Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-01-26

\ CHAPTER IN PARIS LlrE.-o All
the town has been running of late to witness
the breaking up Of two establishments. found
cd under two very different auspices, but
both specimens in their way Of the vanity of
human possessions, and the frail tenure by
which they are held and enjoyed. One of
these was the well known private hotel
which, with its delightful gardens, occupied
one side Of the pleasant Avenue dc Marigny,
while the pretty palace Of the Elysee Bour-
don, surrounded by trees, stood OH the other
The two together made the avenue one of
Che most agreeable in Paris, and the lavorte
drive toward the Champs Elysces. The gar
den and hotel have, | am sorry to say, been
purchased by a company OF dcmolitionists,
whom the public has appropriately dcsignat-
cd the Jdudc HOjTe, on account of their nefa-
rious practice of buying up every square
yard OF garded ground they can lay their
hands on in Paris, grubbingup the trees tner-
cicssly, and running up piles of masonry in
their place. The premises they have just
got possession Of and are now dcmoishng
and dividing into building lots, belonged to
an old gentleman called the Baron Delmar,
who, for many years past might BE- seen sun
hing himself about tho quiet hooks Of the
town. as he leaned upon the arm of his SER
want His history is curious one, and i'll
volved in some mystery. He is known to
have been the architect of his own fortune,
which was immense. II was accumulated
chiefly BY seafaring transactions during the
troubled period of the old revolutionary and
imperial wars; and ola stagers will whisper
to you that tilbustcring, privateering, and c.
ven direct piracy on the high seas, were all
looked upon as fair play in those times, If
they could only he carried out with impuni
ty and success. BE this as it may, the Baron
Delmar, from pcnniess man, became enor-
mously rich, and prepared to builG himself a
house suited to his fortune.
Tie Hotel of the Avenue de Marigny and
its gardens was erected, and furnished with
ill the luxury that wealth could purchase
and tae.e design. The Baron, it is said, re-
fused to interfere, or to have anything to do
with the arrangements himself. He left all
to his architects, upholstorcrs and his wife,
an English woman, and reserved to himself
the pleasure OF seeing his palace only when
it was completed. When all waG done, and
ready for his reception he prepared to take
possession, and ordered the building to be
brilliantly lighted up, in order that he might
see its costly furniture, gliding, mirrors, and
decorations, FOR the first time, to tho greatest
advantage. The Baron arrived, asccndc'l the
magnificent staircase, equal almost to that of
the Tuilcrics itself, entered his spacious halls,
and looked around him-but, how was this?
Had he not ordered his house to be lighted?
How then was it left in darkness? His ord
crs had been perfectly well obcycd; the pal
ace strGamad with liglt from d thousand ta-
pers in their crystal lustrcss. Only orc Ming
was wanting on the part Of the master. and
that was eyes to see them! The Baron was
struck with blindness at the very moment of
taking possession and, it is said, never even
saw the "grcat Babylon" which he had built
for himself?
The house is ono of the noble,t in Paris.
The centre saloon, of circular form, with do
me ceiling some forty feet in elevation, was
scarcely exceeded by the sale &C tnartchah&
at the 1ulerics. The two adjoining satons,
of proportionatc dimensions, was equally no.
bic. The walls were hung with the richest,
tissues Of gold and silver brocade and Gow-
crs, and the floors covered with silk velvet for
carpcting. Altogether there were nine grand
reception rooms, ball rooms, &c. The treas
ures of bronze, porcelain, inlaid tables, 60.
could only be detailed in catalogue. But
the Baron died, and died chldlcss ; the
bande 'i9ire stepped in and boli8ht the prop,
erty, and prepared TO pull down the hotel and
grub up the garden. The costly furniture
has been scattered to the four winds by the
breath and hammer of the auctionccr, and
the famous Hotel Delmar is now amongst tho
things of tho past.