The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-10-01
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER !. 1868.

takes place upon August 18th each wear. and
is arranged by the Emperor, he giving from
his private purse largely to the poor. aged
and lntirm in all parts Of the city. and pro-
Vldlng open air theatres, with good perfor-
merS,, for the amusement of the people. A
tull description of how the day was celebrated
would require more space tkan care to take,
SO give mere outline of the order of the
day, to give some idea of how things of this
klho are managed here. At six O'Clock
salute was fired from the guns at the Hotel
des Invalides, announcing the commence
ment OF the fete, after which came an abnn.
dant distribution of aims to the Door. The
troops received an additional advance of
VINE, and permission TO remain out of their
barracks until twelve O'Clock at night. They
were also allowed half days extra paw
At one O'Clock high mass was celebrated with
lie Deun at Notre Dame, and about the
same hour the different theatres and other
places were thrown open, free admission be-
Ing granted, and the very best artistes an
pearng, OF course all these places of amuse-
ment were Crowded to excess, but the con-
Duct OF the audience, composed principally
OF the working classes. was of the most ex-
emplary Character. The Trocadero, II large
open space In the West End, was the scene
OF lnnumerable amusements In the wav of
theatres, shooting galleries, flying horses.
ETC., etc.. etc., such as one sees surrounding
one of our State of County Agricultural
Fairs, but on a more extended scale. and here
the people were to be found in great num-
Ders, enjoying themselves at the top of their
bent' There were vast crowds of people to
De found everywhere, but the best of order
prevailed. and no crowding or pushing any
whefe. The crowning glory of the whole Gel
ebTatlon, however, was the grand illumina-
ton IN the evening, and display of fireworks,
which took place at three different places in
the city, On each side of the Champs Eltsee
there are rows Of gas lamps, the posts being
about twenty feet apart, and the distance
being, ffom Place de la Concorde to the Arc
de Irlomph, about two miles and half
Each OF these posts was surmounted with
twenty gas-burnerS, and the posts connected
together by pipes on which there were twen-
ty burners, between the posts. All these
burners were covered by ground glass shades
white in color. These when lighted presented
one continuous line of light, the effect oi
which can hardly be imagined, and which il
would require better pen than mine tC
describe; while on the numerous trees. on
each side OF the street. thirty thousand paper
lanterns OF all colors, were hung and all
the public buildings were illuminated in the
most beautiful manner, the gas jets, for the
most part, following the outline of the build.
inng' SO that You could rapidly distinguish
from very great distance, any of the many
public edi6ces. At nine O'Clock the grandest
display Of fireworks that could be imagined
was given from the square surrounding The
Arc de Triomph. After which the firing OF
guns announced the close of the fete, and the
crowd began to retire.
One thing that attracted my especial at.
tention was the excellent conduct of the mul-
titude tnat had assembled in the streets to
view the illumination, fireworks, etc. There
was no boisterous merriment, no jamming or
crowding, but everything was conducted in
the most pleasant manner. OF such an oc-
casion in an American or English city, am
certain l could not have written as much.
About half past eleven at night violent
rain storm. accompanied by thunder and
lightning, burst over the city and quickly
dispersed the few people left on the streets,
and soon everybody was at home, and the
city presented its usual appearance. B.