The Troops From Tonkin…

…At The March-Past Of The 14 July.
The main attraction of the national holiday this year was undoubtedly the great march-past in Longchamps, to which the presence of our valiant soldiers from Tonkin gave a new appeal.
The population of Paris, plus the entire contingent brought in by the provincial leisure trains, rushed en masse, by means of all available vehicles, and even on foot, to Longchamps racecourse. Long before the opening of the march-past, the crowd swarmed about the edge of the turf, the platform of the windmill and the VIP stands. The real reason for this eagerness was that various detachments of the Expeditionary Corps were included in the parade, which would give the audience the opportunity for a patriotic demonstration. Our brave soldiers had already received a triumphant welcome on their return. They had later been handed out the yellow and green ribbon medal, commemorating the campaign.
 
Extract from the Funny, picturesque, comical, critical and hullabalooish almanac for the year 1887, published in Paris.