The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-02-17

shocking mummery which was going on under
poor dupes of superstition, mostly, but not
all, women and young persons, and saw them
kneeling to The Virgin and saying their APP
pointed numbers of AYES and Pater Nosters,
looking about at the same time, in many in
stances, to watch our motions; as l saw the
priest making his genufeA ions before cruci-
fix, and heard him jabber over the service in
an under tone with breathless haste, it made
my whole heart ache with grief and pity.
and I could not but lift up the prayer that the
! Lord Jesus would speedily destroy the cor
ruptions of Babylon with the breath of his
mouth, and scatter her darkness with the
brightness of his coming.
We visited also the gallery of paintings at
the Hotel de Vile containing several pieces
| by the old masters OF different schools the
monument on the spot where Joan of Arc, the
Maid of Orleans, was burnt, the statue Of
Corneille, who was a native of Rouen and
various other objects. Then taking the cars
we went ON in four hours to Paris.
The next day was Saturday May l, the
birthday of his Majesty Louis Philippe, and
a grand fete day on this account. AS mot
to with which to head the description of this
occasion, one might adopt the words of the
witch in Kirk Whites Gondoine:
| And such sight as she saw there,
| No mortal saw before
| And such sight as she saw there,
No mora. shall see more.
But presume that what greatly excited my
astonshment at that time, is no very un-
common spectacle at Paris 1t was fortunate
that we had opportunity to witness such
popular celebrate on; as one sees more of Paris
and of the genius of the French people, on
one such day, than during whole month in
ordinary circumstances. Our Hotel looked
out on the very centre of the Jardin des
Tuleries, SO that we had an excellent post of
| observation even when we were not abroad
During the early part of the day, we saw the
carriages of the various distinguished person.
ages who went to the Palace to congratulate
his Majesty. In the meantime preparations
were making for great variety Of entertain
ments for the people in the Jardin des Tuiler-
les and the Champs Elysees. In the former,
directly in front of the Palace, kind Of
saloon was constructed on temporary staging,
for a band of musicians who were to serenade
the King at seven clock. Then down through
the main in front the Palace at diff
ferent points, there were to be fireworks at
eight oclock. In the Champs Elysees were
erected two theatres, on the stages of which,
open to public view, there were to be various
performances all the afternoon and to these
were added more contrivances for amusement,
prepared either by public or private enterprise,
than had ever seen or thought of before.-
Towards the latter part of the day, the Paris
ians of " all sorts and sizes" literally, began
to pour into the public walks. A little be-
fore six went through the entire length of
the pleasure grounds. The reality of a
French day, thus observed, left all
descriptions and conceptions of the thing far,
very far behind. To describe the scene in
full would require volume. Hundreds Of
thousands of people, l deliberately think, were
giving themselves up to the pleasures Of
the hour BY seven o'clock the whole dis
lance of about two miles from the Tuileries
to the Arch de Triumphe, with all the streets
adjoining, was as it were one sea of men,
women and chldren,-the masses sweeping
now this way and now that, like mighty waves.
Then came the serenade, in the course of
which the King and Royal family made their
appearance in the balcony of the Palace, and
His Majesty bowed repeatedlyto the people;
and last of all the brilliant display of fireworks