The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-03-09
rnE CRowSrNG OF THE EMPEROR,
A Splendid Pageant in versailles-T The
Realization of Bismarcl's Dream-The
Unification OF Germany. t-s..
C0rrtepondence 0f Me Boaton JoWnak

VERSAILLES, Jan. 10-The ceremony,
or rather pageant, yesterday, at Yer
sailles, merits preservation in immortal
fame, and It's pity Germany has no
poet worthy the task. The day was
strange mixture of damp, cold, and warm
sunshine, the rain occasionally weeping
little over the heroic dead, and then
the sun chasing away the tears, as un-
worthy of so grand an occasion. Toward
10 o'clock very brilliant throng began
to assemble in the palace yards, and in
creased steadily in brilliancy and volume
until the stroke of 10, when the King,
preceded by guards and outriders, drove
| furiously to the door of the Sale des
Glaces. .r. #
Entering the courtyard from the Rue
de Reservoirs about IL o'clock, found
drawn up in line the Kings body guard,
taken from all tine best regiments of the
army, and glittering like a rainbow in
the hundred colors which were so strong
ly contrasted together. Thronging past
them were the invited guests of higher
rank, hastily returning the salutations
of hundreds of hands from every direo-
tion, which embodied with the accus-
toned servility the expression of their
humbleness. The Bavarian, Saxon, and
Wurtemberg officers who had been dis
tinguished by the presentation of orders
were very numerous, and, although very
different in type from the now so well
known Prussian. would still compare
very favorably with him. The Bavarians
were especially brilliant in their bright
blue uniforms, and shining helmets and
many were men of most majestic pres
ence. The Wurtembergers were wretch
edly dressed-hardly single officer even
attempting at elegance. The Saxons
were, as usual, du ,fdit in appearance,
and were easily distinguishable, aside
from their uniforms, by their jaunty
carriage and mellow accent.
1t was evident that all the officers of
distinction, from all sections of the army,
had left their posts to assist at this
ceremony. The tall, gigantic men of
the Garde corps-stalking about like
ghosts, in their white uniforms; the
dark-haired, short, stalwart Branden-
burgers; the real Berliners, with specta-
cles on nose and crease under the arm
for book-carrying; the strapping cav
airy man, with the iron cross at his
breast; and the slender youth, with
long hair combed back under his casque,
and sword buckled on his thighs; all
hurried forward to the hall, where the
greatest Prussian ceremony of modern
times was, to occur. ......
Presently the guests began to arrive
pell-mell. There was no attempt at
glory of equipages, as in campaigning it
is difficult to obtain. Moltke came in q
post carriage showing that it had un-
dertaken recent journeys; Bismarck in
little caloche, hardly large enough to
hold him the Crown Prince in his usual
very modest carriage and dozens Of
officers were compelled to make their en-
tree through rain, which suddenly
visited us, in full toilet, on foot. Wagons
of all kinds were used. Half dozen
barons would dash in an omnibus, which
they had happily discovered; and the
immortal furniture van, which had such
jolly role at the time the delegation
from the Reichtag presented the addres:
to King William, again came into play
Great precaution seemed to have been
taken for the safety of the King. There
were even landwehr men wandering
carelessly about in the crowd, with theil
guns held as huntsman holds his when
he hears the deer breaking cover. How
did the Prussians know how far French
fanaticism might goF
Large masses of troops were disposed
on the Avenue de Paris and the Place
d'Armes about II o'clock, and toward !:
the King left the Prefecture and pro.
ceeded leisurely through the line o.
soldiers, who saluted him with deafenins
shouts of Hurrah for the German EN-
peror." Arrived at the chateau gate
the royal carriages drove rapidly through
the seething mass OF soldiers, stranger
and civilian Germans, and alighting a
the chateau clock struck the hour o
noon, entered the Sale des Glaces by
the grand staircase, along which wer,
arrayed, two and two, the guard com
posed of picked men from the variou
regiments. .........- ....-...r --
In the middle of the'grand hall, anC
with its back to the windows which
open on the park, grand altar wa
erected. Upon this altar, which wa
gracefully decorated, lighted candle
were placed, and at each side stood thre
pastors, clothed in the sombre habili
ments of their order, and asserting tn
support of the church to the new En-
pire. Further down the hall was anothe
and smaller altar, and in front of thi
were arranged the standards of all tn
regiments of the third army. Betweel
, the two affairs, also, were ranged Ba
varians and other soldiers. In front @
the principal altar were several soldier
who had in times past or in the recen
campaign received the iron cross, AM
{ two of them had their heads bound uI
and similar other marks of recent wounds
On the platform at the other end c
the gallery there were many soldier
stationed as the standard bearers. Th
: King, preceded by the marshal of hi
, household and the Court Marshal, tn
Counts of Puckler and Perpoacher, an
followed by his brothers, Prince Georg
: of Saxony, the reigning Duke of Sake
Coburg, and the majority of the heredi
= tary princes. Beside these. as they too
: their places in front of the grand alta
4 were also the Grown Prince, Prime
5 Charles of Prussia, the Kings brothe
: and Grand Master of the Order of 5
9 John of Jerusalem. The Grand Duke
r of Sake Weimar, Oldenburg, and Badei
: the Duke of Sake Meinigen, the Duh
s of ofSaxe-Altenburg Princes Luitpold an
n Otho of Bavaria, Prince William an
: Duke Eugene of 'Wurtemberg, Leopol
t of -Hohenzollern, the Duke OF Holsteil
b and many others. The aged King, bo
; upright, and from time to time gain
: with an almost child-hke curiosity upo
: the scene before him, listened intentl