At half past seven o’clock we gathered in the large parlor of Hotel Centrál and waited impatiently for the signal to descend to the banquet. We had eaten enough at eleven o’clock to nourish us for two or more days, and were now to eat enough for four or more days, since the menu was twice as elaborate. But we remembered that many stomachs are ruined by dieting, and resolved not to be ruined in that way. I give a translation with this menu for the benefit of those who have no dictionary, and no objection.
| MENU. | ||
| HORS D’ŒUVRES. | ||
| Olives. | Jambon. | Canapés de Caviar. |
| POTAGE. | ||
| Consommé Sevigné. | ||
| POISSON. | ||
| Corbina à la Trouville. | ||
| ENTRÉES. | ||
| Vol au Vent Richelieu. | Filét Piqué à la Parisienne. | |
| PIÈCE FROIDE. | ||
| Aspic de Foie—Gras Bellevue. | ||
| LEGUMES. | ||
| Asperges—Sauce Mousseline. | ||
| RÔTI. | ||
| Lindonneau à la Broche. | Salade de Saison. | |
| DESSERT. | ||
| Glacé Marie Louise. | Petits Fours. | Pièce Montée |
| VINS. | ||
| Xeres. | Chateau La Tour Blanche. | Chablis. Margaux. |
| Corton. | Pommard. | |
| CHAMPAGNES. | ||
| G. H. Mumm. | Moet et Chandon. | |
| TRANSLATION OF MENU. | ||
| EXTRA WORK. | ||
| Olives. | Goodleg. | Sofas of Caviar. |
| POTTAGE. | ||
| Accomplished Sevigné. | ||
| POISON. | ||
| Crow à la Trouville. | ||
| ENTRIES. | ||
| Fly-away Richelieu. | Quilted Thread à la Paris-woman. | |
| COLD PIECE. | ||
| Asp Liver—Fleshy Fineview. | ||
| LEGGINS. | ||
| Saucy Aspersions Of Muslin. | ||
| ROT. | ||
| London Water à la Spit | Salad of the Seasons. | |
| DISSERTATION. | ||
| Frosted Marie Louise. | Small Furnaces. | Mounted Play. |
| WINES. | ||
| Xerxes. | Catwater of White Tower. | Cat Bliss. |
| Magpies. | Courting. | Pomade. |
| SHAM PAINS. | ||
| G. H. Mummy. | Mouth and Chindown. |
After seeing the bill of fare thus exposed in plain English the reader will realize what an abomination such banquets are, and why the French language is used to express and extenuate them.
The musical program was well selected and well executed, and deserved to be recorded. The musicians played with great spirit and helped the blood to the brain and the word to the tongue much better than the eight brands of wine and fourteen varieties of food.
PROGRAMA.
QUE EJECUTARÁ LA BANDA REPUBLICANA.
| Himno Istmeno, | S. Jorge A. |
| Vals—“Red, White and Blue.” “On American Airs,” | Tovani. |
| Sinfonia—“Naiade,” | C. Carlini. |
| “Ramona” Two-Step, | Johnson. |
| Mazurka—“Feliz Año,” | Jean Oliver. |
| Vals—“Amoureuse,” | Berger. |
| Scena e Duetto nell’ Opera Rigoletto, | Verdi. |
| Two-Step—“Yankee Girl,” | Lampe. |
| Vals—“Les Patineurs,” | Waldteufel. |
| Selections from “The Prince of Pilsen,” | Luders. |
| “American Guard” Quickstep, | Brooks. |
| “Quartetto di Concerto,” | Perolini. |
El Director,
Santos Jorge A.
President Amador and the high functionaries of state were there to encourage us in our efforts to do justice to what was spread before us, and Mrs. Amador and other first ladies of the land were there to inspire the speakers.