scribe it, the uninvited guest
attempted to make visible, in his own person, the frightfulness of the
god of War. He leaped into the air, flung his hat on the ground, struck
a pugilistic attitude, and began to dance around the ambassador,
squaring off with his fists, as though preparing a knockout blow for the
French Republic. The two were quickly surrounded by a ring of diplomats
and citizens of Cooperstown, the foreigners being doubtful whether the
matter should be taken in jest or earnest, while the villagers were
hesitating between enjoyment of the comedy and a sense of duty toward
their guests. As for M. Mercier, he was aghast at the rudeness of the
challenge. He folded his arms, drew himself up, shrugged his shoulders,
puffed out his cheeks, and stared at the adversary with eyes aflame.

Before the pugilistic stranger could execute his threats Judge Hezekiah
Sturges of Cooperstown interposed his burly form; at a nod from him two
muscular citizens of the village seized the invader by the back of the
neck and the seat of his overalls, made him "walk Spanish" quickly to
the shore, and heaved him into the lake.

In the late afternoon the party of diplomats were conveyed by carriages
to Cooperstown, where they became severally the guests of various
citizens. The distinguished visitors were greeted by a salute of guns;
while fireworks and bonfires were the order of the evening. The Fly
Creek Band, accompanied by a large crowd of villagers, under the
leadership of James I. Hendryx, serenaded the foreign ministers at their
various places of sojourn, and speeches were called for, which were
loudly applauded. Judge Turner's house, the old Campbell homestead,
which stands on Lake Street, facing Chestnut Street, was first visited,
for there William H. Seward, Secretary of State, was the guest of honor.
The band played a waltz, and the crowd cheered. Judge Turner soon
appeared, and introduced the Secretary of State, who made a brief
speech. He said that the weather in Washington had become exasperatingly
hot; matters of complex nature and of international importance had to be
discussed; there was danger that he and the foreign minsters might
become fretful and peevish; and so he had asked the entire diplomatic
corps to take a vacation, and meanwhile affairs of State might go hang.

The speech pleased the crowd. The band played another waltz, to the tune
of which the procession marched through the main street and across the
r