The Portland daily press., 1894-09-12
FAMOUS HISTORIC PAGEANT.
How The Assassin OF CarnOt Stopped
the Fete.

wells Bicycle Party In France-Des-
cription of a Spectacle Only Second to
the Passion PIay-Striking Illustration
of the Effect of Carnot's Death.
Correspondence OF the Press.]
From Fontainebleau our way was to the
old city of Provins, once place of great
Importance, surrounded by magnificent
battlemented walls, whose great gates
shut in $4,000 people every night; now
it has but lutte over one-tenth of it's
old time population, and it's UNCOVERED
ramparts, beautiful in decay, serve but
as reminders of bygone glories. ut is
well to go to Provins now," said the
landlord of the Cadran- bleau, for there
you will see the fete of the entree Of
Jeanne dare, which takes place to-mor-
row. The city will be full of distin-
guished people from neighboring cities
to see the pageant and attend the grand
ball. All! it will be beautiful"
Even as he spoke telegram was hand
ed the conductor from the landlord of
the Hotel ola Boule d. Or at Provins,
saying that he would do his best to make
us comfortab BILE, but that his house would
be full of guests on our arrival, and we
must make allowances.
The prospect of seeing the specta-
Gle was far stronger inducement to go
than the certainty of crowded quarters
to stay away, and the afternoon saw
US on the way. The road for miles was
through the forest, and the bright June
sun darted it's yellow beams between the
green leaves overhead in the Bots de
Valence. Then. we glided by fertile
meadows. in which the haymakers
were busy with the harvest, anon stop
ping in the little villages, charming in
their duaintness, as they sat basklng in
the warm sunlight. AS we entered the
gate of Provins it was at once apparent
that the old town was in holiday garb.
Flags streamed from every window,
banners f1oated from high poles, in all
the principal streets. which were filled
with people gathered from the surround
ing county hawkers of every description
cried their wares in strident tones and
all was hustle and confusion.
II have for you given my best efforts"
said the landlady as we filed into the
courtyard "Others who wished the
rooms would not believe that SO many
~ iucllCdllS NOiF COutlllS W tAC lOUO anu
thought it was trick to save the rooms
for favorites. But now they will see that
so it was and only truth was told" and
she gave us good quarters followed up by
a must excellent ia bic d'hote.
All night long the streets of the old
city resounded with the rumble of carts
full of peasants coming to the great show
| ami the morning broke on a veritable 4th
of July 1t appears that in the year 1929
Jeanne d. Arc the Maid of Orleans visited
Provins on her way to Rheims to witness
the browning Of the Frence King Charles
VI. and was received with great pomp
and honor by the inhabitants. This
visit is periodically celebrated by pro-
| cession costumed like the original and
the ceremony of her reception is repeat
ed as closely as posi- Bile. AS may be
imagined it most beautiful and inter
esting spectacle and brings a great con-
| course of spectators TO the old city. The
| participators- in the cavalcade are chosen
| from the Inhabitants of Provins and
| there is almost as much pride in the
| parts assigned as in the Passion Play.
| The costumes are declared to be exact
copies of the originals and if that is
sombre world compared to what it was
in days of old We will pass over the
forenoon during which the usual scenes
| incident to a holiday of this nature took
place. We will say nothing about the
American who fell out of the window
while trying to see if the procession had
started or another of the same nation
| it was not allowed for anyone to pass,
and describe the procession which did
| start at 10 O'Clock, as announced.
| At that hour a great fan-fan of trum-
| pets gave the signal, and down through
| the old streets came the men of other
days. First, body of French arehers
on foot, green and gold dou blet ard
| ers. Second, arbaletriers on foot, battle
axes over shoulders, brass helmets,
brown doublet and white hose; Third,
| two generals and grand chef d'armee,
most gorgeous to behold. Fourth, a
| band of 40 musicians. playing old time
! airs on old time instruments. Music
not so good as Chandler's, but uniforms
| far and away more striking. Fifth, the
| mayor and big men of the town, re-
| spIendent in red and gold and plunied
| hats Sixth, eight tumpeters on horse
back, blowing for dear life, and behind
| them was the great Jeanne d Arc mounted
| on a snow white horse and clad in silver
armor, which gIittered in the sun SO
! that one was dazzled by its brightness.
| helmet as she bowed low in response to
| the mighty cheers of welcome from the
| populate. Seventh, four gentlemen at
tendant upon the Maid richly dressed in
white aud gold. Eighth, advance guard
of Charles VII, behind whom came
| Charles himself, with boots that seemed
much too big for him. He was dressed
| in other ways but the writer can only
| rememb Der the boots.
| Ninth, suite of Charles VII, whose
dress exhibited every color of the rain
bow. Blue coats, red vests, white silk
| breeches and stockings. and silver buck
! les in shoes give man an air impossible
| to secure by clothing of today. Each
| of the tweny-six was an inch taller than
! on other days, and smiled on his friends
! in the crowd in the most condescending
way. Tenth. trumpeters on foot followed
| by soldiers armed with pixies and
halberds Last of all were twelve floats
representing scenes in the life of the
| Maid. Through the crowd ON the side
walks ram grotesquely dressed fellows
with cash boxes, who solicited money
to help pay the expenses of the pageant.
| ofk 1a.a i, Zoe, ka,, Il