“Parlez vous, Messieurs (laughter), I greet you all. I stand before you a relic of the past—of a noble past—of a gigantic past—of a—a—sacre a la pain et fromage (increased laughter)—God bless the past! (Cheers.)
“Ate fif tesix five: General Grant is a great man; he is a good man; he is a noble man. In his name I bid you welcome. God bless General Grant, our noble President, our Chief Executive. (Cheers and applause of five minutes’ duration.)
“The press, Messieurs, the press! I represent that gigantic instrument of civilization. I have a family devoted to the press. Should supplies of printers’ ink give out, they would spill their dearest blood to keep it running. Je suis, pardon me, Messieurs, if I pause to bless them (cries of ‘do,’ ‘do’). God bless them all! Ate fif tesix five. (Immense applause.)
“I greet you as brothers, eau de vie. I have been to Paris. I have visited the Pont Neuf. I have stood on that bridge at midnight, I have gazed at the flowing tide, with the shining stars above me and my family by my side. (Cheers.)
“I have walked along the Champs Elysées:—
“Noble walk!
“Glorious promenade!
“I have looked upon the Column Vendome:—
“Magnificent monument!
“Sublime creation!