Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-03

How they Were Received by the
PeOple-The Boys Ask the TurcOs
ing French and Arabic TO the
Pris0ners-HOw the Battle was
Lost.
Correspondence of the London News.l
When the train with the prisoners got
in, there were about 5000 people inside
the terminus lining the rails; great
number of "gamins," or "street-boys,
as they are called here, among them. A
tremendous but merry and good-natured
yell received the red trousers of the
French infantry and the blue costume oi
the Turcos. In each carriage there was
one Prussian private of either of the
two regiments who stormed the Geiss
burg goats hill at Weissenburg, his
helmet adorned with green boughs. The
French were partly squatting, but theiI
their respect for the people Of the capi.
tal While they were slowly passing
before me, examined the expression Of
their countenances. 1t was mostly that
of shy curiosity, and of embarrass.
ment not unmixed with pride. Of course
they could not understand what the peo-
pie, in an enormous confusion of voices,
said to them, but the unspeakably comi-
cal grin of the street-boys, sitting on the
shoulders of each other, at all events
gave them hint of it.
At last one successful cry got the up
per hand, for which somebody had fur
niahed the boys with the necessary
French and which was depressed to
every Turco or Iouave after the manner
of Les lampions. Les chats les chats
Where are the tom cats2 had become
the favorite refrain of the juvenile
voices. 1t was easily observed that,
with the boys, the French far from being
considered as naughty and humiliated
enemies, were extremely popular. In a
few minutes the boundless hilarity of the
lads communicated itself to the French
themselves, the officers excepted, who
hid themselves in the interior of their
first-class railway carriage. | left the
young ladies handing in refreshing drink
to the tawny fellows of Southern France
and of the Atlas, aud made my cab fol-
low the track of the circular railway,
oyer which the train was to proceed to
the eastern line. This circular railway,
on level With tho road, has in process
of time been lined With houses, and is,
in fact, now street railway. Dense
masses of people stood all along it,
AT last / was overtaken by the train,
and let it pass. But how its aspect
changed Il looked as never railway
train had looked before That fraterni-
zation Of the prisoners with the boys had
become perfect; numbers Of thea had
crept into the carriages, and we're sitting
between the legs Of the French and the
Africans. wearing their caps. Several
had provided themselves With cats:
Those that could not getinto the crowded
carriages had climbed on the top OF
them, where they amused themselves by
standing on their heads end brandishing
their legs. There we're no stairs, pro-
truding boards, that boys were not sitting
upon. Seen from distance the train
looked like Buddhist idol, with thou
sands of legs and thousands of arms pro-
truding in inconceivabls directions.
There was a young, tall, Beshy beard
less Arab, with fair skin, and extremely
handsome face, who excited general at
tention because he looked altogether like
a woman. The people, in fact, imagined
that he really was woman, and the la
dies had presented him with fan, with
which he kept tanning himself and smil-
ing in the most arch and coquettish way,
being evidently accustomed 10 have his
fun with the public. reached the ter
minus of the Eastern railway by short
cut before the train, but could get in
With great difficulty, owing to the i'm
mense crowds by which it was surround
ed. The denseiy-peopled neighborhood,
he seat of the Berlin shawl manufac-
lure, had poured forth still greater
masses than were visible at the west Of
he town. Here the attempt 10 admit by
ticket only had perfectly broken down.
dare say that there were not less than
"a, 900 people inside the terminus. Even
he huge supper place for the prisoners
was filed to the brim, thus rendering
heir passage to their seats extremely |
iifficult.
The greatest efforts made by the police
we're OF no avail only the persuasive
powers Of the SECULAR" ladies who pre-
ided here made the crowd yield. The |
prisoners got each a large basin OF bon
elon an riz, more than a quarter Ct a
pound Of boiled beef, bread and cheese,
pint Of beer, and cigar, everything
tasted them myself-of the very best
luality. As eight hundred had been ex-
lected instead Of FIVE hundred, the
strongest appetite could be satisfied. |
supper finished, the ladies presented
cards 10 the prisoners /
@ write to their friends. with promise
hat they should be safely forwarded |
ither to the French headquarters, or
Iirectly from Brussels. A greater num-
,er Of the French than was expected
,ould write; for those that could not
he others acted. Il rendered the
french extremely at their ease to be
Eaited upon by so many pretty aud ele-
ant girls, who all fuently spoke French. /
When the ladies came 70 a Turco they
aluted him partly with Salem dIei-
um; and the astonished reply, Adj
.um salem" was given, with the hand
N the heart
The German soldiers who accompanied
he prisoners were enthusiastic with re-
ard to the bravery with which the ]