The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-30
THE NATIONAL ERA.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS.
Paris, Moy 9, 1850.

The past week has been joyous one at Paris
Everywhere we have had life and gayely. This
people, 80 cheerful and light-hearted when not
provoked or oppressed, seemed to be disposed to
relaxation after the suspense and anxiety of the
electoral campaign, and to come into the streets
and promenades, after having kept at home for
fear Of giving some pretext for outrage by the
police They thronged to the Hotel de Vile TO
hear the result Of the election al nounced, and
separated quietly to the theatres, to the ex posi-
ton at the Palais Royal Of tapestry and porce.
lain from the Government manufactures to the
spring races at the Champ de Mars, and to the
celebration Of the anniversary of the Republic
Hundreds Of thousands were collected on S4tur-
day at the fete, and on Sunday at the races, but
there was not the slightest disorder or accident
The good humor and politeness of the French
enable them to move together in immense crowds
without bad humor or fighting There was not
even seditious cry raised, not single "Viv,
GOVernment ana police. Merry laughter was
the only sound that rose above the hum of the
immense multitudes Saturday afternoon, at an
early hour, the Tuilleries garden, the adjacent
square called Place Coacorde, the Champs ElysGes
beyond, and the long and broad avenue running
from them mp to the Triumphal Arch, were dense
ly crowded with foreigners, country people, ant
all classes of the Partisan population. The stur
dy workmen who had made the revolution anC
pardoned so generously their enemies, walked
side by side with them, without reprOachine
them with ingratitude Party divisions were
forgotten in this immense mass of human crea
lures. 1t was the anniversary Of the procama
ton Of the Republic by the representatives of tn,
people The Government had demanded forty
thousand dollars for its celebration. The money
had been voted, but instead of celebrating the
Republic, the Government had devoted the funds
to the celebration Of BOnapartes expedition into
Egypt Shameful misrepresentation and per.
fectly understood by the people.
The chief decorations for the fete were on the
.Plaea Cppcm,ie. u tAr~st:4,a, IA ~ Obslis&
of Luxor was surrounded with sphynxes, which
seemed cut in granite, and the pedestals were
graved with the names of the Generals of the
army of Egypt. In line with the obelisk were
two fountains twenty feet high, and shaped like
urns; evergreens and flowers were twined about
the edges and the water gushed in white foam
from the top, and poured in cascades over the
sides, making the large fresh roses and dahlias
tremble in the sunlight The symmetry and
beauty of these urn fountains were exquisite
Fluted columns, placed in lines around the
square, supported statues, white as the purest
snow. At each corner of the square stood lofty
triumphal arch, covered with the glorious names
of the Empire and of the Royalty. Chains of
lamps were festOoned around the sides of the
square by means of tall poles from the top of
each of which hoated the colOrs of the Empire
The name of the Emperor could everywhere be
seen, but where was that of the Repubicl Alas
the two letters R. F. on one of the streamers were
the only recognition of its existence The cele-
bratiOn of the Republic had been changed by
Governmental jugglery into an apotheosis of the
restless prisoner of st. Helena The question
was frequently asked in the early part of the
day, What will the people do2" The people
answered by profound silence it will not waste
its strength in resenting petty insults
The scene at night was one of fairy beauty
The observer who stood at the gate of the
Tuilleries garden, looking towards the Place
saw the bright festoons which surrounded it, the
corner arches cleaning with the light of a thou
sand lamps the soft lustre of astral globes shinin,
mellowly through the falling water of the foun
tains, immense coats of arms each formed of innu
merable lights of different colors reflected iron
hundreds of statues. To the left, fifty blazin,
pyramids of part-colored lamps led the eye to tn
Palais Bourbon, whose outlines were all iguret
in light; the broad steps of the palace presented
eight long lines of luminous points. To the right
two immense palaces looked as if the caves wer
composed of blazing diamonds, while each windo,
seemed many -colored brilliant. In 'front.' as ia
az the eye could reach two chains Of lights ex
tended in graceful fesOons along the Champ
Elysees and in the distance, rockets of every hu
famed far up in the sky
Such was the enchanting ftte of the 18th of May
glariug mockery of the misery and insult to tn
legal institutions Of the country. When the Re
publicans get into power, one of their first act
should be- to pass a law furnishing with fine AM
Imprisonment any member OF the Assembly VIII
shall propose wasting the treasury of France TO
admired the taste of the arrangements, and tn
lard and lamp sellers prOfted by them. There i
no money in the treasury; the tax payers ar
overloaded the deficit is increasing. In this stat,
of things the ministers can find nothing better t.
do than to spend forty thousand dollars in light
ing up squarel
But this sort of folly is common among the men
l. A. L.. IL. A..
people is great infant, amused with the sound o.
rattle, or stretching out its hands to seize OH thu
flame Of candle
The fashionable season is about to commence il
London, but is nearly over in Paris In a shor
time, everybody that is anybody will have lief
town for the springs or for Switzerland, or TO
London, or for the pleasant country residences il
the interior Of France. Already one may SCI
numberless carriages flying over the city tb
owners are making their last calls They ar
like the swallows that wheel in giddy circles
around their summer homes before darting of OF
their southwark flight. These calls are said t
be in the morning Now, if you do not know a
what time morning Commences in Paris, you
might make a call at a very unreasonable hour
The other day, | asked lady friend of mine a
what hour should present myself at thereceptior
of q family which had treated me with great cour
tesy ooh 60 early in the morning ifyou would
enjoy chat with them But at what hour y
Certainly, not later than between two and four
Know, then, supplemented inhabitant of al
unsophisticated country-you, who have beer
accustomed to think morning the first flashing o.
the chariot wheels of the king of day-know tha
you are the victims of most questionable error
A pnris morning commences in tho afternoon