Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-07
A Great Fete Given by President
Mac Mahou.

Ae%~So'Ss
Tine fete given by Marshal MscMahoI
in honor of Lis royal and other dis
tinguishel visitors at the Versailles
Palace last night uas brilliant beyont
l. Eoi Soleil. Fifteen Thousand per
sons we're present., including all tbs
foreign Lo;abiliiics Of fashion, ia.
prominent ia the arts ami scienkes. and
the scions oi royalty. The Pricce and
Princess Il Wales. the Prince o. Thyre
Don Francois D'Assiye. the Primers ol
Sxelen and D,umlrk, tie Duke D'Ao.
"a. Count Of Flanders. and other royaI
V-rsoa4-es who have been visiting the
Rxhiriiipn. acre among the first 70 ar.
rive. TIE Marshal AMI Madam Mac
Mahon arrived 1T . o'clock. 4 regi
meut If ruirassiers acre drawn up In
CoUr DHOnneur. AMI paid his Excel
lency the customary homage a. he
passed through the lines. The guest,
uere receive by the President IN the
large saloon at the head OF the magnifi.
cent E,cslier De Marble. The saber
ell ami plGmed cuirAssiers lined both
sides of the lovely staircase from the
vesiibule TO the entrance Of the Grands
Appointments. The Prince and Prin.
cess of Wales arrived at IN O'Clock
and were received at present" by the
/ Guards. while the Marshal advanced
and met them at the head Of the stair
case.
Next came Don Francois DASH and
the other princes above named.
In due course came the Ambassadors
of Germany, Great Britain, Russia.
Austria, Belgium. Italy, Spain, Tur-
key, and others of the diplomatic corps,
all in full uniform.
The suit of salons terminating with
the Grand Galerie Des Glaces, which
we're used for this occasion, were COM
pletely thronged, it was scarcely posi-.
ble to move, and still less possible to
dance. 1t was an affecting, daz.
zling scene.
The Orchestries of Waltenfel and Lee
grange poured into the salons, as it
were, a flood of delightful melody and
dancing airs from the opposite end of
the Galerie des Glaces. Everywhere
the hum of excited conversation, the
brilliant military and diplomatic cos
tunes, the beautiful toilettes of the
ladies, the lofty plumes of the princes,
the splendid decorations of these "the
grandest apartments in the world"
made up marvellous picture. On ev.
cry side were men of renown in social
and civil life. Historical souvenirs
abounded on canvas and in marble. Tho
grandure of royal courts, the Injuries
of extravagant monarchs, the salons il.
Illuminated by thousand wax-lights,
with their immense arcades. noble.
looking glasses, Corinthian pilisters in
gold-gilt and blue, and bronze-vaulted
ceilings and allegorical pictures, of
the days of the Martyr King, made a
scene at once dazzling and bewildering.
It was amazing to witness the efforts
of the ladies to scrutinize the features
of the great Frenchmen of the past.
NJ. De Bort, the Minister Of Agriculture
and Commerce, was engaged in illus
trating some of the events of the time
of Louis XIV. to a number OF exhibi.
tors at the exhibition. Here were the
noted Marchal Villars, the Duke of
Apjou. Colgert, Torcy, Louvoice, Ma.
rie Antoinette, and numerous other
these very halls which now Tor the third
time resounded with voices of men
Of the highest rank paying tribute to
the republic, and celebrating great in
dustrial event which was built from the
debris of the crushed empire. At mid
night the view Of the park from the
windows was grand and fairy like. A
long vista extending for miles between
the trees, and terminating at the Bias.
sin de Appollon and the canal, was re-
fulgent with the softening rays of cleo
trio light. All the allees or walks. the
Tapis Vert, tho Avenue De Trianon,
all the diversified and indescribable d.
visions of the park present the appear
ance of being lit up by bright moon
light. The fountains, too, were beau
tifully illuminated, electric lights be.
ing 80 arranged that the dancing spray
seemed like finely drawn silver thread.
1t was, as had been intended, startling
scenic display.
Shortly after IL some wonderfully
beautiful fireworks by Ruggieri were
let off near the Appollon at the end of
the avenue, to the north of the Tapes
Vert. The effect, a. the visitors ex-
claimed, was extraordinary-superb
Red and blue fire lit up the figures at
the fountain, bringing out the nymphs.
tritons, and sea monsters, unicorns,
cupids, vases, and ornaments in bold
relief. As the kissing columns of
water spurted up thirty and fifty feet
into the air the colored lights gave
them the appearance of columns of
waving fire. Among the guests were a
great number of Americans, including
Commissioner General Mccormick and
several of his colleagues, now mem.
bers Of the Legion of Honor, and about
one hundred of our manufacturers and
merchants, who are in Paris attend
ing the exhibition.
Madame MacMahon, the Princess of
Wales, the Princess Thyra were dress
ed in white satin, and wore profusion
of flowers and diamonds.
There were three bufIets from which
the most delicious and costly refresh.
ments were served to the guests.-The
Inter Ocean.