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mounted game…keepers； who with great difficulty controlled the pack
of sixty or seventy hounds； the dogs and keepers together almost
driving me to distraction with their yelping and yelling。 On
reaching the stand； I was posted within about twenty' yards of a
long； high picket…fence； facing the fence and covered by two trees
very close together。 It was from behind these that the King usually
shot； and as I was provided with a double…barreled shot…gun； I
thought I could do well； especially since close in rear of me stood
two game…keepers to load and hand me a second gun when the first was
emptied。
Meantime the huntsmen and the hounds had made a circuit of the park
to drive up the game。 The yelps of the hounds drawing near； I
cautiously looked in the direction of the sound； and the next moment
saw a herd of deer close in to the fence； and coming down at full
speed。 Without a miss； I shot the four leading ones as they tried
to run the gauntlet； for in passing between the stand and the fence；
the innocent creatures were not more than ten to fifteen paces from
me。 At the fourth I stopped； but the gamekeepers insisted on more
butchery； saying； 〃No one but the King ever did the like〃 （I guess no
one else had ever had the chance）； so； thus urged； I continued firing
till I had slaughtered eleven with eleven shotsan easy task with a
shot…gun and buckshot cartridges。
The 〃hunt〃 being endedfor with this I had had enough； and no one
else was permitted to do any shootingthe aide…decamp directed the
game to be sent to me in Florence； and we started for the chateau。
On the way back I saw a wild boar the first and only one I ever saw
my attention being drawn to him by cries from some of the game…
keepers。 There was much commotion； the men pointing out the game and
shouting excitedly； 〃See the wild boar！〃 otherwise I should not have
known what was up； but now； looking in the indicated direction； I saw
scudding over the plain what appeared to me to be nothing but a
halfgrown black pig； or shoat。 He was not in much of a hurry either；
and gave no evidence of ferocity； yet it is said that this
insignificant looking animal is dangerous when hunted with the spear
the customary way。 After an early dinner at the chateau we
returned to Florence； and my venison next day arriving； it was
distributed among my American friends in the city。
Shortly after the hunt the King returned from Milan； and then honored
me with a military dinner； his Majesty and all the guests； numbering
eighty； appearing in full uniform。 The banqueting hall was lighted
with hundreds of wax candles； there was a profusion of beautiful
flowers； and to me the scene altogether was one of unusual
magnificence。 The table service was entirely of goldthe celebrated
set of the house of Savoyand behind the chair of each guest stood a
servant in powdered wig and gorgeous livery of red plush。 I sat at
the right of the King； whohis hands resting on his sword； the hilt
of which glittered with jewelssat through the hour and a half at
table without once tasting food or drink； for it was his rule to eat
but two meals in twenty…four hoursbreakfast at noon； and dinner at
midnight。 The King remained silent most of the time； but when he did
speak； no matter on what subject； he inevitably drifted back to
hunting。 He never once referred to the Franco…Prussian war； nor to
the political situation in his own country； then passing through a
crisis。 In taking leave of his Majesty I thanked him with deep
gratitude for honoring me so highly； and his response was that if
ever he came to America to hunt buffalo； he should demand my
assistance。
》From Florence I went to Milan and Geneva； then to Nice； Marseilles；
and Bordeaux。 Assembled at Bordeaux was a convention which had been
called together by the government of the National Defense for the
purpose of confirming or rejecting the terms of an armistice of
twenty…one days； arranged between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck in
negotiations begun at Versailles the latter part of January。 The
convention was a large body； chosen from all parts of France； and was
unquestionably the most noisy； unruly and unreasonable set of beings
that I ever saw in a legislative assembly。 The frequent efforts of
Thiers； Jules Favre； and other leading men to restrain the more
impetuous were of little avail。 When at the sittings a delegate
arose to speak on some question； he was often violently pulled to his
seat and then surrounded by a mob of his colleagues； who would throw
off their coats and gesticulate wildly； as though about to fight。
But the bitter pill of defeat had to be swallowed in some way； so the
convention delegated M。 Thiers to represent the executive power of
the country； with authority to construct a ministry three
commissioners were appointed by the Executive； to enter into further
negotiations with Count Bismarck at Versailles and arrange a peace；
the terms of which； however； were to be submitted to the convention
for final action。 Though there had been so much discussion； it took
but a few days to draw up and sign a treaty at Versailles； the
principal negotiators being Thiers and Jules Favre for France； and
Bismarck on the part of the Germans。 The terms agreed upon provided
for the occupation of Paris till ratification should be had by the
convention at Bordeaux； learning of which stipulation from our
Minister； Mr。 Washburn； I hurried off to Paris to see the conquerors
make their triumphal entry。
In the city the excitement was at fever heat； of course； the entire
population protesting with one voice that they would never； never
look upon the hated Germans marching through their beloved city。 No！
when the day arrived they would hide themselves in their houses； or
shut their eyes to such a hateful sight。 But by the 1st of March a
change had come over the fickle Parisians； for at an early hour the
sidewalks were jammed with people； and the windows and doors of the
houses filled with men； women； and children eager to get a look at
the conquerors。 Only a few came in the morning； howeveran advance…
…guard of perhaps a thousand cavalry and infantry。 The main column
marched from the Arc…de…Triomphe toward the middle of the afternoon。
In its composition it represented United GermanySaxons； Bavarians；
and the Royal Guard of Prussiaand； to the strains of martial music；
moving down the Champ Elysees to the Place de la Concorde； was
distributed thence over certain sections of the city agreed upon
beforehand。 Nothing that could be called a disturbance took place
during the march； and though there was a hiss now and then and
murmurings of discontent； yet the most noteworthy mutterings were
directed against the defunct Empire。 Indeed； I found everywhere that
the national misfortunes were laid at Napoleon's doorhe； by this
time； having become a scapegoat for every blunder of the war。
The Emperor William （he had been proclaimed German Emperor at
Versailles the 18th of January） did not accompany his troops into
Paris； though he reviewed them at Long Champs before they started。
After the occupation of the city he still remained at Versailles； and
as soon as circumstances would permit； I repaired to the Imperial
headquarters to pay my respects to his Majesty under his new title
and dignities； and to say good…bye。
Besides the Emperor； the only persons I me at Versailles were General
von Moltke and Bismarck。 His Majesty was in a very agreeable frame
of mind； and as bluff and hearty as usual。 His increased rank and
power had effected no noticeable change of any kind in him； and by
his genial and cordial ways he made me think that my presence with
the German army had contributed to his pleasure。 Whether this was
really so or not； I shall always believe it true； for his kind words
and sincere manner could leave no other conclusion。
General von Moltke was； as usual； quiet and reserved； betraying not
the slightest consciousness of his great ability； nor the least
indication of pride on account of his mighty work。 I say this
advisedly； for it is an undoubted fact that it was。 his marvelous
mind that perfected the military system by which 800；000 men were
mobilized with unparalleled celerity and moved with such certainty of
combination that； in a campaign of seven months； the military power
of France was destroyed and her vast resources sorely crippled。
I said good…bye to Count Bismarck； also； for at that busy time the
chances of seeing him again were very remote。 The great Chancellor
manifested more joy over the success of the Germans than did anyone
else at the Imperial headquarters。 Along with his towering strength
of mind and body； his character partook of much of the enthusiasm and
impulsiveness commonly restricted to younger men； and now in his
frank； free way be plainly showed his light…heartedness and
gratification at success。 That w