Aswecameout，theairandthebuildingsroundaboutweretingedwithpurple，andtheclearsharphalf—moonbefore—mentionedwasstillinthesky，whereitseemedtobelingeringasifitwouldcatchapeepofthecommencementofthefamousprocession。TheArcdeTriomphewasshininginakeenfrostysunshine，andlookingascleanandrosyasifithadjustmadeitstoilette。ThecanvasorpasteboardimageofNapoleon，ofwhichonlythegildedlegshadbeenerectedthenightprevious，wasnowvisible，body，head，crown，sceptreandall，andmadeanimposingshow。Longgiltbannerswereflauntingabout，withtheimperialcipherandeagle，andthenamesofthebattlesandvictoriesglitteringingold。ThelongavenuesoftheChampsElyseeshadbeencoveredwithsandfortheconvenienceofthegreatprocessionthatwastotrampacrossitthatday。
　　Hundredsofpeopleweremarchingtoandfro，laughing，chattering，singing，gesticulatingashappyFrenchmendo。ThereisnopleasantersightthanaFrenchcrowdonthealertforafestival，andnothingmorecatchingthantheirgood—humor。Asforthenotionwhichhasbeenputforwardbysomeoftheoppositionnewspapersthatthepopulacewereonthisoccasionunusuallysolemnorsentimental，itwouldbepayingabadcomplimenttothenaturalgayetyofthenation，tosaythatitwas，onthemorningatleastofthe15thofDecember，affectedinanysuchabsurdway。Itinerantmerchantswereshoutingoutlustilytheircommoditiesofsegarsandbrandy，andtheweatherwassobittercold，thattheycouldnotfailtofindplentyofcustomers。Carpentersandworkmenwerestillmakingahugebangingandclatteringamongtheshedswhichwerebuiltfortheaccommodationofthevisitors。Someoftheseshedswerehungwithblack，suchasoneseesbeforechurchesinfunerals;somewererobedinviolet，incomplimenttotheEmperorwhosemourningtheyputon。
　　MostofthemhadfinetricolorhangingswithappropriateinscriptionstothegloryoftheFrencharms。
　　AllalongtheChampsElyseeswereurnsofplaster—of—Parisdestinedtocontainfuneralincenseandflames;columnsdecoratedwithhugeflagsofblue，red，andwhite，embroideredwithshiningcrowns，eagles，andN'singiltpaper，andstatuesofplasterrepresentingNymphs，Triumphs，Victories，orotherfemalepersonages，paintedinoilsoastorepresentmarble。Realmarblecouldhavehadnobettereffect，andtheappearanceofthewholewaslivelyandpicturesqueintheextreme。Oneachpillarwasabuckler，ofthecolorofbronze，bearingthenameanddateofabattleingiltletters:youhadtowalkthroughamile—longavenueofthesegloriousreminiscences，tellingofspotswhere，inthegreatimperialdays，throatshadbeenvictoriouslycut。
　　Aswepasseddowntheavenue，severaltroopsofsoldiersmetus:thegarde—muncipaleacheval，inbrasshelmetsandshiningjack—boots，noble—lookingmen，large，onlargehorses，thepickoftheoldarmy，asIhaveheard，andarmedforthespecialoccupationofpeace—
　　keeping:notthemostglorious，butthebestpartofthesoldier'sduty，asIfancy。ThencamearegimentofCarabineers，oneofInfantry——little，alert，brown—faced，good—humoredmen，theirbandattheirheadplayingsoundingmarches。ThesewerefollowedbyaregimentordetachmentoftheMunicipalsonfoot——twoorthreeinchestallerthanthemenoftheLine，andconspicuousfortheirneatnessanddiscipline。By—and—bycameasquadronorsoofdragoonsoftheNationalGuards:theyarecoveredwithstraps，buckles，aguillettes，andcartouche—boxes，andmakeundertheirtricolorcock's—plumesashowsufficientlywarlike。ThepointwhichchieflystruckmeonbeholdingthesemilitarymenoftheNationalGuardandtheLine，wastheadmirablemannerinwhichtheyboreacoldthatseemedtomeassharpastheweatherintheRussianretreat，throughwhichcoldthetroopsweretrottingwithouttremblingandintheutmostcheerfulnessandgood—humor。Anaide—
　　de—campgallopedpastinwhitepantaloons。Byheavens！itmademeshuddertolookathim。
　　Withthisprofoundreflection，weturnedawaytotherighttowardsthehanging—bridge（wherewemetadetachmentofyoungmenoftheEcoledel'EtatMajor，fine—lookinglads，butsadlydisfiguredbythewearingofstaysorbelts，thatmakethewaistsoftheFrenchdandiesofamostabsurdtenuity），andspeedilypassedintotheavenueofstatuesleadinguptotheInvalides。AllthesewerestatuesofwarriorsfromNeytoCharlemagne，modelledinclayforthenonce，andplacedheretomeetthecorpseofthegreatestwarriorofall。Passingthese，wehadtowalktoalittledooratthebackoftheInvalides，wherewasacrowdofpersonsplungedinthedeepestmourning，andpushingforplacesinthechapelwithin。
　　Thechapelisspaciousandofnogreatarchitecturalpretensions，butwasonthisoccasiongorgeouslydecoratedinhonorofthegreatpersontowhosebodyitwasabouttogiveshelter。
　　Wehadarrivedatnine;theceremonywasnottobegin，theysaid，tilltwo:wehadfivehoursbeforeustoseeallthatfromourplacescouldbeseen。
　　Wesawthattheroof，uptothefirstlinesofarchitecture，washungwithviolet;beyondthiswithblack。WesawN's，eagles，bees，laurelwreaths，andothersuchimperialemblems，adorningeverynookandcorneroftheedifice。Betweenthearches，oneachsideoftheaisle，werepaintedtrophies，onwhichwerewrittenthenamesofsomeofNapoleon'sGeneralsandoftheirprincipaldeedsofarms——
　　andnottheirdeedsofarmsalone，pardi，buttheircoatsofarmstoo。Ostarsandgarters！butthisistoomuch。WhatwasNey'spaternalcoat，prithee，orhonestJunot'squarterings，orthevenerableescutcheonofKingJoachim'sfather，theinnkeeper？
　　YouandI，dearMissSmith，knowtheexactvalueofheraldicbearings。WeknowthatthoughthegreatestpleasureofallistoACTlikeagentleman，itisapleasure，nayamerit，toBEone——tocomeofanoldstock，tohaveanhonorablepedigree，tobeabletosaythatcenturiesbackourfathershadgentleblood，andtoustransmittedthesame。ThereISagoodingentility:themanwhoquestionsitisenvious，oracoarsedullardnotabletoperceivethedifferencebetweenhighbreedingandlow。Onehasinthesamewayheardamanbragthathedidnotknowthedifferencebetweenwines，nothe——givehimagoodglassofport，andhewouldpitchallyourclarettothedeuce。Mylove，menoftenbragabouttheirowndulnessinthisway。
　　Inthematterofgentlemen，democratscry，"Psha！GiveusoneofNature'sgentlemen，andhangyouraristocrats。"AndsoindeedNaturedoesmakeSOMEgentlemen——afewhereandthere。ButArtmakesmost。Goodbirth，thatis，goodhandsomewell—formedfathersandmothers，nicecleanlynursery—maids，goodmeals，goodphysicians，goodeducation，fewcares，pleasanteasyhabitsoflife，andluxuriesnottoogreatorenervating，butonlyrefining——acourseofthesegoingonforafewgenerationsarethebestgentleman—makersintheworld，andbeatNaturehollow。
　　If，respectedMadam，yousaythatthereissomethingBETTERthangentilityinthiswickedworld，andthathonestyandpersonalwealtharemorevaluablethanallthepolitenessandhigh—breedingthateverworered—heeledpumps，knights'spurs，orHoby'sboots，Titmarshforoneisnevergoingtosayyounay。Ifyouevengosofarastosaythattheveryexistenceofthissuper—genteelsocietyamongus，fromtheslavishrespectthatwepaytoit，fromthedastardlymannerinwhichweattempttoimitateitsairsandapeitsvices，goesfartodestroyhonestyofintercourse，tomakeusmeanlyashamedofournaturalaffectionsandhonest，harmlessusages，andsodoesagreatdealmoreharmthanitispossibleitcandogoodbyitsexample——perhaps，Madam，youspeakwithsomesortofreason。
　　Potatomyself，Ican'thelpseeingthatthetulipyonderhasthebestplaceinthegarden，andthemostsunshine，andthemostwater，andthebesttending——andnotlikinghimoverwell。ButIcan'thelpacknowledgingthatNaturehasgivenhimamuchfinerdressthaneverIcanhopetohave，andofthis，atleast，mustgivehimthebenefit。
　　Orsay，wearesomanycocksandhens，mydear（sansarrierepensee），withourcropsprettyfull，ourplumesprettysleek，decentpickinghereandthereinthestraw—yard，andtolerablesnugroostinginthebarn:yonderontheterrace，inthesun，walksPeacock，stretchinghisproudneck，squealingeverynowandtheninthemostpertfashionablevoiceandflauntinghisgreatsuperciliousdandifiedtail。Don'tletusbetooangry，mydear，withtheuseless，haughty，insolentcreature，becausehedespisesus。