New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-16
4 MONSTER GASTRoSoMIC FESTIVAL.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT BANQUET
THE MAYORS OF FRANCE IN PARIS.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT BANQUET TO
THE MAYORS OF FRANCE IN PARIS.
Paris Sept 15.-The banquet which is to be given
in this city on Saturday next September 2 when
President I.oubet will entertain all the mayors III
France to celebrate the Exposition. promises to
rank among the historical feasts. 1t Is no" esu-
mated that 1900 persons will sit down TO this
monster banquet, which will be held In immense
tents erected IN the Gardens Of the Iulleries,
overlooking the Rue de Rivoh The numDer OF
those who expected Will take part IN the aII'iIr
Is seven thousand above the most sanguine esu-
mate of a fortnight ago. and another immense tent
has been erected In the Gardens Of the Tuileries.
Such gigantic gastronomic entertainment makes
necessary marvellous organization 70 insure sue
cess and the details most interesting and IN
Eenious Twelve great kitchens have been con-
structcd and united by perfect telephone system
An army OF walters has been enlisted numbering
nearly three thousand The tables. placed end
10 end would cover a distance OF seven kilometres;
the kitchens cover four kilometres and the prob
Of properly directing the service over such dis-
tances has been solved by enrolling a couple OF
motor cars in which the caterer and his staff VIII
travel from point TO point wherever supervision Is
required In addition, four cyclists VIII carry or
ders in all directions. The work Of cooking the
poultry has already begun. The cooked birds VIII
be kept in the refrgerators until the day Of the
feast The generous fare provided will include
$500 pheasants $500 ducks. $500 chickens, 5000
pounds OF salmon 5000 pounds OF beef, $500 rolls
and other bread. $1,000 bottles OF red and white
wine and 1000 bottles of champagne.
In contrast with the success up TO the present OF
the Presidential banquet IS the iasco with which
the municipal fete is threatened The Nationalist
Mayor and municipality OF Paris, taking advantage
of the Presidential banquet invited all the Mayors
of France to a reception at the Paris Hotel de
Vile and they received quite number of I'M
complimentary refusals. including one from the
Mayor OF Lyons the second largest city in France:
who openly said he declined to associate himself
with the Ma tonalist municipality OF the metropolis
II Is now known that nearly al the Mayors OF the
leading cities have declined the invitation many
even Withdrawing their acceptances 10 what they
say now they find was intended 20 be Nationalist
demOnsi ration against the Republic. Lyons, BoT-
dcaux. Orleans and Marseiies led the shower or
refUsals which has been raining on Mayor Grebau-
val and the Paris municipality. and not more than
four hundred Mayors expected to attend the
municipal fete. In the face of this failure the
municipality OF Paris has resolved TO beg Presi-
dent Loubct TO accept invitation. But II Is not
considered likely that he VIII consent unless the
Premier NJ. Weldeck- Rousseau. and the Cabinet
Ministers also invited and the municipality is
loath to admit its defeat In this open fashion.