Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-16
NAPOLEON AT ERFURT.

,Nanoleon had brought to Erfurt the principal
actors of tue French Theatre-T alma, MISS
Duchenois Miss Mars, the beautiful Georges
and the charming Bourgoing, played several
times a week, before the august assembly OF
Emperors and Kings congregated at TINS place.
A small theatre discovered In the ola jesuit Noi-
leoe had been arranged for the purpose, with
ryomntitude and elegance truly French. Box
tickets for each representation were distributed
among the foreign ard native ladies. but IL
was difficult TO obtain them. My lflenoS aho
myself TO procure them, were oollged TO carry
on a long correspondence with our acqualh'-
ances belonging to the suite OF the Grand Duke
of Wemar. Through them, aiter great eAei,
tion on their part, we obtained tickets Tor the
tragedy of OedipuS, in which Talma and Made
moIselle Rancourt were to perform
Our marty went in carriages from Welmaf 10
Erf,rt We left our tickets at the inn, where
we stopped, and set out for promenade Inc
overwhelming mass OF people In the street, soon
Obliged us to return. On counting our uckeis
over after our return, we were stupihed on nhd-
that two had disappeared; we moved every
thing in the rooms, but the tickets had gone
s. tavern boy had probably protitted by them,
for the theatre tickets had given rise to consi-
derable traffic-strangers arriving IN tne Guy,
without acquaintance, gave frequently for them
a louis dor piece.
with a sigh. the youngest of the company;
for a soldier with decoration, was equal 10 d
ticket II was an excellent idea. Among our
acouaiutances at Erfurt we quickly found some
officers. and it was under their protection thai
we approached the theatre, through Ine croWu
which beset its avenues. At the top of the sta RS
we were received by a soldier of the guard with
a frightful physiognomy, who distributed our
COMPANY in several boxes, which as yet were
nearly empty. -.
Of nv friends in the front of box near the
s,aga from whence we could see distinctly all
,hss nassed in the pit We congratulated our
selves on our good fortune; but our JOY was not
of Ions duration The boxes near us were
crowded gradually to excess. The doors OF our
ou;n suddenly opened-what! cried angrily, the
soldier or the gen d'arme, know not which, I'M
der whose guidance we had taken our seats
what. three women upon three cnairs! mere
;s room enough for six: with this he seated TWO
ladies between us, who fortunately proved to be
of our acquaintance.
All the boxes as well as our own, became full
err and fuller-we were dreadfully squeezed-we
were scarcely able to move, and the heat was
oppressive-but the Importance of the grand
spectacle which was forming before us, occu-
pied our attention so completely that we forgot
the inconveniences of our position.
Immediately in front of the stage were placed
two arm chairs for the two Emperors, Napole-
on and Alexander, on Doth sides OF which were
ranged common chairs for the Kings and reign
ING Princes. The space behind these>scat be-
Gan to fill up. We saw enter, the statesmen
and generals of nearly all the European pow
ers. men whose names were then celebrated,
and have become in measure historical. Uni
S,rms slittering with gold, and an air of vivaci-
~ and assurance, enabled us to distinguish the
Erencbmcn from the Germans, who were more
ssr;ons and more modest There was Bertaier,
SonIt Caulaincourt, Savary, Lanses, Duroc,
and many others, equally celebrated-the great
ness of the master seemed to be reflected In the
features of each. There was Hoethe, win ms
cainn and identified physiognomy, and the vene-
rehIe Wiela1d. The Grand Duke of Weimar,
had brought them In his suite, 10 Erfurt. The