National Republican., 1877-11-26
FOr Ihe UOfner,
A Dinner to Six French Ladies'.


From . French book, written by a lady
whose nom de plume is ia Comtesso Dash,h
containing marvellous "reminiscences Of the
court and contemporaries of Louis XIV, trans
late few pages descriptive Of n Jeie given in
honor of six beautiful ladies Of high rank by
Monsieur Bourct, q celebrated fnancier, dur
ing the winter Of l1i5, at new country -seat
of his at Chaillot
The house Of Bouret was superb We found
there already numerous company. Bouret
had been able, know not how, TO learn the
iavoritc dish Of each Of US although tho din
ner had been arranged within three days and
we were six ladies. As soon as we AZ
rived NJ. Bouret was Informed teat hs
was Served" and he offered his arm
TO the Marechale dc MirepoiX. He con-
Quoted us through carpeted pathways,
initiating turf, and sown with flowers, where
the trees bore artificial foliage from which do
pended the most beautiful real fruit Of all
kinds. The bright sun shone upon US. but
know not whether It were the genuine god Of
day or one commanded for the occasion to
light up these lovely flowers, mingled with
bananas, peaches, and bon bons indescribabio
Birds, seeming like stars In precious stones.
leaped and sang upon the branches, aud the
temperature was that Of early June. We wers
led to round pavilion Of white MARBLE the
most elegant imaginable under q tent which
stood before II was seen young COW, white -
| milk, her horns adorned with red ribbons, her
neck bearing upon mass Of similar ribbons
chino Of tiny melodious bells Of various
keys. This cow ate from q large vessel of
silver, beautifully wrought which was sus-
tained by two Swiss peasants in native Co.'S
tune.
Madame Ia comteSe," said Bourct to
| Madame Saint.Serve, "you affect nothing but
milk tor your breakfast, and to avoid giving
you other temptations behold the cow which
will furnish you with milk, and behold tho
food with which she has been fed since yes
terday morning" (Ths manger contained
little peas at six louis q measure, and there
were at least forty measures-I dare not affirm
how much she had eaten already.) This gal
lantry coniounded us all; 1t was moro than
royal. Entering the sale mdnger, which con-
stituted the entire pavilion, the panels Of
which, eight in number, contained alternately
| window and mirror we were astonished By
the splendor Of the service, all accustomed .
we were to luxury. The silver had not Its
equal on the tables Of princes. Each cover
represented In admirable sculpture the con-
tents of the dish below. The crystals
the porcelains Of Saxony and china
could not be priced the linen SO fine
and white and the seats made for the occasion
were novelties the most infinitely rare Al
the cover Of each lady was q vase Of porphyry,
OF malachte or OF agate, filled with plants of
| the rarcst kinds; moreover, each found upon
her napkin second boquet in precious stones
The Marshal dc SAKE had the place of honor,
| seated ut the head Of tho table, between the
Duchcsse de MirepoiN and myself. Upon the
table were served in many waysall the fine and
delicate dishes Of two wOrlds-even of ChinA.
Opposite me was u dish Of crawfish, tho larg-
est which the Meuse or Rhine could produce.
Each of them held in his paw u rose Of differ
ent color and speccs.
The lNlarechale dc Mirepoix had fowl with
| trufiies, envelopcd in kind Of pastry garment
so finely worked as to look like lacc-a disk
| for the gods.
Madame saint-sevrs had hor COW and hsr
peas.
Madame In Duchesse d'Ancenis found as hog
rts-d-r's basket composed of some strange
metal, odorous as a parterre and most brilliant.
In this basket, in the midst of moss dirocs
| from Babylon or some other marvellous place.
nestled dozen peaches, each too large for tive
hands.
Madame do Flsvacourt loved especially
ducks. They were served her with plumes
of gold, with beaks and claws of the same pro
cious metal and collar of diamonds, n
golden dishes, and with-I know not what
delightful sauce.
Madame de Bouflers perceived before her .
monster salmon, covered with green sprigsL
having sapphires In place of eyes, fine pearls
in place OF teeth, and for the indentures Of the
nose rubies. The sauce for 1t was served In Q
dish of enameled gold. By the side of thu
on similar plate lay bunch Of asparaguS
ticu WIN VI Dlub rlDDOn, tno t1tenln4
of which was in brilliants, valued at I'd
thousand livres.
The Marechal de SAKE had before him upoa
which to deposit his tocth-picks with whlc&
he served himself without cessation) wondovA
full work of art. 1t was battlehorse In ysrt-
antique, which slave, entirely nude, held hy
the bride; the horse was in attitude Of card
coling. and upon his back were attached The
arms Of his master This small but exquisite
piece of sculpture was found among oth0
| reliques recently eIcavated in the envlrons of
Rome. We drank at this fete certain win2
called Falernian, which also had date froa
the ancient Romans 1t was found among H.
ruins referred to, so said Mons. Bouret, and b
possessed but two bottles Of IL. never saw In
all my life anything equal to this luIurioss
hospitality. The presents received BY each e
us were Of course retained, as their rofuaal
would have been an insult to tho gallant hose,
Poor Bouret! To think that at last he disA
upon straw! MRs. AIKEN.