Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-15
BAST|LlE HAS ANNUAL FALL
PERREARD's BACK YARD SCENE
OF DESTRUCTION.
Music, oratory, Song and the Battle
Of the Bottles-"Inner Circle"
Participates in Assault.
The Bastille has fallen again.

Hc DdStiic Has IdileH dSdlH
Any one who doubts it can go around
to Count Perreards back yard and look
at the ruins.
1t met with mishap yesterday after
noon. when rain, not gentle. without
either the quality of mercy or the power
Of discrimination. where paper decora-
tons are concerned. dripped through the
pergola on which alleged grape vines
grow and made messes of many bit of
paper and bunting tri-color.
Every year. July H. Count Perreard.
the gentleman from France" sends out
a picture postal. upon which his genial
features occupy most of the scenery. in
viting the Inner circle to listen to him
in the role of raconteur. The subject.
according to the postal card. Is always
"reminiscences of that holy act of eman-
c1pation, the despoliation of the Bastille.
elmer Circle" on the Premises.
The Inner circle always manages to
square itself into that narrow back yard.
And the disciples always hear how the
people of La Belle France turned a horri-
BILE prison into a place where tourists
can go and buy souvenirs and shudder.
while a voluble guide sing-songs bits of
seeing Paris English
But the rain of the afternoon had made
room last night instead of table d'hote,
al fresco, upon the paving stones of the
little court. On the long wooden table
were heaped the dishes from re best chef
in Washington"
Piled high and thick were the viands
Where there were intervening spaces be-
tween the plates and platters were wicked
looking bottles. containing the wine of
France that has made California famous.
There was plenty of 1t. And the inner
circle crcumscribed itself about a large
bit of it.
oratory and Music.
There were many, many toasts and
many. many periods between toasts when
raging thirsts ran high in pepper-excited
threats. There was music from a trio
OF musicians who worked necessarily. A
harpist, violinist and a hornist played
almost everything that could be arranged
for that orchestral combination.
The magic strains described the chiv
airy of France, the victory Of King Henry
and his thousand knights. the sad. sad.
doleful story of the field of Poictiers, the
sharp hoarse barking of the pillaging
Jacques Bon Hom1nes, the song of the
followers Of Father Marquette; the cold
and shivering tale of the Little Father
as he stolidly crossed the Alps to Italy,
lists. and the grand finale as the Bastille
fell and citizens of dear Paris rejoiced
with one another with tears, embraces
and absinthe. Oh, the music was sub
lime.
Perreard Tells How It Happened.
And after the feast of good things
came the counts speech. 1t was a pro-
digious talk. In pithiness Of matter, not
in bulk of words. for the count was
too fu.. Of sentiment to say much. He
recounted some of the things that hap
pened in those riotous days. and brought
up from the long dead past a picture
of that day when Louis Napoleon was
In evidence In world history. as well as
in the style Of beard trimming.
AS peroration he frantically waved the
nag OF France. All cheered and stood
up on chairs. getting down only to ar
range for another toast. The count
beamed upon all.
After the speech the gathering resolved
itself into friendship meeting. Many
q good tale was told in the little groups
which formed around the room. Many q
song was sung. And it was long after
midnight before the last remaining bit
Of the arc Of the inner circle vanished
away.