Evening star., 1914-04-07
CALMETIEFUNERAL
FAR FROM GLOOMY
Great Crowds That Lined the
Streets as Merry as if
Watching Circus Parade.
SLAIN EDITORS FAMILY
ENDURED LONG ORDEAL
Ceremonies Began at II AM. and
Were Not Concluded Until
O'Clock.

Stan Correspondence Of The Star.
PARIS March II, 1914.
Usually one travels by daytime to
cover the comparatively short distances
of tourist going on the continent, for
then it is possible to see the country,
and, Furthermore, sleeping car accommo-
dations here leave much to be desired
in point of comfort and cost.
I decided. however. Thursday afternoon
to leave Brussels that night in order to
be in Paris to witness. if possible the
funeral of NJ. Calmette, the editor of
Figaro, who was lately shot by the
wife of the financial minister. A pre-
viously formed engagement made it
necessary to wait for what Washing
tonians would call the midnight train
for Paris. To my surprise 1 found that
there were no sleeping cars or wagons
IT. attached to the regular train, but
one such car was to be made part of the
train on the arrival of a section from
Holland. When the Holland train came
the wagon lit proved to be one COM
partment. fully occupied already. And SO
| rode to Paris in a day coach" fairly
comfortably. with intervals of sleep pune
tuated by the pounding of a fiat wheel,
acquired somewhere in the lowlands OF
"A d
guard aroused meat 1:45 a-m.-from
deep sleep to prepare for the customs in
spection. He could have timed his warn
.ng more CONSIDERABLY. for whereas L
was the first to be aroused. judging from
his course the inspector began at the
other end of the train. and 1 was last
TO be questioned by the inspector and to
have my handbag rummaged by stout
old party in a black dress. who might
have been Nine. Defarge in a revolution
trno NJ
taxable being found, was permitted to
retire, TO awake at Paris.
Dreary View of Paris.
Beautiful as it is in almost all aspects,
the French capital is not attractive at
half-past ) on rainy morning. Nor
does it appeal strongly to the visitor
who goes by horse taxi into a strange
quarter to take lodgings at hotel from
which he has received a rate-quoting let
ter, to find it a meager. toploftical. non
lift pension over wholesale business
establishment. to find the front door clos
ed, to have to arouse the concierge from
slunber. to have to wait until he dresses
and to be shown up up. up to a dormer-
windowed room under the leads There
was no time or occasion for discussion
or bargaining. Sleep was needed, and
any bed looked good
Later refreshed and enlightened. went
elsewhere for quarters. for the other
members of the family were TO arrive
twelve hours after me. and had not the
heart even to show them the place of mail
selection.
/ saw the funeral of NJ. Calmette but
missed the demonstration which fol-
lowed. That is to say. l saw one part
of the funeral. 1t would have taken a
man with prodigious powers of legs and
arms. police pass and unlimited time to
see all the funeral. from beginning TO end
and aftermath For a French funeral of
celebrity is a protracted proceeding. The
hour named in the papers was ] o clock.
the place d small chapel away out in
Clichy. miles from the Madeleine. near
which we are stationed. 1 walked out to
observe the street scenes and reached
the church about noon. thinking TO go in
side. II possible, and. being an hour early,
To get seat anywhere and rest. The
streets We're Well filed with people and
here and there delegations were standing.
with crepe-draped banners and immense
floral offerings The church doors were
opening, a;id people were entering so
walked in and found many vacant chairs,