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two new buildings, the ball-room and the supperThe first room was in the shape of a tent, the top of which was ornamented with the signs of the Zodiac and an allegory representing a triumph. The throne was placed there at the top of seven rows of steps. All round the room, which was made for such an ovation, were muslin draperies with golden bees and branches of laurel and myrtle. When the Emperor and Empress appeared at seven o'clock in the evening three thousand ladies, each holding a bouquet, rose to their feet. It was like a living grove. The wives of the most illustrious warriors of the Garde, the Duchesses of Dalmatia, Trévise and Istria, the Countesses Walter, Dorsenne, Curial, Saint Sulpice, Lefebvre-Desnouettes, and Krasenstra, and the Baronesses Kirgener, Lubenska, Guiot, Gros, Delaistre, and Lepic, had been selected to serve as escort to the Empress. Marshal Bessières, Duke of Istria, offered her a most magnificent bouquet.

During this time the Champ de Mars, entirely covered in, sheltered from 3,000 to 4,000 spectators, grouped together without confusion or in convenience on the terrace, the amphitheatre, and the side walks. When Napoleon and Marie Louise appeared on the balcony of the École Militaire, an immense burst of cheering was heard. Afterwards there was a dinner given to the Imperial family. After this repast the Sovereign gave the signal for the horse and chariot

After

races. The intervening time was allotted to Franconi's circus troupe. When the prizes had been awarded to the winners of the various races, a balloon directed by a woman, Madame de Blanchard, was sent up. The bold aëronaut saluted the Sovereigns, waved a flag, threw down flowers, and reached an extraordinary height in a moment. The firework display then took place. While the rockets, bombs, and shooting stars were crossing and recrossing each other, two young and pretty women, who looked like magical apparitions, went up and down suspended ropes in the midst of the surrounding flames. the fireworks a ballet was danced, under the direction of Gardel, by the male and female dancers of the opera, representing the various European nations with their national costumes. After the ballet there was a very animated ball. Napoleon and Marie Louise withdrew towards midnight, escorted to their carriage by the great majority of the guests, who cheered them and did not return to the ball-room until they had driven some distance away. Magnificent weather and a radiant night favoured this exceptional fête. The brightness of the moon and stars seemed to vie with the illuminations. The principal court, transformed into a parterre filled with shrubs and flowers, was like a garden of Armida, where the guests walked about to the sound of delicious music. At two o'clock in the morning the doors of the supper-room were

opened, and then were seen vast bowers of gilt trelliswork with Corinthian pillars, and a ceiling the frescoes of which represented groups of children playing in the open air with baskets of flowers and garlands. Fifteen hundred people sat down to supper.

They

The Garde Impériale might well be proud of their fête. Young, brilliant, lovers of pleasure and glory, the officers then led a life all the more joyous because war caused it to run the risk of being short. had the same ardour and dashing enthusiasm in the ball-room as on the field of battle. They loved the perfume of flowers as much as the smell of powder. They had a passion for every description of conquest, and revived the manners of ancient chivalry. To use

the language of the day, it was the two-fold reign of Mars and Venus. In those heroic times, courage was held in far higher esteem than riches. Venality was the exception among pretty women. They thought a scar no drawback to a warlike countenance, and the disinterested favours of beauty were the reward of bravery.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE BALL AT THE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY.

THE series of magnificent fêtes just celebrated in Paris was brought to a close by a ball which the Prince de Schwarzenberg, the Austrian Ambassador, gave on the 1st of July, 1810, to the Emperor and Empress at the Embassy, and which was announced in advance as going to be a marvel of luxury, elegance, and good taste. The residence of the Prince Ambassador was situated in the Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin. It was the old abode of the Marquise de Montesson, widow of the Duke d'Orleans, to whom that lady had been morganatically married. Great preparations had been made with extraordinary magnificence. The ground floor of the house not being sufficiently large, a spacious ball-room had been made of wood, which was connected with the rooms by a gallery also of wood. The ceiling of this gallery, panelled in varnished paper, was decorated with ornaments and pictures.

S

Raised to the level of the rooms, the floors of these two additions rested on beams. An enormous chandelier hung from the ceiling of the ball-room. The two sides and extent of the gallery were lighted by lustres fixed against the walls. A high dais was reserved for the Imperial family in the middle of the right side of the ball-room, and facing a large door opening on to the garden. Behind this dais a small doorway had been opened for the private use of the Sovereigns. The Ambassador had with him, besides his wife, his brother and his sister-in-law, Prince Joseph and Princess Pauline de Schwarzenberg, who were to assist him in doing the honours of the fête.

Napoleon and Marie Louise, who came from St. Cloud, arrived at the barrier of Paris at a quarter to ten. There they changed carriages. Shortly after ten o'clock they reached the doors of the Embassy, where they were received by the Ambassador. The Emperor wore over his coat the Grand Austrian Order of St. Stephen.

It was splendid.

Their

The fête commenced. Majesties, who were received with strains of music, traversed the concert-room, and passed into the garden, where they halted for a moment before a temple of Apollo. Female vocalists, personifying the Muses, sang a joyous chorus. Napoleon and Marie Louise walked down the waterfall alley, where a mysterious harmony was heard out of a subterranean

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