The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. TitmarshThackeray, William Makepeace
General
The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Paris (France) -- Description and travel
I had made a vow not to say a syllable on the subject, although I have
seen, with my neighbors, all the gingerbread stalls down the Champs
Elysées, and some of the “catafalques” erected to the memory of the
heroes of July, where the students and others, not connected personally
with the victims, and not having in the least profited by their deaths,
come and weep; but the grief shown on the first day is quite as absurd
and fictitious as the joy exhibited on the last. The subject is one
which admits of much wholesome reflection and food for mirth; and,
besides, is so richly treated by the French themselves, that it would
be a sin and a shame to pass it over. Allow me to have the honor of
translating, for your edification, an account of the first day’s
proceedings—it is mighty amusing, to my thinking.
“CELEBRATION OF THE DAYS OF JULY.
“To-day (Saturday), funeral ceremonies, in honor of the victims of
July, were held in the various edifices consecrated to public worship.
“These edifices, with the exception of some churches (especially that
of the Petits-Pères), were uniformly hung with black on the outside;
the hangings bore only this inscription: 27, 28, 29 July,
1830—surrounded by a wreath of oak-leaves.
“In the interior of the Catholic churches, it had only been thought
proper to dress LITTLE CATAFALQUES, as for burials of the third and
fourth class. Very few clergy attended; but a considerable number of
the National Guard.
“The Synagogue of the Israelites was entirely hung with black; and a
great concourse of people attended. The service was performed with the
greatest pomp.
“In the Protestant temples there was likewise a very full attendance:
APOLOGETICAL DISCOURSES on the Revolution of July were pronounced by
the pastors.
“The absence of M. de Quélen (Archbishop of Paris), and of many members
of the superior clergy, was remarked at Notre Dame.
“The civil authorities attended service in their several districts.
“The poles, ornamented with tri-colored flags, which formerly were
placed on Notre Dame, were, it was remarked, suppressed. The flags on
the Pont Neuf were, during the ceremony, only half-mast high, and
covered with crape.”
Et caetera, et caetera, et caetera.
“The tombs of the Louvre were covered with black hangings, and adorned
with tri-colored flags. In front and in the middle was erected an
expiatory monument of a pyramidical shape, and surmounted by a funeral
vase.
“These tombs were guarded by the MUNICIPAL GUARD, THE TROOPS OF THE
LINE, THE SERGENS DE VILLE (town patrol), AND A BRIGADE OF AGENTS OF
POLICE IN PLAIN CLOTHES, under the orders of peace-officer Vassal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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