Christianity and Patriotism
and all Russia," he said, "will be grateful for your reception."
After a brief conversation, the Admiral, on taking leave of the Minister, thanked him a second time for his welcome, and added:
"I do not want to part from you till I have pronounced the words which are imprinted on the hearts of all Russians: 'Vive la France!'"[1]
Such was the reception in Toulon. In Paris the reception and celebrations were even more remarkable.
This is how the reception in Paris is described in the newspapers:
All eyes are fixed on the Boulevard des Italiens, from which the Russian sailors are to make their appearance. At last the roar of a perfect hurricane of shouts and applause is wafted from the distance. The roar grows louder and more distinct. The hurricane is coming closer. The crush in the square becomes greater. The police rush forward to clear the way to the Cercle Militaire; but this turns out to be no easy task. The crush and pressure of the crowd is beyond all conception. At last the head of the cortege appears in the square. At the same instant, a deafening shout of "Vive la Russie! Vive les Russes!" floats over the square. All heads are bared; the spectators, packed tight in the windows and on the balconies, even sitting on the roofs, wave handkerchiefs, flags, and hats; applaud frantically, fling from the windows of the upper storeys clouds of little cockades of various colours. A perfect sea of handkerchiefs, hats, flags, wave above the heads of the crowed standing in the}}
4
- ↑ Rural News, 1893, no. 41
