The herald., 1898-12-04
PEACE COMMISSIONERS
WILLIAM BENooUGH DESCRIBES
THEIR SOCIAL LIFE
With Their Wives and Families the
Americans Are Making Things
Hum in Paris Social Circles

Such news concerning the dolngs OF the
, peace commissioners in Paris as has come
10 us by cable leaves us uniformed as TO
the daily life of the representatives In
whose mission we are 80 deeply interested.
Knowing how difficult 1t would be to get
such information from the ordinary
sources William Bengough was sent to
Paris to represent this newspaper and q
contemporary in nearly every city In the
United States, through the Leslie Syndi-
cate. Mr.. Bengough's credentials secured
for him the most courteous treatment from
the commissioners, and he is able to sup
plement his admirable peace commission
sketches from life, some Of which have al
ready been published in this newspaper, by
the following article, descriptive of the
happy times the commissioners are having
In Paris during their leisure hours.
PARIS, Nov. lO.-(Special Correspond.
ence to The Herald) These are gay times
in Paris. At least they are gay
in the intervals OF the secret sessions of the
peace commission. 1t needs deal of gaety
and sociability, however, to make amends
for the terrible dignity and solemnity Of
the official seances which take place in the
grand chamber at the French foreign de-
partment office. The commissioners strike
merry pace whenever they are able to
cut loose from their labors for few hours.
As all the Americans haye their wives and
families with them, there are plenty of
functions of all kinds to be attended. The
social program includes receptions, "at
homes and afternoon teas, at which gather
the butterflies of the American colony and
rare specimens of the foreign nobility. The
merry round face OF Consul General Cloudy
is seen beaming on all sorts of assemblies,
and the Spanish peace commissioners are in
evidence on all occasions. With their
charming, polished manners, they carry Off
their rather awkward position as none but
q Spanish senior can do.
Ambassador Porter is, of course, absolute
ly necessary to everything that pretends to
be anything, and the commissioner general of
the United States to the Paris exhibition OF
1900, Mr.. Ferdinand Peck, with his able as
sistant, Mr.. Woodward, are in great de-
mand.
OF course, there are the usual freaks to fur.
nish delectation to the multitude. Proba-
bly, the most pronounced one at present is
an oily gentleman who dresses in the latest
mode of eccentric dudishness, wears a sim
gle eyeglass with an inane expression of
countenance and possesses very long purse.
Needless to say, he is much sought after by
those who admire greatness and cham
pagne.
Sightseeing trips are popular; visits to
noted places by the, commission en- masse or
in detached parties. All manner of places
are included in these outings, from the ma
jestic tomb of Napoleon to the gaiety of the
champage cellars at Reims. Then there are
dinners and banquets without end banquets
given by the American ambassador, by the
French foreign minister, by the American
chamber of commerce, and toasts and healths
to presidents and queens and Lafayettes,
and such mingling of Spanish and French
and American representatives and such a
torrent of good feeling and good wine that
would make peace advocate fairly dance
for joy at the spectacle. Have no fear of the
outcome Of the peace conference; it is fair
" swimming along in beautiful stream of
brotherly love and champagne.
While the commissioners have great deal
to attend to in Paris besides the mere set
tling of treaty, still the treaty has con-
siderable share of attention. In the morn
ng after coffee there is usually conclave
n the elegant apartments of Whitelaw Reid.
This is conducted with as much mystery
Is the joint sessions. The newspaper men
1ave to content themselves with keeping a
careful account of the time spent at these
meetings and then guessing at what was said
md done behind the doors, which are guarded
faithfully by a colored gentleman who was
brought from Washington for the purpose.
Down stairs, in the Hotel Continental,
here is another colored gentleman, extreme
y dignified, and also from Washington. The
after gentleman has had years of expert
'nce in separating bores and impostors from
he favored few who are allowed to enter
he sacred precincts. He is assisted by a