The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-24

Paris. July
The flag has been unfurled and the eagle
made to sereech TO such a degree during
the past few DAYS. that even the most
enthusiastic and patriotic of our country
men have cried halt. enough. On Tues
day the Washington Monument was pre-
sented TO the French government in the
name of the women OF the United States.
the statue is Of bronze. and the work Of
Messrs. Daniel C. French and Edward o.
Potter. The ceremony was dignified and
imposing and the covering which envelop-
ed the statue was very gracefully drawn
aside by Mrs. Daniel Manning, OF New
York and Mrs. John 7. Jones. Sousa's
band was in attendance. and the Stars
and Stripes mingled with the tricolOrs
were seen Heating from many of the
French houses in the Place d'Iena.
Wednesday morning was devoted 70 the
unwilling of the Lafayette Monument In
the Place du Carrousel. The statue is Only
plaster model OF the final monument.
and was draped in an immense American
flag. which, at the proper moment, was
withdrawn by two small American boys
wearing white duck suits and carrying
flags. The tribunes offered seating ca
pacity of about 2.e0a. but were very pleas
antly and comfortably arranged The pro-
gramme consisted of remarks from
President Loubet, Gen. Porter, Mr.. Fer
dinand W. Peek. Archbishop Ireland, and
Mrs. Daniel Manning, who made a very
dignihed and handsome picture as she
stood on the grand stand. gowned in an
exquisite creation Of white silk crepe de
chine trimmed with rare old lace, and
wearing soft white hat with a garniture
of white plumes. II was almost impossi-
bic TO hear any OF the speeches, except
when Gen. Porter spoke; his voice pos
sesses a virile carrying quality which
seems TO defy space, and his enunclation
is as II he had been educated at the The
atre Francois. Gen Porter was exceeding
ly happy in his opening speech,
and If 1t is true, as many aver.
that "Wednesday was the most
significant day in the history OF the two
great republics" 1t is equally true that
this felicitous feeling is due in very
great measure to the influence and dip
lomacy of our Ambassador who in his
far-seeing wisdom, has lost no opportunity
TO weld the two countries together. His
knowledge of the French language has
been no small factor in this result Sousa
was present with his band. and played for
the first time his new march, Hall to the
Spirit of Liberty" written by John Philip
Sousa, especially for the dedication cere-
monies of the Lafayette Monument. The
only discordant note In the entire per-
Torrance was during Mr.. Peck's speech,
when a party OF Americans, who had not
been able to secure seats in the tr;bunes,
gathered outside. and began to sing Amer
lean airs, and so drowned the voice of Mr..
Peck that those near him even were I'M
able to distinguish a word. This vulgar
ebulltion of bad temper upon the part
of certain of our countrymen was much
depIored, as it was rather difficult to ex-
plain to our distinguished French guests.
Cen and Mrs. Porter threw epen the
doors of their superb mansion on the af-
ternoon of the Fourth Of July, and l
should judge that no American in Paris
failed to attend, so great was the crush
The enormous salons were beautifully
decorated with flowers and our national
colors. The Ambassador and Mrs. POr-
ter received their guests at the entrance +!
of the great salon and were cordial and /
gracious, finding some amiable word for !
each conner.
The California Commission issued invi- |
tatiOns for a reception at their headquar- !
tiers in the Place de rOpera Wednesday |
evening. We are told that the commission |
were assisted in receiving by Mrs. NJ De
Young, Mrs. Runyon, Mrs. Gaskell and
Mrs. Hurlburt. but no one present to my
knowledge had the pleasure OF seeing
these charming ladies. The crush was
tremendous, and early in the evening the |
space in the vestiara was all taken and |