National Affairs: At West Point

To Versailles (150 years ago) swarmed empurpled princelings, intent on an implicit mission of state. At the summit of the Escolier de Marbre they were met by offiicious accoucheurs of Marie Antoinette; were neatly ranged so that they might attest the birth of a Dauphin of France, without actually smothering Marie' or trampling the expected Dauphin under foot.

All went well. In time news winged to General Washington, encamped at West Point with 10,000 men, that another Valois had come squalling into the world. The General was just polishing off the Revolutionary War....

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