The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-03-16
From the Christian Mirror.
NH. Palmer's Sketches.
No. TX.

old touer-Situation and Public Edifces of
Orleans-Joan Of AYc-Night-ride IN dili-
-Lyoas-Cathedra Music Cwiosities
Observatory hill and a yeUerie-A day on
the acknowledgement Palace Of the Popes
and ancient Church.
On leaving Paris we took the railway south
ward some seventy miles to the ancient city of
Orleans. This route took us through coun-
try which, though offering no very remarkable
objects, was, nevertheless, rich in historical
associations. Almost every village and chateue,
has its legend of what has been done in it or
near it in the days of yore. At about half
the distance, we came to a town of considera-
BILE size called Etampes. When we saw it,
we greatly regretted that we had not arranged
to stop long enough to examine its antiquities.
1t has several churches, which, along with a
greater part of the town, were built of dark
brown stone, and have very ancient and
weather beaten look, and the whole air of the
place savors of the dark ages. On hill at
the foot of which lies the town, stands the
tower of the old castle which is one of the
noblest remaining relics of feudal days. So
long as the castle stood, the place was the
scene of frequent and bloody contest and
the inhabitants at length obtained permission
to demolish it, in doing which they spared the
tower, to look down in solemn dignity upon
their town. 1t is partly falling into ruin, but
is still a most impressive object. The railway
passes very near it, and the train stopped just
below it, long enough for us to get out and
view it from several points. tried to sketch
it, but found II difficult to express its mas
siveness and solemn grandeur. 1t is called
the Tour de la Refine Constance. With it are
connected also the names of Fredigonde'
Robert the pious, Philip the l., Louis the Fat,
Philip Auguste and Ingelburga, with other
noted persons. We would gladly have spent
half day here but to get at our baggage
was impossible and we passed on, casting,
however, lingering looks behind at the venera-
bic spires and the old gray Tower. The latter
par. of the ride, was through perfectly level
region of some forty miles across, and we
reached Orleans in the evening without having
found anything further to interest us. We
devoted the next morning to general survey
OF the place. Orleans is an old looking city
of upwards of forty thousand inhabitants,
having many fine ediices. and beautiful
Boulevard, but narrow and crooked streets. 1t
has four handsome public squares on one Of
which stands fine bronze statue of Joan OF
Arc, called the Maid of Orleans from having
raised the siege of the city when beleaguered
by the English in 1923. The house in which
she lived is shown, but we did not find time to
see il; we however, looked into curious old
mansion which was interesting as giving us
good idea of the style of private dwellings
some hundreds of years ago, and which is
said, also, to have been the residence of the
famous Diana Poictiers. The Cathedral is
a noble one in the old Gothic style. The city
is we'll walled, is prettily situated up the bank
of the river Loire, and is a place of some i'm.
por,ance as the capital of the department of
Louire, 1t has long given title to one branch
of the Royal family. By about noon we had
finished our observations were ready for the
diligence for Lyons.
And this, my first ride in diligence, will
not be soon forgotten. From noon on Friday
to about eleven o'clock on Saturday evening,
cooned IN in the I,,terieuye with four French
men who talked most of the time, and smoked
pipes no small portion of it; and with no OPP
portunity to alight, to rest or eat, except three
times in the whole distance, or once in about
twelve hours There was not little to leave
a lively recollection. But the entire route
was charming; and there were parts OF 1t
L. lana