Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-09
FETE IN HONOR OF THE FRENCH EMPEROR.

7 FETE IN HONOR OF THE FRENCH EMPEROR.
The last number of aalignans (Paris Messenger fur
the following account Of the great national e at
Paris on the 18th utmo in honor of the Emperor Of
France:
The thunder Of the artillery from the Invalides firing
at six in the morning salvo of one hundred and
guns announced that the proceedings Of the day had
commenced The weather most propitious the hor-
being without cloud and already, long before that
early hour number of promenaders might be observed
i'm the Champs Elysees, watching with curious eye the
workmen who from early dawn had been engaged in
completing the varied arrangements. As the morning
wore the crowd increased, and by ten o'clock every
point which presented than ordinary attraction
thronged with spectators The general character Of the
ornamentaton similar to that of last year, and the
ground principally selected comprised the Garden Of the
Tuleries the Place de Ia Concorde and the Champs
Sees up the Arc de Triomphe. In addition, in the
Champ do Mars a vast theatre had been erected in
which the siege of Slstria TO be represented with
Perhaps the best spot to The principal
point In the centre Of n Place dcaagcn
corde, from which the eye could range without much d
fculty from the front Of the Tuieres Gardens up thu
main Of the Champs Elysees On each side tn,
lofty terrace of the Gardens surmounted With long
Of arcades Of open woodwork representing the
lonade Of Moorish building The whole of this vast
piece Of aceke architecture was composed Of yarega
ted rods not an inch wde arranged with due
gard to harmony Of coorng that the eye returned with
unsated pleasure to each renewed examination of the
entrance to the garden lofty triumpha arch of
the description of open wood work, but made wide
and square, to give the idea Of additional sodty Every
part of these constructions covered with coored
lamps, to match the shade of the woodwork beneath
and which to be lit up ut night to furnish forth
marvellous illumination. Round the Place de Ia Concorde
simar erections were to be seen, all gay painted, to
the long range of arcades the terrace and like
them bearing colored lamps every part of their
face Perhaps the Place de Ia Concorde appeared
greater advantage its space seeming almost doubled
the removal Of the sunk gardens at the four corners
and the heavy wall of the garden being replaced
light and elegant balustrade, surmounted at equal
distances by Grecian vases, filed with living flowers
All up the Champs Eysees to the Rond Point erect
ed at each side long extending range of arcadessimar
those already described and like them clustered
with many lamps To relieve the monoony which
might be produced by long line remaining unnter
ruptedor these arcades not less than three hun
dred and fy-four in numberloty psrticoes placed at
equal distances at each sde relieved the eye and added
to the general effect TIE fountain at the Rond Point
had undergone complete metamorphosis, its gushing
waters being slenced, and its marble circle i'm
mense celestial sphere studded with golden stars being
erected bearing large eagle with outstreched wings
its summit The whole Of this construction covered
with varegated lamps, and the imperial eagle gave
promise Of being at night blaze of light From the
Rond Point TO the Arc de Triomphe the arrangements
were of less ornate character consisting merely of
wooden stands of various color covered over like all the
rest Of the erections, with lamps to match.
Opposite the Exhibition Palace was erected circular
construction, in which towards the evening military
band performed and at the Of the Rond
Point two others stood for similar object All the
three dressed out gay with flowers, and produced
most happy effect The letter and the imperial eagle,
placed occasionally shields disposed in various parts
Of the constructions served to show in whose honor the
fate given.
In the Champs Eysees immense istres were suspended
along the centre alley from lofty poles placed at equal
distances In the side alleys the right and left similar
ustres to be and from every arcade ut each
side hung chandelier of one hundred lights. All these
nbo IF
and most harmonious coors and ALL whether in the centre
alley in the side ones suspended from lines twined
round with green leaves each line in fact forming long
reaching wreath Of verdure!
In the garden Of the Tueries, if to form marked
contrast with the varied colorng Of the ornamenation
outside the principal characteristic of the arrangement
was certain chaste simplicity All along the principal
walks long lines of globes of glass; rvalipg the in
whitenes suspended from glded poles and in the
distance gave the idea Of strings of priceless pearls
Over the central fountain orchestra had been raised Of
blue white, and gold the water bathing every side but
that at which the performers passed along pas
sage to gain their seats.
Every point or vantage ground which flowers could
placed employed for that purpose, whilst the up
part Of the construction with coored
lamps. All happily blended together that when
the spectator looked in the water flowing below he could
with difficulty say which shadow and which the real
substance. The two other fountains near the palace
were covered in the centre with raised consruc
tion composed Of three ledges Of green lamps in the
midst of which the water bubbed up oil round and then
fell into the wide sheet below in broken spray. Along
the adjoining walks the principal style Of
number of gigantic of the Etruscan shape, COM
posed altogether of colored lamps.
During the early part of the day the religious services
performed in all the churches of Paris honor of the
Assumption which fae is coincident with the fe of the
Emperor, attracted vast crowds, and until II o'clock
every place Of worship thronged. In the of
the morning also provisions distributed at the differ
Mares Of Paris to the INDECENT and the aged and the
directions Of the Emperor that the allowance should
be furnished with most liberal hand.
BY o'clock an immense multitude filed the Garden
the Tueries and the Champs EysGes the tide gener
silly flowing towards the Pont lena to witness the boat
races and to the Champ-de Mars to behold the grand
military spectacle of the raising of the siege of Sstla
of which representations be given, at two
o'clock and the other at about half past four Perhaps
no part Of the of the day attracted at
tenon than this representation: frs because every
thing appertainng to war or its imitation is always
agreeable to the French nation, and next, because
the sympathy felt for the brave defenders of Slis
tra has been universal with all classes of the population
The temporary theatre which this glorious episode of
the Eastern represented stood the side OF
Champ de Mars facing the stands of the Jockey Club
and was Of such vast extent supercies of
25 600 Ircpresented the town and fortfcatons
of Sistra every thing in the foreground depicting the
rampars and bsstons Of fortified place, backened with
smoke and shattered by shell and fre whilst behind
Stood bright and clear n the sunshine, the mosques
minarets and private habtaons large space Of the
Champ do Mars enclosed round the mimic fortifca-
tons and in it took place several of the incidents of
attack and defence The principal bastioR of the place
have been at least so metres in length, and up
wards of 500 performers lent their aid to mpart ver
smilitude to the action. The military pantomme
acted the immense theatre just described
posed Of two parts The proceedings supposed to
commence st early dawn and numerous sentnes keep
Al. 80 xln ok.Ixl