New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-05
PARIS FESTIVITIES.
TRIBUTES TO MICHELET-THE HOTEL DE
VILE BANQUET

vcsterdov was one of those rare parVcnns WDo lor-
cot not their humble origin. are not ashamed OF H.
and retain 10 the last lively sympathy for the bard
working and afflicted poor. lie was printers
son and was reared in the crypt OF an old monas-
tory which had been secuarized in the Revolution.
Ills father. who had lost his wife early, and never
remarked, set up there a pIinting-press ana was
assisted in working it by his gifted boy Mlche-
let's simplicity of character was beautiful, as ms
literary genius was admirable. There was mneh
dignity in his life, but lie was indifferent 10 'ho
opinion OF society OF all the authors l'No
known he was the who had the iewest points
Of contact with Vanity Fair. He was at once con-
templative and an indefatigabe worker lie earned
and enoyed all the beatitudes of the Sermon on the
Mount and many others. The sources OF his enjoy
ment lay in an excellent heart, high mcrai s'anu-
ard and perceptions and sensiblllties which
enabled him to see and feel everything that was i'r
and lovable in nature and in art. Any human
bc,np who il in the enjoyment of the barest com
potency might be as happy as Micheet Ill studying
to look for happiness where he found it. The IN
scription taken from his Will the pedestal OF MS
statue shows that his felicity endured to the end
of his long life 1t is: "Que Dieu receive mon anne
reconnaissance de tant de bien. de tant dannees
Iaboreuses eu de tant d'amlties." The people OF
Paris like their champions to show themselves goou
haters Of their enemies The anger OF Kochelort IL
crnel. and the wrath Of Victor Hugo is terrible
which greatly account for tine idoatrous fondness
in which they are held by the population. Blanqul
another idol had also the gift OF invective. Madame
Mcbelet Is a native of Provence and has the
theatrical tastes of the Southern Frenchw0inan.
She nurses her grief which nevertheless deep ana
unaffected in public. This lady was the secretary
and literary collabOratrice of Micheet, ana ihinseu
mucb brightness into his life when be poor and
bpr n
thetic companion of his excursions to the seaside
the forests round Paris, and among the Alps and
/ allan mountains. 1t was she who ordered the
procession. which started from the Place Votalre
Those friends who often in Michelets latter days
climbed to the fourth floor in the Rue d Assas IN
which he resided. were grouped around the hearse
REPRESENTATIVES of the nations which Subscribed 10
the monument were preceded by standard-bearers.
They were France England, Greece, Hungary
Italy Portugal Roumania Russia, Switzerland and
Hayti This tropical State had for ITS deputy
cclored gentleman. Badges indicating nationality
were worn. General TuTr chose to represent Hun
gary He is q tall, fnelOoking man, with long
foIked beard Professor Ramsey was in the British
group. As Mchelet was an enfdnt de Pdris' the Mu-
nicipal Council honored the invitation which it re-
ceiyed from the widow. AS he was D." national
glory.p there were delegates from the Senate Cham
her. Institute, College of 'FraDce-from which the
Empire expelled him,-Ecoe Normale. Polytechnic,
and from forty-sIx towns which contributed to the
EXPENSES of the the monument. Topographic
societies and pupils n the Lycee Charlemagne
brought up the rear. Mchelet was educated at
that school which he entered ON a scholarship won
at an open examination.
The monument was reached the procession filed
past It, and the crowns and flowers were piled
around the base. MERCER has well caught the
leaning expression which lighted up Michelets
face in his old age. One might think the old man
WAS listening to birds and gazing at beautiful
sunset His intellectual powers and ever-active
sympathies are well expressed in the marble.
The review of the First School Battalion was
very pretty sight. Madame Floquet is passionately
fond of children As she is chlldless she Is SORT OF
universal mother to little Alsatians ana 70 the IN
fantry of the communal schools. 1t was she who
nronosed that the Premier Battalion Scdotdire
qbould participate in the house warming festivities
at the Hotel de Vie at the close of the review
This military ceremony came of at half past L.
magnificent tribune was made ready in front OF the
buildiug for the civil and military authorities oil
Paris Auniform. gun and sabre had been provided
for each child by the city. 1t resembles that Oh Il
sailor in n French man-of-war. The WINDOWS
balconies and footways were crowded with specta-
TORS. who had gathered INTO the Avenue Victoria
and the Place de pIIotel de Vile to see the future
defenders OF the country march past. one may
easily imagine with what enthusiasm the yohng
felIows were greeted Their were led by Adutant-
Major Bartes an officer of the Territorial Army,
and ex-Captain of the line. Their bearing was
ludicrously MARTIAL and they did not seem to think
they were playing at soldering, but preparing for
war in good earnest. An excellent band preceded
them OF course an honorable place was given III III
10 the drum NJ. Foquet presented the battalion
with "a flag. 1t worked by Madame Flcquet ana
some Their Alsatian ladies' After divers manpuvrcs
had been gone through the word was gwen TO them
to file past the tribune and enter the Hotel dc vile
by the grand portal The squar' and the avenues
leading TO it we're. when the children had dlsap-
pearcd, cleared by policemen anu gendarmcs. Inns
done the lOlst Regiment took up position anu had
orders TO allow nobody who had not an invitation
to the fetrs TO approach the clVlc palace. MIG
Louise Michel bad intended to head a rev0iution-
ary mob and come down to the Hotel de ' lllc To
protest against the bourgeois lunketing which was
gong forward there. As the landlord-and- tenant
0uestnn is lust now n very grave one IN iar's. III
was thOught advisable to keep her at IA distance
NJ. Grevy arrived at aOOut o'clock. II had Deen
arranged that he was TO preside at the Danluct III
the Sale dies Fetes. He had been preceded by the
Bnreaux of the Senate ana Chamber, which, no less
than the Chief of Jhe Executive had military
escort and were received with military hnnorS.
There was scarcely civilian IN the Place de Hotel
de Willie when VI. Grevy passed through ~. hen
he appeared several bands struck mp IN concert
" La Marseillaise." He looked grave aud preoc-
cupied The dreadful news from Alexandria had
nsdoubt disturb ell his equanlmty. lie was received
Inv NJ Floguet and the Bureau of the Municipal COun
eli. VINO took him into the Sale ST. Jean where
the school Battalion at table The bill OF fare
was roast fowl of the species ponarde, salad duck
pie Of Amiens uustArd. cherry pie aud figs and straw
berries VI. Grevy wore the broad ribbon OF the
Legion of Honor. d" Grand Gordon " is the technical
name for 1t. As he entered the word was gwen for
the children to stand up. They all rose as If moved
by "A spring and cried with all the strength OF their
yonng lungs and IN the piping voices oil their age
i Vive la Republiquew NJ. Jules Ferry, who had
previously harangued them and told them they were
the France of To morrow. accompanied the Pres-
dent ronnd the tables. NJ Grevy then assembled to