Evening star., 1923-11-15
ny THE MARauIsE DE FoNTENoY.


Frequent reference is made 70 the
Golden Book OF the City OF Paris,
in which the chiefs of sovereign
states who pay official visits to
the French capital are requested to
sign their names when they are well
coined, with much pomp and cere-
mony, at the Hotel de Vile, or city
hall. by the prefect of the metro
politan department of the Seine and
by the president OF the entire munich
pality OF the capital. Their formal
signature Is supposed to invest them
| with the freedom Of the city.
Strictly speaking, this gold book
does not exist. For. on the occasion
Of these sovereign visits to the Hotel
otherwise. which is submitted to the
illustrtous visitor for his signature.
but ruagnificently engrossed and
illumipated sheet Of parchment.
which is subsequently wrapped up in
silk and carefully preserved with
other parchments of the same kind.
at the city treasure house and mu-
scum in the Carnavalet Palace.
Among this collection Of loose parch-
ment leaves there is only one bear
Of President Woodrow Wilson. and
1t is q curious fact that the first OF
these lsaves-that is to say. the
initial signature Of the iot-was that
defunct Transvaaai republic, when he
visited Paris during his European
trip shortly before the South African
war of Il quarter of q century ago.
which transformed the two Boer re-
publics in that part of the world
into British self-governing colonies.
Y ~ X y
When a sufficient number OF these
signatures have been obtained from
visitors of sovereign rank, the parch-
ment leaves will be bound by master
hands, much in the same way as
the medieval Evangels; that Is to
say. enriched with masterpieces Of
the goldsmlth's art and richly studded
with precious stones. and 1t is not
until then that 1t Will be possible
TO describe it as THE Golden Book
of Paris"
There are, however, two Species of
cereTnonia! books OF Paris already in ex-
istence. The one contains record of the
various state functions and fetes or
ganized by the municipal. authorities
In the name Of the City Of Paris at
voted to the signatures OF visitors
and guests OF distinction Of the city
whom it wishes to honor by keeping
a record of their names. but who do
r..
It is In thi book that are recorded
the names OF the late Theodore
Roosevelt. when he came 'to Paris
on the completion Of his presidential
term; of Gen. Pershing, OF Myron T.
Herrick, now ambassador to France.
Of several Russian grand dukes prior
to the. great war, of several lord
mayors of London who have paid
state visits to Paris. OF Georges
Clemenceau, etc. They are very
IN ty1F r NyvV -
rare kind of morocco.
4 Il 4, "
Lord Stalbridge. who has just tax en-
over the mastership Of the celebrated
Fernie Hunt, which has its headquarters
at Market Marlborough, probably one of
the best known hunting regions in
England, is a member Of the House
Of Grosvenor. the second peer in his
line. His father, who. throughout the
greater part OF his life, was known
as Lord Richard Grosyenor,. was a
younger brother Of the first Duke OF
Westminster, favorite member OF
the household Of Queen. Victoria, and
dent Of the London and Northwestern
Trunk railroad. Lord Stalbridge is
now a man Of about forty-three,
served with his regiment. the 14th
Hussars, in South Africa in 1899, and
in France during the great war.
He takes his title from the ancient
Manor of Stalbridge. In the delight
full Blackmore vale country, on the
borders, of Dorset and Somerset. It
heures in Doomsday Book. compiled
in in the reign of William the Con.
queror. and bears q name that should
be familiar in this country, since 1t
was from stalbridge that John Elliot.
the famous missionary. was frst sent
IN Dreach the gospel among the
American Indiars: .,s, as the e! result .s Of a
agation Of the Gospel. held at Stall
bridge House in 1859. under the presi--
the Hon. Robert Boyle the scientist.
chemist and philosopher, cotemporary
and friend of Sir Isaac Newton,
and the fourteenth child of the Earl
81 Cork. Previously. the Manor Of
ops of Salisbury and to the Abbotts
q shsrburse m y, Then 'tn it,. i was s granted
guardian. the first Duke OF Somerset,
the Lord Protector Of England. Az
terward It came to John Touchet.