The Argosy — page 128: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

114 Two Days in the Life of the late Emperor. Those who attempted to sleep got up in the morning from their rocking beds unrefreshed. Bricks were hurled from chimneys, trees torn up by the roots, shutters and windows rent from their fastenings: scarcely, in the remembrance of the oldest inhabitant of Dunkerque, had such a hurricane been known. With the going down of the morning tide, the storm a little abated ; but it still blew awfully. What a sight the unfortunate street decorations presented! It was a a scene of desolation. The house-drapenes had nearly all disappeared, nobody knew where ; a few torn odds and ends were clinging round the chimneys, and flapping away in the wind ; the houses were stained blue and red where the draperies had been, for the rain had soaked out their colours ; the eagles had come down on the wing; some of the flags fluttered in ribbons, like a furious cat-o’-nine-tails ; the leaves were torn off the once lovely green boughs, and were whirling about in the air, thick as a snow storm: whilst the flags looked like a forest of faded leaves in autumn. The festoons were blown to pieces ; the greater part of the triumphal arches were destroyed ; the much-admired barrel-arch had demolished itself, with a noise and fury seldom heard before, to the excessive terror of the neighbouring houses, who had thought the street was coming down ; and the beautiful triumphal arch leading to the park was a heap of ruins, the colossal eagle lying on the ground with its head off, and its gilt wings gone away. Some of the disasters could not be remedied, for time pressed, and the wind was still in its tantrums, as an English lad phrased it ; but all that could be done was done. The rain that day kept off. But the people, from another cause, felt vexed. Dunkerque had gone to an enormous experse ; and rumours oozed out that the Imperial pair, instead of remaining a night in the town, dining at the préfecture and ‘‘ assisting” at the ball, would only stay three hours. The town refused to believe it: but it turned out to be true, nevertheless. The royal train would arrive at half-past eleven. Long before that hour every window in the line of procession was occupied. Troops in their gay uniforms were pouring up to the railway station, to the music of their fine bands; conspicuous for their attire marched the sapeurs-pompiers in their brazen helmets ; bodies of decorated men, deputations from the neighbouring towns, followed; the municipal council of Dunkerque loomed by, in all the grandeur of their official robes ; walking with them was a lady, decorated with two medals, for services rendered formerly in the town; old soldiers of the Empire; ancient sailors ; children of the publicinstitutions = all advanced in order. The Imperial carriages, which had arrived the previous evening, followed in the midst of an escort ; and not the least picturesque of the different objects was a deputation of fishwomen, bearing aloft a net, containing a fish made of silver. They were charmingly attired..in.. their peculiar holiday costume, their light, clear-looking caps spotless as snow ; in their co MUUCGLIOO So (CO) —_) aa)