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loved and respected。 〃Economists and calculators〃 there were even
in those days who quarrelled with the manner in which the poor woman
lavished so much 〃capital；〃 but you will remember how nobly and
generously the sacrifice was appreciated； and how the economists
were put to shame。
With regard to the funeral ceremony that has just been performed
here； it is said that a famous public personage and statesman；
Monsieur Thiers indeed； spoke with the bitterest indignation of the
general style of the preparations； and of their mean and tawdry
character。 He would have had a pomp as magnificent； he said； as
that of Rome at the triumph of Aurelian： he would have decorated the
bridges and avenues through which the procession was to pass； with
the costliest marbles and the finest works of art； and have had them
to remain there for ever as monuments of the great funeral。
The economists and calculators might here interpose with a great
deal of reason； for； indeed； there was no reason why a nation should
impoverish itself to do honor to the memory of an individual for
whom； after all； it can feel but a qualified enthusiasm： but it
surely might have employed the large sum voted for the purpose more
wisely and generously； and recorded its respect for Napoleon by some
worthy and lasting memorial； rather than have erected yonder
thousand vain heaps of tinsel； paint； and plaster； that are already
cracking and crumbling in the frost； at three days old。
Scarcely one of the statues； indeed； deserves to last a month： some
are odious distortions and caricatures； which never should have been
allowed to stand for a moment。 On the very day of the fete； the
wind was shaking the canvas pedestals； and the flimsy wood…work had
begun to gape and give way。 At a little distance； to be sure； you
could not see the cracks； and pedestals and statues LOOKED like
marble。 At some distance； you could not tell but that the wreaths
and eagles were gold embroidery； and not gilt paperthe great
tricolor flags damask； and not striped calico。 One would think that
these sham splendors betokened sham respect； if one had not known
that the name of Napoleon is held in real reverence； and observed
somewhat of the character of the nation。 Real feelings they have；
but they distort them by exaggeration； real courage； which they
render ludicrous by intolerable braggadocio； and I think the above
official account of the Prince de Joinville's proceedings； of the
manner in which the Emperor's remains have been treated in their
voyage to the capital； and of the preparations made to receive him
in it； will give my dear Miss Smith some means of understanding the
social and moral condition of this worthy people of France。
III。
ON THE FUNERAL CEREMONY。
Shall I tell you； my dear； that when Francois woke me at a very
early hour on this eventful morning； while the keen stars were still
glittering overhead； a half…moon； as sharp as a razor； beaming in
the frosty sky； and a wicked north wind blowing； that blew the blood
out of one's fingers and froze your leg as you put it out of bed；
shall I tell you； my dear； that when Francois called me； and said；
〃V'la vot' cafe； Monsieur Titemasse； buvez…le； tiens； il est tout
chaud；〃 I felt myself； after imbibing the hot breakfast； so
comfortable under three blankets and a mackintosh； that for at least
a quarter of an hour no man in Europe could say whether Titmarsh
would or would not be present at the burial of the Emperor Napoleon。
Besides； my dear； the cold； there was another reason for doubting。
Did the French nation； or did they not； intend to offer up some of
us English over the imperial grave？ And were the games to be
concluded by a massacre？ It was said in the newspapers that Lord
Granville had despatched circulars to all the English resident in
Paris； begging them to keep their homes。 The French journals
announced this news； and warned us charitably of the fate intended
for us。 Had Lord Granville written？ Certainly not to me。 Or had
he written to all EXCEPT ME？ And was I THE VICTIMthe doomed one？
to be seized directly I showed my face in the Champs Elysees； and
torn in pieces by French Patriotism to the frantic chorus of the
〃Marseillaise？〃 Depend on it； Madam； that high and low in this city
on Tuesday were not altogether at their ease； and that the bravest
felt no small tremor！ And be sure of this； that as his Majesty
Louis Philippe took his nightcap off his royal head that morning； he
prayed heartily that he might； at night； put it on in safety。
Well； as my companion and I came out of doors； being bound for the
Church of the Invalides； for which a Deputy had kindly furnished us
with tickets； we saw the very prettiest sight of the whole day； and
I can't refrain from mentioning it to my dear； tender…hearted Miss
Smith。
In the same house where I live （but about five stories nearer the
ground） lodges an English family； consisting of 1。 A great…
grandmother； a hale； handsome old lady of seventy； the very best…
dressed and neatest old lady in Paris。 2。 A grandfather and
grandmother； tolerably young to bear that title。 3。 A daughter。
And 4。 Two little great…grand； or grandchildren； that may be of the
age of three and one； and belong to a son and daughter who are in
India。 The grandfather； who is as proud of his wife as he was
thirty years ago when he married； and pays her compliments still
twice or thrice in a day； and when he leads her into a room looks
round at the persons assembled； and says in his heart； 〃Here；
gentlemen； here is my wifeshow me such another woman in England；〃
this gentleman had hired a room on the Champs Elysees； for he would
not have his wife catch cold by exposing her to the balconies in the
open air。
When I came to the street； I found the family assembled in the
following order of march：
No。 1； the great…grandmother walking daintily along； supported by
No。 3； her granddaughter。
A nurse carrying No。 4 junior； who was sound asleep： and a huge
basket containing saucepans； bottles of milk； parcels of infants'
food； certain dimity napkins； a child's coral； and a little horse
belonging to No。 4 senior。
A servant bearing a basket of condiments。
No。 2； grandfather； spick and span； clean shaved； hat brushed；
white buckskin gloves； bamboo cane； brown great…coat； walking as
upright and solemn as may be； having his lady on his arm。
No。 4； senior； with mottled legs and a tartan costume； who was
frisking about between his grandpapa's legs； who heartily wished him
at home。
〃My dear；〃 his face seemed to say to his lady； 〃I think you might
have left the little things in the nursery； for we shall have to
squeeze through a terrible crowd in the Champs Elysees。〃
The lady was going out for a day's pleasure； and her face was full
of care： she had to look first after her old mother who was walking
ahead； then after No。 4 junior with the nursehe might fall into
all sorts of danger； wake up； cry； catch cold； nurse might slip
down； or heaven knows what。 Then she had to look her husband in the
face； who had gone to such expense and been so kind for her sake；
and make that gentleman believe she was thoroughly happy； and；
finally； she had to keep an eye upon No。 4 senior； who； as she was
perfectly certain； was about in two minutes to be lost for ever； or
trampled to pieces in the crowd。
These events took place in a quiet little street leading into the
Champs Elysees； the entry of which we had almost reached by this
time。 The four detachments above described； which had been
straggling a little in their passage down the street； closed up at
the end of it； and stood for a moment huddled together。 No。 3； Miss
X； began speaking to her companion the great…grandmother。
〃Hush； my dear；〃 said that old lady； looking round alarmed at her
daughter。 〃SPEAK FRENCH。〃 And she straightway beg