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Mr。 Titmarsh; there is no subject; however solemn; but he treats it

with flippant irreverence; and no character; however great; at whom

he does not sneer。〃



Ah; my dear! you are young now and enthusiastic; and your Titmarsh

is old; very old; sad; and gray…headed。  I have seen a poor mother

buy a halfpenny wreath at the gate of Montmartre burying…ground; and

go with it to her little child's grave; and hang it there over the

little humble stone; and if ever you saw me scorn the mean offering

of the poor shabby creature; I will give you leave to be as angry as

you will。  They say that on the passage of Napoleon's coffin down

the Seine; old soldiers and country people walked miles from their

villages just to catch a sight of the boat which carried his body

and to kneel down on the shore and pray for him。  God forbid that we

should quarrel with such prayers and sorrow; or question their

sincerity。  Something great and good must have been in this man;

something loving and kindly; that has kept his name so cherished in

the popular memory; and gained him such lasting reverence and

affection。



But; Madam; one may respect the dead without feeling awe…stricken at

the plumes of the hearse; and I see no reason why one should

sympathize with the train of mutes and undertakers; however deep may

be their mourning。  Look; I pray you; at the manner in which the

French nation has performed Napoleon's funeral。  Time out of mind;

nations have raised; in memory of their heroes; august mausoleums;

grand pyramids; splendid statues of gold or marble; sacrificing

whatever they had that was most costly and rare; or that was most

beautiful in art; as tokens of their respect and love for the dead

person。  What a fine example of this sort of sacrifice is that

(recorded in a book of which Simplicity is the great characteristic)

of the poor woman who brought her pot of precious ointmenther all;

and laid it at the feet of the Object which; upon earth; she most

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 

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