Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-10-29
A French Breakfast.
1t Begins with Prayer-it Ends
with "Spirits.'

is. Consul at Quebec, writes as
follows to the Ashtabula (O.)
| SentineI'
"On Saturday morning last !
was invited by Admiral Thoma-
set, of the French frigate Mag
icinne, to breakfast with him, and
a few invited guests, at IL o'clock
"a somewhat late hour for break
fast, so late as to make it seem
like some mornings at home. AT
the hour the guests were all pres
ent; when after the usual gree
ting mass was announced. l be-
ing the only one who was sup
posed not to be Catholic the
Admiral asked if ] would attend
mass with them, or did | prefer
to remain III he cabin. Of
curse ! joined them; for though |
do not accept their faith. my con.
science would not allow me to re,
fuse to join in worship that should
be universal. My j1ining them
was cOurteously acknowledged,
and we adjourned to the quarter
deck. Here an altar was arranged
in the usual manner of the Ro
man Church, with candles, ETC.,
and the chaplain Of The ship was
beginning the service. Files of
marines were drawn up on either
side, the length of the quarter
deck, as on dress parade. We
were seated oD chairs between
these lines, and facing the altar.
On a raised deck behind the altar,
the band of the ship was placed,
where they performed the duties
Of a choir. on the instruments a.
lone; and there was no singing
end no speaking by any one
but the priest. The marines
stood all the time, and in those
parts of the service where the
worshippers would kneel, they
grounded arms, and, indeed toll
lowed the service through by
various military movements
During a prayer, the drums
were kept in steady roll. This
was curious form of worship;
but it was solemn, and there
was no reason why these pecul-
lar forms might not express sir
cere and earnest aspirations.
The breakfast was of course
in French style, and as unlike
one of ours as may be. The
cookery was perfect. and if a
sample Of the art with them, ]
would like to live in France, at
least at breakfast time. There
was nothing Ostentatious or
stunning about the table, the
prevailing idea was exquisite
ne&tness of everything, and an
air Of hospitality and welcome.
It was served in numerous
courses and changes like din
ner-with several kinds of light
er wines. Coffee and spirits
came after all, and the latter in
very small quantity. At the
table where we werelong enough,
the conversation was free and
the French say sens
souc5. The stories were in
French, the chat in English and
French. Of the dishes you
took your choice, and were
pressed with nothing. All was
SO rice that you ate without APP
petite. The occasion was not
stiffened with toasts and was
democratic as becomes repnbli-
can France. My recollections
of LIE Mdgicinne and her Off
GERS will be a most pleasant meet
ing with strangers.
Albert G. Brown, Of Missis-
sippi, was brigadier-gel e al of
militia at nineteen, in the Legis-
ture at twenty-six. He was
Circuit Judge at twenty-eight,
Governor at thirty, and was af-
forwards Senator. He was new
er defeated when candidate for
Office. In a recent letter he
says it would have been better
for him if he had followed the
occupation Of his father, which
was that of a farmer. His
greatest regret is that he ever
made a political speech or held
an Office. He adds, 'Fto be a
blacksmith, a carpenter or an
artisan ofany sort is no discred-
it to any man. Better that than
be u jack-leg lawyer, a quack
doctor, counter-hopper, or worse
still, a wretched office-seeker." "
Mr.. Jones said on his dying
bed that he had never written a