New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-23
FARIS.
THE GREAT FEAST FOR THE FRENCH
MAYORS.
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE
BLEs MILES LoNG-THE CONGRESS
OF AMERIcANIsTs.


IBT CABLE TO THE rR1srNE1
Paris. Sept 22-The CITY Of Paris has A.
abandoned itself 10 the sway Of the assembled
Mayors Of France. with a submission as abso
ute as that accorded by the Merovingtan kings
10 their Mayors Of the Palace By the courtesy
OF M Millerand. the Minister Of Commerce The
11oune correspondent was enabled 10 partake
u the Gargantuan luncheon Of over tventv-tv-o
thousand covers. which took place at noon to-
cay. in ideal September weather. in the Tuileries
Gardens II was brilliant political success for
republican France. and, stranger still 10 record
II was also successful from a gastronomic point
OF view. This gigantic feast throws far into The
shade the memorable repast Of the mercenaries
so picturesquely described by Gustave FIaubert
IN SaIamnbo." To-day's banquet was the big
gest sit down meal ever served in France. the
only historical precedent at all approaching #
being the fraternal banquet Of fifteen thousand
covers at o'clock on April . 1878. in the
CHAMP de Mars, by the Imperial Guard for the
national Guard. 70 celebrate Napoleon's return
from EIba
II was indeed rerarka Bile sight 10 see this
army corps Of the honest. bronzed faces Of the
Mayors of rural France. most Of then, sons or
the soil evidently feeling out OF place in their
ne" tan silk hats. broadcloth coats and stiff
SHOES. AT home they wear caps. blouses and
WOODEN sahots. They represent the real strength
ana vitality Of the nation. and present a whole
some contrast 10 the weird night birds Of the
Montnartre and the boulevards. who. with pale
faces and Alfred de Musset looks, aspire to con-
troI the political and intellectual movement Of
Paris and France
At an early hour thousands Of =igbrsee-s gath
cred in the Place de la Concorde and the Rue
Hivoh Many shouts Of ''Vive Monsieur lie
Marie" resounded and the street hawkers al
ways equal TO an occasion OF the kind, sold in
Vulnerable pasteboards and JacksIide images en-
titled As III w Monsieur le Marie" together
with new songs set 70 the popular airs OF 'Pere
"a Nictoire' or Of "Revenant della Revue"
IN the gardens Of the Tuileries the service was
admirably conducted by d so walters. divided
INTO squads Of eighteen. each squad commanded
by head waiter. There were altogether 1915
head walters The commander-in-chief Of this
little army was NJ. Legrand. the head caterer.
who, mounted on his motor tricycle. and attended
by numerous staff. also on motor cycles or bicy-
cles, wheeled and circulated about with lightning
rapidly With the exception of the coffee every
thing was served cold The space occupied by
the guests measured over 81. OG0 square metres
forming a total length Of table OF eight kiIo-
metres equal TO I miles turlougs and 169
yards, or nearly five miles
It required go oxen to supply the beef for
the Mayors luncheon. ard 500 pounds Of salmon.
300 chickens. $50 pheasants and 10000
bottles Of wine were served Each guest was
provided with cigar, and brigade OF hremen
stood al attention when the twenty-odd thou
sand matches were ignited 70 light this forest Of
cigars
Among the Mayors with whom your CORE
spondent had the pleasure Of shaking hands was
n Rigaud, dean OF all the French Mayors At
ninety-two years OF age he is vigorous and
active He has g short, compact figure. and
round. bearded face. with bright blue eyes He
tod me that he eats only one meal day which
ne takes az noon, and always drinks with Il a
quart Of sound claret. He usually gets I'D at
sunrise and goes % bed at p. n He is Mayor
q Marign-y-sur-Yonne He IS an tnveterate pipe
smoker.
The youngest Mayor NJ Bourthumien is
twenty-five years Of age He is Mayor OF Bour-
rel, IN the Department of Tarn ct Garonne. He
sat beside his venerable colleague, and both had
Z familiar chat with President Loubet Accord
ing 10 the Figaro" the youngest Mayor is
really Coute Stauislas de CasteIlane brother Of
Count Boni de CastelIane. Count stanisIas de
Castellane was elected Mayor Of Marcena in
Cantal, but the election was not challenged, al
though he had not attained the majority re-
CURED by Law. He was not present at the
repast
The only hitch in the colossal luncheon was
the vigorous protest from the Mayor Of Corron
2
gundy vintage was served-an oversight likely
70 cost the Ministry many votes.
The twelfth Congress Of Americauists was
opened at the College Of France OF Monday By
Professor Eauly. Of the Institut Morning and
afternoon sessions were held daily until this
evening. The Due de Loubat and Prince Ro-
land Bonaparte were elected honorary presi-
dents. The proceedings were well attended, and
closely followed by French scientists. who are
beginning 10 attach 70 the study Of pre-Colum-
blan America a degree Of Importance hitherto
exclusively reserved for Egyptology
This is decidedly the most successful reunion
the Aulertcanists have yet held, and shows the
immense progress made since the first meeting
which took place in 1875. Several papers were
discussed at the present session, and attracted
widespread attention. Professor Thomas VII
son. curator Of the archaeological section Of the
National Museum al Washington. gave a clear
and mastery summary OF the latest researches
relating 10 prehistoric man in North America.
The Due de Loubat communicated some hither-
70 unknown traditions Of the Oaxaca Indians
containing the ceremonial OF the feather dance
which reproduces in pantomiue and in verse the
meeting Of AIonteZuma and Cortez-
Mr. Henry vignaud, vice-president Of the
Aroarfcanisr Congress- and secretary Of the Uni
red States Embassy at Paris. read paper on
Toscanelu and Columbus, disclosing facts that
created surprise for he demolished the theory
adopted by Washington Irving. Humboldt
Ffske Hanine and all other historians that Co
l,,robus derived his scheme for the discovery OF
America from letter written in l4'4 by Ios-
caneui. the FIorentine astronomer. NJ Vignaud
adduced evidence which convinced all the mem
bers Of the Congress that Toscaneln never wrote
art Il