Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-02
DOM PEDRO In PARIS.
An AMERICAN CORRESPONDENTS
INTERVIEW WITH AN EMPEROR,

Everywhere - Kindly Reeoliections OF
Our Centennial Exhibition.
1 nudged some one in the back and
asked which was Dom Pedro. The indi-
vldual thus aecosted turned tc me with q
glance of establishment and indicated a
tall, broad shouldered man, little on the
| plan Of Abraham Lincoln. proceeded to
| study that man His hair was silver
white, as well as his long full beard, and
he was dressed very simply in black, with
out the slightest mark TO distinguish him
! from any one else. He received standing,
| and the order of business appeared to be
to kiss the back of his hand, say few
words and back off. ] moved along slowly
with the others, waiting my turn, and
meantime turned my attention to the en-
! press.
| 1 have heard since then that the empe-
| rOr got sadly taken in swhen he selected
her for his better half, and l believe it.
! They say that she was O Neapolitan prin-
cess and that he married her by proxy on
the strength of beautiful photograph
which had been sent him, and of course
when she arrived in Brazil and he found
| after the ceremony that she was not only
| do anything Theresa Christiana Maria
IS sort of triangular woman, i. e., she
begins at the bottom with very broad
flowing skirts and tapers upwards to a
small-pointed head, surmounted by little
black cap, which is profusely decorated
with roses in pink, yellow and red.
l decided to devote myself to the en-
| peror, who was now quite close to me. I
| nudged the man ahead of me again, and
he did not appear to like it. However, as
he was not the emperor 1 had no hesita-
ton in pumping him little.
GREAT MEN OF FRANCE.
'That long haired, thin faced man who
has just kissed the emperor's hand" be-
gan my new made friend sis RavaissoD,
the philosopher, and one of the curators
of the Louvre museum. That tall, spare
individual, with black wig, sallow COM
pleXion and Indian features-that is
Herve, editor of The Soleil and member Of
the French academy. He is one of the
Count of Paris chief advisers and fugle-
men. You see by the easy way in which
he kisses the emperor's hand and salutes
the empress that he is accustomed to be-
ing in the presence of royalsy. Contrast
Herve's graceful movements with the
who is just coming up to Dom Pedro.
There is De Lesseps saying bright things
to the empress. How heartily she is
laughing. But the old count is aging
rapidly. His mind is as young as ever,
but don't you see how shaky his legs are
getting, especially the right one?"
And SO my neighbor talked on, while
was so interested in thus seeing pass be-
fore me the greatest men of France that
that / did not notice that / was at last
right next to the emperor. 1 now began
to feel nervous about what I should say
to him. But as necessity is the mother
of invention here in France, as elsewhere,
l was suddenly struck by bright idea.
When my turn came l stepped forward,
and, mastering up my whole stock Of
GOODNESS, 1 remarked very quietly in Eng
lish {all the others had spoken in French:
II suppose your exeellency has quite for
gotten me, but had the honor Of meet
ing you when you were in the United
States"
Scarcely had this little Introductory
speech escaped my lips, when 1 remem-
bered that at the time of Dom Pedro's
visit to America 1 must have been about
ID years old! However, | had got the
conversation started, and that was some
thing.
"What Names inquired my imperial
interlocutor in very bad English.
'1Moffett, SIRE" l answered carelessly,
quite ashamed of having at first addressed
his majesty as simply your excellency."
But Dom Pedro didn't seem to mind this
faux pas. In fact it appeared to me that
he rather liked this evidence Of ''demo-
cratic simplicity"
TWO MINUTES CHAT.
eyes, ] have forgotten you,'' he con-
tinued, in very kindly tone, holding my
hand all the time in his own, which put
me quite at my ease and Immediately
awakened in me much admiration for the
fatherly and unpretentious ''ruler of
men," Eyes, your name has escaped my
mind. But tell me what are you doing
In PARISH
"Writing for English and American
newspapers" / answered, frankly.
"Ah," he said, with little surprise, as
if he scented an interview; II read your
American newspapers with assiduity, but
unfortunately l cannot speak English with
any fuency, as you perceive. Ne parlez-
vous pas franchise
''Oui," quickly replied, quite forget
ting to add any title Of address, so de-
lighted was l at the thought of really
having gained my point and at perceiving
that his imperial majesty was quite will
ing to talk.
Tell your countrymen for me-" the
emperor continued in French, ''that can
never forget the visit which made to the
United States at the time of Your grand
Centennial exhibition. The many courte-
hnra cJa % cftl ~,
my memory. Everywhere / went took
careful notes of all that l saw and heard,
and as l travelled considerably and met
most of your leading statesmen, authors,
scholars and scientists, you will readily
perceive that this record must be valuable.
l cannot tell You how precious this jour
nal is to me. Sometimes, even at this
late day, con it with pleasure and profit
For instance, on my recent voyage from
Rio Janeiro to Europe 1 took it out and
thus whiled away many an hour that
would otherwise have been long and prof
itless on shipboaTd''
And when may we expect the pleasure
of another visit sire" l put in 10 keep
the conversation a-going.
Il am not sure yet whether / shall 20
to the United States this trip or not" was
the answer. az should like to, however,
for entertain the warmest and pleasant
est recollections Of the great republic. -
Cleveland L. Moffett in Philadelphia
Tines.
Clothespins boiled few minutes ana
quickly died once or twice q month become
more durable.
Eggshells burned in the oven and placed
upon the pentry shelves will kasrs br,es
away