The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-07-20
N"' ati' W 81 ~ my
BROADBRIM'S LETTER FROM PARIS.

NEWS, oN DIS, Ell.
The week which has just past has been
one of continued excitement-fete has sue
ceeded fete, pageant has followed pageant,
and for time at least it would seem as if
Paris might be satisfied. Sunday ushered
in the Grand Prix, or Great Prize race
which is the principal event of the year.
There are Saints days, church festivals
and holy feasts, but they all pale before the
Great Prize race, which generally takes
place about the middle of June. The
English Parliament has often been adj
journed for the Derby; the American Con-
gress has taken recess to get look at
the Long Branch races, but don't think
either of them ever adjourned Sunday, and
that is exactly what our French cousins did,
just one week ago. For days and days pre-.
ceding the race, the busy note of prepara-
ton might be heard all over Paris; thou.
sands of people who could not have in
formed you of the chances of Kaiser
Williams living or dying, knew all about
the qualities of the different horses in the
race. 1t was the absorbing topic in the
wine shops and the cafes chdntants. All
along the streets you heard of nothing else:
women talked about it; dressmakers and
tailors were largely interested in it, and
those natty little nurses in sweet little caps
which you meet along the streets left their
| infant charges under the shady trees of
the Champs Elysees, while they pumped
| tho
the French horse. Even the priest, on TOP
OF an omnibus, piously counting his beads,
stopped in the middle of Pater n0ster to
inquire the pedigree of" lie cheval anglais,"
and why should he not when the distin-
guished "Marechal President de la Repub-
lique lent to the imposing occasion the
sanction of his mighty presence, with two or
three Kings and half dozen princes, not
to mention your intelligent correspondent.
All Paris was out with his wife and family
to see the show. The Grand Prix is very
| respectable Derby. You miss the donkey
drivers and costermongers which disgrace
the English course, but everybody goes to
see the race.
Early in the day people began to 60 out
towards Longchamps, and every vehicle on
wheels was turned towards the race course
From the Place de la Concorde to the Arc
de Triomphe, was lined with solid mass
of people to see the grand toilettes and ex-
traordinary turnouts and they were not
Disappointed; all along the beautiful boule-
ward of the Bots de Boulogne, for miles,
the bourgeois sat under the shade of the
trees and enjoyed the passing pageant. 1t
was two o clock when the Marechal Presi-
dent passed, in carriage, with six horses
and postillions. The State carriage was a
gorgeous affair; the massive gold mount
ings of the harness and the gay dresses of
the Positions added to the striking effect.
All the postillions wore gray wigs plated
in tails behind, with jackets of bright
scarlet and immaculate knee breeches; two
stately coachmen sat on the box with
neither reins nor whip, seeming to have
no earthly object in view except to ride
out and see the races: and being most
splendid exemplications of that sinecure
Office that have been looking for all my
life, where there is lots to get and nothing
to do. One fat women astonshed the good
people with lively team of goats, while
gay gallant, in a bright blue vest and a
red necktie, dashed along behind four
splendid Newfoundlands, making as lively
time as half the blooded stock on the
course. Queen Isabella, Notwithstanding
her reported poverty, was also seen on the
road, and l thought to myself if this means
poverty should like to try it awhile. The
Shah of Persia had made up his mind to
drop few francs on the result of the
race, and accepted place in the Presi-
dents caleche, being followed by number
of his suit in four carriages with mounted
Positions. The different embassies were
we'll represented and not foreign Prince in
Paris-and their name is legion-denied
us the honor of his presence. The drivers
and turnouts were gorgeous. Longchamps
is one of the most beautiful racing fields
in the world. No graveled course disfig-
ures its surface, the race being run on the
grassy sward. From the grand stand the
sight was almost dazzling. There were
number of horses in the start, the riders
all in brilliant costumes. In and around
the course there were not less than two
hundred and fifty thousand people,
Several minor races were run, and the con-
Guiding race was the Grand Prix. After
several false starts the horses got off, and
after magnificent run the English horse
won by head, his victory being hailed
with vociferous cheers in which, l am
sorry to say, the Shah did not join, as
it was understood that his Imperial High.
ness had dropped some forty francs by
rently reported that he inquired of the
President if he might not be permitted to
hamsting the horse and behead one or two
of the jockeys.
On Tuesday the liking of Hanover was
borne to his last resting place attended by
all the honors usually paid to kings. King
George was the cousin of Queen Victoria,
and is said to be the last male of the house
of Guelph who occupied a throne on the
continent. He has been blind from his
youUii, anu ever SiuCG Ills hlDSuOHl Ol
over was absorbed in the empire of Ger
many, he has resided in Paris His body
laid in state for five days and the floral
offerings were magnificent. His late Ma
jesty occupied a modest mansion on Rue
banquet, close to the Arc de Triomphe.
Early in the morning large body of troops
began to gather in the vicinity. Two thou
sand cuirassiers occupied the Avenue de
Roi de Rome, and large body of infantry
stretched from the Arc de Triomphe along
the great Avenue des Champs Elysees. A
little after noon the mournful procession
moved, Prince Albert and his eldest son
following the hearse on foot as chief mourn
ers. One of the most startling sights was
to see the two kings of Spain walking anil
cably side by side, the ex-King Amadeus
and Don Assses, the husband of Isabella.