Commers

Bayard Taylor, our new Minister to Germany, was entertained by the Germana of New York city witli what they cali a Commcrs, a few days before Ms departure for Berlín. The followiug account of this pecnliar entertainment we extract from the New York Tribune: " The big Liederkranz Hall was f uil. Beer had no more chance there than reeds before a hurricane. The most prominent object in entering the hall was the large platform with gentlemen upon it. In the oenter sat Dr. Zinsser, President, and at his rigiit, the guest of :he evening, Bayard Taylor, smoking a very large cigar. They were all smoking, and before the new Minister was a sparkling, rapidly diminishing glass of aeer. Tlíen carne William Cullen Brymt at the President's left, with a very arge and tall clay cup with a süver lid, with a white foam making it way over ;he top. It was the biggest kind of a "schooner." The President had a cup hat would laugh at half a gallon, and could stretch itself a little and take in ;he whole four quarts. Erom the plat'orm, stretching all the way down the ïall, were fifteen large tables, at which were seated no less than 500 gentlemen, with 500 beer-glasses and 500 plates of matches, while smoke rose from 500 cigars. The object of a " Commers" is to drink as much beer as you can hold, smoke as many cigart as you can bite he ends off, and see who can sit in his chair the longest. The man who can drink the most (and the reporter will sledge his word that Bayard Taylor is ïo slouch at the business) is the best man. The programme was diversified and long, and carried out to the letter, consisting of speeches, songs, and beer. ?roceedings began with the singing of a song, and at the conclusión, as well as at the end of every song and speech of he evening, the President arose and rapped three times loudly upon the tajle. At this every body else stood up: Eins, zwei, drei !' shouted the President. Everybody drank. 'Eins, zwei; drei I' again, and 500 glasses rattled on ;he table. ' Eins, zwei, drei 1' a third ime, and every glass was held above its owner's head. 'Eins, zwei, drei!' a burth and last time, and the glasses were pounded down on the table with a dull thud. All the speeches were in jerman, and, af ter an address by Minister faylor, in which he claimed Germán )lood in his veins, and gave the sentiment, ' Long live and freshly live on one soil Germán feeling, Germán hones;y, and Germán fidelity,' Wiiliam Culen Bryant responded to loud calis with a few words in Germán."