The daily union., 1856-01-22
GREAT MILITARY FETE IN FRANCE--REyIEW OF
THE IMPERIAL GUARD.


THE IMPERIAL GUARD.
The Paris correspondent Of the New York Herald fur
nshes the following description Of this gredt military
pageant:
81 have just from witnessing military spectacle
which would require the pen Of Napier the historian Of
the peninsuar war, to do justice to- Habitated
in Paris to things of the kind there novelty inter
and reality about this that flung far into the shade all
previous spectacesat least all such as have taken place
since the fall OF the first empire.
placed myself in the house of a friend one front
of which faced the Place Yendome the other the Rue
de la Paix. With great difficulty | broke my way
through the guard drawn the Rue Castigione
and effected passage the Place but when
arrived, had coup dpH such few in Paris could
have obtained. Fronting me rose that beautiful pill
lar surmounted 10y the statue of Napoleon the Great,
which records series of victories that cast into shadow
all the conquests of the ancient world The
the left occupied by some thousands Of infantry
drawn up in companies. Amongst tbem scattered here
and there were general officers, field officers and aidsde
camp superb chargers. The right side of the
column left clear 1t is this side that the Minister
of Justices house is situated and here balcony,
hung with crimson awning apl ropriaed for the En-
press and the ladies of her court Every window in this
beautiful place filed with spectators Even the roots
were covered with them The the from the
Place de la Baste distance Of three miles up the Rue
de la Paix all along to the Rue Castglone The weather
was mild as midsummer evening soft wind blew from
the south, not cloud was to be seen not token of
winter which but few days ago had set in with terrible
severity and which rendered the idea of grand out-o
door spectacle something too absurd to think Of The
streets andd and presented the appearance Of
gigantic gravelled promenade. AT o'clock precisely
the head of this formidable array turned off the oueyards
and entered the Rue de la Paix 1t the band of the
Guides, mounted white horses, followed by two
squadrons of that splendid corps. This almost
the only cavalry which formed part Of the spectacle Al
Immediately after came the Emperor, in generals
uniform, riding the magnificent chestnut charger which
all chief occasions bis Majesty He accompanied
by brilliant staff and as he reached the opening
OF the Place Vendome he advanced several horses length
before his generals and, putting his beautiful steed
gentle caner rode Immediately towards the pavilion Of the
Empress the troops uttering enthusiastic cries o. poe
Ebpere echoed again by the thousand spectators
which, in column fifteen feet Deep fringed the Place and
accompanied by the waving Of handkerches and hats
from the windows and various balconies Having taken
up bis position here his Majesty remained quescen for
about twenty minutes, till the main body of the troops
should arrive to defe before him. During this interval
while even in state OF repose his magnificent charger
the admiration of every the Emperor had opporu
nifty of witching the fair danes who both from the En-
presss pavilion and the surrounding windows in
tenty gazing upon him. with specimen OF his noble horse
manshp.
But the formidable military promenade had com-
menced Would that could adequately describe in the
very few minutes have to do before the mail leaves
The pupils Of the school Of ST. Cyr preceded IT, marching
with all tina: mechanical precision, and carrying their
with military smarneSs which might be expected from the
model institution they belong to- Then followed portion
Of the Imperial Guard, clothed in heavy marching order
their long coats almost reaching to the ground their KNAPP
sacks blankets and canteens their backs their heads
their ordinary fatigue caps Each musket crowned
with sprg Of laurel and the eye stretched them
from the entrance the Place Vcndomc 10 the of
the Boulevard where they turned into the Rue de In Paix
one was almost reminded Of Burnam Wood and Macbes
verhcaton Of the prophecy that il should to Dunsi
name II really touching sight and though knew
that the gallant fellows had arrived three weeks ago
and that they were not exactly the to-worn soldiers
they seemed to be- still there the fact that they had
been to the Crmea had endured all the horrors Of last
winter had stormed the Malako aud captured Sebas-
topo and moreover had lost Of their ranks in killed and
wounded 5000 men The cheers with which they
received unmstakaby sincere. The air rung
with acclamaons and when occasionally some spectator
from the causeway rushed among the ranks
and seized by the hand old acquaintance the cheers
rose louder still Soon however most touching outlet
10 the gazes sympathy afforded by the appearance Of
the wounded who without Arms pale and halt with
their heads bandaRed their in sings with the
cant sleeve pinned TO their breast crutches feebly
hobbng on with the leg that remained marched IN
bodies Of fifty by themselves They too had laures
their browsi but the spectaor content with these,
showercd upon them bouquets from every window. The
houses seemed to shake with the enthusiastic accamaons
tha burst from them and the Empress bent forward
from her balcony and waved her handkerchief in return 10
their faint cries Of rire FERpeur pEmpeairice
started to her eyes, and hers the only
mOistened Many rough cheek attestcd manly sympa-
thy for the glorious brave and the Emperor himself kept
his head bare while Tie living evidence Of such patriotic
suffering moved before him More than the poor fell
lows invaded by the crowd anxious 10 lend them
hand but 10 general they strong enough for the
march they bad undertaken.
aAher these the Zouaves oil 10 their new Oriental
attire, and II Is impossible 10 imagine anything pic
turesquc ut the same time soldery than their appearance
They too, had their laurel wreath and they too their
wounded and though the welcome they received could
not be enthusiastic than their comdeso the Guards
way inferior 10 H. The drums beat before each
regiment and the various bands the line and National
Guard which lined the route struck up beautiful airs
they passed Some idea of the numbers may he formed by
the fact that moving by companies Of hundred, with
space Of twenty feet between each company than two
hours occupied ia the march, The Boulevards and
the Rue de Ia Pax about forty yards in width with
out the footway and the eye contemplated the dense
phaanN Of armed men, II moved mp towards the Empe
and passed through the Rue Castigone TO the Rue
Rivoli, IL looked like Of steel Anything more inn
pressve than such display Of infantry wound mp by
body Of formidable artillery be conceived The
day seemed created for IT, Following after the peace
pamphlet Il will show at all events II France desires
peace she has little reason TO fear The interest Of the
scene too not essened by the spot in which all this
took place in the presence Of that column initiated from
that Of Tran but recording deeds ten thousand times
renowned