The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-03-01
Imperial Marriage.

riage of the Emperor Napoleon III. Shortly
after 8 o'clock, large bodies of cavalry and in
fantry were to be seen directing their way
from the different barracks in and around
Paris towards the points allotted to them on
the route between the palace OF the Elysee
and the palace of the Tuileries, and between
the latter and the Cathedral Of Notre Dame.
At the same time the whole of the National
Guards Of Paris were called out for the pur-
pose of doing honor to the day, by forming
the line on one side of the streets through
which the procession was to pass, while the
infantry of the line formed the other. a vast
number of leputations of the trade and work
people were to be seen with flags and banners
directing their steps towards the garden of the
Tuilleries, which was thespot specially set aside
for that purpose. Many of the deputatIons
were very picturesque, consisting as they did
of young women dressed in white, adorned
with wreaths of flowers, and carrying boquets
in their hands. The deputation from the Hal
les ct Marches was by far the largest. Butch
crs, bakers, fshnongers, market gardeners,
&C., each had a huge flag at their head de-
nominating their different trades and most OF
them bearing some inscription or legend in
compliment to the emperor.
\ wooden construction was raised, IN three
compartments, over the grand entrance and
the two side doors and painted in the fashion
of the medieval ages to match the character
of the building. Green predominated in the
decorations, that being the color of the En-
peror, and the letters IN. E." were to be seen
in various places in honor ofthe imperial cou-
pie. Above the wooden erection long drape-
ries of green velvet foated to the wind, and
higher up, along the facade of the building,
was to be seen line of flags of various colors;
higher still, the old towers themselves were
covered with gold brocade. The effect was
unusually rich and as the weather was dry,
though cold, the pleasure of regarding these
precious materials, thus exposed to the open
air, was not marred by any apprehension Of
injury from rain. The lower part of the de-
corations near the various entrances was hung
with crimson velvet, edged with gold lace. On
the Parvis Notre Dame were erected lofty
flag stats, from which foated huge tricolored
streamers. embroidered with gold, and har-
monzing with the decoration over the portal.
The first feeling of the spectator on entering
was one of unmixed admiration. Along the
whole of the nave was suspended from the
arched roof an absolute forest of chandeliers,
containing thousand of wax lights. The lin.
mination was at the first view absolutely daz.
zling; but as soon as the eye got accustomed
to the brilliancy, it became evident that the
building had been transformed, with great
taste and skill, from its naturally severe ap.
pearance, and had been made to assume as
gay an air as the architecture of the sacred
edi6ce would warrant The pillars were en-
veloped, from plinth to capital, with crimson
velvet At the top Of each capital was affixed
a richly gilt shield, bearing gilt eagle. Be.
tween the pillars, springing from the arches,
higher up, was to be seen drapery of crimson
velvet, edged down the sides with an imitation
of ermine, and frnged at the bottom with deep
gold lace this drapery served to mask the
woodwork of long line of gaaiies, erected
from pillar to pillar, and filled with elegantly
dressed ladies. Again, higher up, palium
Of green velvet, studded with golden stars,
was seen between every two pillars, and bear
ing in its centre gigantic an" Garlands OF
flowers were festooned among these draperies,
and other shields were placed on the fiat wall
of the building. under the lofty windows, each
having on it figure of Our Lady, to whom the
cathedral is dedicated. The crimson velvet
on the pillars next to the nave had no other Or
nament than an edgiug Of gold lace under the
capital of each; but those of the side aisles
were studded with golden stars, and bore the
letter an" in front.
Three chandeliers one large one, and two
smaller gave light to each tribune above; and
three ranges Of immense lustres of beautifully
cut glass, ran down the centre of the nave.-
Both the sides were ornamented in precisely
the same style; and though the variety OF
colors was extraordinary, all were arranged
with such perfect taste that the general effect
was most harmonious and beautiful. The por-
tai inside was hung with green velvet and gold,
three large gilt eagles being placed over the
apex of each of the three doors. The space
above, the entrance up to the organ loft, where
was placed the orchestra, was hung with GRIM
son velvet and gold, and ntertwincd, as on
the sides of the nave, with festoones of ofhowers.
At the eastern end of the building the chan
eel had been cut off from the ceremony by
the erection Of a temporary altar Just where
the transepts leave the choir. Above the al
tar rose lofty canopy OF crimson velvet, lined
to all appearance, with ermine, and snrmount-
Ell with gilt eagle of immense size. Be.
tween this canopy and the altar was to be
seen sort of tabernacle in the Byzantine
style, which extended at each side to the
transepts, and thus formed screen, shutting
out the chancel and its side aises But
though the building, was cut into two unequal
parts, the portion not occupied for the cere-
lnony was by no means lost, as immense chan
deliers hung from the roofiu that part of the
church, just the same as in that appropriated
to the spectators. The consequence of this
illumination was, that as the temporary screen
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