New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-16

the sincerity Of Thlers's intention to establish
the Republican form of government in France than
the whole-hearted manner in which the woman who
bears his name has executed and executes his DO
litical testament. She called upon Republican
France TO escort his remains to Pere la Chaise and
we remember IN what spirit the appeal was re-
sponded to. Deep answered to deep. The devoted
love of woman, previously absorbed IN household
affairs, to great memory, drew forth the sympathy
of an entire nation Paris forgot all that she had
suffered while Theirs was Chief of the Executive,
remembering only that his latest love was the
Republic, and that he was cast from power
because he was faithful to pledges he had
made in April, 1871, to the disturbed cities
Of Southern France not to join in any con-
spiracy against it, On the day his corpse was borne
to Pore In Chaise, the windows of heaven seemed to
be opened and floods of rain poured down upon the
million of heads which were reyerently uncovered
in the presence of a blOom-shrOuded coffin. lt was
an anxious moment. Theirs had been looked upon
as the great trunp-card OF Republican France
which was then engaged in what seemed to be
mortal struggle with clerical reaction. The ques-
ton was ." is France to merge into the Duehy OF
Magenta, or to be great and free countryT Madame
Theirs came forward with the political manifesto
which she found in the papers of the deceased
statesman, ana uttered the noble MOT Whlch tue
Lefts who published IT, took up = Les hommes
ReUreHt les principles demeUrGHt, FOR in plain English,
" Men die, but principles remain"
In Protestant countries it is hard to understand
why there was a grand commemorative service yes
terday for the repOse of Thierss soul. Now Theirs
was a Voltairean. But he was baptized. went
through the ceremony of the first communion, and
without confessing, got on the eve of his marriage
a billet de confession without having made a clean
breast to the priest who signed IT. or 50 much as
whispered a word into his ear This was about the
extent to which he "practised." He dead
when at ST. Germans the priest was called in; but
there was, it was assumed and all honor to the
Able for assuming it, presumption that had he
not been struck down with paralysis, and known
ne was dying, he would have acceded TO the re-
quest, which his wife certainly would have made
for the last rites of the church 10 be administered
to him. These facts, assumptions and presump
tons, money aiding entitled him TO Christian
burial. According to the usage Of Catholic conn
tries the widow on the anniversary of her husbands
death is expected to have a funeral
mass celebrated in his honor She asks
all those who invited to the intcrment. suDpos7
ing she has not quarrelled with them in the mean
while to the service. If she is uch there is cata-
falque erected in the midst of n church draped in
black aud a sham coffin, round which hundreds of
tapers blaze, hoisted up on the top of il. Every
thing is arranged exactly as though dead body
were there, and the same prayers recited THIS is
the extent Of what the church and society demand
of widowhood, though. of course, they hope for a
longer show of grief, provided it takes a gentle
course. This provided" is for society, and not tor
the church, which has everything to gain from vio
lent affection. What use would its consultations be
if they were not to console, and more especially
that class of m0urners termed the incOnsoable The
day after the end-Of-the-year ceremony the widow
may cast aside her mourning and resume "A course of
mundane gayety. Now France was hidden 10 the
intcrment, and why should she not argued Mad
aue Theirs, be hidden as well 10 the sham
funeral As the Senatorial elections were al hand,
the Nation would be pleased nc the compliment of
an invitation. To this end the vast Metropolitan
Cathedral was engaged for a commemorative mass.
As ii is not the parish church of the Theirs family,
the Dean and Archbishop might have refused Ia let
the widow assemble there her friends, and remind
them of the political testament of him who died on
September 3, 1877, AT 81. Germans. But they i'm
agined the interest IN the liustriOus statesman
used up, and that, as there was much money 10 he
made ont of grand service, such a. was proposed,
there would be no harm IN cOuseuting. The widow
stipulated that she TO have the seats arranged
according 10 her wish, and drIperies hung according
TO her taste IL only on the of the service,
when municipal delegates who will be Senators, elect
OTs were arriving in hundreds from all the Provinces
of France that Monsogneur GlhDert felt the import
ance OF the manifestation which was being prepared
with his consent. a sIrewder priest would have
hidden his displeasure and as things had gone 80
far, advanced with them himself to the end. But
he displayed impOtcnt anger, thereby endeanng
doubly 10 the population Madame Ihler-. The
great Dell Of NOre Dame, By Siousegueurs orders, II
was known, on the evening Of the ID was not 10
toll, and the Archbishop was not to appear at the
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city, nothing could be better. On the day Of the
commemorative funeral Madame Ihicr5 was truly
the Sovereign lady OF Pans.
Events here spontaneously assume a dramatic
form. The French, lleine remarked are les conc
dicas do bon Lieu Paris yesterday stage. and
all the men and women who witnessed the mass
VINO assembled in the streets, 10 salute the widow,
players. She rode from the Place st. Georges to
Notre Dame in gala carriage. 1t was drawn by
mourning and couple Of lackeys in black were
hanging on behind. A gala coach means one set on
high springs, with high seats and nearly three sides
glass, so that those inside can be we'll in view. The
widow, who did not appear the worse for having
remained up the night before TO supenntend the
drapng of the catafalque and the arrange
ment Of the 5000 roses-and such roses
sent as offering by the gardeners Of Brie Comto
Robert-loOked plump and pretty. She was very
coauettishly dressed in a Marie Stuart cap and VEIL
and thick black silk dress fitting her like Joiyin
glove. MademOiselle DOsne was at her side and NJ.
Barthelcmy, st. llaire, aud Mgnet Thicrss college
friend at AK, sat with their backs 10 the horses,
Mademoiselle DOdu, the new knight" Of the
Legion of Honor, followed in NJ. Thierss brougham
The lamps of both carriages were mufiled. In n
third carriage rode some members of the Academy
intimate friends of the deceased historian. The
moment the gala coach came in sight all hats were
taken OF. And with such a graceful sweep | shall
never forget the respectful sympathy expressed in
that general uncOveringOf heads. There were no
vivas nor verbal manifestations Of symDa-
thy. A lady's nerves were too delicate to
be trihed with, and the meanest blouse
felt this. Deep, dead solemn silence was the form
the manifestation took When the carriage had
passed by hats were again placed on heads. Mad
anne Theirs in riding TO NOtre Dame went through
the busiest quarters of Paris. All the Danes DIES
Halles turned out spontaneously TO meet her. In
her course to Pere la Chaise she traversed the fight
ing faubourgs Of st. Antoine and Charonne, where
she met with respectful homage The idea was also