The Argosy — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

118 Iwo Days tn the Life of the late Emperor. account of the tempest. A prize was given to the most tastily decorated of the streets. It presented more the appearance of a grove at Vauxhall in old times than a street, so profuse were its evergreens and its clusters of many-coloured lamps; whilst at its extreme end the eye, roaming through verdant arcades, caught a view of the ancient Couvent des ‘Pénitentes brilliantly lighted up. Never in England could we see such a sight as was presented that night by the streets of Dunkerque, for the English do not understand these things. The fireworks cost 8000 francs, and were let off on the Place Jean Bart. They were indeed magnificent. The air was filled with balls of the most brilliant and varied colours; showers of golden rain ; jets of silver, Ere one device had faded away in a succession of ever-changing wonders, another broke forth. Now, would be discovered the letter N, stationary in the midst of revolving stars and prisms of vivid brilliancy ; as you looked, the letter dissolved itself into E: here would be shining forth a resplendent crown ; there, towering aloft, the Imperial eagle : and the last scene, the “bouquet” rising into the air, and almost seeming to touch the pale stars of ANOTHER hemisphere, was a sight worth remembering for ever. May the Emperor and Empress come again to Dunkerque! was the aspiration in everybody’s mouth : never mind the money. But they never did come again. And now he, that kindly hearted man, who had ever a good word for England, has passed away to a Kingdom where pomps and vanities, despair and poverty are not; where vicissitudes cannot enter ; and where time and change shall be no more, Peace be with him! Fanuary, 1873. ECORNICLOOO SS (C(O)