, 1876-06-04
DIICHELET.
His Funeral Procession to Pere
laChaise.
An Antl-Religious Demonstration, Sym.
bollzed by the Wearing Of
1mmortelles.
Correspondence London Times.

Michclet desired that no cries or excitement
should trouble that day WAS only designed to
make the funeral q pretc1t for political
demonstration. The event has shown that they
misinterpretel her letter. It is only after
4 long judicial struggle that Madame Afichelet
has been allowed to bring the remains Of her
husband to Paris. Michelet made two contra
dictory wills. He said in the one that lie wished
to be buried In Paris, while in the other he as
signed the cemetery nearest the place Of his
death. Hence tho lawsuit which the son of his
deceased daughter by 4 former wife engaged In
to obtain the retention Of the body ut uyeres,
where Michelet died. It would be useless to at
tempt to explain why this lawsuit was entered
upon, and it is, think, simplest to suppose that
it was dictated by sentiment Of fi1ial jealousy,
and that on both sides the desire was upper;
most to conform to Mlchelet's desires. But the
case was painful one. The Judges were much
perplexcd, and ultimately gave decision in
favor Of the wife, who had attended Michelet
In his last days with the tendcrest care
aad the most touching affection. This
gocs to, prove the sincerity Of Madame
Michclct's letter. The immense crowd that as
sclnbled obcycd her cxhortation. The noiselcss
procession encountered on Its route the most
respectful SILENCE. The body arrived at Paris
Yesterday evening, Nine. Michelet having her
SELF gone to Hycres to fetch it. Miclelct Ind
never left France, ind it'was not as AL exile
that he died, but by a curious chance Ae had
lived for many years at the extremity Of France,
ana his body, which was thought to have been
left forever at Hyercs, passing over such u
length OF French territory, recalls the return of
great exilcs, welcomed ~ whole nation On
their route Wherever the train stopped the
sympatiizing population turned out to DO holt
our to the dGccascd. In some villages Of Cen
tral France flowers were scattered over tho coffin
o[ u man who had the greatest passion for How
crs and birds and all that is infinitely small In
nature; and in tho larger towns dcputations
came 10 greet the widow who was bringing the
rcrnnins Of her husbuld to the Paris which he
had so often agitatcd, and which has retained
sucl, an abiding recollection Of him.
At 10 O'Clock already tic Rue pAssas was In
4 state Of excitement. No: 76 vas draped in
brought down into the porch, covered with
black cloth. At II the deputations began to ar
rive. The College OF France, where he WAS
Professor, the Institute, OF which lie was q mem
Der; tho students Of Paris, Lille, Montpelllcri
Nancy, and Montauban, paid lomagc,to the
Professor whose chair was o tribune, and
who from that tribune sent forth words
that had the gift-Oftcn an untownrd onc-of
moving Europe. There were representatives,
too, from among the Senators and Deputies,
umong whom he rcckoned many friends, the
press, to which he belonged; men Of all rank
and nationalities from hundred different mo-
tiycs, had been drawn into the procession. Tie
coffin was carried III very simple hearse, Gov
cred with flowers from Italy, Nice, the south Of
France, Paris, and othe. places. Several wrcaths
the deputations Of students: The representa-
tiycs u the Institute arrived In full dress, their
coats embroidered with green palm leaves in
a large mourning carriage which followed we're
Madame Acllelet and three Of her family
at 13 o'clock the procession started, The
crowd on both sides of the street WIS very
great. At the head Of the procession q few
wore bouquets OF yellow and red immortelles
in their butto,l-holcs. Yet, along, the whole
course, the usual vendors Of this strange
commodity continued offering them to those
stationed along the streets, mt Joining In the
procession, aud having evidently not the least
reason to take part in it, there we're men OF the
people, artisans with the yellow and red inl-
mortcles attached to their Dlouse5. III the
dress, leading by the hand little boy OF ors
years III the complete costume OF an officer OF
artillery. Nothing was wantinss-the lace cap,
the white gloves, even the spurs: The Indy
leading him had large bouquet q 9f yellow m m
uniform Of tho little artilleryman was one OF the
same kind. Why were these flowers, the EN-
blcm OF frccthirkcrs, put on the child9 Why
were these flowers worn by the ,Workmen. sta
toned on the paveincnts, drawn %, 1y curiosity to
mortcllcs fastened to the breast ot those in
the crowd pressing behind the procession. and
by the students attending Us deputatlon from
Montpelier and elsewhere! Why, IN the last
place. we're there seen in the procession two
coal-black negroes, their constant laughter re-
yealing white and well-set teeth: Why had they
yellow bouquets In their button-holes: Nichclet
helierel mud never ceased to believe, in the
Of the soul. Under The influence Of
Quinct and Mickicvicz, he once carried on war
against religion, but his loTing heart anu poetic
combats, and lie devoted the last years OF his
life to describing mountains, insects, flowers,
women, and birds. No doubt, after tue example
Of Jean Rcynaud, he devised special theory OF
but under whatever form he be-
licycd in ii, aud protested with all his power
arainst the doctrine ofannihilution. Nowhere was
tie exhibition Of that emblem, which in theeycsof
the mass syHbolzcs absolute increduhty, lcssln
its place than is the procession OF to-day. But
its exhibition explained the crowd forming the
as it explained the crowd along its
was not popular man. He never figured In
the deliberations OF the Assembly on questions
n the ordinary aeccptation Of the word; and
il Italy, RouInania, and Poland were repre-
eDte ctaah at his fa fbafra no7 It sd dons eesss L.
wished to defend the cause Of humanity and Of
national liberty, without touching the purely
political side of the causes which be defended.
lie was too subtle and delicate writer 1or
lis works, including his History, OF France"
ever to have penetrated to the lower classes.
But what proved i'll tllis funeral an at
traction for the masses was its not being
religious burial, They made 1t an occasion
for m anti-religious demonstration, precisely
,ne Of those demonstrations Of which the
rclloy flowers are the symbol; and for the
thousands of persons who followed the coffin or
lid homage to Michelet, the others have made
t what tie burial Of Qutnet, Of Cremer, or Of
Madame Louis Blanc was, and what that o1
Esouiros will be OH Sunday at Marselles,-a
demonstration.
Thus It was that the procession went through
he Faubourgs, the Boulevard st. Marcel the Bou-
cyarl dc l'Hopital, before the Orleans Railway,
station, to reach Pcrc Lachaise. At first 1t was
intended to 60 along the Boulevard st. Martin,
o touch the Rue dc Rivoli, and thus traverse
ho heart of Paris But this idea was abandoned,
md q less frcquented course was chosen. On
he Boulevard St: Marcel there we're few specta-
ors. but they reappeared in thick masses ut the
nd Of the Boulevard dc l'Hopita1, and Increased
IS the procession passed through the artisans
till it reached Pere Lachaise.
At the end Of the Boulevard de lHopital
,yertook the van OF the procession, and stopped
o calculate how many were present. cannot,
# course, give that Of the crowd with any ap"
roach to precision, for, when such process
ion occurs al Paris, or, at least, all that part
II the town through which it passes, appears at
be windows or in the streets, but 1t vas easy to