The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-03-08

and Ohio of Bavaria, Prince. William
and Duke Eugene Of Wurtemburg, Leo
pold of Hohenzolern, the Duke of Hol-
stein, and many others. The'ased King.
bolt-upright, aud from time to time gaz-
! ing with an almost child-lke curiosity
upon the scene before him, listened
intently to the sermon which one ofthe
division preachers delivered with much
grace and eloqueucc. The sermon
touched upon the historic and. religious
character of the ceremony now in pro-
gress, and elucidatcd its mysterious
influence on the hearts of the German
nation. It was splendid tribute as
t1Well to the neH subject Of alteration, the
venerable hero soldier, apd the King was
deeply effected by it.
Bismarck and Moltke, meantime, one
on each side of the platform, winked
sIeepily and wickedly, and seemed in"
wardly much amused at this parade and
feathers. General Blumenthal: who
was also near at hand, with the COM
manding generals, and officers of all
grades grouped around him, was grimly
silent, aud seemed to consider the whole
thing a waste of time. In long rows,
down each side of the gallery, were all
the distinguished military and civil per-
sonages, Prussian and foreign, of which
Versailles boasts to-day. England was
represented by her commissioner. Gen
eral Beauchamp Walker, and America
had representative OF her army present
IN the person of Brigadier General Duff.
of Illinois, formerly of Grants staff.
The sermon finished, general buzz
of congratulatiou was just springing up
in the grand hall when the King sud
denly advanced to the platform, and
there surrounded by the standard bear
ers of the First Guard regiment, he
pronounced his address to the Princes,
10 which he declared his intention Of
accepting the Imperial German crown.
After, with faltering voice, he had
finished his view. bismarck advanced
TRANQUILITY to read the proclamation to
the German people. This was the cul-
mination of the war, the object Of the
crafty man who now held the proclama.
tion in his hands. The uni6catiou Of
the German people, under the rule Of
one man was accomplished. No wonder
such a gigantic task has made a diplo-
mat already ripe in wears look as old as
his master.
After the reading of the proclamation
the Grand Duke Of Baden (who seemed
to have been adopted as deus &c machino
en- most of these occasions) hailed the
! King as Emperor of Germany. A
athree t. mes three" which sent eti-
quette to the foul fcud, and woke the
echoes which had been lying perdu fol
two centuries, answered, and the Crown
Prince hastened to embrace his father
and to affectionately grasp his hand
His example was followed by ali the
members Of the royal family and ali the
princes and dukes present. When the
ceremony was flushed there were tear:
on the old Kings face, and many of the
lockers on were visibly moved. Amid
the waving of standards, flags which hac
been In all the early battles of .ht
present war, and the echoes of The
national hymn and triumphal marches
the brilliant assembly broke up, anc
filtered away in its hundreds Of carriage:
splendid and shabby, to the duty Of eat
ing dinner in celebration of"orders day.
At the Reservoirs and other fashionable
restaurants there was the most riotou'
merrimept, and the word "Kaiser" echo
ed through the streets and 10 all places
where uniforms we're seen unit! Ions
past midnight.