The Portland daily press., 1868-05-28

Joan Of Arc; Olher Solennities at Or
leans; a pretty ADDRESS to the Empress;
Personal.
PARIS, May 10, 1868.
To the Editor of the Press:
II told you in my last letter that all the
flowers that Proserpina ''frighted" let fall at
sight of Dis had been gathered and thrown
into Paris, | did not say much for the abun-
dance of floral display that now attracts on
every side. Fetes, balls, and dinner-parties
call fol- brilliant gatherings from garden and
conservatory, and the government looking
nuer ItS axpenSes, Pr1seu 10 see what
heavy item this part of city pageants has
become determined to have city garden. 1t
is now one of the spring sights TO visit this
garden which is in Avenue d'Eylau. At this
moment the prominent beauties are the ara
leas. As you enter the glass-house, and see
large semi-circle in the centre supported ON
either side by borders placed little lower,
the effect is ecstatic, for the eye eXhiarated
with color finds the walls answering to the
same beauty. The masses of pinks of differ
ent shades are constantly relieved by large
groups ofwhite azaleas. Such is the abun-
dance of bloom that you scarcely see the pots
that hold this bed OF beauty. Another house
is Siyenup entirely to tulips was disaDpoint-
ed in these, though ! am ready 10 aver on af.
tidavit. that, to the best OF my belief, after
careful observation each tulip, counting the
hundreds there, had petals with distinctive
colors; undoubtedly TO the "lancier OF flow
ers," it was triumph of horticulture, but 10
me they looked measre, wearing their beauty
like some tropical Gagged birds who always
have droop in their wings. have seen tu-
lips growing in Massachusetts with gayer
Haunt and more regal air. The recent rains
have also given an exceptional ileshness and
glow to the shrubbery. On every avenue in ev-
cry garden, labu1nums send ont their branches
richly laden with heavy yellow bloom while
the purple lilacs of delicate aristocratic type
pour out their perfume in pleasant rivalry
Then there are the hawthorns, the pink, and
white, whose frank bloom against their dark
leaves seems through poetic legend TO be con-
nected with lovers, and domestic felicity
| The horse-chestnuts are full of pinkish-red
or white flowers and as to the creeping bloom
/
| loving earnestness TO fences they seem to
| spring from the teeming loins of nature re-
| freshed by her winters sleep, with as,onish-
ing iecundity and seize upon every "jutty
| frieze, buttress and coien of antase," to
| adofn them with living tracery 1t is the
moment ofall the year, when Paris looks her
| prettiest Parties go out to BOis de Bout
| logne early in the morniug 10 picnics-bien
| entendu, these are mostly young people for
| what besides young ladies and dewdrops can
| glisten at sunrise?
| Flowers formed no inconsiderable part in the
| gorgeous pageant that came off at the Opera
| house last Saturday evening This was a
| ball in favor of the International Sanitary
| Organization for the succor of the wounded
of the army and navy, inaugurated at Geneva.
The vestibule, and double staircase were lined
| with the costliest exortics, and the minister
OF Marine called TO his assistance the cunning
articles Of Cherbourg who divided the lobby
of the theatre into zones American, Asatic.
African, Oceanic and European, the late Ex-
| hibition teaching them show to do it," and
who caused mimic palm-hees to represent
| in their branches muskets, pixies and bayon-
cts; in short everything showed forth the
| ''prlde, pomp and circumstance of glorious
| war" for between the windows hung full
| suits OF armor, and the gas which lighted up
| the gay scene and reflected on polished CUR
asses and the diamonds of Eugenia and the
Princess de Metternich was shot out from
pistols and small destructive engines. The
theatre growed with flowers.
The city of Orleans has just given the
marvellous girl, Jeanne dare, an anniversary
fete, and last Sunday the Emperor and En-
press went down to Orleans where the deliv-
| erence of the city from The hands OF the En-
glish was celebrated at the Cathedral by the
carrying in of the heroic girls standard and
by religious ceremonies. The DishCpoi Orle-
ans, Dupanoup, met their majesties at the
door of the Cathedral surrounded by his
clergy. On the same day there were Grand
agricultural and horticultural fairs and prizes
were distributed by the Emperor. Alfred
Holmes, the great English violinist, is at Or
leans, having been invited there to play his
symphony of Jeanne dare. 1t was on the
oth of May, 1929, that the English were ioreeu
to raise the siege of Orleans, and every year
since solemn procession marches arouuu
this city bearing at its head some token oil
the warrior girl.
To reach the cathedral the Emperor and
suite had to cross the Place Martroi, where
with tbe concurrence OF entire France, in
1875 statue was raised TO her who crowned
Charles VII. at Rheims. Al the sight of this