The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-07

grave and gowned dignitaries that the
space between the two files OF students
was presently filled up by n moving
mass OF robes and caps. First. flourish
ing his rod Of ofIicea blue wand plen-
tifulIy besprinkled with tieurs- de lis OF
gold, alternately planting It on the
ground. or elevatinR il in the air, with a
strut and simper worthy OF MalvOlio,
strobe forth the clerk OF the messcn-
gers, who bore upon his tunic the blazon
Of the university. namely, a hand de-
scending from the sky. holding book,
surrounded by three fieurs-de lis or, on
a field azure. Glancing at the scholars
with supercilious smile, the herald
passed on. Next came the bedes and
the minor bedels OF all Faculties, who.
by some accident, were SO junbled to-
gether that it was impossible to deter
mine or arrange any order Of prece-
dence All put their best feet foremost.
Medicine trod hard on the heels Of The
ology and the Arts. while Civil Law ap-
peared most uncivilly inclined to out
strip oil three. These bedels or greffiors
were Jolly robustious souls. bending be
meath the weight of their ponderous sill
yer maces. and attired in gowns OF
black, blue. violet, or dark red. each
color denoting the Faculty to which the
wearer pertained. To the bedels sue
ceedcd u confusion worse confounded,
in the heads of he Faculties themselves,
who strove in vain to collect together
their scattered forces, or to form them
into ANYTHING like professional array.
Suddenly the shril blast IF u trumpet
shook the mir, and echoed far down the
hill of st. Gcueyieve. The call was i'm
nediately answered by tho trampling
of n troop of horsemcn in the distance.
Presently the chatter or hOofs drew
nearer, and ~ few seconds had not
elapsed ere two companies, each con
sstng of fifty archers Of the body
guard, fully accOllirod and supcrbly
mounted. rode into the area and drew
lIp i'm the rear Of the students. Besides
this array of soldiery might be seen the
numerous retinue Of Rene dc Nillequier,
composed not merely of his own lac
queys and attendants in their sumptu-
Gus apparel OF blue and red cloth, but
Of certain armed cross bowmen OF the
Guet Royal, headed by their chevalier,
who surrounded the governors huge
llnwiedy caroche OF state and richly
caparisoned Flanders horses. Alto
gether IL was a gallant sight: and the
scholars, though not entirely satisfied
with the presence of so many intruders,
and perhaps not wholly unawed by their
numbers, manifested no further show
OF discomfort.
A pause now took place in the process
sion. The foremost In advance came to
a halt and the whole body wheeled
round and faced the college. Three
semicircles were thus formed. OF which
the professors described tho inner and
the lesser. the archers on horseback the
outer and wider. and the students the
intermediate and denser circle. Still,
however. n small vacant space was pre-
served before the portal.
At this instant u murtnur arose
amongst the school men. He comes
he comes" flew from one to other with
tho rapdity Of lightning. -Four other
mace bearers, walking abreast, strode
deliberately through the gateway, az II
they had been the only objects of inter
est, and drew MP two on either side.
The course was now completely unob-
strlcted. The rector appeared. He
was n man Of venerable aspect and ma
iestic mien. and well became the mag
niticent apparel the ample stole ol
scarlet, and mantle of snowy crlnlDe, III
which, rs chief Of the university, he was
clad. sash Of sky blue silk crossed
nlA TOtf, anu Su~I1llllfi ~
velvet esearccllc, friugcd with lace and
decorated with buttons of gold. Upon
his head he wore tho square cap of q
doctor Of theology
AT his side and on his right walked
one on whom all eyes were bent with
wonder and curiosity. The rector and
his companion stopped without the
gateway, when, rs II they were lnllu-
enccd by some sudden and uncontrolla-
BILE impulse, one long, loud, continuous
reclamation burst from the ranks OF the
scholars. Nor were the graver mem
bers OF the university silent. Even the
doctors Of theology lent the aid OF thelr
voices, while the archers, raising them
selves In their stirrups, lifted their hel-
NETS from their brows, and waving
them in the air, increased and prolonged
the clamor by their vociferatlons.
james Crichton possessed an exterior
so striking, and n manner so eminently
prepossessing, that his mere appearance
seemed to act like u spell on the be-
holders. The strongest sympathy was
instantly and universally excited in his
favor. Youth is ever interesting, but
youth so richly graccd as his could not
fail to produce an extraordinary impress
sion. At the sight OF him the whole
aspect of things was changed. Enthu-
siasm, amounting almost To devotion,
usurpcd the place Of animosity, and all
vindictiye feelings resulting from
wounded pride or other petty annoy
ances, were obliterated or forgotten.
Even discontinue wore the aspect Of
victory.
But in the demcanor Of the victor no
external sign Of solicitation was per
ceptiblc. He might not be insensible 70
the distinction Of his achievement, but
he did not plume himself upon it, or
rather, with the modesty ever inherent
i'm true greatness, appeared TO underrate
his own success. His cheek was slightly
flushed and smile Of tempered salts
faction played upon his countenance as
he acknowledged the stunningapplauscs
Of the concourse before him. No traces
of over-eXertion or excitement were Wis
ible in his features or department. His
brow was unclouded his look serene,
lis step buoyant and, as his bright
eve wandered over the multitude, there
was not an individual upon whom his
gaze momentarily rested, but he felt his
heart leap within his breast.