The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-24

rounded by his staff, he led off the cortege.
The three coffinless hearses followed, and
then came the funeral car, a most imposing
vehicle. Leading statesmen bore the pail
NJ BERGES THREAT.
Then came the family, consisting of the
Presidents son-in-law, Berge; Cremer, his
nephew, and his business partner in the
hides and leather trade. and his two cousins.
M. Berge is a civil engineer. Sons-in-law
bring bad luck to Presidents of the French
republic. Wilson ruined President Grevy.
Berge, or, rather, one of HIS partners, afford
ed an opportunity to President Faures enc
mics and to blackmailers. When NJ Faure
was elected President M. Berge, anticipating
attacks, sent friend to the editors likely
to deal with his family history to say that
he was the best fencer and pistol shot in
Paris and would skewer or shoot any one
who attempted to cast mud at him. The
boast was not a vain boast He practiced
fencing and shooting daily at the Elysee.
He is clean built, not yet middle aged, and
might make fortune as a fencing master.
The new President, M. Loubet showed
great pluck in not walking merely from
the Elysee to Notre Dame, but to the ceme-
terry, through the most disturbed districts.
His friends say NJ. Loubet is brave
homme: or a good fellow. He was by him
self, behind the family, betrayed no fear
and was in evening dress. He wore for the
first time the grand Gordon of the Legion of
Honor, a broad, scarlet ribbon of watered
silk. The elect of Congress, M. Loubet
walked like a man of standing and Of firm,
unassuming self-centered character. He is
rather short, thick set, of dark complexion,
with hair and beard originally black but
now grizzled. He seemed determined not to
finch, and can, am informed, show him
self stern and unflnching.
Great apprehnsions were felt for the safe
ty Of the members of the criminal chamber
of the Court of Cessation, and the three
Dreyfuslte members President Loew and
Judges Bard and Dumas. Hundreds of
thousands of Republicans would have liked
to hoot them and cheer Judge Mazeau,
president of the court. But the unpopular
judges were apparently not noticed. The
judges in the procession wore their crimson
robes with ermine tippets and velvet capes.
In fact every official and dignitary having
the right to a special costume wore 1t upon
this occasion, which added greatly to the
spectacular features of this really street
opera The dignitaries Of the Department
of Public Instruction and Of the University
were dressed in black and violet silk gowns,
the members of the faculty of medicine
were robed in crimson satin, the members of
the faculty of law wore black and yellow
silk and all the Cabinet ministers were in
evening dress.
HARANGUES AT THE CEMETERY.
The long-winded discourses at the ceme-
terry were fiat, commonplace and verbose.
Americans who go straight to the root of
matter and are not afraid of originality,
cannot conceive such harangUes. The Pres
ident, the members of the Cabinet, the
senator's, deputies and great functionaries
patiently listened, some in evening coats
and not all in uniform, with hats Off in the
teeth of sharp afternoon blast. When all
was over M. Loubet and the other states
men regained their carriages, which came to
pick them up. The Presidents carriage is
spacious and plain, somewhat the worse for
wear and without rubber tires. So different
from NJ. Faure's smart and faultless equi-
pages But one likes the plainness. M. Lou
bet took MN. Chaveau and Deschanel back
with him to Paris. He was escorted by
cuirassiers. There was no demonstration,
except that of utter silence. Many diplo-
mats went, following the Presidents ex-
ample, to the cemetery and the confusion at
the close of the burial was bewildering,
every diplomat calling for his carriage and
none able to find.
The Czar sent his own photographers to
"snap shot" the funeral. Two first floors,
one opposite the Elysee and the other in the
close Of Notre Dame were hired for them
for the day at rent of 1000 francs.
The Nationalist papers say there were en-
thusastic demonstrations along the whole
course of the procession in favor of the
generals, but l heard none of the cries re-
ported. EMILY CRAWFORD.