Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-11-28


banquet we were favored with
Enthusiastically American surprise
by the introduction of two male |
and two female vocalists, who took /
a place upon a raised platform op-
posite the table of honor.
Strauss waltzes and polkas ceased,
and General Noyes again rose. 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 per-
sons. They propose to sing, for our
entertainment, some airs celebrated
for their beauty. l beg you not to
make a clatter with your knives and
forks. A clatter, it is unnecessary
to tell you, destroys the effect Of
artistic music"
This said, and all the Americans
present having translated the words
OF General Noyes to their French
neighbors, one of the two young
lady vocalistS came forward and,
accompanied by a piano, sang the
"Star Spangled Banner" Q'Etand-
ard Etoile), a we'll known national
air. She was applauded with great
vigor, and was called out again and
again.
General Noyes was ravished with
admiration. He demanded another
song, and he made another speech,
couched in the following language
"You gentlemen who are wait
ing on the table here believe
interpret the desire of all those who
do us the honor to participate in
this dinner when beg of you not
to rattle the plates, and when you
move about to be careful to move
about on tiptoe."
Great sensation among the wait.
ers, who are embarrassed and blush
After having listened to a gen
from "Lucretia Borgia," sung by
M. Novelli, General Noyes made
another speech, in which he spok,
briefly Of the war of secession, o.
) the brilliant career of Genera
Grant and of the pleasure which ht
found in welcoming him to Paris
"This silent general" said he
"has commanded eleven hundred
thousand men. This great states
man has been elected by forty-fou
: millions of his fellow-citizens, an,
F., he has now come to this beautiful
l capital to repose himself after lif
: Of devouring activity. Gentlemen
? let us drink the health of Genera
Grantw
Everybody raised his empty wine
glass to his liPs, attempting feebl
hurrah, and then sat down again
The buffers had been driven out b
: the singers.
General Grant majestically arose
5 and IN the midst Of profound ST
lence, uttered the following words
! which we reproduce verbatim:
1 "Ladies and gentlemen, au
very much pleased to see you.
am really very happy to find mysel
!, among you. | hope that all tn
& strangers who are in Paris at thi
moment are entertained as | an
= Since l have been here have me
q several illustrious French person
. sonages, and am able to announc
J that their cordial words were ad
a dressed quite as much to the natio
to which belong as to the states
J man of whom you have heard Gel
{ Noyes speak"
, So saying, the general sat dow
y and called for a cigar.
i General Noyes then arose, an
& fourishing a big roll of paper, upo
which were written the names @
J the numerous orators who were ex
Z pected to make speeches, he bea
u the measure while the Italian voca
/ !, lists sang a comic song which mad
u u everybody laugh, and for an inStar
y brought smile to the impassiv
ie features of the silent general.
: 1t was midnight when l left th
u table. The American orators wei
u still speaking.
u The banquet hall was half empt,
III and the general was smoking a
:, enormous cigar and casting glance
y of entreaty at young blonde orr
: tor who was mouthing his sentence
+ with desperate energy.
p left the banquet hall askin
. myself what honor these peopl
4 did the brave Yankee by forcin
n' him to eat a wretched dinner in I'll
u presence of three hundred person
'h and three Italian vocalists. "
lT Origin of tho HUman Race.
TO From Colonel Ingorsolls New Lecture.l