Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1886 — Dickens at Dinner. [ARTICLE]

Dickens at Dinner.

Here is the way Dickens describes a dinner given in his honor by Emile.de Girardm, in a letter just made public: “Hardly had we laid aside our oyercoats when an usher showed us through three sumptuous salons, lit by gilt bronze chandeliers, in which burned 10,000 candles. The suite ended in a dining-room of incomparable magnificence; at its further end were two enormous plate-glass doors, behind whitdfeave saw a room full of splendid, beyond that the great red glow of a vast kitchen, wherein moved an army of scullions in w hite caps and jackets. Seated in his chair at the head of the table, our Amphitryton, like an ogre of the fairy tales, presided over this ceremony. He cast a long, knowing glance over the table, which was covered with a damask cloth of snowy whiteness. Touched by the spectacle, the guests at first maintained a respectful silence. AH at once a gong sounded, and through the great folding doors which suddenly flew open, the banquet made its appearance. By heavens! A repast fit for the Olympian gods! A single detail will give an idea of what such an entertainment must have cost. There were eight of us at the fable, and I calculated that at current prices the truffles alone must have cost 125 francs. On the table there were a great many curiously-shaped decanters full of delicious champagne frappe: during the third course Some port wine was poured out which would easily bring 50 francs the bottle at auction. The dinner at an end, gilt baskets filled with oriental flowers were placed on the table; ices were then served, and some flasks of old brandy, -which had been buried in bottles for a century; then came coffee, brought from the far interior of Asia by the brother of one of the guests, who had paid for its weight in California gold dust. The guests having returned to the salon, they found there tables loaded with cigarettes stolen from the harem «f the sultan, and clear, refreshing drinks in which the flavor of lemons, arrived the day before -from Algeria, was voluptuouslv blended with the delicate perfume of oranges received that morning from Lisbon. The guests scattered themselves over deep divans covered with dark stuffs, relieved with brilliant embroideriess. All at once,

moved with I know not what mysterious agency, a heavy table made its appearance. It was coveted with massive silver plate of curious shapes. From a gold ewer escaped in blue clouds a smoke which perfumed the whole room; it was the powerful aroma of tea from China, presented to the powerful journalist by a mandarin, with three or four buttons. ’While the entertainment lasted, the master of the house repeatedly remarked: ‘This little dinner is only given for the pnrg>se of ifiaking the acquaintance of M. ickens; it does not count, it is nothing,’ But I perceive that lam forgetting half the details; I have not even spoken of a plum pudding' the most enormous plum pugding that I, an Englishman of England, have ever seen, a plum pudding accompanied by a celestial sauce, a plum pudding full of delicate flatteries for me, and whose name on the bill of fare was followed by the following inscription: ‘An homage' to the illustrious English writer.’”— Paris Corresponderce Boston Herald.