"The General, at this question, which I confess having put with temerity, had what I will call a 'time' of silence. He did not express the slightest astonishment, and, in the same tone as before, looking continually at the carpet, said: 'I am not a Frenchman, I am an American; and, as the ocean separates us, I have not studied the question in any such way that I should dare to give my opinion on it.' "I then recalled to mind what had been told me of the manner in which Grant acted with reporters in America when he was in power. He received them whenever they wished; then, when they broached politics, he drew cigars from his pocket, offering one to his interlocutor, and then commenced to smoke in silence. To get a word out of him after this there was but one means left; speak to him about his horses. I therefore (somewhat changing the tactics of the American) quitted the domain of politics by asking the General if he proposed staying long in Paris. "If this horrible rain continues,' said he, 'I shall leave forthwith. If not I shall remain here during the whole of the month of November.' "Another silence. Then he continued: 'I have always been very curious to know France, and Paris especially. The impression I had coming from Bologne was that it was a fine country, well cultivated and had a happy air.' "Another silence. The ""The railroads of France are much better than ours. service is made with more precaution, and the roads are well built.' Then the General recounted some details concerning his journeys in England, and upon the euthusiastic and sympathetic reception he had received. He seemed to have great pleasure in recalling these facts. I do not think it of sufficient interest to reproduce these remarks for the French public. ‘After having seen Paris,' said he, 'I shall go to Spain, Italy and Egypt. where I hope to pass the greater part of the winter.' "The conversation lasted about fifteen minutes, and comprised the pauses of this great taciturn. I thought that this was a great deal, and that already I had occasioned the General to expend a great many words, so I took my leave, thanking him for the condescension with which he entertained me. То sum up, I carried away an impression that he had an extremely original personality, a force, concentration and reserve, and that notwithstanding the absolute lack of expansion, he is very sympathetic. He is a man whom it is necessary to see actually at work in his own way, and then he is highly interesting. "After the foregoing remarks made about the character of General Grant, I feel that I am completely within the limits of vraisemblance in desiring to get up a descriptive word on him-I use the word in a French sense-boulevardier. I have the idea from an American worthy of belief, who has known General Grant for a long time. It was while Grant was President. A fellow forced himself into the President's presence for several months at intervals, and asked him for some kind of employment. Somewhat angered one day Grant said to him: 'Learn Spanish and come see me this day six months.' The solicitor was somewhat taken aback, but he thought that the President intended to give him a diplomatic mission in Spain. He returned in about six months, proud and beaming. I know Spanish,' said he to Grant. Ah!' replied the President, 'go and read Don Quixote in the original. It is said to be much more interesting than the translation.' "But how to make a word to represent Grant-a word for Grant! President Lincoln often indulged in sallies of wit. It was during the war of secession. General Grant had already won several victories. His enemies sought to injure him in the estimation of Lincoln, pretending that he drank too much whisky, which, however, was not true, for he drank only as most of his companions did, "Can you give me the address of the grocer who furnishes it?' said Lincoln one day, disgusted with the scandal. "I should like to know it, in order to give it to the other generals,' replied Lincoln. "This journey to Paris that Grant is now undertaking has been a dream long nourished by him. At the time of the war of secession, during which he had under his orders nearly 200,000 men, he loved to spend the evening in his tent, speaking of Paris to a countryman of his who had lived among us for a long period. He would order his negro to make a large fire, take a cigar, and crossing his legs, which has become habitual, he listened attentively to the stories his friend told of Paris, her fetes, her salons, her balls, her women, her theatres, and all the little details of Parisian existence, as much upon the distractions of the boulevard as that which passed at the Court of Napoleon III. After long hours thus passed, the General, who, it must be understood, had not breathed a word, would say, with a sigh: 'For the present I have no money; if I ever have any I shall go to Paris.' Is it not strange that this attraction should be felt thousands of miles away by this hardy warrior, who is, moreover, one of the most anti-European men you can imagine?" CHAPTER VIII. GRAND BANQUET BY THE UNITED STATES MINISTER AT EN ROUTE FOR Among the many fêtes given in honor of General and Mrs. Grant, in Paris, the most brilliant was the official banquet and reception given them by the United States minister Noyes. The banquet was a superb effort of Parisian culinary skill, which can work such gastronomic wonders when given carte blanche, and when there is a cellar of Monte Christo to draw upon. It was regretted on every hand that Marshal McMahon was not present at dinner. He had been invited but declined on the ground of having recently refused to be present at several diplomatic dinners, particularly that given by the Russian Ambassador. He promised, however, to attend the reception in the evening. Twenty-two guests were invited, so that with the host and hostess, there were twenty-four at the table. The guests were: General and Mrs. Grant; Jesse R. Grant; General Berthut, Minister of War, and wife; M. Caillaux, Minister of Finance; M. Brunet, Minister of Public Instruction; M. Voisin, Prefect of Police, and wife; Duc Decazes, Minister of Foreign Affairs; M. Paris, Minister of Public Works; General Marquis d'Abzac, Aide-deCamp of Marshal McMahon; Duc de Broglie, President of the Council and Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice; M. Ferdinand Duval, Prefect of the Seine; M. de Fourton, Minister of the Interior; Viscounte de Meaux, Minister of Commerce; M. Mollard, Introducer of Ambassadors; Lieutenant de la Panouse, Staff Officer of Marshal McMahon; M. Vignaux, Assistant Secretary of the Legation; Miss Lincoln, Miss Stevens, and the Duchesse Decazes. The following is the ménu:— The banquet passed off without any special incident worthy of note. That charming flow of polite and witty or at least pleasantly pointed conversation which characterizes French dinners kept time to the melody of the repast itself. There was no English reserve to thaw. The |