ago this brave prince determined to rest for a while from his heroic
deeds, and gave the same privilege to a large portion of his army. The
general, accompanied by his staff and eight thousand soldiers, then
entered that lovely little spot, called Gotha, to visit the talented and
princely duke and duchess. He and his staff were received by them with
great honor; magnificent preparations were forthwith made for a splendid
dinner to welcome the prince who, happily, was not only fond of laurels,
but also of good eating. Dinner was served, the French generals had
finished their toilets, Prince Soubise had given the duchess his arm to
lead her to her seat, when a loud cry of terror was heard from without,
'The Prussians are at the gates!' Prince Soubise dropped the arm of the
duchess; through the Paris rouge, so artistically put on, the paleness,
which now covered his face, could rot be seen. The doors leading to the
dining-saloon were thrown open, making visible the sparkling glass, the
smoking dishes, the rare service of gold and silver--, the generals of
the prince now hastened forward and confirmed the wild rumor. Yes;
and rumor, for once, was true. General Seidlitz was there with fifteen
hundred brave cavalrymen. The French are noted for their politeness, and
it did not fail them upon this occasion. Without a word, Prince Soubise
and his eight thousand men made room for General Seidlitz and his
fifteen hundred, and hastened from the ducal palace. Before the rich
dishes had time to cool, General Seidlitz and his staff were seated
at the table, enjoying the magnificent dinner prepared for the French
generals. Many prisoners, many spoils were taken afterward. Not that
Prince Soubise had not taken all his soldiers with him, but there was
another small army by which the French troops are always accompanied.
These, the lackeys, valets, cooks, hair-dressers, ballet-dancers,
actresses, priests, etc., etc., were not able to run as fast as the
French soldiers. The spoils consisted in the equipages of the prince and
his staff, in which were boxes and chests containing precious things,
their large chests full of delightful perfumes and hair-oils, trunks
full of wigs, dressing-gowns, and parasols. There were several learned
parrots who had a leaning to politics, and who exclaimed continually:
'Vive les Franqais! A bas les Prussiens!' But the kind-hearted General
Seidlitz did not wish to deprive the French army of the necessities
of