The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-01-27
How the First Napoleon was Crowned.

instantly Killed.
How the First Napoleon was Crowned.
Times.l
We attended high mass in Notre Dame,
and, from a gallery above the chancel,
saw a very imposing display-grand
church dignitaries, headed by the Cardi-
nal and the Archbishop in their most
magnificent robes, which could almost
stand and officiate alone-priests and
acolytes going through their Impressive,
though to us mysterious rites. The pic
turesqueness of the scene was almost
enough to inspire worship-the illumin-
ated affairs and thrones, the rich carpets
and hangings, the gorgeous vestments,
and, above all, the effects of the sunshine
pouring through the splendid stained
windows, and falling in glorious bap-
tism of color on the heads of priests and
choristers. Still my thoughts and my
eyes would wander down the long nave
to a spot by the great portal where, one
December morning seventy one years
ago, stood magnificent throne, with
two gilded chairs, awaiting the Emperor
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 dignitaries, princes, soldiers,
officials, and legislators, and the smiling
groups of court ladies in the galleries,
chief among them the proudest mother
in Christendom. The Archbishop re-
called the venerable figure of the patient
prisoner of Napoleon, Plus VII, waiting
near the altar for the coming of his i'm
perial host-that grand thief. of the
world" who, with equal GOODNESS, made
free with Roman Pontiffs and pictures, a
holy family or the Holy See. 1 looked
on the way. he walked in crossing to the
altar, when he crowned himself and his
Empress, and in going to his throne. !
suppose we can see just how he looked
that day by David's great picture. His
costume, though designed by that artist,
and exceedingly beautiful, seems to me
to have been theatrical and effeminate.
1t was of pure white satin and gold, and
for all the golden laurel wreath he wore
before putting on the crown, the entire
dress must have been less suggestive of
Caesar than of Sardanapalus. The ven
erable French friend l have several
times quoted, tells me that it really was
very much ridiculed by the few aristo-
Gratis and Bourbonists spared by the gull
lotine, or returned from exile to the
Faubourg st. Germain. They declared
that it betrayed the ostentation of a
nouveL riche, and the crude taste of q
parvenu. These coronation robes, with
those worn by the Pope and Archbishop
on that occasion, were torn to pieces il
the Revolution of 1881, for the sake o
their rich gold ornamentation, but they
have been mended, and are still pre-
served in the sacristy of Notre Dame
1t is strange that those magnificent rag
have outlasted two empires and three
kingly reigns, to say nothing of poet'
dream of republic, and nightmare O
a commune. My old friend saw Napo
leon on that eliminating day of his des
tiny, and says that his beauty wa
something incredible" and that to Sc,
him and Josephine in their state carriag
of glass and gold was like realizing
beautiful dream of fairyland. The En-
peror's plumed chapeau was turned u
on one side, and buttoned with star,
the great Regent diamond. She says h
f saluted right and left the people VIII
adored and feared him en0rmenaent,
but that he looked grave almost to stern
! ness, though giving once in while
smile like winter sunshine" being stil
E out of humor with the Pope, who ha
s most unwillingly consented to consecrat
him. The on dit was that after Ion
and stormy interview he had resorted
his favorite imperial argument, a buffe
, on the cheek, which brought the Hol
/ Father 10 the crowning point, and mad
f him ready to chant with proper junction
&c P;,1f IA, rptorn,y,,, Sel1ney. 4,0UsflLsn -