The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-07

HuMoRs AND FEATURES OF THE PAR.
Is DINNER TO Gen. GRANT.-The evening
was not without It's humors. One OF the
curious misapprehensions into which
the French who were present fell was
with regard to the grace said by the Rev.
Mr.. Hitchcock before the soup was serv.
ed. One old Frenchman who had Just
begun 10 eat said, "Speech" when he
heard the reverend gentleman's voice,
and leaned back with an expression OF
intense agony. The Marquis de Laiay-
cite had place the table Of honor
and made the speech OF the evening. He
ia a fine debonnaire old gentleman, with
silver grey hair and side whiskers, hear
ty, yet refined in manner, generous and
amiable in high degree. When he said
that his worthy ancestor went 10 Amer
lea 10 fight in the "simpleat and most Just
cause that ever existed thrill Of sym
patty ran through the listeners. The
marquis did not hesitate 10 point the les.
son OF republicanism for his couptrymep;
he rejoiced that Grant had arrived at this
time, when his example in recognizing
the will OF his country and descending 10
the rank Of simple citizen might be OF
service to those high in power. Lafayette
is the only French speaker whom have
heard who recognizes that 1t was the &c.
MUS OF Washington who led the French
soldiers to victory In America; most
OF the Gauls fancy that Lafayette took
g. W. under his protection and whipped
the British himself. The marquis waxed
eloquent toward the close OF his speech
and alluded TO the "great republic on
both sides OF the Atlantic, one aud inlls.
soluble, and to be forever devoted 10 the
Independence Of peoples" Perhaps it
was an error not TO have asked Laboul.
aye TO speak; he would have said admir-.
able things. Most Of the remarks by
Americans we're good. Mr. Rantoul Of
Boston delivered 4 long and pleasing ad.
dress. He happened in the course Of it
to compare Gen. Grant 10 Nerxes and
Cyrus and Alexander and several other
august heather Of a barbaric past, and
this stirred up All English friend who sat
next me, and who had for some time been
getting ne;tled over the frequent referen-
ces to yorktown and other historical
places. "Oh, come" said he to me In
whisper, fancy that il Xerxes were here
now he would say, let by.gones be by
cones! What's the use Of stirring UP
tEe.e old ditticulties| But Mr.. RanLoul
would put Xerxes aud Grant side by side,
despite the Englishman's anguish. Dur.
ing the progress Of the toasts, and while
Minister NoYes was on his feet speaking,
agrave, bewhiskered man at table some
distance from the platform arose and re.
marked: Fellow. citizens, | merely wish
TO make the remark that the governor Of
North Carolina made 10 the governor Of
South Carolina, that It is long time be.
tween" Tap, tap, tap, went Minister
Noyes' fork against the siieof glass,
and the grave, bewhiskered man sal
down, wineles. and thirsty, while innnm.
cradle ladies glared reprobation al him
and numerous gentlemen smiled audibly.
The introduction Of artists from the TIA.
lian opera at a stage in the dinner was
gratifying. II happened that at the toast
10 the" President u the French Repub.
lie" the tenor at once sang "Then You'll
remember me," in French. -EdlNard King
in BoStOn Journal.