Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-10-08

admitting me 70 tne ChhmDre ue spectre
lchamber Of specters.l Upon the walls ofthe
room are number of pictures the subject
Of one Of them being "a night fete at Maulin
Range" OF another man seated at table
and drinking from glass labeled "absinthe,"
Of still another, a young man at the hour OF
midnight, seated upon a cold rock in front
OF house serenading his enamorata, and
others more or less suggestive OF good way
to meet the grim reaper Suddenly the
lights were made dim and all of the figures
in the paintings changed into skeletons. We
then took our tapers and marched in solemn
procession through dark corridor into an
other room. the walls and ceiling of which
were covered with black cloth. At the door,
to welcome us. stood a man dressed in a
Monks cowl In a hole in the wall near the
door is a skeleton reclining upon heap OF
bones. At one end of the room is narrow
passage in which stood a coffin. A young
man who volunteered his services in the
CHASTITY performance. was enveloped in
shroud and placed in the coffin. Then to the
doleful strains of a funeral dirge played up
on an organ by the Monk. INSTRUMENTATION
to a skeleton commenced. His face quick
ly assumed pale, ashen hue then became
deathlike. and a few seconds later had every
appearance of that of a corpse in an advane-
ed stage of decomposition. Finally the flesh
seemed to fall away from the bones, and
where but a moment before had stood the
lad smiling upon his friends in the audience
nothing remained but a grinning skeleton.
In another moment the young fellow reap
peared still smiling and radiant as ever
The act was repeated, girl II or 1s years Of
age taking the place in the coffin. Going
through another passage connecting this
room with third, noticed those in front of
me looking into small aperture in the wall.
/ followed suite and saw that which hope
others will not see for long time to come,
myself in a coffin. A casket with a mirror in
it was placedin an upright position facing
the opening so that one looking in can see
his or her reflection in it. In the next room
we beheld another revolving exhibition in
which members of the audience and specters
played the parts and which concluded the
programme. One of the spectators had
with him little girl or ten years Of age
Think of taking child intoa place like that
Think of the impression produced on that
little ones mind by such awful sights That
man ought to be hung.
The next day the city put on its holiday
dress most of the buildings were gaily deco
rated with flags and banners andupon a few
of them l saw our own stars and stripes
waving alongside the red white and blue OF
La Belle-France In the afternoon, accom-
panied by an English actor with whom had
become quite well acquainted, | went tC
the Longchamps race course in the BoiS du
Il Bologne. to see the grand military review
i which takes place annually upon this day
There were over 10000 men on the field. The
ID fhiatfeuvers were good and very imposing
H 1rbhtaf q careful comparison OF the French
with the German soldiers, | must concede
superiority in many respects tothe latter
After the review was over and the troops had
commenced to disperse, We walked rapidly
to the main road that led to the city, where
we had a glimpse of President Faure, the
American Minister, and the great Chinese
statesman, Ii Hung Chang. who was visiting
he was loudly cheered, to which he respon-
ded by frequently removing his hatand bow.
ing to the right and left. As the street is a
narrow one and the carriages moved SLOWLY
| had good view of his face. He is u nice
looking old chap with extreme good nature
and benevolence beaming from his counte'
nance about 70 years ofage, medium stature
quite bald on the crown of his head, light
eyes and white hair and moustache. He ap-
pears to be exceedingly popular with the
masses, In the evening we engaged a fiacre
by the hour and took II ride about the city, Al
of the public buildings were brilliantly anC
beautifully illuminated with myriads of gas
lights powerful electric searchlight withG
revolving reflector spread its far-reaehina
rays, over the city. In nearly all Of the squares
bright with colored lights and lanterns, anC
in many places upon the streets there was
music and dancing. The crowds were Sc
dense in places that we had to turn back anC
take other streets, The police regulation!
were partially suspended for the time being
and the people allowed the utmost liberties.
From the,Champs du Mars we slowly trav
, ersed the crowded thoroughfares past the
Louvre to the Hotel de Villa lefty hall), new
and I think, excepting the opera house, thC
square in front of it the scene was one of eX
treme gaity and hilarity, a confused mass o
humanity with several groups of dancers
! laughing, shouting singing, intent upol
getting all the enjoyment possible out of thu
hour. 1t was nearly midnight when W,
reached our hotel. Father, who was tire,
, and not feeling we'll, retired, but l wished t.
see more of the fete andwalked to the Pac
de POpera in front of the Grand Opera House
the largest and probably the finest theatre il
the world. 1t covers nearly acres ofground
Here the revelry of the merry makers was a
its height. In the center of the Place was
temporary pavilion with a large orchestrG
| which provided music for the occasion
Round and round wentthe dancers in mat
of the dust and dirt flying about them. SOM
were girls, bright and viyacious, with th
bloom of youth health and vigor still upol
their cheeks, others older in years and eX
perience pale, wan and haggard booking
, with the stamp of years ofdissipation plain
ly marked upon their countenances. Man,
/. were dressed in bloomers and some in tn
fantaStical costume of the Orient, In one o
| the several sets | saw white man dancing
, with a coal black negress, and in another
woman of the sans culotte type, very shabbil
, dressed, old in years but still young in mind
ai.tryihg to initiate the actions Of a lot of girl
, tfon of high kicking and posing. I had seel
al enough and retraced my steps to the hote
passing several impromptu street concerts
The songs we're sold to whomsoever wishe
to buy and Join in the singing. Before one c
the cafes little band of musicians with man
Z dolins and guitars were playing tune whic
sounded very familiar. | stopped and lis
tened. Surely had heard that air. Wha
: could it be? 1t carried me back to dear oil
America. All, yes, its identity was suddenl
revealed, 1t was that pretty but now moss
grown little ballad After the Ball"
1t was daylight when VENT to bed. Abou
noon 1 was awakened by Father who wa
: very sick. His condition was such as t
l cause me some alarm and called in an Eng
9 lish speaking physician who pronounced tn
, trouble bad attack of asthma. l felt muc
l relieved when he said we need apprehend n
serious results. and that with proper treat
t ment he would be all right again in a fe,
:, days. His illness prolonged our stay in Par
until the 22nd,. when he was feeling quit
a Lyons. AS Paris is the most interesting cit
a in Europe havelwritten considerable. abor
f that which contributes most to the entertain
r ment Of strangers in the city. am tired an
do not want to make this letter any longe
i We expect to be in Senheim again in anotht
r week. There I will write again telling 20
o of our journey through France, Italy an
: Switzerland. Father is feeling. very we
8 now and TO. am always well, eXceptin
Q when cross the ocean. Lcveto all.
, Your brother, HENRY.