St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-26
LIVELY Rail- IN THE ORIENT.
High-Pressure Gayety Takes Pos.
session of a TOk ohansa Soiree.

Society in the Orient is composed of such
heterogeneous elements as to afford a most
interesting study. The dominant influence
of course being diplomatic and consular
corps, the natural effect is certain stiffness
very difficult to overcome. Nevertheless,
amusing incidents sometimes occur. The
14th of July, the national holiday of
France. was celebrated two years ago in
Yokohama with appropriate festivities.
The French colony had picnics, dinners
etc., and at night concert. There were
three French singers of the cafe chantant
variety, the remnant OF troupe that
had broken up at that place, who,
assisted by two Messrs. N, young
Frenchmen, contrived to make up pro-
gramme of sufficient length. 1 was hon
Ored by an invitation to the concert. At
the close of the performance one of the
aforesaid amateurs stepped forward and in
vited the audience to adjourn to the Club
hotel and wind up the day with dance.
The three female performers. being pre-
pared for this announcement. reached the
hotel first and took up prominent positions
! in the ball room. The few ladies who
availed themselves of the ingitation when
they saw them turned and went home.
Quite number of gentlemen, however, re-
NAMED, and as the demOiselleS were far
| from punctillious, the ball soon degener-
ated into something similar to the Mabille,
and gayety waXed fast and furious. Being
not well versed in the language. and a
stranger, secured good post of ooserva-
| ton and found myself sufficiently amused
as a spectator.
All things must end, however, and about
8 a. m. it became evident that the affair was
reaching its climax. A young Frenchman
who was universally known as the in
| FAINT" had ordered supper and invited a
| few choice guests to meet the charming
| ladies, the bellies of the ball. The two
| Messrs. X. had also ordered collation. for
| the same purpose. The ladies themselves
were by this time perfectly Indifferent as to
where they went, consequently the whole
| discussion lay between young X. and the
''infant." This was brought to an abrupt
termination by young X. giving the sin
| FAINT" blow which blackened both
| eyes and rolled him over in corner help
| less and with nothing to say. Here began
a domestic melodrama in which the natural
| dramatic temperament Of the French peo-
| pie. aided by their recent indulgences.
| brought out a sort of Greek chorus on the
part of the spectators. Young X. wild with
I
| everybody. The venerable x, his father.
was brought forward to pacify him. and he
in turn caught mot one" that finished
him In ore round and produced tableau
one. All the surrounding Frenchmen
struck attitudes expressive of horror and
murmured one to another in hushed voices;
''Il a frappe son pere" The effect of this
| tableau was somewhat spoiled by the sin
FAINT" who had been neglected and IN
| noticed in his corner, Scrambling to his
| feet and eXclaim ming: ''Je SuiS SatiSfait;
| il a frappe son peAe." The old man was
assisted to his feet, and then began tableau
| two, in which, with blood streaming from
| lis nose from his sons mighty fist, and,
with both hands lifted to heaven, he FORM
| ally cursed and renounced his son
| forever, Frenchmen all striking approp-
\ rate attitudes expressive of sympathy for
| the father and horror at the action of
! the son, who fell on his knees and with
| tears streaming down his face explained
! that he had not recognized his father and
did repent him deeply. This brought
about tableau decentralization Father
and son in each others arms and kissing
| each other frequently and passionately.
and the chorus round about shaking hands
with each other and in other ways indicat-
ing their satisfaction at the termination of
| the affairs. The two supperS were brought
| to the same rooms. the three females, al
| ready too full for utterance. were toasted.
| and the curtain falls on a scene of wild
! revelry in which father and son receive
congratulations all around from a circle of
| maudlin friends, and l slip away. much
amused and somewhat instructed as to
some of the ways of life in the Orient
New York World