The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-21

!AessSAunK got away, Z.
Andthat young man to-day
Has hB.clothes eamphored up in tnrnk
A BATTLEFIELD RELIC.
Translated frorn the French of sLa. Vie Paris
ienne."
Last year when was military attache to
the French Legation at Berlin, { received
one day the following invitation,
Baron Won Mendorf, Major Commanding
the Fourth Squadron Of the Pomeranian
Uhlans, together with his officers, request the
company Of the Captain of the Staff, Mill
tary Attache of the Ambassador of France,
at their dinner on Monday, april the 18th,
5 p. M, No. Z Avenue Prince Charles"
Since my arrival IN Berlin, I had met
Menderf several times at the chancellor's
parties: At the card table We had exchanged
q few thalers; at the buffet, few polite
bule, and left our cards each at the others
residence. Consequently I was not surprised
to receive the above invitation. On the day
and hour mentioned assembled the hand
somely decorated staircase which leads to
the cluh-rooms Of the guard. In the re-
ception-ha met the officers according to
their rank-the captains with their con-
quering mustaches, the leutenants with
their feebler ones, and the cadets with
beardless boyish faces. After l had been
presented bowed to and shook hands with
every one, observing strictly the regula-
tons concerning rank.
The Oldest captain remarked that it was
q very hot day; the Oldest lieutenant ex-
pressed the hope that it would be less warm
the next day; and the oldest cadet MUIR
INJURED that both opinions were perfectly
correct. Then the chief-waiter announced
that dinner was ready. While entering the
dining room, a certain anxiety seemed to
seize the major, but he quickly repressed
it, and led me around the table, drawing my
attention to magnificent ornamental piece
of silver standing in the center of it.
You see, he said quickly, almost volu-
bly,, "this is present from his apostolic
majesty the emperor Of Austria and king Of
Hungary, who is hehonorary commanding
colonel of the Uhlans of the Prussian
guard. The finish Of those fat checked
cupids, and the richness of the garlands,
certainly ought to attract the attention of
such an amateur as you are. r 4
followed the advice Of my cicerone, and
examined closely the details Of the master
piece, being little astonished to discover
Ii tuo 1udJOf tOo 4dculCleS Oh an afC CT1ClC.
When we had reached the chair of the
presiding officer, the major seemed to
breathe more easily. Please take this seat
our rules of etiquette you ought to be seat
ed opposite; but there you would be ex-
/ posed to continual disagreeable draught,
and think you will feel more comfortable
here" ar+ ~ 2-
thanked him for his courteous atten-
ton, contemplating the while painting
which smiled in it's frame above the officers
heads. It represented Silesian girl, pre-
pairing dinner.
Every man emptied silently his glass OF
sherry, and attacked his sour. Soon the
beer, with its vulgar foam, and the spark
ing Champagne were superseded by the
ruby colored, velvety, generous Chateau
Margaux. The joyous wine of France has
the magic power of dispelling the icy re-
serve which generally reigns at the begin
ming of all ceremonial dinners. And so
the Uhlans soon began to tell their stories
of love and victory. aEa.S aH ,aes.e
Every man pretended that he had con-
quored the heart of Danish maiden dur
tn war of Schleswig; every one felt assured
that he had accomplished some prodigious
feat while fighting in Bohemia. An over
heated cadet affirmed solemnly that the dull
cinea of his neighbor at the table was Just
as pretty as his own lady friend. Alas! the
major informed me, ina low voice that
both cadets were in love with the same GIRL.
A lieutenant maintained with great obstin-
acy that the victory at Sadowa was due to
him; because if the men under his cem-
mand had not executed certain manoeuvre
near the woods the Prussian army would
have been destroyed, and the efforts of the
reserved troops neutralized. Unfortunately
nobody listened 10 his arguments.
Slowly begun myself to fall in with the
chorus, but had still sense enough to OBJ
serve that my feelings as a French officer
had not been hurt by the slightest injurious
insinuation. And, by my faith, acted like
aumy boon companions. I drank, i laughed,
told all sorts of Stories, and even more
than they wanted to hear. Being q Gascon,
consequently possessing good deal of in
born conceit, felt a little vexed that all of
us talked at the same time. Like the lleu-
tenant who saved his fatherland by his
strategy, had only few listeners, dispite
the many amusing occurrences and impor-
tant events in my life which related.
At last we were through with our din
ner, and were enjoying the fumes of de-
AASAOOo POASA 6AO VAO CAO4COSG VI 11iSV6u1S,
when sudde.ly the major, Baron Won Mem
dorf, rose, and comman ding "silence," de-
ivered the following toast:
ITO the French nation and its brave
army!" This was the signal of deluge of
toasts, everybody abandoning himself to
the most fantastic Of inspirations. We
drank:
To the amiable host and friend"
To the intellectual prosperity of intelli-
gent Europe"
To the sausages Of Mayence and the
wines of Burgundy"
To literature.
To philosophy.
To the glory Of all nations"
To Catherine, the handsomest soda
water girl in Berlin"
To Louisa, the idol of the officers Of
the Uhlans"
To Augusta, the pretiest waiter girl in
q certain brewry.'
When my turn had come, I stood up. as
erect as could, and raising my glass,
said: 8k,
'tTo the German nation, the Prussian
army, and its royal chief. !,
At this moment the idea struck me that it
would not be convenient to present my
glass to the buxuu Silesian girl who smiled
SO beatifcally in her frame, and i tried to
find ont the bust Of the sovereign, which
Was-l remembered this confusedly- be-
hind me- in the middle Of n trOnhvg com.