bon, the French ambassador, attended by his secretary, entered the
White House. They were immediately ushered to the library, where the
President, Secretary of State Day, and Assistant Secretaries of State
Moore, Adee, and Cridler were awaiting them.

The President cordially greeted the ambassador, who returned the
salutation with equal warmth, and then shook hands with Secretary Day and
the Assistant Secretaries. While the President, Judge Day, and the French
ambassador were discussing the weather,--and Washington has seldom known
such a rain-storm as that which engulfed the city while peace was being
signed,--M. Thiebaut and Assistant Secretary Moore were comparing the two
copies of the protocol to see that they corresponded, and were identical
in form.

The protocol is on parchment, in parallel columns in French and English.
In the copy retained by the American government the English text is in the
first column; in the other copy, which was transmitted to Madrid, the
French text leads the paper.

The two Secretaries having pronounced the protocol correct, Judge Day and
the French ambassador moved over to the table to affix their signatures.
Mr. Cridler lit a candle to melt the sealing wax to make the impression on
the protocols.

The striking of the match caused the French ambassador to stop, feel in
his pocket, and then remember that he had come away from his embassy
without his seal. Here was a contretemps. It would never do to seal such
an important document with anything else but the ambassador's personal
seal.

A note was hastily written, and one of the White House messengers dashed
out into the rain, and went to the French embassy. Until his return the
distinguished party in the White House library continued to discuss the
weather, and wonder when the typical Cuban rain would cease falling. In a
few minutes the messenger returned. The ambassador drew from a small box
his seal, and the two plenipotentiaries turned to the table. The American
copy of the protocol was placed before Judge Day, who signed it, and then
handed the pen to the ambassador, who quickly affixed his signature and
seal.

[Illustration: DON CARLOS.]

The second copy was then laid before the ambassador, who signed, and in
turn handed back the pen to Judge Day.

Thus Judge Day signed the two documents, first and last, and with the last
stroke of his pen hostilities ceased.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF