DETHRONEMENT   OF  LOUIS   PHILIPPE.                   305
because, at that time, there was great disturbance about the Jes«
uits, and the government feared that difficulties would arise ij the
excitement of the evening. But, since, we have had this enter-
tainment in honor of the revolutions of France and Austria, and
nothing could be more beautiful. The fun usually consists in all
the people blowing one another's lights out. We had not this ; all
the little tapers were left to blaze, and the long Corso swarmed
with tall fire-flies. Lights crept out over the surface of all the
houses, and such merry little twinkling lights, laughing and flick-
ering with each slightest movement of those who held them ! Up
and down the Corso they twinkled, they swarmed, they streamed,
while a surge of gay triumphant sound ebbed and flowed beneath
that glittering surface. Here and there danced men carrying
aloft moccoli, and clanking chains, emblem of the tyrannic power
now vanquished by the people ; — the people, sweet and noble,
who, in the intoxication of their joy, were guilty of no rude or
unkindly word or act, and who, no signal being given as usual for
the termination of their diversion, closed, of their own accord and
with one consent, singing the hymns for Pio, by nine o'clock, and
retired peacefully to their homes, to dream of hopes they yet
scarce understand.
This happened last week. The news of the dethronement of
Louis Philippe reached us just after the close of the Carnival. It
was just a year from my leaving Paris. I did not think, as I
looked with such disgust on the empire of sham he had estab-
lished in France, and saw the soul of the people imprisoned and
held fast as in an iron vice, that it would burst its chains so soon.
Whatever be the result, France has done gloriously ; she has de-
clared that she will not be satisfied with pretexts while there are
facts in the world, — that to stop her march is a vain attempt,
though the onward path be dangerous and difficult. It is vain to cry,
Peace ! peace ! when there is no peace. The news from France,
in these days, sounds ominous, though still vague. It would ap-
pear that the political is being merged in the social struggle : it is
well. Whatever blood is to be shed, whatever altars cast down,
those tremendous problems must be solved, whatever be ths
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