Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-24
! BArrLE-FtELD RELIC.

Last year, when was Military Attache
to the French Legation at Berlin, re-
ceived one day the following polite invi-
tation:
''Baron Won Mendorf, Major command
ing the 4th Squadron of the Pomeranian
Uhlans, together with his officers, re-
quests the company of the Captain of
Staff, Military Attache OF, the Ambassa-
dor of France, at their dinner on Monday,
April 18th, p. IN, Avenue, Prince
Charles
Since my arrival at Berlin, | had met
Mendorf several times at the Chancellor's
parties. At the card-table we had eX-
changed few thalers; at a buffet few
polite words; we had shaken hands in the
vestibule, and left our cards at each 9TH
er's residence. Consequently | was not
surprised to receive the invitation On
the day and hour mentioned | assembled
the handsomely decorated staircase that
leads to club rooms Of the guard. In the
reception hall met the officers according
to their rank-the Captains with their
conquering mustaches, the Lieutenants
with their feebler ones, and the cadets
with their beardless, boyish faces. After
| had been presented, [ bowed to, and
shook hands with every one, observing
strictly the regulations concerning rank.
The oldest Captain remarked that it
was very hot day, the oldest Lieutenant
expressed the hope that it would be less
warm the next day, and the Oldest cadet
murmured that both their opinions were
perfectly correct Then the chief waiter
announced that the dinner was ready.
While entering the dining-room a GER
tain anxiety seemed to seize the Major,
but he quickly repressed it, and led me
around the table, drawing my attention
to large ornamental piece of silver
standing in the center of it.
''You see," lie said quickly, and almost
volubly, "thls is present from his Apos-
tolic Majesty the Emperor of Austria and
King of Hungary, who is the Honorary
Commanding Colonel of the Uhlans of
the Prussian Guard. The finish of those
fat-cheeked cupids and the richness of
the garlands certainly ought to attract
the attention of such an amateur as YOU
are''
L followed the advice of MY cicerone
and examined closely the details of the
masterpiece, being little astonished to
discover in the Major the faculties of an
art critic
When we had reached the chair of the
presiding officer the Major seemed to
breathe more easily
"Please take this seat to nv right"
he said to me- "According to our rules
Of etiquette you ought to be seated Op-
pOsite: but there you would be exposed
to continual disagreeable draft, and I
think you will feel more comfortable
here"
thanked him for lis courteous atten-
ton, contemplating the while painting
which smiled in its frame above the Off
GERS heads It represented a Silesian
girl preparing dinner.
Every man emptied silently his glass of
sherry, and attacked his soup Soon the
beer, with its vulgar foam, and the spark
ling champagne, were superseded by the
ruby-colored, velvety, generous Chateau
Margaux The joyous wine of France
has the magic power Of dispelling the icy
reserve which generally relgns at the be-
ginning of all ceremonial dinners And
so the Uhlans soon began to tell their
stories OF love and victory.
Every man pretended that ne had con-
quered the heart of Danish maiden dur
ing the war in Schleswig, everyone felt
assured that he had accomplished some
prodigious feat while fighting in b.
hemia. An overheated cadet affirmed
solemnly that the dulcinea of his neigh
Dor at the table was just as pretty as his
own lady friend Alas the Major in
formed me in low voice, that both
cadets were in love with the same girl.
A lieutenant maintained with great OBJ
stinacy that the victory at Sadowa was
due to him, because if the men under his
command had not executed certain
maneuvre near the woods, the Prussian
army would have been destroyed, and the
efforts of the reserve troops neutralized
Unfortunately, nobody listened to his
argument.
Slowly began myself to fall in with
the chorus, but had still sense enough
to observe that my feelings as a French
officer had not been hurt by the slightest
injurious insinuation. And, by my
faith, acted like all my boon compan-
ions. drank, Laughed, told all sorts
wanted to hear. Being Gascon, con-
sequently possessing good deal Of in
born conceit, [ felt little vexed that all
of US talked at the same time. Like the
lieutenant who saved his fatherland by
LIS otloeOSys LOU OAiJ - low 1iotOtlClS, Tx
spite the many amusing occurrences and
important events in my life which l re-
lated.
At last we were through with our din
ner, and were enjoying the fumes of a
delicious punch and the choicest OF
Havanas, when suddenly the Major
Baron Won Mendorf, rose, and command
ing "silence," delivered the following
toast:
"To the French nation and It's brave
army?" This was the signal for deluge
of toasts, everybody abandoning himself
to the most fantastic inspiration. We
drank:
''To the amiable host and friend
"To the Intellectual prosperity of in.
telligent Europe
"To the sausages of Mayence and the
wines of Burgundy"
''To literature
''To philosophy"
"To the glory of all nations
'tTo Catherine, the handsonest soda
water girl in Berlin"
''To Louisa, the idol of the officers Of
the Uhlans.''
'sTo Augusta, the, prettiest water CIR
a certain brewery
When nv tI1rn had come stood IN az