The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-12

sluc VI uSautiiul CUNClCd pasSaSO way
leading into the auditorium and the
dancing floor was gigantic vase, hold
ing plants inAloom.
Apropos of the Sengerbund ball can
not refrain from describing the cuts on
their bills of fare, and / do SO for the
purpose of showing how, in attempts to
be funny, people sometimes transgress
the bounds of good taste, and even of de-
cency. On the front cover-the bill lies
before me-is representation of a sal
yer borne by two polite French cooks in
very short and very tight clothes. In
the center of the salver, surrounded by
plates, a bottle labeled "Mumm," salads,
wine, vases, &c, is a huge cake, from
the top of which protrudes the
head Of the caterer. Over the head a
wreath is held by one of the two young
women, as though glory were about to
invest his temples How the idea origin
ated / do not know, but the picture is
strongly suggestive Of Herodias with the
head of John the Baptist on a charger.
But the reprehensible cut was on the
back cover. These cuts were large and
costly. Resting on ice with three bottles
near by is a large tub. such as caterers
use as a wine cooler and perehed on the
edges Of this tub, the one on the right
and the other on the left. with a figure
supposed to represent the President of
the organization in the back ground, are
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and Rev. 7.
De Witt Talmsge, the one attired in full
regimentals as Chaplain of the
Thirteenth Regiment, and the other as
a clown, but the figure in the back
ground in full dress. Each one holds a
wine glass. The artist has made the
faces of the two clergymen as grotesque
as he could without spelling the por-
traits, especially painfully caricaturing
that of the pastor Of the Tabernacle, with
whose face nimble but irresponsible
draughtsmen arein the habit of taking
all kinds of liberties, emboldened by
their victims contemptuOus imperturba-
bility. There was time when the es-
teemed pastor Of Plymouth was lam
pooned as shockingly, but the thing was
overdone until the public became dis
gusted, and could not be forced into even
weak smile by the agility of these
digital quirkers, if l may be per-
mitted to coin a word. Now, coming
back to the cut before me, everybody
knows or ought to know that both Beech
er and Talmage intellectually they of
course can not be named in the same
breath are the stanchest and most pro-
nounced kind Of temperance men; hence
the insult in thus caricaturing them. A
caricature, to be correct, must be based
upon truth, upon follies or foibles, else it
is vapid.
The Long Island Historical Society is
an organization formed fer the purpose
of providing everything in the shape of
relics, information or geological remains
pertaining to the history of the beautiful
island, over one hundred miles long, upon
which the City of Brooklyn stands.
1t is also an educational influence in
the community, and invites to deliver
addresses before it men distinguished in
the walks of life. Last Wednesday even
ing it had such an one in Hon. E. B.
Washburne, ex-Minister to France, who
read an exhaustive, able and graphic
paper on "Paris and France during the
Siege and the Commune" No less a
person than Rev. DR.. R. s. Storrs pre-
sided, and in the audience were men
mighty in commercial and professional
circles. The paper was reproduced in
full the next morning by a New York
daily journal, which had five short
hand reporters taking notes, and there
fore the Cincinnati papers have
doubtless reaped the benefit of it
in such portions as were adapted to their
space and taste. / shall not therefore,
go into an analysis of it, but shall con-
tent myself with remarking that having
the stamp of authority it was of i'm
mense historical value. The fact that
Mr.. Washburne's name has been coupled
with the Presidency in the event of
the necessity of choosing compromise
candidate between Grant and Blaine,
also invested his appearance on this occa-
sion with additional interest and import
ance. y,-- .... .H
Personally, I do not know when I
have been better impressed with man,
and though he now and then dropped
hints not calculated to tickle the
ears of pot-house politicians, he
improved all who heard
him as one who cared more for his own
honor and for the honor Of his country
than for the qualification Of personal am
bition; if this were not so, how dared be
have said: "With the absolute control of
uncounted and untold millions, they
(Gambetta's enemies) found his Gam
betta's) records clean, and his hands un-
stained by public plumber, a bright ex-
ample to public men everywhere, and
which can be followed with SO much ad
vantage in other countries than France" !"
And again: 'tHe (Thiers) never gave ur
his valuable time during the day to the
reception of ofice-holders and place
hunters, and to dabble in the dirty pool
Of personal politics." Both these senti-
ments were applauded to the echo by the
audience. After the meeting there was
given in his honor reception at the
palatial residence Of A. A. Low, the
merchant prince. CRAs.