The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-12-12
WAS lMPaEsslyE.
Signing Of .he Peace Ire taiy at
Paris aud Incidents.

~ 20 onu AMtNutnios
Paris, Dec. Il. The signing of the treaty
tonight would have afforded subject for
great historical painting. The group.
gathered about the table lin the stately
chamber Of the foreign office was impress
sive in itself while the fact that the
sense OF the momentousncss OF the issues
which the act decided was deeply felt by
all the participants gave AN impressive
and solemn tone to the scene.
Around the great mahogany table sat
the ten arbitrators Of the desDrles Of an
old and young nation Ranged about and
behind them were numerous attaches OF
the American commission The Jets from
the crystal chandeliers above the heals
of those present magnined the brilliant
green and scarlet OF the upholsterings In
their saudlness.
There was theatrical contrast between
the black clothed actors and the scenery
To the Americans it was a happy ending
Of the epnogue of war; for the spaniards
1t was plainly a bitter tragedy, none the
less painful because long forcseen They
sat silently, as though almost crushed.
and none could withhold sympathy for
Senior Montero Rios, the president OF the
Spanish commission. who. coming from
his bed, was bundled In great overcoa:,
though logs were burning In the fireplace
nearby.
The spirits Of the two bodies We're sym
boHzed BY the clothes worn by tho meut-
bers of the commissions, FOR The AmSii-
cans were atured in evening dress Tor the
dinner given them by the Duo De Louhst
and the spauiards wore black froch coats.
Although the commission met at ha'f
past three o'clock expecting to finish their
work in half an hour, the engrossing Of
the treaty on parchment was found to be
SO troublesome that It delayed tine signing
Of the document until 500. uerS Martin,
OF the American commission, worked all
day without stopping to eat. When he
came into the chamber nj 1850 i'm the doc
ument ne found the commissioners walt
ing. The Spanish copy had arrived half
hour earlier Mr. Ferguson then proceed
ed to read. first the English and after
that the Spanish version OF the treaty.
This finished, two copies we're passed
around the table, the commissioners sign
ing them I'm the order OF their rank:
william r.. Day. Senator Cushman X.
Davis, Senator william p. Frye, White
law Reid, and Senator George Gray; SEN
or Montero Rios. senor Abarzuza, senor
Vnlaurutla and General Crerero Y. saons'
each commission signing its opponents
treaty. Both were tied with the Spanish
American eolors.
When the seals we're prepared 20 be af-
fixed attendants were sent scurrying for
ribbons OF the French trl-colors. with
which the documents were n'"ieuf 40
compliment to the French hosts Of the
commissions.
The last seal being impressed, the
commissioners arose and without for
mality. each member shook the hands
of all his antagonists ana exchanged
Of sincere personal esteem.
The spaniards afterwardt comment
ed acrldly upon what they termed the
bad taste Of the Americans in muster
ing crowd Of attaches to gloat over
,he contamination Of their downfall,
and the scramble for relics.
The signing was finished at s:i5 At
that time the door Of the chamber op-
ened and Senor Yillaurutia appeared
and exclaimed to a group Of correspon-
dents who were waiting in the oorri-
dor: "Cest Fini."
The other members Of the Spanish
commission followed Senior yilaurutai
and passed silently through the yis'i-
bule to their waiting carriages. The
American commission strollad heir
outside chatting complacently, NJ as
they descended the steps the gh.a IN
the chamber were darkened