Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1889-03-08

Presently, however, 10 my amaze
ment l was accosied by a small
gentleman, dressed in a gorgeous
uniform of black surmounted by
stripes of gold lacings, who raised
his hat and with a polite bow ad-
dressed himself to me. Unfortu-
nately for myself l had neglected to
brush up my French, which in con-
sequence had become rather rusty
from disuse, and therefore it was
several minutes before I grasped the
general run of his remarks, but
finally / managed to make out that
I he was Captain of the National
Guard of France and as such had
been chosen by the citizens as a
delegate to welcome me to his
native city. lie began by apollo
giving for not being present when |
arrived and assured me that he had
been detained through a misunder-
standing with the railway officials,
who, he said, would hear from INN
in a decided manner hereafter
Meanwhile quite crowd had as
sembled and this seemed TO excite
the Captain for he suddenly assum-
ed a tragic attitude and began to
speak and gesture very rapidly, no
doubt with the object Of lmpressing
the crowd and myself with his own
Importance. After speaking for
fully fifteen minutes he concluded
by requesting my presence at a
banquet which was to be given in
my honor that evening. When he
had finished a great cheer rent the
air and stood smiling very know
ing smile while in reality was
racking my brain for suitable
reply, as I wished to make good
impression. However when the en-.
thusiasm had subsidized, | dotted my
tourists hat, took out my handker-
chief and proceeded very slowly to
wipe the perspiration off my brow.
After two or three preliminary
"ahems," the peculiar habit resorted
to by all great speakers before begin
ing speech, commenced. Firstly
| expressed the great joy I felt at
being received in such an hospitable
manner, and went on to review a
portion Of their history--of course
leaving out all Objectionable parts
and also entertained them with a
short account of my travels, inter-
spersed here and there with a few
thrilling personal experiences which
l knew would command respect and
admiration, and lastly I wound up
by expressing q wish for their fu~
ture prosperity and by accepting
the invitation so kindly extended to
me, through the Captain, to assist
at the banquet i'll the evening.
Unbounded enthusiasm prevailed
when l had finished, and fearing
lest l should be compelled to allow
myself to be carried through the
streets on the shoulders Of some of
the audience, I hastily asked the
Captain, who had been standing in
openmouthed wonder, whether il
were possible or not to escape The
crowd and make our way to the
hotel without further observation
as | assured him | was completely
tired out after my journey and long
ed for the solitude Of my own room
so that I could rest myself and pre-
pare for the coming ceremoniou
banquet. The Captain nodded ant
hastily made his way towards
space which was comparativcl.
! clear from people, and hailing
! jehu, who was fortunately passing
we entered the carriage and wer
driven off at good speed towar
g the hotel, the address of which
l had previously given TO the Captain
Z On arriving | dismissed the carriag
and the Captain and myself entere
: the hotel, where I Immediately I,
! quested to be shown to my room, {
n the same time inviting the Capital
a to join me in smoking a good clga
d which offer he however decline,
a and babe me an reoOir saying /
o would call for me in the evenin,
| went to my room and threw IN
self down on lounge complete
exhausted. But I could not eniC
that position very long for on loo
ing at my watch I discovered tn
only a short time remained in viii,
to change my travelling SUIT for til
:, ono ,,,o,va III n G - Il, - l.o,,.,.,