Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1898-12-15
TREATY OF PEACE SIGNED.
A Scene In Paris for a Painter.

0AS
OF the treaty to night would have
afforded a subject for a great
historical painting. The group
gathered about the table in the
stately chamber of the Foreign
Ohce 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
this scene. Around the great
mahogany table sat the ten airs
bitrators OF the destinies of an
old and a young nation. Ranged
standing behind them were nu-
merous attaches of the American
commission. The jets from the
crystal chandeliers aboye the
heads of those present magnifed
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 Ameri-
cans it was a happy ending of
the epilogue of war; for the
Spaniards it was plainly a bitter
tragedy, non the less painful
because long foreseen. They sat
silently as though almost crush
ed and none could withhold SYM
pathy from Senior Monteros Rios,
the president of the Spanish
commission, who, coming from
his bed, was bundled in a great
ove1coat. although logs were
burning in the fireplace nearby.
The spirits of the two bodies
we're symboiized by the clothes
worn by the members of the COM
mission. for the Americans we're
attired in evening dress for the
dinner given them Immediately
after the meeting by Duo de
Loubat. ano the Spaniards wore
black frock coats.
Although the commission met
at half past three o'clock, expect
ing tC finish their work in half
an hour, the ~engrossing of the
treaty on parchment was found
to be 50 troublesome that it de
layed the signing OF the docus
ment until 500 Clerk Martin. of
the American commission work.
ed all day, without even stopping
to eat. When he came into the
chamber at 7;3O with the docu-
ment, he found the commission
ers waiting. The Spanish copy
had arrived a half hour earlier.
Mr.. Arthur Ferguson then pros
ceeded to read first the English
and after that the Spanish YER
sion of the treaty. This finished,
two copies were passed around
the table. the commissioners
signing them in the order of the
rank; William R. Day, Senator
Cushman K. DAVIS, Senator Will
liam P. Frye, Whitelaw Reid
and Senator Geo-ge-G Gray; Senior
Montero Rios, Senior Abalzuza,
Senior Gamica, Senior Villaurita
General y Saons, each commits
sion signing it's opponents treaty.
Both we're tied with the Spanish
and American colors.
When the seals were prepared
to be affixed, attendants were sent
%scurrying for ribbons of the
French tri>color, with which the
documents were sealed as a com,
pliment to the French hosts OF
the commission.
Many officials interestedly
watched every detail of the pros
ceedings. The last seal being i'm.
pressed; the commissioners rose
and without formality. each
member shook the hands of all Of
his antagonists and exchanged
assurances of his persona.
esteem.
The Sraniards afterward com
mented acridly upon what they
termed the bad taste of the
Americans in mastering a crowd
Of attaches to gloat over the con
summation of their downfall anc
to scramble for relics.
The signing was finished a
8:45. At that time the door o.
the chamber was opened anC
Senior Villauritla appeared anC
exclaimed to a group of cor
respondents who were waiting il
the corridor, .'C'est inis." Th,
other members of the Spanish
commission followed Seno,
Villauritia and passed silentl,
through the vestibule % thei.
waiting carriages. The American
commission strolled out chattins
com nIaco and ac thou doc