The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-31
Sunday at tho Hotel Des Invalidss.

l
omnibus at st.. Sulpice, intending to get
out at the Pont de Jena and then walk over
| TO tho other sido of the Seine. On arriy-
Ing at the Point do Palma we noticed so
much stir among the idlers on tho quay
that 1t seemed worth while to stop and
learn the cause. We soon found that
! something OF interest was drawing people
In the direction of the Hotel des Invalidcs.
where the First Napoleon sleeps, guarded
by the tow surviving veterans of his armies,
In one OF the grandcst resting. places pro-
vided for tho ashes Of mortal man. Sup
posing that the persons whom we saw
stroliing towards the graves were making
holiday visit to the celebrated tomb, we
decided to take the opportunity, as we were
80 near to see 1t also. To our disappoint-
ment, however, the tomb was not open to
visitors at this time, and we were Obliged
to content ourselves with seeing what we
could as we walked about the adjoining
buildings and grounds.
The Hotel des lnvalldes is an immense
building, or group of buildings, erected by
the 'Nrand Monarque," Louis XIV, as
an asylum for wounded soldiers. 1t is
said to contain moro than twenty courts,
and has an imposing front on the esplanade
OF Moro than six hundred feet. The fam
GUS tomb Of Napoleon Is in tho crypt of the
church, beneath the dome. There. too,
are the tombs Of the Emperor's marshals
Bertrand and Deroc.
The great court, called the Court of
Honor, into which we now pass, Is u bare,
open, quadrangular plaza, surrounded by
an arcade, Oh the inner walls of which are
rude frescoes representing scenes from the
early and IN some respects legendary his
tory of France. The quadrangle was at
the time comparatively deserted, but knots
Of old warriors in their simple uniforms Of
blue were gathering at different points.
Some were sitting In tho sunshine on the
benches between the pillars Of the arcade,
perhaps recounting to one another for tho
thousandth time the story of Austerlitz and
the Pyramids, Of Moscow and Waterloo,
and other chapters In the history of their
eventtul lives. Gray, stern, bsttle-scarred
old fellows they were, Some, too, were
drawn IN little carriages, whilo others still
were wheeling themselves about in old
fashioned velocipedes.
In little while drum-c CORDS of boys,
headed by an ancient-looking chief musi-
clan formed In front OF the chapel doors at
the middle OF the side opposite tue en-
trance gates of the court. Under the
'ssS1AS" w eho - VI AuVAIluc8
was drawn up IN two ranks, all wearing
white scarfs across the body and carving
non-conmissioned officers swords and
short lances with the trl-color flying from
each spears head. At signal given the
drums were beaten. After prolongei
roll there was silence for a moment, and
then, at tho word Of command from fine
looking old officer, these veterans of hun
dred battles marched or hobbled Into
church to tho sound OF tho drums beating
their loudest through tho lofty aiales. Half
way up the nave they halted, opened ranks
and faced inward, and quickly aligning
themselves on either side stood steadily at
''carrY arms" The officers then, two by
two, all In gala dress and proceeded by the
gorgeously attlred Suisse, with halbcrd
in hand, marched In between the open
ranks.
They were goodly company Of men
still, and conscious OF their own grandeur
and importance. AS they passed up to-
wards the chancel, the two arms of vet.
Grams presented arms. In few moments
the commandment entered, and then all tho
officers took their seats In the space nearest
the choir. A loud roll Of tho drums, and
the officer In command gives the word
''ordcr arms" Then q fine military band
strikes up, and after the stirring strains have
ceased tho tones Of the organ at the end Of
the church are heard, at first soft and low,
then, swelling loud and full, and at last
gradually dying away. The priests in their
gorgeous vestnients are IN their places DO.
fore the altar, at either side OF whicl--how
strange the sight!-stands soldier with
lance upright. Between tho priest and
the congregation, halberd still in hand, is
seen the stately figure Of the Suisse. The
solemn prayers are offered up, and the air
grows heavy with incense. And now the
music has ceased, and every sound Is hush
cd as we reach the crowning point of the
ceremony. Tho priest Is about to elevate
the host. Suddenly the Suisse strikes his
staff ticrccly upon ,he marble pavement.
The drums furiously beat salute. The
soldiers present arms, then come to the
''carry," th6n ground their arms in pecu-
liar way and full upon ono knee supported
by their pixies. A little bell rings once,
twice, thrice, perfect silence. and all arc
bowed 10 the ground. Again the bell
rings, and we rise. The soldiers shoul-
der the arms, and the band breaks forth
again In victorious strains of martial
music.
After this an anthem Is sung, and the
priests retire from the chancel. In few
moments the officers rise, and, preceded by
tho Suisse, pass out in reverse order
through the open ranks. The company of
veterans closes up, faces, and marches out
with drums beating, the drum corps halt
ing just without the doors. The lances
ave left in the vebtibule On the way, and the
spessacle Is over.
A few minutes later the officers reviewed
the company in the Cou.t of Honor. 1t
was singular sight as the column passed
stitfiy In review with the music Of tho
drums to which the aged veterans could
with difficulty keep step. noticed several
wooden legs, or pins rather, among them;
but the owners and their comrades went
through all the forms with precision, and
were thln ii ,missed to their quarters.
Whether what has been described Is still
a regular Sunday observance at the Hotel
des lnvalidea or not do not know. But
it was worth much to have seen 1t once,
for it was very suggestive. One. cannot
but feel, after seeing such ceremony,
that he has gained new point Of view,
and becomes acquainted with peculiar