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Show '". M. CASIMIR-PERIER. fw the Kew President of France Appear In Public After the tragic death of the late M. Carnot at the hands of an assassin it must needs be a brave man who woold fill his plaoe. Such a man is M. Casi-mer-Perier, the new head of the French government. On a bright Sunday in October it was rumored about Paris that the president would attend the races at Longohamps, in the Bois de Boulogne. The French, anxious to see how M. Cas imer-Perier bore his new honors, and the foreign element of Paris, eager for a sight of this courageous successor to kings and emperors, were out in great numbers. Early in the afternoon the Champs Elyseos, the Avenue Bois ' de Boulogne and the main roads of the bois itself were thronged with spectators. Evidently Evi-dently something unusual wa3 going on. The Etranger was courteously informed in-formed that it was not a parade; that, the president would shortly pass by on his way from the races. A detachment of the mounted guards of the republic, in their glittering armor, ar-mor, was grouped in a picturesque manner man-ner around the great base of the Arc de Triomphe. At every few yards police were stationed, from the Palais de EIy see to the race course, a distance cf several sev-eral miles. Thousands of people lined the streets, and hundreds of cabs drove slowly back and forth, though half of the way was kept constantly clear by mounted officers. Among the notable Americans seen in the crowd were Dr. Evans of Empress Eugenie fame, in his private brougham, and Miss Sybil Sanderson San-derson of the grand opera, in a handsome hand-some victoria. The bystanders were most patient, many of them waiting hours. Every neck was craned, every eye was turned toward the bois. Judging Judg-ing from the amount of preparation and excitement, it might well have beon the great Napoleon himself whom they ix-pected. ix-pected. Presently a startling sight greot-ed greot-ed the beholders. It was in the shape of a bright red coupe drawn by a chestnut chest-nut horbe. The people laughed and jeered jeer-ed in their light hearted French way, while the lone man in the vehicle grinned grin-ned in a self satisfied way. Clearly it was not the president. A moment later a captain of the guard spurred down the avenue, followed in quick succession by several mounted privates. The way was instantly cleared, the gay coupe disappearing down by a bypath, and the four horsed open carriage car-riage of M. Casimir-Perier drove rapidly out of the Bois. Tho president, a dignified, dig-nified, fine looking man in the prime of life, was accompanied by his wife and two gentlemen. There were two flunkies on the box sect in white livery and two footmen in the rear. The president lifted his hat courteously; but, strango to say, there was no cheering such as greets the Prince of Wales in London or our own executive at home. It remained re-mained for two foreign ladies, English and American respectively, to throw the only flowers which M. Casimir-Perier received in all that crowd. With real republican enthusiasm, these young women rose up In their cab and tossed, with true feminine aim, a bunch of carnations. All but one fell to the ground and were crushed by the wheels of his carriage, but the last alighted on the lapel of the presidential coat. It was quickly handed to him by an observant lackey. M. Casimir-Perier graciously accepted it, bowing his thanks, and was speedily driven from view. Cor. Detroit De-troit Free Press. |
