Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-09-22
TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
LETTER No. VI.

MESSRS EDTTORs.-On the 23d, of
June in company with Mrs. Bennett and
Miss Poland of Luzerne County, Pa,
and others we made a visit to the palace
of Versailles, founded by Louis NV,
situated legues about miles J south
west of Paris \ building Oh this ground
had been used by his immediate pTede-
.cessors as a hunting lodge, but in 1864
Louis commenced converting this hunt
ing lodge into a magnificent royal res
idence, to which the king and whole
court removed from ST. Germain in
1851. For century or more it was Il
favOrite abode of the King of France,
and no expense was spared upon its
decorations. But after 1892 the palace
was devastated and everything movable
disposed Of as national property, and
but for Napoleon it would have been
completely destroyed. 1t was said that
he would have made it his residence had
it not required fifty millions Of francs
to put it in order
Louis XIV expended upon it forty
millions of pounds sterling, Louis NVIII
six millions of francs and Louis PHILIPPE
fifty millions of francs and devoted it
to the reception Of a rich and splend-
ed historical museum unparalleled in
Europe OF in the world.
The Court in front of the palace is very
large, paved with coIored stone, orna-
mented with vases, trophies and so
statues. The palace presents Il front of
more than 500 fl. with two wings pro-
iecting at right angles. In the centre
OH Il balcony are two recumbent figures,
Mars and Hercules supporting clock,
the dial-plate Of which was only used
TO mark the hour of The kings death !;
the palace is said to contain 137 grand
saloons furnished with 1920 pictures.
The historical collections of the palace
are divided into sections as, Historical
pictures, Portraits, Busts and Statues,
Coins, Views of Royal Residences &c
The historical pictures represent the
great battles, military and naval which
have illustrated the arms of France from
the earliest periods; the most remark
able historical events in the national an
nals-the age of Louis XIV, the reigns
of Louis Nv, Louis XVIII and Charles
y, the victories of the first republic, the
campaigns of Napoleon, the revolution
of 1880 and the reign Of Louis Philippe.
The portraits, busts, statues and coins
comprise the Kings from PharamOnd to
! the late Monarch. The views of royal
residences have a particular value, as
representing edifices many of which 10
longer exist, and as illustrating the cos
tunes &C., of past times.
On the first floor of the north wing is
room adjoining the vestibule of the
chapel i'll which Cardinal de Rohan was
arrested for the affair of the famous
necklace that had so fatal an influence
on the destinies of Marie Antoinette and
her Court; near this room is a splendid
chapel, the dimensions are ia #. from
the entrance to the altar, 60ft. i'll breadth
and Sc #. high, the ceiling is painted
with sacred subjects. The floor is COM
posed of rare marbles laid in mosaic
The high altar is exceedingly grand
many remarkable religious ceremonies
! have taken place before it; one of the
most interesting was the marriage OF
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in
1859. Service is chanted here every
! Sunday morning.
! The Sale de 2 Opera, is IA #. long sc
#. wide and 80 #. high the decorations
are in crimson and gold with profus,
ion of mirrors and chandeliers. The
central box is tastefully decorated, and
was that occupied by Louis XV; the lat,
eral boxes were for the Ambassadors
and the pit for the Staff behind the ell,
trance to the royal box is a room where
the court retired for refreshments be.
tween the acts. Whenever Il grand
opera was performed here, the expense
is said to have been upwards of 100000
francs.
Her-majesty Queen Victoria partooF
of splendid supper here in August 1855
when a grand ball was given i'll honOl
of her visit to the Emperor. On this Oc
casion the hall was lit with 5000 waH
candles and T. chandeliers. Queen Vic
tUria opened the ball with the Emperor
in quadrille, and waltzed with him il
the course Of the evening.
The GruHdc Gaicric dcs GyuceS Tor d,
Louis ,XTL) is one of the finest room,
i'll the world, extending along the cent
raj facadeand measuring 81 #. in lengtl
35 # wide and 43 high, is lit by arch
ed windows which correspond with arch
es on the opposite wall filed with mir
rors, columns of red marble with base
and capitals of gilt bronze fill up the in
tervals between the windows and tn
arches. The vauIted ceiling is painted
along its whole length representing til,
principal events in the history of LOui
XIV. In another department we saw
part of the original furniture Of the tim
of Louis XIV among which is the com
ell taEIe and arm chair Of the King, n
,vo o,,J 10 q ooIoby.o tod clock which dis