The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL FETE IN PARIS,

In Paris, on Saturday; the fourth celebration of the
National Fete took place. The Paris Correepondent
of the Dailu News gives a description of the festivities,
from which we make the following extracts :

Great preparations were made by district mayors for
open•air dancing. Wherever there was a space paved
with asphalte there a platform was set up for an
orchestra, and benches placed around for the
staid folks to sit while the young people were
enjoying themselves in a more active manner.
Before the downpour came on these al fresco bats were
a charming feature of the great thoroughfares and
public placer. At some of them there were busts of
the Repuhli. The tall pedestals on which they stood
were decked out with trophies and surrounded with
flowers sshich were provided by the Municipality from
their gardens. At Montmartre some artists got up
floral processions. Those who took part in them wore
tricoloured emblems and carried bouquets, which were
ultimately deposited around a statue in the Place de
la Maine.

A very
,general attempt was made to turn children
to scenic account. In the Radical quarter of Clignan-
court a manufacturer of pianos, whose political ideas
harmonise with that of his poor neighbours, enter-
tained the children of his operatives at what he termed
a fraternal feast of liberty. He provided them all with
suits of clothes. The little girls were in three bands,
each representing a colour of the national flag. The
boys were in white trousers and blue jackets, with red
Marseilles fishing-caps on their heads. All sang in
chorus the Marseillaise as they were entering the
courtyard, in which a luncheon was set out in a tent.
A distribution of books was made at dessert, and the
feast wound up with a lottery, in which only prizes
were drawn. When it was done the little folk were
taken in procession to the statue of the Republic in
the Avenue Trudaine, and, after marching round it,
treated to rides on wooden horses.

The unveiling of M. Morica's colossal statue of the
Republic at nine o'clock in the morning in the Place
de la Republique, formerly Le ChAteau d'Eau, was
the moist imposing spectacle I ever saw. The arrange-
ments of the Municipal Council for pressrving order
were perlect, and entirely successful. Large spaces
were guarded by troops for the access of invited guests
and the marching past before the statue of the various
associations wnich sleeked to attend. But the public
in enormous crowds patiently pressed on the lines
which they could not pass. Every window in the
vast square was occupied with spectators, and the
roofs of the high houses were peopled as with
swarms of bees. The Prefect of the Seine, in the
course of his speech, said—" This people, so heroic in
days of straggle, BO terrible in its anger, has definitely
laid dawn its arms because the last ground for its
resentment have disappeared, and therefore it has
determined that the Republic which it honours shall
repudiate its old motto, and present itself to France
and the world, holding in its hand the olive branch,
the symbol of peace and concord. We have done for
ever with violence. Universal suffrage, the great
conquest of 1848, has superseded revolutionary action.
The French nation has acquired enough glory on
battle-fields not to desire fresh combats."

M. Morice, the sculptor of the grani statue, re-
ceived after the speech the cross of the Legion of
Honour of M. Oustry, delegated by the Government.
In my opinion it is a most remarkable work of art,
and is destined to be regarded as one of the finest and
most attractive m.numents of Paris. It is in bronze,
about twelve yards high. The Republic ii figured
as a woman, with calm and decided features,
wearing the Phrygian cap, her head crowned with
golden oak, and holding in her right band an
olive-branch. This olive, by the way and some
thought it a bad omen—was broken when the
statue was being transferred from the studio of
the artist. But it has been restored, and looks very
well. It is in harmony with one of the inacriptions on
the pedestal of the statue : " Pax, Labor," In front
of the statue is a superb bronze lion, executed by Cain.
Three marble statues, representing Liberty, Equality,
and Fraternity, are placed at the foot of the gigantic
image. There are twelve well-executed scenes in
bronze basso.relievo taken from the history of the
Republic.
When the speechifying was done, a march.past
before the statue took place, which occupied more than
an hour. The march was opened by the lilliputian
regiment of communal schoolboys, whose good lines
and manner of sloping their miniature muskets were
vehemently applauded. There followed deputations
from the provinces, all with flags and music, and mazy
Paris Masonic, industrial, and fraternal associations.

The review, held at two o'clock in spite of remon.
strances that the soldiers were exposed to sunstroke at
that hour, went off quite satisfactorily. A. gentle
shower had refreshed the air, and the weather was all
that could be desired. There were fewer troops on the,
ground than usual, and the march past only occupied
an hour and five minutes.

The night fête was of surpassing brilliancy. All tht
hills which used to overlook Faris, but over which the
city has spread within twenty years, were the theatres
of pyrotechnic spectacles. Language is weak to
describe what the eyes saw at the Trocad4ro. There
was there an hydraulical play in tableaux. Were it
possible to reproduce it in a Christmas pantomime it
would make the fortune of the theatrical manages
doing so. The cascade was so arranged as to take the
form of a fire and water palace. Its façade culmi•
Dated in Talgueze's group symbolising the Yonne
and Marne embracing the Seine. From the vases of
the two standing figures cascades tumbled down, and
just from under the feet of the Seine a main waterfall
rushed out, and rather magnified than veiled the
flaming columns of the portico. It was lost in a
managerie of hydraulical animals arranged in groups.
One of these represented a boa strangling an elk,
another two seals playing, and a thir i a bear robbing
a swan's nest. Electric light was extensively employed
in this unigue extravaganza.

The Frenoh residents in Ne w York nalebrmsd ths
&atonal fete on Saturday by marching, under the
command of General Bergeret, formerly an officer of
the Paris Commune, to the Consul-General's office,
carrying the French and American flags. At the
office appropriate addresses were delivered and a
reception was held. Afterwards all thous present
went on a picnic, and the day was spent in various
amusements.