, 1876-10-08
A. PARIS SENSATION.

| Correspondence Ne7o Fork 7Ymes.
| PARIS, Sept, CT wrote the other day Of
the burial Of Felicien David at SAINT
Germain. II I may say it without ap-
| pearing irreverent, it was one Of the least
entertaining funerals Of the year, and for first
class affair greatly lacking Therewe
| some details which escaped me at the moment.
| Every one appeared to be In bad humor, and all
! marched in silence to the cemetery as # engaged
in some bad action. The truth was that all felt
little uncomfortable, for, unbeknown to a
majority Of us, we we're taking part in q civil
burial, and hence in demonstration which had
political significance. had always supposed
that Felicien David was rrai crovont, for bis
works seem to have spirit which comes from
belief In God, and there is nothing In them
hostile to the Church. David Sometimes
mas, and seemed rather trarscendental In his
belief; but he never abused orthodoxy, or found
fault with men who clung to any particular
creed. He was essentially generous and liberal
could imagine him calmly preparing for q noise
about his own coffin. It seems that he said in
his will that he desired very simple funeral,
without any sort Of display, and desired to have
dence to the cemetery. It is q question now
whether David meant by this to have a civil
burial, according to the general acceptation Of
the term, when he must have known that this
would Immediately associate him With the |
atheists Of the Radical Republique Universelle. |
The executor appointed under the will is him |
self free-thinker, and he put his own interpre-
tation upon these words. According to his
view David meant by having his body carried
directly to the cemetery to haveit kept away
from any church, and hence meant to avoid the
interference OF priests, and all the ceremonies
attending religious. burta1s. Whether be did |
mean this or not, is now the question. The |
composer lived at Saint Germain, in the chalet |
Of Nine. Taste, the widow Of his former friend, !
who has one daughter. They have fortune,
and hence made him pleasant home. Nine |
Taste says that she had no idea civil burial was
intended by the words in the will, and supposed |
that there were to be religious ceremony and |
prayers over the grave. The executor decided |
in favor OF the civil burial, and there appears to
have been no appeal, no person having that
right against his decision.
When arrived, some Of the leading literary |
and musical people Of Paris had already arrived, j
andi it wa. noticeable that all wore look Of
unusual anxiety, and conversed in groups in the
corners. Presently company Of soldiers from
the garrison came up, and the Captain entered, |
sa1uting the coffin with his sword as he passed.
He informed the executor that he had come to |
render military honors to the deceased on ac-
count OF his quality as an officer OF tho Legion
OF Honor, and asked to what church the body |
was to be conducted. The reply was that, by
the expressed wish Of II. David in his WILL the
body would be taken to no church, but would
be carried directly to the grave. ssThen," said
L
again saluted the body az he passed, had his
men present arms, then marched them back to
the cdseT7.e. From this moment the funeral be-
came absolutely sombre. Every one looked
sation on the way to the cemetery, but on ar
rivlng there it was thought that some speeches
would be made But there YVES no programme |
announced, and the coffin was lowered into the
to look at each other inquiringly. The executor
said that u. Ambrose Thomas Was to have pro-
aounced a discourse, but had sent his excuses on
hearing that this was to be civil burial. The
thing over the grave of their colleague. Tie
composers were silent; N. Hallanzier declined |
20 make speech, and after few moments of |
embarrassing hesitation, a few handfuls Of earth |
'traggled away in all directions
This Is the report of an event which Is now |
.gitating all Paris One party is denoupciue |
be burial without the aid Of the clergy; the |
'ther is abusing all present for not delivering
ome sort Of speech over the grave The Re-
publican Journals attack the officers who With
rev with bis men, and abused the members Of
he Institute for their cowar1ice or interference.
10 far as the Captain Is concerned he must be I
cquitted ct once, Tor nc said fairly that he was
hat the members at the Institute did also. It
$ said that they wereIequested as persons pen
ioned by the State, belonging to State in I
t1tutipn, not to take part in any demonstration
hat might be made on this occasion. Hence NJ. | .
'ambetta's paper attacks n. Waddington He
} Protestant, and hence liberal in such mat
crs, so that We must conclude some action in
ne d ZAP. Cabnst ct Influenced hts course It would
:hurch at this time, and the attempts Of the
government to conciliate the clergy are yerv
trustworthy, but the Republican organs Will
Ct Ct see things IN this light, They. want to give
how themselves militant when there is really
o OCCASION for it, but it can be said in their