Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-02
BERANGER,S DEATH kEPT A SECRET
BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

From the Paris correspondence OF National Era I
In my last, / stated that Beranger would not,
in all probability, be among the living by the
time my letter reached you; and scarcely had
/ mailed il, when he breathed his last.
He died on Thursday, the 10Th instant at 5
O'Clock, p. IN. |; and the evening papers were for
hidden 10 announce his death, and the numerous
visitors calling daily at bis residence were also
kept ignorant of the fact. The Government
fearing that the news Of his decease might
bring together great cOncourse of people dis
posed to make public demonstrations of their
great respect for the defunct, did not announce
his death officially till the next morning, and
then with the significant remark, "That the
Government had taken all necessary measures
to suppress any tumultuous demonstration, and
that no one would be allowed to take part in
the funeral ceremony, except those to whom
cards of invitation would be sent.''
Notwithstanding police regulation to pre-
vent burials before the lapse of ty-four
hours after death. poor Beranger was laid i'm his
coffin and taken to his last resting place before
he was even cold. The Emperor affected grea
regard for the national poet, and announced
that he would defrny the expenses Of the fune-
raj; thereby giving himself the liberty to hurry
those dangerous remains to the grave with I'm
perial pomp, under the vigilant eye of thou
sands Of policemen and scores Of soldiers.
At an early hour in the morning, small de-
tachments of soldiers were seen in all parts of
the city, advancing towards the Boulevart du
Temple.
Several regiments were drawn up In lines
near the streets where the funeral procession
was to pass, and the cemetery " Pere la Chaise'
was strongly guarded. The splendid hearse was
followed by his two nephews-One musician in
the army, and the other iourneyman printer
an Imperial coach preceded others containing
the favored few invited to follow the remains Of
the much beloved poet to his last resting-place.
Only four persons were permitted to accompa-
ny the defunct to the vault and scarcely was
he deposited when the doors of the vault were
closed, and the procession ordered to return.
Not word was allowed to be said in memory
Of that good old man, lest the zephyrs might
watt them over the walls of the cemetery, where
crowds Of persons, belonging to all ranks of So
clety, were stationed, to pay last tribute TO
their national poet and friend. The streets
through which the funeral procession passed
were filled with wOrkmen and their wives, many
Of whom wore black. The windows were not
only crowded TO excess, but the roofs of the
houses lining the way were also covered with
people, waving wreathes of amaranths Such
was the admiration for Beranger the poet fol
the young and old, the poet Of the masses
Inc last election gave the most positive and
satisfactory proof of the republican spirit of the
Parlsians, and consequently, the Government
feared 10 allow public expression of their lib
Sioi oO sOOn t0enl, ana, 10 pre-
vent 1t, exposed their tottering weakness
The official organs announced that the En-
press was to have visited the opera on the even.
ing Of Beranger's death, but, upon hearing of il
she gave orders to have her box vacated The
Emperor is said to have been incoeHito. Great
must have been his r, Eef when the remains Of
that popular man were safely deposited under
ground, and the crowd quietly dispersed.
The whole proceeding appeared more like
public execution than Christian burial