The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-08

meeting him at dinner on his return from
Ber' n. whittier he went for the purpose of
hanc 'ng Nj. Herbette the Grand Gordon of
cais' told me that he was received warmly
by the Emperor William, with whom he
eonversed in the palace for an hour. The
Kaiser, he said, was interested in the
Panama scheme, which he regarded as a
gigantic under taking
Il know well.' said his Majesty, that
France is a ricn country. but how will you
be able TO get the money for the project?''
sire, replied the eminent protector.
France as a country of economy, where
people do not throw their money out of
windows. The Panama isthmus will be
cut with woo.en stockings.
What do you mean by that?' asked the
'It means the savings of those French
savings of their sons, who have confidence
How many workmen have you out
there?'' asked his Majesty.
machines. which represent 100000 men
Why, what an army you have got. to
Yes, your Majesty, and / hope that your
armies will never hinder mine from work
ing"
II have not the least inclination to do
So" replied the Kaiser; France has my
sympathy, and you know j am for peace"
in New YORK He baa crnete met M tb de essePs
with an ordinary handbag to take an active
part in the Bartholdi statute of liberty
was back again in France in less than six
weeks. also met him few years ago
in Algeria He had crossed the desert and
made tour or the towns along the African
side OF the Mediterranean, having been alb
sent from his home in Paris for quite three
months. His baggage consisted of one
trunk and a case containing a rife. His
secretary, man less tnan half his age
carried impedimenta enough to make
tour or the world. L have often thought
that the great Suez magnate must have
purchased his raiment he went. for
he invariably looked 'spick and span and
ready Tor any social emergency. Unlike
Frenchmen generally, he detests a dress
coat, and / am sure he Shirks gloves and
the white tie when he can dccently dodge
them. Even as young man, when he was
consul at Barcelona, / am told h received
his visitors in loose gray coat Zouave-
cut trousers and a bonnet Gree His off,
hand way put everybody Instantly at their
ease.
Like Victor Hugo the Comte de Lesseps
is fond of children and one of the pret-
tiest sights 1 knew of was to behold him
on horseback in the green glades and leafy
avenues of the Bots de Boulogne with a
group Of charming children mounted on
ponies His animal spirits and bright
face seemed to illumine the forest and as
he dashed along with the youthful caval-
cade shouting merrily at his heels he pre-
sented a picture of infectious gayety and
vigorous, hale old age that commanded
the most fervent admiration.
NJ. de LeSSepS what old Alexander
Dumas called a belle fourohette. He
liked good dinner. but was not a slave
to his stomach; he never lived to eat. He
used to be fond of taking potluck with
Rossini, when the grand old maestro would
cook the maccaroni with his own hands.
The Count. when last / dined with him,
sini. Gustave Dore and himself sitting
down to dinner of maccaroni and rice,
cooked in variety of ways, that lasted
from o'clock till IL.
I'VE did not spend a dull moment
said NJ. de Lesseps. Dumas was in ex-
uberant spirits. Rossini was a splendid
audience. Dore listened and ate, but, We
gods. how weary got of the Italian
dishes. The maccaroni was stretched out
to the crack @ doom and the raylola and
slipped it in soup. then We gobbled II
stewed with tomatoes and garlic. then it
was boiled and fried. 1 was maccaro-
MED up to the teeth. II must have been
joke on the part of our host, for never a
scrap of meat had we, not even a ragout.
/ never consumed so much farine at one
sitting in my life Dumas npsgsa was ,,, very
huge body. On our way home Dumas
suggested that we drive to the Maison
Dore and have. outlet 1t was then ions
past midnight.
- The chef is in bed % urged
"'Corpo di Bacco! Well knock him
upr' roared the author of Monte Cristo.
left him to his fate.
The gallantry of NJ. de Lesseps KEEP,
pace with his love Tor 1 CHILDREN en- He shares
of being a warm admirer of the fair sex
1 once introduced him to a pretty .youns
sdh siding . in Paris. The Count bought sew
eral of her sketches and promised to cal
on her In London. Two years after wher
visiting the English metropolis on mos
exacting business connected with the Sue1
canal and parliamentary committees, ht
found time TO climb the stairs OF an OBJ
scure second-hoor front In a by street anc
call on the young lady in question, much
TO her surprise. as she naturally imagined
that her name and address had long since
passed from his memory.
Now and then Les5eps got of a rasp
ing mot One night at meeting an ado
lescent comte OF juvenile appearance wa
bold enough TO oppose some measure N. D.