The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-04
LETTER FROM PARIS.
PARIS, February IL, 1882

PARIS, February IL, 1882.
10 the Editor Of the National Era.
1 have spent day or two at Versailles,
where , the famous chateau and garden Of Louis
XIV are, and which are generally conceded to
ments of the splendors Of monarchy in Europe.
/ had before been astonished by the royal cas-
ties and princely residences of the nobility in
England, and-I had passed days in admiration
OF the Luxembourg and the Louvre but it was
left for the palace at Versailles to overwhelm
and bewilder me with its gorgeousness.
The palace, over half mile in length, is a
wonder of artistic effect both within and with
out; and though nice eye might find some
thing to object to in the uniformity of its inter-
nal architecture, the variety and wealth of it's
ornaments and the munifcence and exquisite
taste OF all its details would more than com
pensate Tor any defects. 1t is built of the fine
and delcately tinted stone which abounds in
the basin OF Paris in the richest Ionic order.
with fioors OF variegated marble or polished
wood, and walls and ceilings which are either
painted in fresco or adorned with the most
costly pictures. As you wander from room Ia
room, and from story to story amid the gilded
columns and statues and pictures, multiplied a
thousand times by the mirrors and lustres Won
are positively dazzled with the sight, and often
SIT down to recover your equanimity.
10 must have been world in itself this
mignty structure; it embraces within its walls
Aitchens, game-courts, eatng.r rooms libraries
psriors, sleeping apartments, galleries. a beau.
ttui theatre, and still more beautiful chanel
i's ecurles had stabling for a thousand horses,
ana court OF three thousand persons could be
easily entertained in its large saloon That stu
Pehdous yet not altogether unscientfc dreamer
FOURIER when he projected his grand Phalanste.
nc, which might hold an entire township and
furnish to each person the completest salts
faction OF all his wants, amid glorious land
scapes and magnificent treasures of art. must
nave derived his suggestions from Versailles,
ana imagined for the whole people of the fu'
lure what was once the glory of the monarchs
The park and grounds of the chateau are a
n''le 700 trim and mathematical, according to
rrench taste, IN their arrangements. TO suit
cue accustomed TO the rural scenes of England
'oe grand old woods Of our own country !:
~. IN their extent their variety, their fne
ths 'ner Hover gardens their fountains, and
&C., mynaas OF statues and vaseS are highly
bus ana Impressive. One can easily figure
d;." tue brilliant satellites of Louis Quatosse
nigh,n themselves, during the illuminated
THUS e IN the shadows Of these lofty trees, along
srod parking walks amid the deeply -embow-
Al groves or around mirroring waters. In
10 49, picture such as Vatican used 10 paint
eysn;n aied at every step, and particularly Of an
; s,. when the lamps arc lighted aud the
'eS deaa are in play.
a. nat after all, it is not admiration and won
,sa much ~ thoughtful and wise sadness,
Sa. IA We carry away from these splendid resi-
Ss enres OF the oden timcs In the midst Of the
hn,nancy' thsrs is desolstion that is melsn-
az Sno'y nus instructive. We remember that all
"s gay and brilliant people who osos throogsd