The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-08-24
Ancient and Modern Paris.
IFrom tho Scientific Americana
PARrs June s, 1867

suppose that no other city of an.
cient or modern times has undergone
so many changes rs Paris during a
period of ten years. The Paris of his
tory is passing away and new city,
full of beauties and wonders, is rap,
idly coming in. Twenty years age
Louis Napoleon was tried as con.
spirator and condemned to DEATH
Louis Philippe commuted the death
sentence to perpetual imprisonment in
the fortress of Ham, whence the con
vict escaped, as is supposed, through
the friendly contrivance of his physi
clan. In 1s4s Louis Napoleon was
the ruler of France, and Louis Phil
lippc became an outcast and fugitive
from his throne and country. IN the
meantime France has made rapid
strides in all that constitutes a great
and powerful nation. Her commerce
is widely extended, her manufactures
are tlourishing, and to all appearance
the people are happy and contented
There is, however, great diversity oi
opinion about the personal popularity
of the Emperor; yet think, on the
whole, that he satisfies the people
1t is generally admitted that his fill
clustering expedition was an unwise
and foolish scheme, and | am certain
that the people rejoice at it's failure
This constitutes one element that has
somewhat impaigd the faith of the
French in the sfrewdness of their
Emperor. 1t also shows the practical
value of the sympathy of the United
States when extended 60 a struggling
people whose liberties and rights were
sought to be usurped by foreign des
pot.
remarked that the Paris ofancieni
time was rapidly passing away. Il
the visitor goes to the Cathedral of n
Dennis, he will find that revolutions
have despoiled that place of many oi
| its rarcst objects of interest, and in.
stead of the tombs of the ancient
kings he will be shown the place
where their remains were thrown into
one common trench. If YOU visit the
splendid Pantheon church, it is true
You will find the monuments of Vol
taire and Rousseau, but the remains
have been carried away, and the body
fof the bloody Marat, once entombcd
in this church, was exhumed, and in q
freak of passion thrown into sewer
These events occurred years ago, but
lthev serve to verify the declaration
have made about ancient Paris. Ar
ehitecturally the city is rapidly chan.
ging It's character by the opening oi
broad bouleyards, and the necessary
destruction of those old streets and
houses where revolutions have Kind
led their fiercest fires. This whole
sale demolition has turned thousands
of people out of their old homes, and
they have been compelled To seek new
ones and to separate from associations
which had become tender To them by
the lapse of time. This also has ere
ated feeling against the Emperor
as he is charged with the responsible
ity of all these Innovations, but no
one can filil To see that these changes
are making for Paris an interest which
relics and ruins OF ancient time could
pever accomplish.
There is, however. but one Paris
1t is the capital of Europe, and seems
To lie in everybody's way; fol
all the monarchs of France, from the
time of Catharine dc Medici to the
present Emperor, have exhausted their
genius and layished their treasures to
make it the great show-place of the
world. Frenchmcn Throughout nj
France are proud Of their capital, and
seem TO regard it as the only proper
residence of mankind. There are nc
rival cities, as in the United States, tC
feel jealous of the Metropolitan city
/ do not regard the French as a very
inventive people, but they have won
derful power Of adaptation, the love
of experiment, and the spirit Of emu
lation and inquiry, and seem ready t.
adopt any improvements that will mil
lister to the interest of strangers.
The more thoughtful French char
acter eohtemplates the future o
France not without some forebodingi
of evil, and some even declare that i
NAV not be long before the Orleans
family, in the person of the Count de
Paris. may recover the rule of the ma
tion. Louis Napoleon is growing old
and some say infirm. The little Prince
Imperial is delicate, the Prince Napo
leon is not very popular, and man.
profess to see in these manifestation
of weakness signs of the approaching
decay of the Napoleonic rule in thii
country. / think, however, that those
who rely upon the fulfilment of these
signs will be disappointed. There il
something in the name Napoleon tha
electrifes the people of France, anC
the great deeds of this family are 81
thoroughly traced upon all one sees
that it would require a greater revo
luton than has yet taken place, t.
erase them.
/ think myself fortunate to be il
Paris at this time. The Exhibition
which was foreshadowed by the Eng
Ilish press to be failure, is, TO m,
mind, one of the wonders of creation
have thus far spent the best par
of four days in attempting to see it
objects Of art and utility, and cal
truly say that | have not seen the Ex
hibition-so vast is it;-and as ! shal
leaYe Paris in q few days for a jour
ney estward through Prussia, Austrii
and Switzerland, reserve my impres
Isions of it, possibly till some othe
time. / met an American the othe
day who has made forty visits to tn
Exhibition, and who declared that hi
Interest was still unabated. / thinl