Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-05-14
NAPOLEON'S CORONATION.
A Gorge GUS and Dramatic Cere-
monial in Notre Dame.
Nine. Mere Stayed with Lucien in Rome
and Would Not BE Present-Crowned
with His Own Hands-An I'm
pressivc Scene.

4
cries to Notre Dame. The streets were
lined and the houses decorated; but the
people of Paris, stated with ceremonials,
were, in spite of self-interest, silent and
critical. On the other hantt, the pres
ence of the German princes in the train,
and the glittering costumes OF the court,
threw the provincial Populations, and
the throngs of officeholders who had
come up from all France, into n delirium
of enthusiasm. The irTeverent Uttered
when the papal chamberlain ambled
by on q mule at the head of his holiness
court but Immediately fell on their
knees and received the papal blessing.
Clergy and choristers intoned the hymn
''Tu es Petrus" as the pontitf entered
the majestic cathedral from the tran
sept, and proceeded to his throne in the
center of the choir TO the right of the
high altar.
After an interval of an hour or more
appeared the emperor's attendants,
Murat leading at the head of 20 squad
rons of cavalry. Then followed the i'm
perial chariot, surmounted by crown,
and drawn by eight superb and richly
caparisoned steeds. Facing the emperor
and empress sat Joseph and Louis; the
other brothers were in temporary dis
grace, and Nine. Mere remained stub
bornly with Lucien at Rome. Then, as
the artillery salvos resounded, there ad-
vanced IS six-horse carriages with the
court, all moving to the sound of tri-
umphal music. Passing in burst of
sunshine to the ;archiepiscopal palace,
and entering the vestry, the emperor
donned his coronation robes and q
crown of laurel leaves. Thence, with
the empress at his side, he proceeded
in state to the palace prepared for them
in the lofty nave, facing the high altar
Joseph, Louis, Cambaceres and Lebrun
were his pages, and supported the train
of his mantle, heavy with gold and en-
broidery. The yet empty throne had
been erected in the heart of the choir.
From 10000 Threats burst the cry:
Long live the emperor" as the slow
and stately march proceeded.
AT last the entrance of the choir was
reached, and the pope, descending from
his chair, began to intone, amid the
deep silence of the throng, the majestic
chant of "Veni, Creator" This ended,
the personages of the court found their
appointed seats, the regalia were laid
on the altar, and Plus, holding out a
copy of the Scriptures, demanded in
the Latin tongue whether the emperor
would use all his powers to have law,
justice and peace reign supreme in the
church and among his people. The en-
peror laid both his hands on the book,
and "Profiteor" came the solumn an
swer. Pope, cardinals, .archbishops
and bishops began the litany, and the
sovereigns kneeled. AS the closing
| strains sounded forth, the imperial
pair advanced under priestly conduct
I to the steps of the high altar, and
kneeled again. The pope, pronounce
ing the customary but long-disused
| prayer, then soiemnly anointed both in
! turn with the triple JUNCTION on head
and hands. Returning to their chairs,
| the two chief actors seated themselves,
and high mass began.
was pause; the emperor stepped for
ward to the altar as if to be invested at
! the papal hands with all the insignia of
| power-ring, mantle and crown. The
! last OF the cOnsecrated baubles TO be
lifted was the crown. At the pregnant
instant, just as the holy father, doubt
! ing but hoping, lifted it aloft, the en-
peror advanced two PAGES downward,
| and, firmly Selling it in his two hands.
! set it on his own brow. Without a
! movement of hesitancy he then crowned
| the empress, and the two, stepping up
! ward, seated themselves in the great
throne OF the empire. The pope recov-
cred his self-control if, indeed, he had
lmomentarily lost it, and said: May
i5God confirm you on this throne, and
may Christ give you to rule with Him
III His Eternal Kingdom" Then, Civ
ing Napoleon the kiss Of peace, he cried:
"Nivat imperator in aeternum!" The
throng shouted in antiphony with
deafening acclaim. Then the ritual
proceeded, and the religious ceremonial
was soon ended.
At its close the presidents of the
great assemblages of the states adj
| vanccd. The emperor, with his hands
on the Bible, said: 81 swear to main
J tain the principles of the revolution,
the integrity of French territory, and
! to govern for the welfare, happiness
and glory of the French people," Other
particulars, equally radical in their ma
ture, were added according to consti,
I tutiohal requirement. The hierarchical
clergy must have shuddered as they
listened Then the chief of the heralds
college stood forth and cried: THE
thrice glorious and thrice august EN-
peror Napoleon is crowned and en-.
! throned. Long live the emperor!" Al
| this moment the cannon outside pro,
claimed the contamination of the cere
mony.-Prof. W. NJ. Sloane, in Century