The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-09-25
Beranger's Death Kept aSecret by the
French Government.

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 it, when he breatlcd
his last.
lie died on Thursday, the. 10th instant, at
o'clock, p. m.; and the evening papers
were forbidden to announce his death, and
the numerous visitors calling daily at his
residence were also kept ignorant Of the
fact. The Government fearing that the
news of his deceasc might bring together
a great concoursc of people disposed to
take public demonstrations Of their great
respect for the defunct, did. not announce
his dcatl, officially till the next morning,
and then with the significant remark, ''rhat
the Government had taken ali necessary
measures to suppress any tumultuous dem
onstration, and that no one would be al
lowed to take part in the funeral ceremony,
except those to whom cards of invitation
would be sent"
Notwithstanding police regulation to
prevent burials before the lapse Of twenty
four hours after death, poor Bcranger was
laid in his coffin aud taken 10 his last rest
ing place before he was even cold. The
Emperor effected great regard for the ma
tonal poet, and announced that lie would
lcfray the expenses of the funeral there
by giving himself the liberty to hurry those
dangerous remains to the grave with I'm
pcrial poWp, under the vigilant eye of
thousands of policemen and scores of SOL
dicrs.
At an early hour in the morning, small
detachments Of soldiers were seen in all
parts Of the city, advancing towards the
Boulevart du Temple.
Several Regiments were drawn up into
lines near the streets where the funeral pro-
cession was to pass, and the cemetery
"Pere Ia Chaise" was strongly guarded.
The splendid hcarsc was followed by his
two nephews-one musician in the army
and the other a journeyman printer T; an
Imperial coach proceeded others contain
ing the favored few invited to follow the
remains Of the much beloved poet to his
last resting-place. Only four persons were
permitted to accompany the dcfunct to
tho 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 old man, lest the zephyrs might
watt them over the walls of the cemetery,
where crowds Of persons, belonging to
all ranks of society, were statiosst, to pay
last tribute to their national poet and
friend. The streets through which the
funeral procession passed were filled will,
workmcn and their wives, many of whom
were black. The windows were not only
crowded to excess, but the roofs of the
houses flbing the way were also covered
with people, waving wreatlles of amay-
rantlIs. Such was the admiration for Be.
ranger the poet for the young and old, the
poet Of masses.
The last election gave the most positive
and satisfactory proof Of the republican
spirit Of the Parisians, and consequent =
the Government feared to allow public
expression Of their liberal sentiments SO
soon after them, and TO prevent it, exposed
their tottering weakness.
The official organs announced that the
Empress was to have visited tho opera on
the Evening Of Beranger's death, but, up,
on hearing oft she gavassarders TO have
her box vacated. The Emperor is said to
have been incognito. Great must have
been his relief when tho remains of that
popular man were safely deposited unde,
ground, and the crowd quietly dispersed.
| The whole proceeding appeared more
like public execution than a Christian
burial.