers was the very
! biSSssfsSdf Prepared foEa gfS6a RATIONAL teb2ln
;Allys 81 khes Allsfy put such psrelt Unity
fisa idtsl we're Gnms GteIy itoM6sa down me
the Fish oe6miSniSner Sc approsehsa 7thfough Q
side deof to the let at thA east end Of the ppsenm
'Here fancy piIneS net wings, and win giant
strides begins her airy hight +" >s-s6s
r'"If this be thus, whktm1st It be beyond, = was
heard In stentorian tones from one Or AmsfteS,l
distinguished philosophers; and we'll &c might
thus query rs his sight grows dim under the 6sil.
lIancy Of gorgeously decorated walls, or wearieI
N vain attempts 10 define the suodned tlhts Of
the lofty ceiling 30 plentifully adorned with fes
toons Of most delicate texture, while bis remaining
senses gin to dull, meath the s0othIng Influence
ofperfumes TO which, thus far In life, he has beer
. stranger. But the
-. GRAND MARSHAL,
whose extensive travels have rendered him f.
miiAr with sights and scenes calculated to startle
his folloWers-Whoss wanderings from the clolgtel
have been but limited presses on, and soon hslts
his command within the outer court Of that inne-
temple where, ct his command, the massive doors
are wide thrown open and the banquet hall looms
mp ii al the grandeur Of its appointments.
bfOnee within, Imagination turns to bsWIldsrment
over the dsIIling splendors Of this ssaetEn saHe
forum. Casting the eye upward, we contemplate
with wonder the delicate structure Of the various
ornaments hanging over u.s. Indeed, some ofthese
appear possessed Of life; or our senses being Do.
eeiVed are the gyrstions Of these delicately
structed pendants due to some secret unseen
agency, or to Q disturbance Of the atmospheric
equilibrium caused BY the svaying human mass
below.
tAnd now We gaze on walls Of many colors rem.
dered ehamsleon-like by light through transoms
{: Of many hues. Here, indeed, decorative art has
well nigh reached Its mIImum, particularly In
the branch devoted to afrangem emit for sublime
effect. Add to this, that the air Is surchafRed
with uncommon fragrance that products ;from
every cline are exhaltng varied perfumes, while
ever and anon gentle Etphyrs wan rarest arorpai
TO mingls with tho nstive redolence Of this vsley
Of sweet odors, and one might we'll imagine he
had at last realized the dream Of the Count Of
Monte Christie.
But the feast is ready, and though losth 70 turr
the attention from the scenes and Influences 90
enchanting, We are called to take our places ct
the WeIl-nIled board. Even mere the aesthetic ID
loath to give way TO the physical appetite.
Want Of time and space forbids description Of
the table, which was arranged in excellent taste,
and groaned beneath its weight Of rare dishes,
chief among which Wasthst announced Is ''visnde
dc IL felis conoolor."
nssd on the occasion, which were kindly lent from
the unique collections In the British and Alexan-
driAn museums some Of which, perhaps, ante
dated the voyage Of Noah. Prominent among the
table decorations was Q superb specimen Of the
OhimpanJee.
y The good things 90 beautifully provided, hay.
ing been abundantly psrtaken Of, the guests were
called to order by
PROFESSOR b. eAss, OF THE slITHsoNIAA,
who acted a. chairman, at the request Of the host
Professor Gass was greeted With applause and
demonstrations Of affection, a. his majestic form
rose to its a height Of i've feet and the tones Of
his deep bhss voice fell upon the ears Of his
friends, calling attention to number letters Of
regret which bad been reesiyed. The President
regretted his inability to atsePd. Tho Secretary
ofStste had many Engagements which PreFsrtsd
his atteldsncs; he was happy, however, n a.
luding to the Qommis1f6Rer 70 say that his 1btef-
est in hsh in this country, would sfer md % him
e abiding is-cnai prJsny lYyuuinE srs S our late
eQmPlIeatiQ6f, hS Sss e65h deSg that had We II.
lowed our SIckles 70 remain iHJhe neid, We would
have feaPed rich harvest TIE Attorney Ga.
ersl deuurred ct the dtstadee. His carriage, you
krcE was lately .sy:-sly damaged By reekI.:;;
driving, e5pseiSliy 81 tie Hub.
The War psplTspspt briefly stated If Rave
married wife, And tNstefors fcsnnot coma. /" This
excuse NA1 pronounced onp-ecrlptufal, Dy an
eminent divine present.
1.-THE Secretary Of the Navy was present by
proxy, and said, through his Substitute, that he
felt the country Wss again safe. When suet
: gatherings a. the present could be held, no dan
GER from Spanish iron-clads need be spprehended
These heroic men, who feared not the savage
beasts Of the roaring Wilds Of our own most stu
pendous, marvellous, and magnificent country
would never quail before foreigners invaders.
/ Alluding to the recent search for the Polaris
and her survivors, he regretted that he had no
sent Q Panther instead Of "Tigrsss." II h
had only done 90, the members Of that expedition
need never have been hungry, since they coult
have subsisted, II necessary upon steaks cut from
the aIimsi which carried them. This idea open
ed up o new field In naval warfare; instead o
iron-clsd vessels, he should recommend Govern
:ment to appropriate largely for the purchasing
of panthers. These animals could be taught {
swim in search Of the enemy, carrying Ugh
hoWitIers upon their backs. When the tim
cams fog an attack, each panther could dive, tn
howitEor be discharged below the water line
and the enemy's vessel sunk.
) Objection was made to the further reading Q
letters, which rendered The occasion monotonou
70 the fofeignSH PRESENT, w6ersupcn, Proissso
Cas- opened the door for general discussion b
feF4rking that in honor Of tne 6onorsbie commit
1sl:oaRs za0ss Syst. hey ys[ss shs asS diik, )