The New York herald., 1874-08-07
tenance Of the Church to the celebration. There
was another ipducement to His Grace TO hold aloof
in the disqueting fact that

Con0QCo
was another inducement to His Grace TO hold alo0f
in the disqueting fact tnat
PErRARCH WAS REPUBLICAN.
Some Avignonnais politicians have been raking
up some verses In which the poet emphatically
lauded Rienzi and his scheme for unifying Italy
and keeping the Popes out OF Rome; which views,
had Petrarchlived in these times, would have made
him the friend OF Cavour, Mazzint and Garibaldi;
three celebrities towards whom the Church feels
little love. However, the Archbishop OF Avgnon
Is not moulded OF such stern stun as Mgr.
Dupanloup or Mgr. Pie, OF Poictiers and to
please the French government he reluctantly con-
sented to bless Petrarch and tine writer's or prize
poems In the atter's honor. have said there
were nity'four prize winners, and all OF them put
II an appearance at the fountain near W hich Pc
trarch's residence once stood. Tables were spread
OUT on the lawn near the fountain and walters In
snowy aprons were irsking about hea ping up all
sorts OF cold viands, jeies aud silver capped
champagne bottles; but before these things could
De discussed IL was necessary 70 60 through
ROUND OF SPEECHES.
A platform covered with scarlet Nismes carnetA
had been erected outside the vaucluse Town Hall
q stucco house which has been erected within tha
year, and overlooks the garden. The Project of
the department., in black and silver swallow.taal
presided, and supported by some officials Of
the Public Education Department and by some
eminent ltaiaus among shem Signor Ngra,
Italian Ambassador In France, and special dele
gate OF King Victor Emmanuel. Signor Nigra, who
is poet himself, had been sent with Instructions
TO be particularly afable to the French. ana he
discharged his mission with all the impressiveness
which cluster OF diamond stars on his coat and
continual play OF smiles on his lips could give
him. Alter the Prefect had prefaced with q few
energetic remarks he introduced SignOr Nigra,
and HIS Excellency stepped forward and delivered
an entirely literary speech, in which he descanted
on the soothing influence OF all poetry IN
general and OF Petrarchs in particular. He added
that Petrarch had ever been his favorte, and
wound up by the declaration that France and Italy
were twin sisters, lated to march hand in hand at
the head OF those Latin races, which, as we all
know, have civilized the world. Delirious clap
ping OF hands and rarping OF hats followed this
peroration and then commenced
THE DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.
Holding list high IN tho air and gazing at II
through double pair OF eyeglasses, an ofncial
| with tricolored sash and substantial stomach
bawled out the names Of the ffty-rour poets who
had triumphed out Of nineteen hundred csndi.
dates-may the supply OF French poets never run
Shorthand each OF the winners as his name was
cried stepped up the steps OF the platform to re-
ceive his prize. Some were shrivelled out risky
old gentlemen, who ambled sideways across the
lawn, like well pleased crabs, but the majority
were young men whose eyes rolled with
fine frenzy, and whose lower ex.
tremities were clad in white pantalOons There
were also two young ladies; but these smitten
with sudden bashfulness, refused to leave their
seats, though the whole assembly stood up to en-.
courage them by staring hard and indulging in
gallant remarks. The prizes were extremely
beautiful, consisting OF gold medals stamped, as
usual, with Laura and Petrarch; Sevres vases
enamelled palm branches and eglantines. capable
OF being worn as brooches. Every winner on step
ping up. received his prize at the hands or the
Prefect; but il was then instantly Withdrawn from
him as If he were not fit to be trusted with it.
and bald functionary, who stood hard by, re-
stored the trinket to its box. This was owing to
the arrangement that the prizes should not be
finally taken possession OF until they had been
blessed by the Archbishop; but French Dystand-
ers, who had the national love for cheerful inter-
pretations, could be heard whispering, "Poets are
SO poor that there Is no trusting them with jew
elry lest they should pawn it.n The prize dls,ri-
button was followed by
THE BANQUET IN PErRARcH's GARDEN,
where covers were laid for three hundred AS there
were scarcely chairs enough for the ieasters the
Cure orvaucluse kindly ordered his beadle and clerk
to bring out the chairs from the church, ard soon
| every man was comfortably installed, and knives
and forks clattered at a rate which proved that
the cultivation OF poetry detracts little from the
appetite. This was all the more satisfactory as
most OF the poets felt bound to assume q love-orn
| expression and to confess that they had suffered
just the same pangs as Petrarch had endured. For
instance, lat bard near me spoke, between two
mouthfuls OF pie, OF having plned twelve months
for lady, who had afterwards married q drysalter
because he was rich. Fearing my unknown friend
would weep If allowed to brood over this dismal
recollection asked him to take glass OF wine,
and he compiled by taking two. was glad to see
they cheered him. The picnic ended at seven, and
we started for Avignon by train The laureates
were received at the terminus by Count Dumaln,
the Mayor and q procession was then formed
round
BUST OF PErRARcH
which was carried to the Town Hall Of Avignon by
SignOr Nigra and three other gentlemen, followed
by all the poets, who had been unchng. Including
my tat friend who seemed quite c0nsoled by this
time. Night was gathering when the PROCESSION
formed, but o large military escort who accom-
the enect OF the blaze Of these countless lights
was grand. The ancient churches, palaces walls
as almost every house was Illuminated with gas or
festOOns OF col0red oil lamps, It would be dnicut
nes snsn asySng to es IN
the surroundings were more imposing. The tow
ering
now used as barracks and standing on an emf.
nence, shone magnlacently with the red fire Of
Our Lady of Victory on the highest point OF the
castle, was the locus on which the rays OF all the
batteries cOnverged and 1t glittered IN conse-
quence as II 1t had been cut out Of giant ruby
Great excitement prevailed among the Joyous pop
ulatOn, who lined the street pavements in serrled
rows; for these southern people are like children
and magptes, whom everything that glitters sets
laughing and chattering. am bound to say how
ever, that some discordant grumbles were audible
durng this night ryte for the municipality OF
Avignon which IL royaltst, had seized the Oppor-
tunity OF snubbing the republicans by converting
the main street Of the city, the Rue de La Repub-
1ique, into
"RUE DE PETRARQUB.u
Although they claim Petrarch as one OF their
party the democrats of the locality did not feel
inclined to see him eupe rsede the Republic, and
there was slight gnashing OF teeth 1T the un-
doubted astuteness with which Count Dumatn had
accomplished this little move. Let me add that,
II an ardent rOyast. M. Dumain IS extremely hos
pitable and at eleven O'Clock ices and Other ro-