Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-08-21

80 A4NsNAP AAC
Education Bill
Clerical OPpO-
sItiOn 20 IL.
Letter nom Edward King, European cor
respondent Of the n. Y. Evening Post.l
PARIS, July 10, 1S80.-Tke rain
cleared away Just long enough to
allow the sons of the revolution to
celebrate the anniversary of the fall
of the Bastile, and the triumph of
and then it poured down again. 1t
is pouring as / write. A day with
out rain this summer would be
phenomenon. But the elements
were kind to the young republicans,
and even allowed them to finish
their display of fireworks last even
ing. 1t would have taken a good
deal to dampen the enthusiasm of
the populace at midday, but rain
fall at night before 8 o'clock would
have been dispiriting, for the popu-
lace was dancing out of doors, if you
please. In the public places usually
thronged with carriages and pedes-
TRANS platforms for musicians were
erected, and around these on the
smooth stones, under the light of
the thousands of gas-jetS, the clerks
and mechanics, and the working
girls of the popular quarters whirled
about together in may measures.
There were a hundred or two of
these Open-air balls, and doubt not
that dancing would have been kept
up till midnight had it not been for
the showers and the terrifying
flashes of heat lightning.
The fourteenth of July is hence
forth to be the nations holiday, and
in order that the people might enjoy
it to complete content, the police
were ordered to make themselves
conspicuous by their absence. No
restraint was to be felt. Might not
the masses be a little impatient of
authority on the anniversary of the
day when they overthrow it? The
pOpulace did not misuse its OppOrtu-
mites, and nothing can be more
ridiculous than the manner i'm which
a great many wealthy persons, who
hate the republic, behaved them
selves, pretending to be afraid that
the mob would commit excuses.
These delicate blossoms of civilian
ton hid themselves in the country
till the day was over, or refused to
90 into the streets to see the illu-
limitations because "they did not
wish to cOuntenance such a celebra-
tiOn." The universal testimony of
unprejudiced individuals is that the
common folks conducted themselves
admirably. There were no mani
feStatiOn no windows were broken,
no reactiOnists were mObbed. A
great many cannon and firecrackers
were touched Off; horses were fright
ened and ran away, throwing peO-
pie out of carriages and breaking
their heads; and there was q vast
amount of bawling in the streets, \
the "AIarseillaise" and other songs
being sung very much out of tune.
The Thespian theatres in the squares
did fine business ; the actors parad-
ed outside the booths during the in
terVals between acts, and allowed
the crowds to admire their costumes
and to congratulate them upon their |
patriotic sentiments. Laughing and
shouting men and women surround
cd CREASED poles, watching the adj
ventures of those who tried to climb
them. On the Place de In Repub-
lidue, where the decorations were |
really wonderful, and where a beau
tiful statue of the republic, surround |
ed by allegorical figures representing |
liberty, equality and fraternity, was
unveiled in the afternoon, thousands |
of spectators remained until long !
past midnight. At the Bastile, |
which was naturally the most inn !
pOrtant point on this day, the whole |
population OF the Faubourg Saint |
Antoine assembled, and there were |
speeches and songs innumerable. |
Professions of students marched and /
cOuntermarched in the Latin Quar- I
ter, and allcgOrical groups stood ON /
corners soliciting admiration. Young
men with more patriotism than
taste paraded the bOulevards sing
ing songs written in the old revOlu-
ton, and directing attention to their
long hair and PhTygian caps. The
festive waSherwoman leaned con-
fidingiy upon the arm of the butcher
hoy, and hummed the "Chant du
Depart" as she lightly took her way
10 the Triumphal Arch to witness
the fireworks. / saw no priests, no Y
clergy of any robe in the streets,
and there were but few fashionable
equipages abroad in the evening.
The most brilliant spectacle of the
occasion was ut LOngchamps from
10 o'clock in the morning till 4 in
the afternoon. The distribution of
new flags to the reOrganized army
was an imposing ceremony and
made a deep impression upon all
classes of Frenchmen. The pOmp
of Paris was displayed as it has
rarely been before in modern times.
On the vast lawn of LOngchampS
thousands of troops were gathered
in splendid array, and as far as the
eye could reach the mass of uni
formed men and gaily capariSOned
crowd Of civilian spectators. The
tribunes of LOngchamps were sur
rendered to those lucky persons who
had been able to obtain tickets for
the ceremony, and in these and
around them was a curious admiX-
ture of all nationalities and cOndi-
lions fmen-princes, dukes, retired
wine merchants, japanese pOten-
tates, Prussian officers in plain
clothes, American ladies with nu-
merOus toilettes, the literary and
artistic society of the capital, the
rag-tag and 'bob-tail of the official
world, and old and young soldiers.
Facing these tribunes. temporary
ones, magnificent i'm black and red
velvet and tapestries, had been
erected, and from these the repre-
of the constitutional pow
ers, the deputies, the senators, and
the diplomatic corps observed the
distribution of flags and the review.
Tho sun was terribly hot, and the
erowding was enough to demolish
the very best temper; but no one