The record-union., 1896-10-07
Never Before Have So Many Strangers Been
in the Metropolis Of France.
The Visitors Estimated at Close on to
Two Millions.
Whole Garrison of Paris Turned Out
in Honor of the Imperial Visitor
and for the Purpose Also of Guard
ing the Route Along Which He
Passed.

PARIS, Oct. 6-The Car has come,
and Paris has gone wild in welcoming
him. 1t is believed that never before
has such multitude of strangers been
in the city. 1t was estimated last night
that over 100000 visitors were here
and all through the night every arriv-
ing train from north, south, east and
west, brought in its quota of strangers
to swell the crowd already here. Even
! to-day the trains have been packed
with late comers. 1t is impossible to
even approximately estimate the num-
Der of visitors, but it would not be at
all surprising if their number was
nearer two million than one million.
The weather was sunny, and every
thing was propitious for the great pop
ular welcome that had been prepared
for the white Car, who is undoubtedly
to-day the idol of the French people.
The Western Railway Company, over
whose line the Car Travelled from Cher
bourg, from which place he started last
evening, had erected a special station
for the use of his majesty at Passy
Ranelagh. Here an immense crowd
was gathered at an early hour, many
Of those present having remained in the
that they would be sure to get a
glimpse Of the Car and Czarina as the
imperial visitors entered the city. The
entire route from the station to the
Russian Embassy at 70 Rue de GreneIIe
IT. Germain, was packed with people
before o'clock. The route was across
the Bois de Boulogne, through the Ave
nue. de Bos de Boulogne, Place de
> oil in vx-l,i
Triophe, thence down the Avenue des
Champs ElySees to across the Place de
la Concord, and down the Boulevard St.
Germain to Rue St Simon, which leads
directly to the entrance Of the Russian
Embassy.
The entire route was decorated with
magnificent and tasteful arches and
pillars and French and Russian col
ors. novel@H in decoration was seen
en- the trees along the route. These
were covered with paper flowers of all
kinds, and were very handsome, the
| contrasting colors adding materially to
| the beauty of the scene. The Palace of
Industry, on the Avenue des Champs
ElySeeS, and the Chamber of Deputies,
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
War and Ministry of Public Works, all
of which are close to or on the Boule-
ward st. Germain, were especially no
ticeable for the beautiful and artistic
arrangement of their decorations.
The whole garrison of Paris was
turned out in honor of the imperial Wis
itor, and for the more practical purpose
of guarding the route along which he
passed. The soldiers lined the entire
route, and back of them stood police
men, facing the crowd in order that
they might be able to detect and arrest
anyone who should attempt to insult
the Gar by uttering SeditiouS cries.
The police arrangements were perfect.
In fact, the regulations adopted for the
occasion were so stringent that they
OccaSiOned some adverse comment,
but the authorities believe that they
are fully justified in taking extraordi-
nary precautions to safeguard the i'm
perial visitor.
At half-past s o'clock the sun was
shining brightly, and the crowds were
constantly augmenting. Some of the
sightseers were quite boisterous in their
light hearted but there We're no
signs of disorder. Occasionally there
would be a scuffie in the crowd S a po-
liceman or detective would discover
pickpocket plying his trade and
promptly arrest him or her.
Each window and balcony along the
route was occupied, the occupants Of
the houses in many instances having
been paid very large sums of money for
the privilege.
President Faure the Ministers and
other dignitaries who had travelled from
Cherbourg on a special train ahead or
the Car arrived at Versailles at S:3O
o'clock The train bearing the impe-
rial guests rolled into the station tWen-
ty minutes later NJ. Faure was in the
reception room, and as the car ana
Czarina alighted from their train he
stepped forward and greeted them.
After a short conversation between the
Ministers and the members of the i'm
rerial suites, the Emperor and Empress
e-entered the Cars special train,
which then proceeded for PaSsy Rane-
lagh station, where the municipal au-
thorities were waiting to present their
respects.
Arrived at Passy Raneiagh, the Gar
and Czarina alighted from their car
1iage. and as they did so "a mighty
roar of welcome ascended from the
n1yriad of people assembled in the vi
cinity of the station.
AS the procession started from the
station the massed bands began play
ing the Russian national anthem. At
the head of the cortege marched body
cf Arab Chiefs, who had been brought
from Africa especially for the purpose
of adding to the picturesqueness of the
scene They presented a unique ap-
pearance in their white burnoses. After
them came q double line of troops,
Chausseurs d Antique, Zouaves and
Tonqunese soldiers. Members of every
French regiment were included IN the
troops. who lined the route, holding
back the crowds.
When the Gar stepped into the car
riage there were many shouts of Long
live the Emperor" Long live Russia"
But it was noticed that the cries were
not universal. For some reason the as
semblage at the start of the procession
was stiff in it's manner, the enthusiasm
that a few minutes before had marked
the proceedings appeared to have
waned. This did ont continue for long,
however, and as the procession ad-
vanced the ebullitions of the vast throng