The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-07
'"OUR PEOPLE SENT Me-,

Am Episode from the History of the
Days of June, 1S4S, at Paris.
TRANSLATED from the Russian of Ivan Turgeniff for
Peterson's Journal
IL came the fourth of the celebrated
days OF June, 1848, which are inscribed
in blood lines on the tables of French
history.
lived then in house, long since
destroyed, on the corner of Rue de
Ia Paix and Boulevard des ItaIiens
From the beginning of June the air
seemed to smell of powder, everybody
felt the conflict inevitable and after
the interview between the delegates of
the closed workshops with Marie, a
member of the provisional government.
who, IN an address to them, had thought
Iessly pronounced the word slave
(esclaves), construed by them as re-
prOach or Ofense-at once the question
at issue was, not how many DAYS. but
how many hours remained before the
inevitable impending conflict? "Est
ce pour aujourdhui ?" (Will it be to-
day p was the sentence with which the
people greeted one another each morn
ing.
LII commence p ct has began y
my Iaundress told, Friday morning, the
23d of June.
According to her words, great barri-
cade was erected across the boulevard,
not far from the gates of ST.. Denis. I
went there immediately.
At first nothing particular could be
noticed. The same crowds of people
IN front of the open cafes and stores.
che same endless procession of carriages
and omnibuses-thef faces seemed some
what more animated, the conversation
louder and, strange to say merrier
this was all. But the further
proceeded. the more changed the
physlognomy of the boulevard. Fewer
carriages were to be met, the omnibuses
disappeared entirely; the stores and
even the cafes were being locked hur-
riedly, or were already closed. The
crowd on the streets became less. But
the windows in the houses were opened
from the basement to the top; and near
these windows and on the thresholds of
the doors were crowds of people, mostly
women, children, servants and nurses :
tthIs multitude chartered, laughed, called
over TO one another, turned their heads.
waved their hands, as if in readiness for
q spectacle ; mindless, holiday curl
Osity seemed to seize all. Ribbons of
different colors, fchus, caps, white.
pink and blue dresses intermingled and
appeared variegated in the bright sun,
and rustled in the summer breeze-like
the leaves on the numerous popIars-
trees Of freedom.
Impossible that in five or ten
minutes there will be riot. shedding
OF blood y thought I. emo place to
imagine tragedy-as yet"
But suddenly, in the foreground.
crossing the entire boulevard in zig,
gag manner-proiected the uneven line
of q barricade-three yards in height.
In the very midst of it, surrounded by
tricolored, gold embroidered banners,
a little red flag Haunted it's sharp,
~ominous tongue. Some blOWserS were
seen from behind the ridge of heaped.
up gray stones. approached nearer.
The front of the barri ,ade was quite
deserted about fifty men, not more,
paced back and forward on the pave.
ment. CAT that time the boulevards
were not macadamized) The blousers
ioked with the arriving spectators one
belted with a soldiers white sword
hanger offered an uncorked bottle and
q half filed glass of wine, as if inviting
them to come and drink of it; another,
by his side, with e-barreled gun
on his shoulder, cried out, in a drawl.
ing voice. "Vive the national work.
shops Vive the republic, democratic
and social !"
Near him stood tall, dark-haired
woman, in striped dress, equipped
also with a sword belt, pistol placed
therein. She did not laugh, but in a
thoughtful manner fixed her large, dark
ewes upon the scene. I crossed the
uHrnot turned To the left. and. with five