The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-26
NapOleCn's Fete in Paris.
BY REV. THEO. L. CUYLER.
HOTEL DU LOUVRE, PARIS, }

Nu6 ~, loOA.
In Switzerland l saw the glorious handi-
work OF the Creator. The sunset on Mount
Rlshl was an apocalyptic vision. Here in
Paris see the utmost that man has vet pro-
duced of skill and art and elegance. One
hour on the Alps was worth month on the
boulevards.
Paris is always brilliant city, but yester-
day it was in blaze-on the annual fete of
the Emperor Napoleon. The gala commenc-
ed on the day previous with grand review
OF $4,000 men on the historic Champ De
Mars. On arriving at the spot-moving with
the crowd l found at least one hundred
thousand people assembled to witness the
splendid spectacle. The field was already
covered with the army array, drawn up in
long line of scarlet, blue, and flashing steel,
In the ranks were the Voltigeurs of Magenta
and Solferino-the famous Zouaves, who re-
semble tiger-cats in agility and ferceness-
the National Guard, 10000 strong the
Imperial Guard,with many cross of the 'Le-
gion of Honor glittcring on the breast. In
equipment and drill the troops were enough
to excite the envy Of Mcclellan. How l
longed to be able to hurl that magni-
ficent army upon my countrys foes
AT two o'clock the Emperor, surrounded
by brilliant staff, rode on the field amid
much sensation but no loud cheering. He
passed up the open space between the lines
riding we'll bay charger-and doffng his
cooked hat and white plume to the saluting
soldiery. He was richly dressed, but begins
to look old; on his sphynxlike countenance
no man can read his inner thoughts. His
face is brown and Bonapartish enough but
who would dream that behind that bronze
countenance turks the brain-power that shakes
the thrones Of Europe?
Soon after him an open barouche and four
appeared, bearing the beautiful Empress, her
only boy riding near her on pony. France
is training the heir to her throne with thor
ough education to the sword and bayonet.-
The Empress was in white throughout. Her
beauty is exquisite her costume was fault
less. She looked like floating cloud of lace,
as she moved slowly across the vast area
Her tall figure bowed constantly and grace
fully to the troops, who saluted her with pre-
sented arms and flourish Of trumpets. The
whole spectacle was thrilling beyond words.
1t was enough to take the breath out of any
enthusiastic lover of history to see an actual
Emperor Napoleon review an Imperial Guard
on the Champ de Mars. The whole storied
past-red with the glare of revolutions and
Marengos and Jenas-crowded before me,
and the scene seemed an illusion of the con-
ljurer. A few rods away-in his stone coffin
Lies the dead magician who, by his bold
! right arm, created all this dynasty of imperi-
al sword-and-state craft-a dynasty not soon
to be overthrown.
| The review of Thursday was but the pre-
lude to the great gala of yesterday. All day
long, and beyond the midnight, Paris was
one vast play-ground-a moving panorama
of gaily-dressed people and coaches and SOL
dlers and merry-makers of every hue and
character. At ten o'clock the SCARED vete-
rams of the old Napoleon-the feeble rem.
nants Of Austerlitz and Wagram and LEIPZIG
, marched into the Place Vend me. They
halted at the base of the iron column cas1
from the guns taken on the field of Marengo
They uncovered, and looked upwards towart
! the statue OH the columns summit. There
| HE stood in the immortal gray coat and chap
: eau-just as they had seen him through thu
fire-clouds of Wagram and Eylau! What al
hour to them! Through that scene, as thro
lens, how must they have looked back tt
D battle storms that made the world turn pale
They fingered awhile before the funera
s wreaths strewed about the pillars base, an,
D then moved silently away. Next year tn
e fragment ofthe Grand Armee' will be small
er still-until ere long its last survivor
through vision week and dim, will look up
ward to find the old familiar form that sha
r stir the pulsations of his youth with pal
9 too deep for tears.
I'll l cannot attempt to describe all the pa
geants of yesterday. At high noon a Z
!. Deum was chanted in Notre Dame. The
it came wonderful series of sports and ente
1t tainments-of boat-races and band playing
u Of balloon-ascension and theatrical perform
.e ances, of concerts and puppet shows-suc
s, as mercurial Paris only can exhibit. Pleasu1
le is the god of this great city's idolatry, whe1
% eternity seems to be well-nigh forgotten
ID Eat, drink, and be merry,'is written befol
r. every eye. Yet cannot forbear to say
rs justice to the populace-that through tt
" " whole day did not witness single instan'
or ., Of rudeness or violence or drunkenness !
e. Would an American holiday command SUI
a testimony?
About six o'clock strolled over the Pla
'h =. de la Concorde, to witness the festivities,
he company with Doctors Parker ard Ralstt
Smith of New York. The place was ali
with gayety. Could it be that on that We
spot the guillotine had stood through t
whole Reign of Terror? Even So In