The daily gazette., 1881-01-03
OUR PARIS LITTER,
TEE FUNERAL OF MADAME THEIRS
SPLENDID FLORAL DISPLAY

PARIS, Dec. IL, 1880.
Madame Theirs, the widow Of the
great statesman and first President Of
the Republic of France, died on the
nth inst. The news of her death was
telegraphed to Washington. Con-
gress passed appropriate resolutions
which were rrinted in toe Paris news
papers on the day previous to her
burial. She was buried yesterday
with solemn pomp and pageantry in
Pere la ChAise. We attended her fu>
neral as voluntary, non o ldcial doing
our best to represent the dignity of our
Sovereign State. saBGEid
The funeral ceremonies took place
in the Church of the Notre Dame de
Lorette, and were witnessed by about
Hfty thousand people. The prepara-
tions were profuse, elaborate and
grand. The whole interior was draped
in black cloth, and the altar was light.
cd by hundreds Of candles. The front
OF the church was also hung with
black cloth on which was worked In
silver the letter T, entwined with sill
YER wreaths.
The funeral car was q marvel of
floral ornamentation. 1t was a large
coach entirely covered with heavy
black cloth, with wide silver borders
and heavy silver fringes. Over all this
was worked floral designs in natural
flowers of the most beautiful and rarcst
kinds violets, roses, carnations, i'm
mortelles and samelias.
There were also thirteen grand
" eaths Of flowers, each borne on an
ebony standard by two men in uniform.
These were carried into the church.
and when the casket was deposited in
the funeral car, after the ceremonies
| in the church, these wreaths were
borne out and held ON either side, to
make q passage for the mourners, the
relatives, friends, and great personages
present. Gen. PIttie and Major Fayet
represented President Grevy. M.
Gambetta, NJ. Jules Ferry, Leon Say,
Barlholemy st. Hilare, Cayot, Con
| stans, Henri Martin, Jules simon, M.
de Lesseps, Waddington and Others
whose names figure In French politics
and history were in attendance. These
gentlemen, last named, stood in knot
on the porch of the chuich while the
ceremonies were proceeding within,
and we had a good opportunity OF OBJ
serving them.
Gambetta 10 younger man than we
/ had imagined him to be, and in per-
sonal appearance Is less dignified than
most of his venerable compeers in the
Chamber and Senate.
The funeral car vas drawn by six
magnificent black horses, covered with
black cloth studded with silver stars.
The private carriage of Madame Thiers,
draped in black and horses covered with
black cloth, followed the car, and an
other flower wreathed carriage carried
the aoral decorations In front of The car.
The carriages of the ambassadors from
Russia, Germany and Euglaud We're in
the procession, with carriages of State
and private eslabliihmenls, reaching
nearly from the church TO the cemetery
Arrived NJ the tomb in PETE la Chaise,
where the illustriuus husband lies, the
Pr est sprinkled the coffin with holy wa
ter. HIS example was followed by the
Officers Of State, the Generals of the
Army aud many relatives and friends
singers from the Grand Opera chan.ed
"Pie Jesun aud "Mlserere Mel" over the
casket whilst in the church.
Marriages, as well as funerals, ARE gen.
orally made public affairs III Paris, aud
both ceremonies take place at the church
with as much display as the parties or
their near friends can afford. The fash
iOnable church for weddings is the "rri-
uite," located within square Of our
residence. One or more weddings take
place nearly every day and in passing we
generally call to look at the parties and
he splender OF their costumes and 9TH
er belongings
would sreaLly like TO describe the
rich and elegant dresses Of the brides
aud their attendants for the instruction
of our young lady readers, but l am loo
ignorant Of such matters TO know either
the names Of the parts of the dresses or
the materials. The bride, however, is |
almost always in rich white satin, richly |
trimmed, sometimes with an astonishing |
number OF brillian 5. The train Is pro- |
uiBiOus, icQuiluB oOho OuS so CARRY IL
when the wearer moves. A dainty hat, |
with ostrich plumes,and large bouquet |
Of rare flowers are always a part OF the |
belongings. just now fashion prescribes |
a bouquet so large that the bride is
sometimes embarrassed with fibwers and
train. The bridesmaid No. wears
creamy figured sa in, and No. and 3,
&C., wear colors. The bride comes 10 |
the church Ia closed carriage with her
father aud mother, or their representa-
tives, and her bridesmaid. The horses
that draw the BRIDES carriage are spot
lessly white. Next the groom comes,
also In . closed carriage with his parents
or their representatives, and his grooms-
man. His horses are either lron gfey or
bay. The altar In the church is pro
fusely adorned with white flowers
Here stands the officiating Priest, and
here the parties meet 10 be gwen TO each
other. The brides are generally very
young, about fifteen or sixteen, and the
matches are made, not by the parties
themselves, Is is our method, but 1y the
parents, and The belrothment takes place
at very early age. The settlements, too,
are all perfected by the parents long in
advance of the marriage. So soon as
wedding ceremonies ars over the brlde-
groom enters the carriage of the bride
and they drive away to a noted place
On The Bois de- Boulonge and have q fiHe
suDDer. or proceed 10 the residenca of |