The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-14
EMPIRE TO COMMUNE.
sonSEsrS THE STREETS OF rams
During the Happy Days of tho Govern
nent and the Bloody Period After Its
Downfaii-An Exposition Attraction.

Downfaif--An Exposition Attraction.
The visitors to the grand State Exposition
in October will have an attraction to lure
them which is worthy coming long ways
20 see. The secretary yesterday closed a
contract with the magnificent picturesque
spectacular exhibition known rs Pains
Paris From Empire to Commune" This is
a grand move. and 50 greatly increases the
interest in the Exposition rs to make it a
grand success had not that been already
assured. Pains Paris has proved in New
York 10 be ono of the greatest attractions
Of the age. and comes 10 Richmond on the
same immense scale. The necessary struc-
ture for the great show will be erected be-
tween the race-t track and cattle-sheds. The
Exposition management will arrange for a
seating capacity Of 5 600, and the only extra
charge in connection with Paris will be for
reserved seats One feature OF the show
will be lake 60x200 feet, and 300 per-
formers will take part.
The first performance will commence
with the night of the opening Of the Expo
sition October 9Th. and will take place on
alternate nights during the engagement
Arrangements will be az once made 10 adyer-
tIse this great attraction all over Virginia
and in adjacent States.
PICTURESQUE SCENES.
The programme is composed of dramatic
and picturesque scenes of a thrilling char
aoter, interpreted with pyrotechnic display
aud speciality advertisement. The Exposi-
ton management have undoubtedly demon
strated their announced intention Of
amusing the people in giving such an attrac-
ton as this at one price OF admission.
The scene opens with happy, hght-heart-
ed Paris. the streets thrOnged everybody 10
apparently cheerful; the city is in its holt
day attire Of flags and flowers, smile on
every face and merriment playing high car
nival. IL il the EmperOrs fete day, and
business is laid aside and the trsdespeople
and gOrkingmen are IN happy moods. But
withai there is a feeling of unrest which
always precedes q storm. Napoleon knows
in his heart of hearts that the empire is not
peace. About the departments of the army
and navy there IS unusual activity. Yet the
day 10 one Of JOY, and laughter and merri-
ment 20 hand in 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 shad-
OWs OF night begin to fall.
TEE ROYAL FAMILY.
Before that. however. tho Emperor and
Empress and the Premier Imperial. he on
whom the hopes and ambitious Of fond
father and an ambitious mother are CEN
tered, pass Though the crowded streets IN
the imperial equipage over the grand ava
nue. OF the Champs hlysees, through the
arc adorned by the genius OF Rude and Cor
tel with memorable scenes of greater
Napoleon, on towards the famous Bois dc
Bouiogue. covering an area of over 800
acres. and where a display Of equpages
second TO none in the world were 10 be met.
The sound Of thousands of voices flied
the air shouting Long live the Emperor"
aud 30 the day passed on aud night slowly
draws its mantle over the gay capital, but
not 20 still its merriment or blight its Joy.
Every house becomes illuminated, tho win
dOWs even OF the humblost artisan are
lighted up. the streets along the banks Of
the Seine present picture OF ieiryland,
The river itself even, with its water pyrO-
technics, becomes blaze Of glory the gar
dens aud pu0lic places seem like pictures
OF happiness music fills the air. Thousands
Of feet trip 10 the dancing music Of Oten-
bach and other favorite composers, the
great avenues and squares and bridges that
spGnned the flowing river are made bright
with the reflection OF the Thousands or the
vari-cOlored lamps.
Amid this scene Of happiness and bright
ness the last fete of the Emperor drew to
close.
The GnIH SPECTRE on WAR.
While all this was in progress the grim
spectre Of war WAS preparing 70 cast us pail
over France. The days of the empire were
drawing to a 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
hurryiug 90 aud fro of soldiers and the le-
gious OF France were pushed TO the front,
so confident was Napoleon IA the ability OF
the armies of the empire 10 cope with those
of the Prussians that he regarded
the campaign with almost fool-hardy
Indifference. The mOntebank or an
emperor even sent his son. the
young Prince Imperia,l TO the frontier TO
receive his baptism OF fire. and the young
Prince did receive It and then fell back with
a dishearteued and almost demoraliZed
army. 1t was at Staarbruch it occurred.
IL was an III omen. The main army OF the
Germans had by this time crossed the river
Rhine and IN every pitched battle the army
of the empire created by Nap)lean melted
before it. On the victorious Germans
pressed. sweeping all before them; 90, on
ward. up % tue very walls OF Paris itself
they pressed aud there made their stand TO
capture bv force the imperial city when
NAPOLEON had endangered by his ambition;
Ii was thought that this magnificent capital
WAS impregnabe.
OUTSIDE THE WALLS.
And so it was 10 an approaching army.
It's environments OF forts and fOrtresses
were its protection from the invaders. 80
tie Germans camped outside its walls ana
thew allowed nothing to enter the city. 1ime
and time again the gallant soldiers OF France
tried 10 break the terrible enyronment
which held as in q vice the ialr city ana all
II contained, but in vain. Its tate was
sealed. The empire WIS doomed. Starya-
ton stalked through the streets and over
the boulevards and crept into houses OF the
poor and sowed the seeds or discontent
anon the pOpulace. Falling shells and
6rinp meteors at night disturbed the unfor-
tuuate inhabitants and added horror TO
horror oil the situation. Ihetbomoardment
dav by DAY became more and more intense.
The grasp OF the Germans became tgnter
and tighter about the doomed capital
Slowly bat surely the circle of armed men
bv which Paris was surrounded was limiting
It's area; slowly aud surely the supply OF
provisions among the beleaguered was ebb--
ing away like a falling tide. Women and
children prowled about ting streets crying
for bread and breathing curses on the En-
perOr. Tor whom only q short time before
thew had ruug out huzzas, and stu the
soldiers Of that emperor fought mAnfully