The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03

Of receptacle nred with about . hundred
yellow gourds Of different kinds. The onect
was very startling, aud &c seemed odd ana
strange. but, nsvorthless, It produced a most
pleasing impression on the ere. His dining
room walls were 30 covered with rare china that
one could hardly SEQ them at all, and the whole
establishment was filled with things Of beauty
He Eaveo our Admiral handsome dinnsr.to which
/ had the honor OF being invited. At that time l
thought It was Altogether the most beautiful
dinner 1 had ever attended. Everything was
delightfully."- cooked and sorvsdin excellent TASTE
and the " Ines were AZ good a. could be had any
where. The only lady present was Lady LJtton
herself, and, besides our Admiral, the only dis
tinGuishsd Eusst was Sir BoAuohamp Seymour.
the Admiral I have referred TO who commanded
the British Channel leek The dinner passed
on most pleasantly. Lady Lytton. At the proper
time, arose and retired 10 the drawing ROOM
The men sat for some time, AZ was the Englsh
custom g. that day, and continued their wine-
drinking. Finally. when / was quite sure ne
bad all had enough. Lord Lytton said, I know
that yon sre all dying for q smoke; whoever
wants TO smoke, follow me- Whereupon NO All
rose from the table and followed him out OF the
ching room. To my surprise he uahered US
into the drawing room. and said, Here II where
we smoke; Lady LItton likes II, and We always
smoke here Lady Lytton smiled swsetly, 40
kDowlodEinE the truth Of what her husband
had Just said. and We all sat down to our cigars
and coffee. Lady Lyttnn was a charming, hand
some woman, In every way fitted to DO the wife
OF q man 90 distinguished az lord Lytton then
was, and who was further to occupy positions
OF great trust and responsibility, first 40 Vice.
roy OF India and afterwards az Ambassador to
France"
Another personal "reminiscences which We have
read with singular qualification, and n part OF
which We have marked for reproduction. will he
found on page 200. In May, 1881. our author was
promoted TO tho grade Of Commodore, and about
the same time he was appointed by tho President
ono Of the Board of Visitors to West Point.
"oue of the most interesting of my colleagues
was Mr.. John c. Ropea of Boston. Hin knowledge
OF military matters was something wonderful;
he was not only an expert in matters Of grand
strategy. but he was equally good In the most
minute details connected with war. It was do
llEhtful to hear him disousB tho great battles OF
tho civil war with tho Veterans who fought In
them with an intelligence equal to their OWE.
and with n knowledge which IL seemed quito
impossible to possess without having boen on
the spot while the engagements wore going on.
In illustration Of what I have stated with refor-
ence to his knowledge Of dotAIlh, I think he had
stored away In his brain tho Nance OF every
BriEAdier-GenerAl, II not of every Colonel
of q regiment, that fought on tho field
Of Gettysburg. Mr.. Ropes possesses tho
finest private military library in this or
perhAps any other country. and I fancy
there 10 but little in tho volumes 1t con-
tainS that is not familiar to him IN q greater or
loss degree. His knowledge of Napoleon, and
everything connected with that great soldier.
10 wonderful; and, while one might. perhaps, in
Wow Of the literature about Napoleon's life and
times with which the world has recently been
flooded, diffcr from him In his admiration Of
BonapRrte. yet, upon tho whole, 1t has always
seemed to me that his estimate OF tho man and
what he did for Europe is correct. . e " Prof.
Vonablo from tho University of Virginia was
also one Of my colleagues. He had bcen on Gen.
Lse'B stnfr at the battle of Gettysburg. and Mr..
! Ropes never tired Of converting with him on
this great fight, with regard to which he him.
self was 80 familiar