The French Concession was en fete on Wednesday in honour of the Fourteenth of July.
'The Bund was very tastefull decorated with flags and lanterns, and looked exceedingly well. 'The French mail steamer Océanien and the China Navigation Co.'s steamers were dressed, but none of the men-of-war made any' display, owing to there being no French man-of-war in har-hour.
'Shortly before 8 a m. the French Volunteers mustered in the grounds of the Municipal Hall, and headed by the Town Band, marched' to the French Conculate-General, where they took part in the ceremony of hoisting the tricolour.
At 11 o'clock Count de Bezaure held a reception, at which most of the Consular body and a large number of others, civilians and officials, attended.
The usual patriotic addresses wet given by Count de Bezaure, M. E. Bard, Chairman of the French Municipal Council, and others, after which several equally patriotic toasts were drunk with great enthusiasm. The band of I'Harmonic played some excellent selections on the verandah during the proceedings.
Atnine o'clock in the evening a most charming fete was given by the Consul-General of France, the Count de Bezaure, and the French Council in the magnificent Hail and gardens. of-the French municipality. The gardens, in which the Town Band was playing under the direction of Commander Vela, were lit up by hundreds of Japanese lanterns most artistically arranged, and here the guests promenaded or sat down to Tistento an excellent selection of music. The French Consul-General received his guests in the Hall, among them being the Foreign Consuls, almost the whole of the French community, and a hgo number of foreigners, the large number of ladies present adding brilliance to the scene, The Hall was beautifully decorated. with flags and with garlands and baskets of flowers until it looked like a veritable fairyland. The Shanghai Taotai, Tsai Taotai, and a large number of other local officials were also present. The buffet, it is and it was a night when life itself depended needless to say, was most amply foi att on the constant exhibition of cooling fluids. The French Ship of State would float fearlessly in the refreshments that were absorbed Inst night. At eleven o'clock the dance was to begin, there being six dances on the programme, but it was warm for dancing. The Marseillaise, taken with a spirit which might have rouse aS) nlendid day. At intervals, during the. Rouget de Lille from his grave, concluded
night rockets and other fireworks delighted the crowd on the French Bund who were enjoying the illuminations.
ne extraordinary incident happened not far from the Municipal Hall, two ladies, who were driving to the fete in an open carriage, being struck with stones thrown at them by some miscreants in the crowd, whom it was impossible to identify.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.