Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-07-30
From our regular correspondent
PARIS. Wednesday Night
July 10th, 1873.

| wish IL were possible Tor worcs to
describe the greatest popular demonsIrs-
ton of modern times, and The most
splendid artificial illumination since the
fiat lur OF the Almighty Paris sur
passed itself on the occasion OF the fete
TO Peace and Industry. The streets from
Vincennes TO the Boci de Bologue we're
gay with flags and verdure in The day
time, and resplendent with gas lanterns.
aud electric lights at night. Wires were
stretched across from window to win
dow, and boughs. flowers, aud 7one tian
lamps were suspended from them. Inis
was all done spontaneously and in an
ou,burst of popular enthusiasm. NJ. Ed
mond About was chairman OF commit
tee for decorating the Rue DC DOnai. In
which he lives. He Assem- bed The Artists
who live IN that quarter, and most bril-
lian,ly did they perform their sell im'
posed task Emisssries were dispatched
by them TO the forests OF Tue State, aud
,hey brough. back whole trains laden
with holly and overgreens. Whist Ameri-
can young ladies' do for their churches
on Christmas, About snd his friends did
for the Rue dc DouAi. and their example
was initiated throughout; entire districts
by rich and poor The tete was every
where. Not street was oyercrOwded,
but there was no street that was no,
crowded. Fire works were sent up 10
different parts OF the city, and at The
Bots DO Bouogne, the lakes Infinitely
multiplied the lights lhst were hung
along their borders or suspended nom
the many boats that glided over their
waters. 10 the fullest sense the iete was
a popular one, got up oil the people, by
the people. and for the people. Early IN
the morning statue OF the Republic
was unveiled in the Champ de- Mars, and
dedicated with lew admirable words
from different Cabinet ministers. When
the Minister OF the Interior gave the sig
nal for the veil 10 be removed, a band
that bad been masked behind q ciump Oh
trees. struck up the Marseillaise. j he
soldier president OF the Republic. was
not present at any point OF the festivities
bur. at night. accompanied by Madame
Mcmahon and the Shah OF Persia, he
nscended the Arch OF Triumph and
looked down upon the radiant city.
The populnce were wild with gayety
music and laughter resoundcd in the
streets from morning till midnight
"Glsise a Ia France" by Victor Hugo
was first sung, but the "Marseillaise'
was always the best reserved for the
last. Nothing will ever take the place
OF that song in tho hearts OF the French
peop,e. (;unad's "Vive Ia Franco" is q
pedaLlic thing. Hugo's composition -
.ublime. bu, funoreAl; Rouquet dc
Isles burning hymn has fire enough in
it TO inname Europe second time, and
France forty time.
Theirs WAS not forgotten. A stream
Of citizens poured continually through
tho place, ST. Georges. In front OF the
house rendered celebrated by the veneer
able statesman, heads were reverently
uncovered. \ large wreath OF immor
telles. dedicated 10 the memory oil the
..absept one" Was suspended on the
gate. Later in The day, a Radical must
cal club assembled in the garden OF the
house, now occupied by the widow OF
NJ. Theirs, and serenaded her with patri'
otto airs. About midnight there were, IN
different parts OF the city, "aambeaux
retreats, ;" cavalry soldiers, ten or twelve
abreast. bore lighted torches as they rode
along. and mounted bands followed
them, playing martial music.
II is estimated that twenty I'VE thou
sand pairs OF hands were kept busy IL
the work shops for twelve days proceed
ing the jete, making flags and other de-
coralions for private houses and pubic
buildings. What was spent for the item
OF paper lanterns alone must have been
immense. Bonnets decorated with TIL
colored ribbons, and flowers IN artistic
devices were worn for one day and cast
aside the next. The Patriotic boquet,
made OF artificial roses. was every where
it was worn by young and old. rich aud
poor, boys, girls. and babies. There
were few houses, occupied by Orlean-
lists or Imperialists, that did not hang
out flags or illuminate, but no menace
was proffered them. there seemed to be
an entire absense OF psrtizan feeiing,this
might not have been the case had The OPP
position teen in less hopeless minority.
Each was perfectly free to do ss seemed
good in his own eyes. provided he dld
no, infringe on tho rights OF anybody
else. At the church of the Madeleine
there were under the colonnsde, imposing
PROFESSIONS in celebration OF the Octave
of the Corpus Christi. No attempt was
made by the many sceptical passers by
to throw contempt upon it. a military
band was present to enhance the pomP
of the religious ceremony, and take turns
with the grand organ in musical enter
tainment. The Partisan is tolerant, we'll
bred, and thoroughly good-naiured when