The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-18
Among the Deputies.
COLONEL. roRSEy IL TUE FRENCH ASSEMBLY,
INTERESTING SKETCH OF THE BODY.


Among the Deputies.
,o,oSg1. roRSEY rs TUE FRENCH ASSEMBLY,
INTERESTING SKETCH OF THE BODY.
(Paras correspondence
Versailles is about fourteen mics from
Paris. and a beautiful ride ii ~. W ben we
took our seats in tue cars the Deputies from
Paris. each with q portfolio under ms arm,
we're coming ip. 1t was an exquisite Jay,
after two weeks Of severe cold ana as we
looked out upon the surrounding country
nothing was more curious 10 our american
eyes than the landscape, with the gardens
divided into little plats, the compare
lively small houses. and the universal
industry of the people, especially the
women gardeners. Tnere was sense
Of spring In the atmosphere, and they
worked as if the spell of winter was broken.
There is a unique severity in rural borticul-
ture and architecture in France. Elsewhere
il would bc unnatural, but here all things
seem 10 Justify the manner IN which they
cut their trees, paint their houses, trim their
arbors, and arrange their roads. The helds,
divided iuto patches, were curious to us,
from the fact that every little palch had its
bunch of fago,s, gathered from the refuse OF
trees. TO sell in Paris 10 light the fires next
day We sat in carriage among several
deputies, one of whom had the proofs OF
report, or speech. with the marks Of the
printer. Reaching Versailles, and following
a procession Of dtgDitaries under beautiful
alcoye Of trees, freshly cut and trimmed
for the coming spring, and along
beautiful wax, We finally got TO the Ma"
tiopal Assembly, one OF the dependencies Of
the palace. called the Sale de Spectacle, In
the Rue des Reservoirs. IL is u theatre
larger and better arranged than The walnut
though think entered more mIseraDly Than
any have ever seen. We ascendcd 10 our
seats in the third.tier by long stone stairs,
and / wondered how, in case OF fire, the au'
deuce would he diSgorged. When we got
into our places and looked down upon the
$50 members, after ii finite pressure, cou'd
not help recalling the magnificent congress
sjouai halls in Washington. All the tiers
and the boxes were filled with weli-dresSed
people except the diplomatic gallery. A
great debate was expected. There was
full attendance OF members, and with
our printed programme I'VE were in the
third rierl we could see By the numbtr
marked opposite each name the several
celebrities. EX.PreSldcnt Theirs was
evidently not in his place; but ne saw
our kind host, LOUIS Blanc, vita his black
gloves. and or dear friend. Labluaye, with
his long, ,bin hair the daI k-cOml leXioned
Jules Fayre, General ChaugarIier, ard
many, many more. The session opened by
the ringing OF bell. There was no prayer.
There were no soldiers, unless tew gems
Tarnes might be so called, and there was j
pleasing decorutu. At the slightest confusion
subordinate seem 10 be Stationed 10 euiorce Sc
Iencc. The word to my American ear sound
cd like hush. and il> effect was instantaneous.
All the officers Of the House on the floor
were s'ceI chains around their Lcck, and
small swords AT their sides. IN wnich gllIse
they distributed letters aud documents.
The President. NJ Buffet, was exceed
inyly graceful and arliculatc. Every
-pcaktr spoke from tIioune almost
immediately in front Of him; this TIL
huuc WAS very ike the reporters desk be-
tore the Speaker Of our House, or The Prcsi-
dent OF our Senate, only higher aud further
"ii: in tact, Il sort OF prolonged pulpit, al
loving the orator 10 walk up and down.
Ttcrc was no violent debate on the Situa.
tp". and one Gentleman who began with 4
clamvr of objections toilcd through an hour
of tedious iteration. AS be labored on his
TO III" iucohcrcnl French l looked down
from my perch aud studied the legislators Of
tNl~ rlhiItt tplbIt. Ilbt
how macy bowed backs. how many care
worn countcuacces. In the whole body
think did no. see twenty full heads Of hair.
knew there were princes. dukes, counts, and
m'gna,cs OF high degree, but really in the long
run they did not seem to he half so superior
a class rs the men have seen in our Wash.
ineton Congress for the last thirty years.
The crediIauIe thi0g was tie entire absence
of fuppcrS OF dress and manner. Not one
OF tUlm looked TO the gallery, as is the bad
habit OF many in Washington. There were
no pages on the floor, no loud displays of
stationery and books, and DO lobbyists in
The gallery. We retired before the debate
WAS closed. and walked quietly down the long
avenue OF trees to the railroad station, our
time no allowing Us to linger among the
thousand tragi"al and historical associations
alouud IL. After taking Il glass Of ale and
eating 4 htle exquisite bread and butter and
cheese w returned by the evening train to
Paris. thanking NJ. Louis Blanc for plea
-ai!t daY al Versailles. 1t was q delightful
ride home. made not less agreeable by the
tact that we expected 10 see the French AS
s.G!hy in great uproar, and found it as
d'corou> and quiet rs an American Congress
y hen it had no personal qutrrcls on hand