THE EVACUATION OF NANCY THE UPROARIOUS JOY OF THE POPULACE.

Evening Star, Issue 3329, 21 October 1873, Page 3

THE EVACUATION OF NANCY THE UPROARIOUS JOY OF THE POPULACE.

A special correspondent writes:—“ The German Loops, composing the Nancy garrison, mustered in the Place Stanislas at ha fpast live on August 1, to the number of about 3,000. There was not a large crowd, but still a great many people, chiefly, however, of the lower orders were present, and many were seen peeping from the windows. At 5.50 General Man tend'd, in a sky-blue undress uniform, with a cap of the same color, and a red band, rode, followed by his stall, through the triumphal arch abutting upon the parade ground. On taking his place ho at once drew his sword, and waving it high in the air, gave the signal for three cheers fur the Emperor of Germany, which was vigorously responded to by the officers and men with a genuine English hurrah. The bauds struck up ‘(tod rave the King,’the troops remaining with arms presented till Tie music was over. Tbon General ManteufTel! took up a position to see the evacuating force tiltpast on their march homeward, gently waving with his hand to the spectators, who pressed a little too closely on the battalions, to show them where they should stand. It wanted two minutes of the quarter past six as the back of the last soldier of Gen. MantoufTel’s rearguard was seen passing through Saint. Catherine’s Gate, and precisely as the "own Hall clock struck the quarter, live iri-coloured flags appeared on the central balcony, and were greeted with diners by the people below, whose numbers wcie

already increased by additions from well dressed classes who had kept out of sight while the Germans were there. In a few momenta more, additional Hags were thrust from the windows of the houses in the Place Stanislas, and whan, five minutes later, I left that square, I was astonished to find that the whole town, with the rapidity of a transformation scene in a pantomime, was decked out with the freshest of tricolors. The joy nells of most of the churches rang merr/ peals. The Protestant Church exhibited a large inscription, ‘ Vive la Bepublique Francaise.’ From garret to cellar the national colors fluttered from every window, and yet, prodigal as was the exhibition, the townspeople acted as if not half enough flags were hung out. The spacious footways were literally carpeted with blue, white, and red stuffs, which men, women, and children were busy as they could be, cutting into short lengths, and stitching together for the purpose of converting into patriotic symbols. The very babies in the arms of poor women wore decked out like the house fronts, with miniature flags. Indeed, I even noticed that the poodles in the streets were smartened up in carnival fashion, with tricolor ribbons. Whenever one saw the old grand ducal colons of Lorraine, or those of Metz, Strasbourg, or Colmar, big knots of black crape were attached to the heads of the flagstaffs.”