Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-11-03
OUR PARIS I.EITER.
HoNoRs TO THE LATE LkMEETED
TURGENBFF.
rouchiug Tributes to his Memory
Recent Reception and Depart
ure of King Alfonso.
PARIS, October II, 1883.

friends assembled there at o'clock in the
afternoon, in order to make their last
adieux before the departure of the re-
mains for st. Petersburg. One of the sides
of the depot had been transformed into
chapel entirely draped with heavy black
cloth and Grape, and ornamented with
silver stars. From the ceiling were sus-
pended large crystal chandeliers containing
great many wax candles, but, despite
which, the vast space was but dimly
lighted. According to Russian mode the
coffin was placed in an alcove, before which
burned twelve large lamps. 1t was heavily
drsped with velvet and cloth, and thickly
covered with silver stars Completely
surrounding it were
CROWNS AND wREATHs AND BOUQUETS
OF the choicest flowers, sent by the
Viardot family, by the Russian refugees,
by the Russian colony of Paris, and by the
Russian press. More than thousand per-
sons were present to render the last hon.
age to the celebrated writer. There were
among others, Emile Augier, who was the
neighbor of Turgeneff at Croissy; Emile
lola, Jules Simon, Ernest Daudet, Madame
Viardot, Madame Adam, and large num-
Der of the Russian colony, among whom
were many elegant ladies dressed in deep
est mourning The solemn occasion was
organized by Nine. Pauline Viardot, at
whose house Turgeneff died. Americans
will remember that Nine. Viardot is the
sister of Marie Malibran and of Manuel
Garcia, the famous singer now living at
London. In the name of the personal
friends of Turgenef, Ernest Renan de-
liVered most eloquent and touching dis
course, in which he recounted, with ad-
mirableexpression and elevation of thought,
the great qualities of the celebrated
Russian writer. "Turgeneff," said he,
"was
THE CONSCIENCE OF A PEOPLE.
No other man was ever 80 worshiped by
an entire race. A whole world lived in
him, and spoke by his mouth /; generations
of ancestors, lost in the sleep of centuries,
silent, inert, found life and speech through
Turgeneff. Turgeneff," added ithe
orator, twas sensitive as a woman, urpre-
JUDGED as a philosopher, and as tender as
a child. In his large and noble soul con-
Trajectory qualities embraced each other
hatred and defiance were disarmed by the
enchantments of his art" In concluding
his discourse, NJ. Renan turned towards
the alcove where rested the coffin, and
said, with a trembling voice "Adieu,
dear and grand friend Thy coffin will be
for those who are come here to kiss the
hem of its drapings bond of union for
those who love liberty and progress, and
when thy body rests in the earth Of thy
beloved country, many friends will salute
thy tomb with tender recollections of
France, where thou hast found warm
friends and hearts which understood and
loved thee" Edmond About now rose,
advanced towards the coffin, and spoke
few words in the name of
THE WORLD OF LETTERS.
He recalled the ardent and enthusiastic
patriotism which animated the heart of
Turgenef. "You desired the liberty of
your compatriots," he said, and instead
of the bronze statues, supported by images
of the vanquished, which ornament the
tombs of conquerors, bit of broken chain,
upon a simple white marble slab, should
ornament yours" Edmond About WAS
followed by two Russian artists of note,
who said few words on the part of the
Russian residents of Paris. at last the
Pope Wassileff recited the prayers for the
dead, and all who had assisted at this in
teresting and most touching ceremony re-
tired in silence. The remains of Ivan
Turgenef were removed a half hour
later to a special train, and will reach st.
Petersburg the second day afterwards. All
classes of Russians received them with en-
thusiastic demonstrations of ahectionate
sorrow.
THE GREAT EVENT OF THE HOUR
Is the wretched contretemps which occurred
at the reception of Alfonso, King of Spain,
at the depot du Nord. 1t would be diff
cult to imagine greater contrast between
the deplorable arrival of the King at Paris
and the extreme dignity which next morn
ing marked the departure OF the young
sovereign. a heavy carpet OF velvet was
laid from the door of the waiting.room Of
the depot to the special train, and at the
expected moment Alfonso XII. arrived, ac-
companied by the Duke de Fernan Nunez
and the entire Spanish Embassy. The
King was Immediately surrounded and
hedged in, as if to protect him, by distin-
guished persons. Alfonso seemed perfectly
at ease, and bowed graciously right and
left. He was dressed in bright gray suit,
a little round gray felt hat, cravat of the
same color, spotted slightly with red, with
= small pin in the form Of 8 golden ball,
and wore no decorations. When the sig
nal was given for the departure Of the train
the King advanced to the persons forming
THE HEDGE AROITSD HIM
And said an amiable word to each, and
then, the doors of the depot being opened,
he walked to the train, which was sur.
rounded by over hundred curious hang
ers on" kept in order by several police
men. Two minutes later the train was out
of sight. The departure of the young
king was indeed a striking contrast to his
arrival. Greeted at the depot by shouts OF
disdain, and groans, and Kisses OF down
with kings I" the poor fellow must have
felt uncomfortable, and was, no doubt,
glad to take President Grevy's advice and
hurry away to Bordeaux as speedily as pos
sible. On the day after his arrival at Paris |
the King amused himself by premenading |
upon the boulevards with General Blanco. |
He
BOUGHT ALL THE JOURNALS
Of the day at different news stands One |
OF the vendors said to him, "Buy the |
King UhLdn it is the last new thing in the |
newspaper way, and talks of nothing but
the King Of Spain" "Ah I" said his |
Majesty, " it appears that it is a very sorry |
object, this King of Spain, particularly |
Just now" But not at all, " said the |
news.vender, he is very young. and an |
extremely good .natured fellow. saw him
pass by here yesterday" And the King, |
who bought the King Uhlan, laughed with |
all his heart ia relating this incident on
his return to the embassy. Altogether, !
Paris has very good reason to feel heartily |
ashamed Of the shameful treatment OF the |
King of Spain. Let US hope that the con-
aannancas may mot be a. s.rinns "a anna |