The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-11
For SPANS Commissioners, Who Sat
as Though Crushed.
MANY INTERESTED SPECTATORS.
The Standards Commented Bitterly on
the American Bad Taste i'm Allow
ing the Crowd to Gloat Over
Their DownfaIi-The Pens
Eagerly Sought as
Souvenirs.

PARIS, Dec. 10-The treaty OF peace
was signed at S:i5 this evening.
The signing would have afforded a
subject for a great historical painting
The group gathered about the table In
the stately chamber of the Foreign Oi-
fee, was impressive in itself, while the
fact that the sense OF the momentousness
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 destinies
OF an old and a young nation. Arranged
behind them were numerous attaches OF
the American commission.
A BRILLIANT SCENE.
The lets from the crystal chandeliers
above the heads OF those present magni-
lied the brilliant green and scarlet OF the
upholstering into gaudiness. There was
a theatrical contrast between the black
clothed actors and the scenery. To the
Americans II was happy ending OF the
epilogue of war: for the Spaniards 1t
was plainly bitter tragedy. none the
less painful because long foreseen. They
sat silently as though almost crushed
and none could withhold sympathy from
Senior Montero Rios, the president or the
Spanish Commission, who coming from
his bed, was bundled in great overcoat,
although logs were burning in the fire.
place near by.
The spirits Of the two Bodies were
symbOlzed by the clothes worn by the
members of the commissions, for the
Americans were attired in evening dress
for the dinner given them Immediately
after the meeting by the Due de Lou
bat, and the Spaniards wore black frock
coats.
SIGNING DELAYED.
Although the commissions met at halr
past 3 o'clock, expecting to finish their
work in half an hour the engrossing or
the treaty on parchment was found TO
ba so troublesome that II delayed the
signing of the document until 500.
Clerk Martin, of the American COM
mission. worked all day without even
stopping to eat. When he came into the
chamber at 7:30 with the document ne
found the commissioners waiting. Ihe
Spanish copy had arrived half hour
earlier. Mr. Arthur Ferguson then pro-
ceeded to read first the English and after
that the Spanish version OF the treaty:
This finished, two copies were passeu
around the table. the commissioners
signing them in the order OF their RANK
William r. Day Senator Cusnman ~
Davis. Senator William +. Frye Nhite-
iaw Reld and Senator George Gray; Sc
no~ 1fontero Rios. Senior Arbazuza, Sc
nor carnica. Senor Villautia and General
Cicero y Zaones. each commission sign
ir, its opponent's treaty. Both were ue'
Win the Spanish and American colors'
COMPI .IMENT TO FRANCE
when the seals were prepared TO oe
.m.-ad attendants were sent scurrylhs
Sa. r,hhons of the French tri-color win
which the documents were sealed as
commitment to the French hosts OF '"o
Manv officials interestedly watched
every detail of the proceedings Inc
last seal being impressed. the commis-
sioners rose and without formahty eaVh
member shook tho hands OF All MS
antagonists and exchanged assurd'oe9
~ sincere personal esteem The span
III. ~ of,erward commented acrdly upon
,ybot they termed the bad taste OF the
Americans in mastering crowd OF at
taches TO gloat over the consummation Oh
their downfall and to scramble for relics.
THE TRAGEDY ENDED.
The signing was finished at $50. Al
that time the door Of the chamber opened
and senior Vllaurutid appeared ana eA-
claimed to a group Of correspondents
who were waiting in the corridor: e est
dpi,- The other members Of the Span
ish commission followed Senior Niilan-
rutia and passed silently through the
yestibule to their waiting carriages. The
American commission stroned out chat-
ting complacently and as they descended
the steps The lights I'm the chamber were
darkenod.
The treaty. as signed consists OF sew
enteen articles. II having been found ad-
vlsable TO sub-divide two or three OF the
articles in the draft agreed upon at the
last meeting.
The commissioners of the two nations
wrote their signatures on two copies or
the treaty. one copy being for the
archives.
IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
The document was prepared by Secre-
tary Moore. in behalf OF the United
States Commission and by Senior Vilau-
rutia for Spain. on account of the con-
tinued Illness OF Secretary Ojeda, OF the
Spanish Commission. Each copy con-
tanned English and Spanish texts OF the
treaty in parallel columns. The wording
had been approved previously by the
commissions without a joint meeting, so
there was no controversy on this subject.
Herc mas Dcci a. si'il t'it'@e "ii"h5
the families and friends of the Ameri-
can Commissioners for possession OF the
pens with which the signatures to the
treaty were written. Some of the Ameri-
cans were provided with handsome pens
purchased for the purpose. The Span
iards appeared to be unaffected by the
souvenir craze. and contented themselves
with ordinary quill pens strewn on the
table.
Just prior to the final reading OF the
treaty the commissioners were photo
graphed.