The New York herald., 1876-02-22
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I TO THE ASSEMBLY. /

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Passing through spacious thoroughfare and two wide
streets beyond we come to the angle at the extreme
north, where the theatre is situated in which Para-
ment is held. Traversing various dark, damp corri-
dors and ascending oaken starcases somewhat
narrow and inconvenient, we arrive at the hall in
which the this great Republic are discussed
1t exceedingly splendid theatre representative OF
the taste of the period in which it but-the taste
OF tho Pompadour who began IL and also the taste OF
Du Barry who completed it, The stage is shut of by
curtain worthy of any great representative theatre.
The Presidential chair elevated in the proscenium
much too narrow and confined IN front OF this is
mean looking buffet constructed after the de-
sign and according TO the custom in vogue during tho
FIRST Empire. Inmediatcly to his right the President
has fixed bell after the manner of the sacrsty which
he strikes whenever the tumut becomes toe great,
and beside hts hammer, the left lies rod such as
schoomasters a rule in hogging their pupils
The four deputy seated table below
and slightly removed from the chair. Near these
stand four ushers black and white ties who
assist the President in the work OF imposing silence on
the Deputies when the silver bell and hammer have
proved Intellectual The editors of parliamentary bills
occupy table In front of aud beneath the secretaries
and the Shorthand reporters occupy other and parallel
tables In front and below the editors again and both
sides OF the tribune from which the speeches are made
The Ministry have places in the orchestra the De-
puties up all the other and the galleries i'm.
medatey below, what we simply call the pit boxes.
Each political fraction is seated according to number
the Extreme Right the Right, the Right Centre,
the Left Centre the Left, the Extreme Lef-a in due
order
ARE MANY YOUNG pRPuTIEs
such as may be in Congress Gray boards and
bald heads abound of them wearing black velvet
caps OF material such the guardians OF the first univer
sal church hung at the entrance the tomb OF ST. Peter
and before the holy sanctuary. The lateral box seats
of the proscenium opening into the space between
two grand pillars that sustain the gorgeous entrance TO
the stage which in other was used for the royal
family when they did not come in state are now re-
served for the friends of the President OF the Chamber
and the President Of the Republic In the boxes below
the invited friends OF the government and the vari-
GUS dignitaries Of the nation, while the diplomatic
corps occupy the reserved Seats in the centre of which
is the tribune In the splendid glitterng balcony in
the centre OF the principal gallery, formerly occupied
by the royal family in the days of great ceremony arc
the newspaper reporters most regally installed and
in such favored position that every modulation OF the
voice Of the speakers may be heard during the turmoil
attending pusillanimous and boisterous Efforts All
the galleries formerly reserved courtesans are now
given to the trbunes Of order and some shut or
by having colorcd curtains hung before them reaching
to the roof In the form Of garrett which were set
apart fitted up for the domestcs of the royal house
hold whence they could witness the play without being
seeu are now given over to spectators having minor
positions or some minor favor which accords them
the privilege Of being present during Parliamentary
sessions
LIGHTING THE ASSEMBLY
The theatre is lighted by tho dim rays that penetrate
the eternal shades Of smoke-stained glass roof but
II representative OF the true light OF the Arctic re-
gions when this light Is illuminated by artificial means
Besides the fourteen flaming torrents OF resplendent
light pouring from the hanging gaselicrs the swinging
crystals depending from which glitter like briliants
immense lookiugglasses cover the walls Of the royal
gallery, forming, Il were semicirclc OF FURNISHED
silver rejecting and concentrating the light Increasing
II In such manner that u Is rapidly refractcd The
gallery ceiling all blue the groundwork on which
are painted theatrical subjects al fresco-the Muses.
doves, wreaths OF flowers Above the obscure back
ground, which represents shady Jasper, appear the
trophies The arches the captols the boxes all gilded
and when the orator speaks amid this ocean OF light
bo'h speaker and audience animated as though
they understood and appreciated the mysterious har-
monies that nature has established between the sonor.
Gus aud the luminous, giving color 10 her shades and
tone 10 her voice, by which they are communicated
through the and the eye to the utmost depths
OF tho soul
HISTORIC RKMMscExcRs
In this theatre the most interesting scenes in history
have been enacted Here celebrated the marriage
OF Louis XVI, King who possessed one Of th. nrst
human nqualities-goodnessand none Of the qualities
ofroyaltyWith Marie AnOinO,e the unhappy daughter
OF the courageous Marie Theresa who, notwithstand.
ing the disappOintments Of her mother the crown
as trinket for her handkerchief to adorn Der beauty
and wished 10 roign as continuous advertisement in
an eternal spectacular display Here, night the
month OF October, 1889, when feudasm had routed
the galows and tho when already the fundamental
rights Of humanity had formulated their admirable
principles, the body guards had met At a banquet in
order 10 their installations against all this prog
ress finally in the midst Of deep ba,iona in the
presence Of the Court who looked from the boxes