The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-02-09
Midnight Mass in Notre Dame.
POPE PTus VII AND THE GREAT N.po-
LEON AND EMPRESS Jo-
SEPHINE.

LEoN AND EMPRESS JO-
sEPHINE.
Christmas Eve was still and clear
and thousands of the devout and Gu
rlous crowded the churches for the
Midnight Mass. We attended High
Mass in Notre Dame, and, from a
4 gallery above the chancel, saw very
imposing display--grand church dig.
nitaries, headed by the Cardinal and
/ the Archbishop in their most magni.
icent robes, which could almost
stand and o3iciate alone=priests
and acolytes going through their i'm
pressive, though to as mysterious
rites. The pictufesdheness of the
scene was almost enough to inspire
worship-the illuminated affairs and
thrones, the rich carpets and hang
ings, the gorgeous vestments, and,
above all, the effects of the sunshine
pouring through the splendid stained
windows, and falling in glorious
baptism of color on the heads of
priests and choristers.
Still my thoughts and my eyes
would wander down the long nave to
spot by the great portal where, one
December morning seventy-one years
ago, stood a magnificent throne, with
two gilded chairs, awaiting the En-
peror and Empress of France. I
pictured to myself the vast church
all hung with those gorgeous velvet
hangings shining with golden bees
that wonderful crowd of church dig
nitarfes, princes, soldiers, officials,
and Legislators, and the smiling
groups of court ladies in the gale
ries, chief among them the proudest
mother in Christendon. The Arch
bishop Recalled the venerable figure
of the patient prisoner OF Napoleon,
Plus VII, waiting near the altar for
the coming of his imperial host
that grand t'thief Of the world" who,
with equal GOODNESS made free with
Roman PontifIs and pictures, holy
family, or the Holy See.
l looked on the way he walked in
crossing the altar, when he crowned
himself and his Empress, and in 60
ing to his throne. I suppose we can
see just how he looked that day by1
David's great picture. His costume
though designed by that artist, and
beautiful exceedingly, seems to me
to have been theatrical and efemi-
nate.
These coronation robes, with those
worn by the Pope and Archbishop
on that occasion, were torn to pieces
in the Revolution of 1881, for the
sake of their rich gold Ornamental
ton; but they have been ,nended and
are still preserved in the sacristy of
Notre Dame. tits strange that those
magnificent rags have outlasted two
empires and three kingly reigns, to
say nothing of poets dream of
republic and nightmare of a Com
mune. My old friend saw Napoleon
on that eliminating day of his desti-
ny, and says that his beauty was
something Incredible and that to
see him and Josephine in their state
of glass and gold was like
realizing beautiful dream of fairy
land. The Emperors plumed chap
eau was turned up at one side and
''buttoned with a star''-the great
Regent diamond. She says he salu-
ted right and left the people who
adored and feared him "enorme-
ment' but that he looked grave to
sternness, though giving once in a
while ga smile like winter sunshine" j
being still out of humor with the s
Pope, who had most unwillingly con- I
,ented to consecrate him. The on dit i
vas that after a long and stormy in t
;erview he had Yesorted to his favor
tie imperial argument, buffet on :
he cheek, which brought the Holy !.
Father to the browning point, and y
made him ready to chant with proper o
motion, "VSyat IN oerteynWan semper r
augustus. - Grace Greenwood's b
Paris Letter to the Times. t
JOHN SMITH.-In Latin he is Jo- :.
mes Smithus; the Italians smooth =
i'm off with Giovanni Smith; the .
'paniards render him Juan Smithus; o
he Dutchman adopts him as Hans t.
the French fatten him out Fl
nto Jean Smeet; and the Russian j