The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-12-07
GEN. GRANT IN PARIS.
(Froln tho Gaulois. ]


lFrom tho Gaulois.l
1t is not every day that one has n
chance to attend an American love
feast in busy Paris, aud we eau under
stand the eagerness with which sensa-
tiOn seekers rushed to purchase tick cts
for this one, at thirty francs apiece.
Three hundred aud tifty persons were
present at the Grand Hotel last night.
The American colony was out in force,
commanded by DR.. Evans, its dentist
in-chiei, and REINFORCED by Il crowd of
Paristans aud strangers. '-r
The dinner was far from being worth
thirty frances the spectacle WAS cheap
at double that sum. sGl saH~5 t' -
At half past o'clock the excellent
band of NJ. Desgrange announced the
entrance of Gen. Grant with "Hail
Columbia" }" executed slambang. The
guests, who had been cooling their
heels and nursing their nppetttes In an
ante-rOOn, filed slowly down the steps
Of the spiral staircase leading to the
great banqueting hall. 'Fs' .t' $40 '''5
, There were pretty American women,
in toilets perhaps the least bit eccentric,
but redeeming this detect by the beauty
of their bare arms and the gOrgeO usness
of their diamonds. If live a hundred
years 1 never shall forget the spirit
uelle appearance Of Nine. Mackay (net
income, five millions u monthly, nor
the enjoyable grace of Mile. Hutch
insOn. . L-s s..,- ,-l, -I, 2 .aAti
We were all seated at the tables
in this immense hall, decorated with
French and American flags interhlend-
ed. We were impatiently awaiting the
soup and the Madeira of 1928 when
Gen. Noyes, who presided, got up and
signitied by an impressive gesture that
he wished to make a speech.
'tGentlemen and ladies'" said he,
"I call upon the Reverend Father
Hitchcock to pronounce a blessing on
these Viands." ..-,. ... 4. .st
These unlucky words had hardly es-
capped the Generals lips, when the
reverend Father Hitchcock In ques-
ton popped up on to his legs, as II inn
PEELED by Il powerful spring. With
closed eyes and forefingers pressed to-
gether, he implored the Divine bless
ing for II quarter Of an hour, discoursing
during that time upon Progress, upon
Civilization, upon the Brotherhood of
Nations, upon Education, upon the
TurkO-R Russian war-in short, upon
everything except the viands which he
had been requested to bless.
The Americans could not conceal
their astonishment ut such extriOrdi-
nary eloquence from the Reverend
Father Hitchcock. The soup, the fish
were cold; the meats, blessed ut such
great length, consisted of one solitary
boiled dish, and the butler did not
bring on one-half the wines announced
on the carte. Several hungry people,
who had bought tickets very dear at an
agency, had the bad taste to demand
their money back. aaiE.
Having nothing to eat or to drink,
had plenty of leisure to inspect Gen.
Grant aud his companions. ...t
The ex-Presidento of the United States
was conspicuously perchcu on IL plat
form. Gen. Noyes, the new United
States Minister, had Gen. Grant on his
right, and ON his left, Nine. Grant, II
good, domestic-looking woman, scarce
ly aristocratic in appearance. ..E.
On each side were placed lovely wO.
men and the gentlemen of the commit
tee. These ladies, apparelled in all the
cOlors of the rainbow, resembled moth
ing SO much as the barmai<ls who are
seen behind the counters in English
eating houses.
Over the table OF honor was placed
| the portrait of Gen. Grant, decked out
with garlands OF flowers. The portrait
was not tiattering.
The General has the air of n true sol.
dier. His uniform OF blue cloth
trimmed with gold buttons, is Of heroic
simplicity.
Well on in the middle OF the banquet
we were favored with n characteristic.
cally American surprise by the intro
duction of two male and two female
vocalists, who took place upon a
raised platform opposite the table OF
honor.
Strauss waltzes and polkas ceased,
and Gen. Noyes again arose. He stood
for a moment in statuesque silence, and
then exclaimed in trumpet tones:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are going
to listen to these young persons. They
propose to sing, for our entertainment,
some airs celebrated for their beauty.
beg OF you not TO make any clatter
| with your knives aud forks. a cfatter,
it is unnecessary to tell you, destroys
the effect of artistic music.o .a..
This said, and all the American ms
present having translated the words OF
Gen. Noycs to their French neighbors
one of the two young lady vocalists
came forward, and, accompanied by =
piano, sang the stStar Spangled Ban
ner" (E Etth,dttrtt EyOiie), u well-knowr
| American national air. She was ap