Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-02

)
divine. The work of the fields is human,
work of cities is divine. From time to
time history places a sign on a city,
unique sign. History in four thousand
years thus marks three cities, which re-
sumo all the effort of civilization. That
which Athens has been for Greek an
tiquity that which Rome has been for
Roman antiquity, Paris to day is for Eu-
rope, for America, for the civilized uni
verse. 1t is the city and il is the world.
He who speaks to Paris, speaks to the
whole world. Urbi ct orb. Thus, l, the
humble passer-by, who have but my share
of the right to all, in the name of cities,
of all the cities, of the cities OF Europe
and of America and OF the civilized world,
from Athens as far as New York, from
London to Moseow-in thy name, Rome,
IN thy name, Berlin, glorify with love
and | salute the sacred city, Paris.
THE PROCESSION.
In the meantime the procession ap-
preached, and the Marseillaise filed tie
air. At II o'clock the defle began, when
Victor Hugo again stationed himself at his
window between his hStIe Jeanne and
George. There was then presented most
marvellous spectacle, such as had never be-
fore been seen; from MONDAY until night,
without intermission, ike sea forever
mounting, the wave OF the population did
not cease TO flow before the house, while
crying, give Victor Hugo p All seemed
mixed up in that great crowd-dress coats,
blouses, oasquettes, hats, soldiers IN their
different uniforms. old women, young girls /;
mothers III passing raised their children in
their arms that they might see the great
poet; many persons wept, and it was in
deed one of the grandest and most affect
ing spectacles this, of a whole people
with hands raised towards genius. 1t
seemed as though all souls were con-
founded in one sublime thought. Several
groups, in passing before the house,
after having acclaimed and saluted
the poet, deposited on the threshold
their couronnes or their souvenirs. The
room occupied by the poet was soon filled
with addresses and caskets. Among them
was magnificent gold ehiseled pen, sent
by his admirers Of Saint Quentin also, a
couronne of oak in green bronze, attached
by massive gold ribbon, sent by the
Cercle of the same city. A beautiful
couronne bore the inscription, Les Fran
cais de California" Medals were offered
by different societies, and large book,
richly bound, bearing the title BaSRi
VicktOra Huga," was presented to the
poet This volume was translation of
Victor Hugo's works in the Tcheque
language, that of the Legende des SiecleS. :"
In a rich blotting- book, with a carved
bronze binding and corners of enamel,
incrusted with gold and silver, was an adj
dress, written on parchment, from the
Vienna literary society, La Concordia.
All the singing societies assisted at
THIS GRAND CEREMONY;
All the corporations carried their banners.
The Society of the Men of Letters opened
the march, followed by the scholars of the
High Normal School carrying an enormous
couronne of laurels with violet ribbons, the
color of the University. a society Of
Young men called the Lecture " brought
a table covered with white lilacs and roses,
and all brought something in their hands,
if but branch of palm leaves. The SYM
dictate chamber of bakers, of clock makers,
of copper workers, and all other organiza-
lions were represented. 1t would be I'M
possible to describe the avenue at O'Clock
IN the day; the sidewalks were covered
with an enormous crowd; the houses were
all decorated with flags; the balconies
were covered with people, even to the
house-tops they were seen on the fences
in every possible space, and the trees were
all filed with children, perched up on the
branches Ike some strange dark fruit.
The crowd moving on seemed never
to finish, and in all that great num-
Der of human beings which filed the
entire space of the wide avenue, order was
not broken for single instant, and no
tumult occurred in that procession of an
entire city. Here passed before the house
of the poet from y o'clock until 7 in the
evening an average OF 100, 600 persons an
hour, and the great man whom all had
come to do homage sat the entire time at
his window crowned with his white hair
like some snow.top mountains watching
the waves of the sea. Those cries, those
salutes, those bouquets, those palms, those
laurels, those chants and all that music,
those hundreds of thousands of men, women
and children created the most beautifully
pacific manifestation that human thought
may conjecture. 1t was the most touch
ing and noble spectacle ever given to
France, and not only will it remain a
memorable date in the life of the poet. but
an illustrious one in the national history of
his country.
MARDI GRAs.
Mardi Gras has come and gone with
scarcely an echo of its past clamor and joy
business. The sun shone through strange
caprice, for the cold wind sent the Their
mometer far below freezing point, and of
all the year the day OF Mardi Gras was the
coolest. The general holiday and the sun
light caused all the inhabitants OF the city
to seek the streets and boulevards, and
trying to catch glimpse of some passing
mask was an excuse for leisurely strolllng
in their promenade. All looked in vain for
a procession of some kind or fancy CO.'S
tune. and when some poor mask did come
along he was sure to create sensation, for
hundreds of eyes were bent upon HIM
which seemed to silently ask Is that
the Carnival ~ No, not even the ghost OF
a carnival. and those who strove, through
their feeble endeavOrs, to resurrect this
fantastic creature OF the past seemed to
feel how hopeless were their efforts. DC
casionally a rush would be made to the
curb. stones when music was heard ap-
preaching, but the audience soon gave
vent to expressions of dissatisfaction as
wagons and carriages passed by gaily
decorated, and bearing the advertisement
of some obscure firm for selling ready
made clothes or for moving furniture.
The last remnants of the Carnival at Paris
have been taken possession of by advertis-
ing industries, that is, what the children
have not monopolized; for, since some
years past, the little ones have considered
it their exclusive privilege to represent
the carnival all by themselves on Mardi
Gras. Even they this year, owing to the
extreme cold weather or from inexplicable
indifference, had
ABANDONED THE CARNIVAL
To it's fate. Occasionally a little peasant
girl, princess, a knight, or follie would