Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-28
The Foreign Legation at Para En-
joys American Hospitality on
Board the Seguranca. !.
SPEECH, SONG AND A BANQUET.
Gray-Haired Men Grow Young Under the
Southern Noon and shout for the
Stars and Stripes.
CAPTAIN BEERS AND HIS BADGES.
tcoRnEspoNpENcE OF THE prsrArcH,


in Para had been talking great deal about
a reception we proposed to give on board the
new steamer "Seguranca, of the United
States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company,
when that ship should arrive in port. I'm
agine our modification, then. when it was
announced that the "Seguranca" could not
stay in port long enough for the reception
and so postponed it indefinitely. The post
ponement excited great deal of curiosity.
1t was the general comment that the
American steamer was being pushed by one
of the English ships which was following
her up the coast, and hoped to reach Para
in her company and take cargo away from
her and race with her from Para to New
York. The English ship was the para
ense," which has been described as one OF
the "tramps." Though 81 years old, she
was considered to be fast old tramp; and
in fact the race did come off, and the
American beat the tramp, in a race of :, 600
miles, though the American made three
stops and was on her first voyage, and per
haps did not do her best.
WOULDN'T GIVE UP THE FUN.
Notwithstanding the "postponement," a
NUM- Der of choice spirits of the town, COM
posed of gentlemen only, were invited aboard
in the evening, of which your correspondent
was one. We had neither brass bands nor
bunting, but the party, which was made up
OF a galaxy of happy and mpanionable
fellowships, required no outside stimulant
to add to their enjoyment. The party was
courteouslv received on board by Captain
James r. Beers, who, as an old and fire.
quent visitor to this port, is we'll known and
universally popular.
After an inspection of the beautiful ship,
the elegance OF her adornments and fittings
being especially admired bv the English
gentlemen of our party, who were mostly
connoisseurs in this direction; we were in
vited into the luxuriouslv furnished saloon,
where was laid before us lavish abundance
and variety of good things, and tasteful
display in the way of table decoration. that
1 have seldom seen equalled, and that cer-
tainly has not been win essed on this
coast.
FELL IN WITH GOOD COMPANY.
1t was my good fortune to be seated at the
table with my good friend, Chermont,
the brother of the Governor, for a vis-a-vis.
As previously stated, this gentleman was
educated at Cornell, and speaks English
perfectly. He is evidently a born poll
ticiau, as he can make good speeches on the
spur of the moment easier than any
Brazilian here, and that is saying good
deal, for all the prominent people are
speakers.
1 supposed from the previous postpone
ment. that there was to ne merely little in
formal lunch, and was not prepared for the
feast of reason and flow of soul that was
thrust upon me. I was surprised to see my
friend Chermont rise in his place, and, with
glass in hand. begin to speak in Portuguese.
In a moment everything in the crowded
dining saloon, where the lady passengers
also sat with US, became hushed, and the
closest attention was given 10 the handsome
Brazilian orator. did no. understand a
single word he said, though I applauded
him as vigorously as the rest, because took
it on faith as good talk, knowing he was a
friend of America.
SPEECH OF THE CAPTAIN.
The little ripple of excitement that fol-
lowed, rather increased my appetite, and
became so deeply immersed in the enjoy
ment of turkey bone that 1 failed to Oh
serve that over on the other side of the
saloon Captain Beers was on his feet, SEEM
ingly talking. But Captain Beers voice
on the bridge in storm and Captain Beers
of ladies and gentlemen around his own ta-
BILE are two different people. I did not hear
a word he uttered, and was struggling away
at the bone, when my vis-a-vis observed:
Come; that's you."
On glancing up, L was surprised to see
that Captain Beers had disappeared, and,
apparently. everybody was looking at me.
Somebody in my rear sCtso vo'e Observed
Get up, Consul, the Captain calls on
you to respond to Chermont's toast"
Others alongside added encouragingly:
"Chermont paid high tribute to the Uni
ted States, and you are the representative at
this place. Now's your chance to distin-
guish yourself; go in, old boy"
HE WOULDN'T WEAR EARS.
1 merely blushed and bowed, but was too
badly ratified to trust myself on my feet:
and muttered that couldn't make speech,
even if 1 were on the gallows and my life
were to be saved by such an effort. prom
ised to write them speech, and I am now
trying TO keep my promise. Though was
encored and even bulldozed they failed to
get the new Consul to make an ass ot him.
self I succeeded in preserving the dignity
of the position by a discreet silence, and
though some criticism was made by a few
who perhaps hoped to enjoy failure, and
my refusal to talk was commented upon as
being exceptional, etc., was subsequently
complimented as having made the best
speech of the many thatwere uttered on that
occasion.
This unexpected demonstration entirely
took away my appetite. Indeed, if there
had been the least opportunity, should
have been tempted to run away; but we were
out on the river, and as escape was impossi-
Bile sat it ont in silence
A LITTLE FULL FOR UTTERANCE.
Not succeeding in getting the new Con-
sui to make debut, the leading spirits de-
termined that somebody should paw the
penalty of a speech for the Government, and
called upon the former Vice Consul, a WE'LL
known resident of Para. This gentleman is
always present at these affairs, and has had
considerable practice in this direction. He
was so astonished and overcome, however,
by this spontaneous selection as second
choice that he was almost too full for utter
ance. However, with a hand resting on
each of the two chairs at his sides, he sue
ceeded in delivering himself with quite a
favorable effect
As preliminary, he observed that he
was no longer in the diplomatic corps, "
and didn't think that he should be called
upon to do the talking, especially as he was
not politician, but only one OF the boys
ready to do his part, etc.
When he sat down. apparently exhausted
by the effort, the boys spontaneously broke
the heavy silence that followed by singing
the sad refrain to the familiar tune OF "We
won't 60 home till morning."
oh, he was jolly good fellow,
He was a jolly good fellow,
He was jolly good fellow.
And Jingo was bis name
Booi Booi Bahi
IN THE CAPTAINS ROOM.