New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-27
FRENCH FETE DAY
uo.s Fourteenth Of Jnly Is Observed
in To7cn and Country.
Paris. July ]

4 dance AZ French calendar shows that
ore only two months IN the year that have
.,bfic holidays. October and September
m festival for the great working class OF
o,unfrv. and unless Easter falls late enough
4 Uritsllnday to occur in June. in which case
.en national holidays are equally distrib-
4 "a through ten months in the year the pleas
4 l. month for haymaking has no holiday. either
- holiday has it's special character. Nine
o,the ten are based on Church festivals, and
4 - been celebrated in France since the earliest
= n its history. The July fete IS however
4 / n,de-n and republican institution. II cele-
| sstes the fall of social caste. the addition Of
rmarchical government and the establishment
J. republic with its auuTing motto, Lib
s4r Fraternity EQualitt-"
Ian July Il there is no ward of Paris that
l ,.sbrates with more appearance or enthusiasm
/ H. capture of the ancient Paris fortress. known
. the BasUile. than that which centres in the
Fsce DC Ia Bastile. The site of the great state
.1son is marked by two high columns. which
fomnate one Of the largest open spaces in the
taptaI. With a quarter OF million francs at
! Is disposal for the purpose, the City Council
|. tHe distributing the funds with npartiallty
!kmons the twenty wards or ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Iksures its best effects IN the Place dc Ia Bas-
Ike The simplicity of the design OF the french
|EstjonaI flag with its three alternate stripes OF
IL white and blue lends itself admirably 10
|Es,oration. and on every building In the CITY
lEablc or private, the republican eihpie ZEN VIC"
IL. he seen during the three days or me ietes-
II raining as il did this year on Sunday the
IL e,c;,,,-s for the Fourteenth naturally began on
|1.+rrday night and ended well after nlidnlSht on
= Monday All shops being closed by act OF par
e,a,,ent. with the exception OF wine and FOOD
-. . host Of little booths spranS up, giving
- citv an air of one gigantic fair. All the
| kfrcinal thoroushfares were adorned with gar
| r. Of roses and green foliage among which
| T. c,,-nfugly concealed the electric lamps
- at night gIowed with charming effect. 1t
81 .n7a-Izsllle how cIeverly the French can deco
e, Their streets. In a few hours Paris assumes
e sspecr Of q city in the Arabian Nights, and
T. ,hs smallest excuse the populace viii turn
E. and dance and sing as if il had never care
h. The world
T zlr II IS in the small country districts that
e. Fourteenth Of July is the most interesting
IL some lttIa hamlets III the fertile Beauce. for
[-s+ence where the foreigner is unknown and the
IL ,.orle ne fercely republican and frankly
l ,agsn s. their Mayor viii allow them 10 be.
mere IS the handsome chateau Of the grand
u.igne,ir' Of pre-rev0utionary days; and IN the
lIsjev there runs the placid river where the
liz every night sit On lily leaves and sing
H.. love songs. \ hundred and fifty years
Rfo the. peasants had 10 take it IN turns TO flog
H. Stream 70 keep the frogs quiet and insure
rbrolzen sleep 70 their lords. The occupants Of
H. chateau TO- day live their own lives within
uvhsa the family arrive or when they depart
ser look only - the republic. in the person of
IN si- Mayor. for the organization Of their ma
aonfl holidays, and all festivities centre on the
-Iage green where the Tree Of Liberty rears
handsome centenarian head.
4 You may distinguish the Mayors house in any
HrRags oy tha flag 81 the gate: otherwise. there
H. n parade II the dignity ~ Office. On such
H. occasion as the Fourteenth Of July the Mayor
saves his farm. casts aside the spade, and
Er6s himself with his tricolor sash 70 superin-
II snd The sports on the green AS long day
gat lasts he works hard with his chosen lieu
Grants, starting the races, awarding the prizes
II and giving the signal for the village band to
H arike up its music. He, too. like his brethren
IL Paris. has certain credit from headquarters
I;T the festivities, and there Is lot Of free
uirrkine AZ the four or fire wineshops the place
H0ssesses. j is worth while 70 the village
II acksmiJh in tho pond taking part in the duck
etching contest There are five ducks SWIM
HING about and competitors have only to catch
uaar prizes Some seven men Will plunge and
uFEgd around in the water for su hour more
ilso-e The birds -,iH submit t. being caught
II he village blacksmith. athletic individual
IIEgprosches MS prev by swimming gently under
II Tater TIL hA - within ace Of the quarry,
Iaer &c brings u7 head and hand and pounces-
Ils too late A flap of its wings, and tho duck
ssfs'v our ~ reach
After sunset japanese lanterns are lighted and
Nsztseu appears la = light cotton frock and
Il over trimmed hat. carrying In her hand sun
tads. She vii keep this article Of fashion in
hand all through the dance with curious
iset All the village beaux are in sahots, but
III -sy dance with much nimbleness notwithstand-
H. The whole village is the scene Tho
csF women who have seen many FourteenthS
Il! July and are aged and tired with heavy field
york among vines and beans. sit with folded
shds each head covered with the neat white
III lsln cap Of the district. with its tiny iuted
II -A found tho face and wearing their well
N'si1sd. ample blue check linen gowns
II N ordinary occasions these villagers need no
leE bell 10 hasten them to bed. BY o'clock
eFen the proprietor Of the wine shop is 70
Annd. Villagers spend little money on lamp
They up and AZ work by , o'clock in
Morning, and do not understand city hours
FL Not even on the Fourteenth Of July
ney keep awake very late. The students
M Latin Quarter have only just set
H.. to the serious dancing OF the night
ne Fourteenth, when already the peas
II the country are beginning TO yawn- by
COCK the numbers taking the floor have
lhed considerably. and the band gets de-
NY fat Nobody IS sorry when the Mayor,
1e-plest 90 all present, rises and gives the
SO ior The MarscaIse." When the last
- q The splendid hymn have died away the
.o0 disappears and the village green assumes