The National tribune., 1903-07-09
FEATURES"

waiter barely five, the latter's appearance,
with turned-up trousers and sleeves, foot
gear equally out of proportion, and wear
ing a spotless white vest with deep hol-
low under its front, and one of Henry s
famous gigantic shirt collars framing a
diminutive face, was certainly striking, the
more so as the poor wanderer was blind
of one eye, had a harelip, and in the hurry
of shaving for the occasion, had managed
to infiict upon some of his features several
gashes deep enough to keep bleeding dur
ing the whole dinner. q am pretty certain
that some of us had taste of the mans
blood in the grayy.) But. then. as the
French say: "A Ia guerre comine Ia
guerre" free translation of which, ap-
plicable to this case, would be about:
Don't quarrel with your victuals in time
of war"
Mr.. Glassman was, of course, dressed in
full regimentals-i. e. in his black suit with
aforesaid choker and cravat, which he had
not discarded for a single day since the
incipiency of his new-found happiness. Pre-
viOusly to sitting down to the table old
Henry had acted in person as "chef de
cuisine" assisted by Mexican herder, the
corners of whose "serape" "a gaily-colored
blanket thrown over the shoulders in cold
weather. would persist in introducing
themselves into the pots and pans. Our
host was by no means a poor cook, and
the roasted kid which formed the "piece de
resistance" of the dinner was tOothSOme in
deed. BY common consent, although not
audibly expressed, was, in honor of the
day, invariably referred to as "the fowl"
''the turkey or "the bird" Besides it
there were many other dishes, all well pre-
pared; indeed, we could not help but COM
plimcnt our host, and that very Justly, up
on the variety of the good things set forth
and the fertility of his resources in OBJ
tanning then at that period and in that
place.
Neither did the liquid refreshments leave
anything to desire in quality or quantity
Il shuddered invoIuntarily on the following
day when l contemplated the array of
empty bottles in Henry's back-yard) In
accordance with the custom of the times,
we all imbibed a liberal cocktail before
dinner. With the entree which followed a
succulent OK tail soup, ard consisted of
Goldfish balls. we drank white wine-actu-
ally imported Rhine wine, in long, slender
tapering bottles. The pseudo turkey and
accessories we washed down with import
ed French claret of the brand Chateau
Laftte. And this in Tubac in 1868!
These wines. as well as the champagne
which was uncorked as the dessert was
served, were undoubtedly smuggled in by
somebody by way of Guaymas, where a
great many European goods were landed
monthly. They tasted none the worse for
that.
A SOLDIER OF THE FRENCH ARMY.
The banquet lasted from to 8 o'clock,
and was enlivcned by speeches, stories
and song. BY that time every one present
knew of old Henry's engagement to the
widow Raney, and he received the lib
orally offered congratulations with-for an
oldish man-exquisite, graceful smiles
Among the invited guests were Mr.. Jo-
seph Goldtree and his partner, one e.
Tapie. The latter had been a soldier in
the French army before Sebastopol dur
ing the Crimean war; later he had he.
lonSed to BaZaine's army of invasion in
Mexico; had been discharged at Guaymas.
and made his way inland till he reached
Iubac, where he had entered into part
nership with Mr. Goldtree in the colupos-
ite business Of trading, farming and con-
'racting. This Frenchman, who was then
about 40 years of age, was the gayesr of
the gay at Henry's banquet, enlivening
the fieeting hours with many songs. prin.
cipally of a military character. He had
n very sweet baritone voice, well modu
lated, and sang with fine expression, I
remember distinctly to this day the fol-
lowing lines sung by him with true French
viyacity and military clan.
"Je danserai, tn danseras.
Fol de Francais, papa Nicholasw
/ shall dance, thou wilt dance,
AS sure as I'm Frenchman, old Mich
olas)
This name referred, Of course, to the
Emperor of Russia.
And the lines
"Entendez-vous? c'est le tambour an;
roule,
Cest un canon qui fait trembler le sol.
Cest un boulet, c'est un fort oui a
ecroule,
Ia fin est Ia, pauvre Sebastopol!"
do you hear? It is the roll of the
drum,
It Is cannon. shaking up the earth;
It is shot, 1t is fort that totters,
Why end has come. oh, DOOR Sehastop0ll