The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-25

and il vill be repoated on alternate nights
until the 25th. inclusive. The attraction
Involves the use Of an immense amount OF
scenic and mechanical parapherhaia, ana
i'm order to accommodate il the necessary
structure will be erected between the race
track and the cattlc-sheds. The manage
mcut of the Society viii arrange Tor seat
ing 5000 persons. and the only extra
charge win be for reserved seats tne
feature of the spectacle viii be a lake
60x200 feet, and 800 persons Will take
part in the performance. When TINS AT
traction was given ins New York II drew
immense audiences.
THE OPENING SCENE.
The following running description OF
the spectacle and its historical bearing
conveys some idea-but by no means IN
ADEQUATE one-of its thrilling contrasts,
situations and scenic effects:
The scene opens with happy, light
hearted Paris: the streets. thronged;
everybody is apparently cheerful; the CITY
is in It's holiday attire of flags and
flowers Il smile on every face and mcrrl-
mcnt playing high carnival. 1t is the
Emperor's feto day, and business is laid
aside and the tradespeople and working
men are in happy moods. But withal
there is feeling of unrest which always
prccedes n storm. Napoleon knows in his
heart of hearts that the empire is not at
peace About the departments Of the
army and navy there is unusual activity.
Yet the day is one of JOY, and laughter
and megrinent 90 hand III hand. There is
music in the very air.
Notwithstanding the hurrying to and
fro of soldiers and officers. the day
speeds on in sunshine and brightness and
the shadows Of night begin to fall.
Before that. however, the Emperor
and Empress and the Prince on whom
the hopes and ambitions of q fond father
and an ambitious mother are centercd,
pass through the crowded streets in the
imperial equipage over the grand avenue
of the Champs Elysees, through the arc
adorned 10y the genius of Rude and Cor
tel. with memorable scenes Of a greater
Napoleon. on towards the famous Bots
dc BOulOgne, covering IN area of over
1000 acres, and where n display of
cQuipages second TO none in the world
are 10 met.
LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR.
The sounds of thousands Of voices fill
the air, shouting Long live the En-
peror." and SO the day passes on and
night slowly draws its mantle over the
gay capital, but not to still its merriment
or blight its JOY Every house becomes
Illuminated, the windows even of the
humbest artisan are lighted mp, the
streets along the banks Of the Seine pre-
sent a picture of fairyland. The river
itse.f even, with its water pyr0technics
becomes a blaze of glory, the gardens and
public places seem like pictures of happi-
ness, music fills the air, thousands of feet
trip 10 the dancing music of Otfenbach
and other fayoritc composers. the great
avenues and squares and bridges that
span the flowing river are made bright
with the reelection Of the thousands of the
yaIi-coorcd lamps.
Amid the scene Of happiness and
brightness the last fcte of the Emperor
drew TO a close While all this was in
progress the grim spectre Of war was
preparing TO cast it's pail over France
The days Of the empire were drawing 10
q close, but as yet the storm had not
broken. Finally the fatal word was
spoken and the war between France and
Prussia was declared. Then there was
the hurrNing 10 and fro of soldiers and
the legions Of France were pushed TO the
front.
FOOLHAEDY INDIFFERENCE.
So confident was Napoleon in the abil-
ity OF the armies OF the empire to cope
with those of the Prussians that he re-
rardcd the campaign with almost fool
hardy indifference. The Emperor even
sent his son, the young Prince Imperial,
TO the frontier so receive his baptism of
IRE, and the young Prince did receive it
and then fell back with a diSheartened
and almost demOrallzed army 1t was
al Staarbruch that il occurred. 1t was an
ill omen. The main army Of the Ger
mans had by this time crossed the river
thine, and IN every pitched battle the
army OF the empire created by Napoleon
LIE. Ia. & 4
mans pressed, sweeping all before them
on, onward, UP TO the very walls of
Paris itself they pressed and there made
their stand to capture By force the i'm
perlal city which Napoleon had endan-
Rcred by his ambition. Ii was thought
that this magnificent capital was I'M
pregnablc.
And SO it was to an approaching army.
It's environments of forts and fOrtresses
we're its protection from the invaders. SO
the Germans camped outside its walls
aud they allowed nothing TO enter th. city.
Time and time again The gallant soldiers
OF France tried TO break the terrible en-
vlrOnmcnt which held as In vice the
far city aud all II contained, but in vain.
Its fate was sealed. The emDire was
doomed. Starvation Stalkcd through the
streets and over the bouIeyards and
crept into houses of the poor and sowed
the seeds OF discomfort among the pOpu-
lace. Failing shells and firing meteors
disturbed the unfortunate inhabitants
and added horror TO horror Of the situ-
alton. The bombardment day by day be-
came more and more intense.
THE GRASP or gHE GERAANs.
The grasp Of the Germans became
tighter and tighter about the doomed
capital. Slowly but surely the circle of
armed men by which Paris was sur
rounded was limiting It's area; slowly
and surely the supply OF provisions among
tine beleagured was ebbing away like n
falling tide. Women aud children
prowled about the streets crying for
bread and breathing curses on the En-
prror. for whom only short time before
they had rung out huzzus, and still the
soldiers Of that Emperor fought man
fully and brayely for France and the
honor Of France.
Then came the news of the fall of
Sedan and the surrender of The Emperor
capitulation Of Bazanc ut Metz and the
giving in of nearly 20O.0O0 men, the very
flower of the French army.
The announcement OF other victories
followed and broken-hearted and de-
jected, used up by famine and disease,
crippled In every way, Paris yielded TO