Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-09-30
BIRDsEYE VIEW OF PARIS
The Beauty of the City-Paris and
the Pleasure Seekers.
THE FORTIFICATIoNs, THE DEFENCRs AND
THEIR COST

II
The Beauty of the City-Paris and
the Pleasure Seekers.
THE NOTIFICATIONS, THE DEFENCRs AND
| THEIR COST.
In one of his most powerful essays De
Quincy INDUCES in train of reflection
some what to the following effect: Sup
/ posing that the moon is peopled with in
telligent beings, and that those beings are
provided with eyes or telescopes far sur
passing our range of vision, on what
earthly spectacles, would they look
with the keenest interest Not,
says the eloquent essayist on Fields
of Cloth of Gold, or meetings of allied
sovereigns, or reviews, or even on bat
| ties the wise Lunarians would rather
choose to gaze on some scene of heroic
| feminine endurance, where beauty, inno-
cence and nobility of character all COM
bine to melt the heart of the spectator.
The finest sight that earth could show an
observer upon another planet would be
such martyrdom as that of Joan of
Arc, or such an execution as that of Ma
| RE Antoinette.
BEAUTIFUL CITY.
A beautiful city has often been COM
pared to beautiful woman, and surely
no city in the world is more largely en-
dowed with that sort of fascination
which beauty inspires than Paris. At all
times Paris is an object of more lively in
terest to the mass of mankind than any
other town in the world, our own sombre
metropolis not excepted; but at present
thatinterest is vastly enhanced by the trag-
ical destiny that appears TO be impending
over the gay and glittering haunt of
pleasure seekers from all parts of the
world. Who can believe liz Little more
than two months ago there was not
cloud in the sky as big as a mans hand,
and now the heavens are black with tenn
pests. Two months ago if prophet,
modern Isaiah, the son of Amos, had sp-
peared on the Boulevard des IIaliens, and
prophesied the speedy encampment of
hundreds of thousands of foreigners on
the soil of France, he would have been
treated as lunatic, and sent 10 the
Bicetre. And now, as we write, this
mass of armed men is steadily drawing
towards Paris.
THE COST OF THE FoRTRKsSEs.
Surprising that the German host should
reach Paris, will Paris open her gates, or
will she resist to the death; She declares
that she will resist to the death, and her
chances of success are much greater now
han in 1914 or 1915. Modern warfare
nas tended to show the immense advan-
tages of fortresses. Toul and Pfalsburg
have proved that even third-rate forts
constitute most formidable obstacle to
the advance of hostile force.
Ever since the revolution of 1889 the
idea of certifying Paris was entertained,
but nothing practical was effected till
1910, when NJ. Theirs obtained a grant of
140, 900, 900 francs for the purpose.
1t has been the fashion for many years
to regard the works that were then con-
structed as giant specimen of Orleanist
folly. But now, IN the face of danger,
the Parisians rush to the opposite extreme,
and praise NJ. Theirs as the wisest of his
species.
THE DIVISION OF PARIS.
Regarded frow the point of view of
military topogrspher, Paris is divided into
two parts by the river Seine, the northern
part of which is much larger and lies
lower than the other. The most con-
spicuous natural object on the north side
of the town is the hill of Montmartre, 1926
feet high, which forms a commanding
eminence close to the boundary line Of
the city, and is inaccessible on all sides,
except that towards the town. 1t is pO-
sition of SURPRISING strength, and if well
\ ri no oil
impregnsble. Montmartre is separated
from Belleville by the plain of st. Denis.
The plateau of Belleville, the hill of
Montmartre is separated from Belleville by
the plain of st. Denis. The plateau of
Belleville, the hill of Montmartre, and the
plain of st. Denis are the natural defenses
of Paris. -
| THE ARTIFICIAL DEFENCEs.
Now for NJ. Theirs artificial defences.
They comprise an enceinte s., GA yards
in length, completely enclosing the city
on all sides, Fashioned and terrsced with
thirty feet wall. Outside the enceinte are
the casemated works and independent
forts, of which most lie on the north or
right bank of the Seine. On the north
| is st. Denis, with a double crown.
work facing north, northeast and north
west: a special fort on the east, and
the little fort of La Briche on the west,
together forming a strong defence for the
city on the north. To the southeast of
st. Denis lies the redoubt of Aubervil-
liers, covering La Villette on the north
east. Further to the south is the fort of
Romainvillc, and on the same line, still
further to the east, the fort and earth
work of Noisy. Proceeding south are
two forts, covering Bagnolet and MOntreuil
on The northeast. Further south ROsny,
and still more to the south and east the
fort of Nogent, within which lies the next
great fortress of Vincennes. At st. Maur
and at other points north of the Seine are
redoubts, but those named are the most
considerable. To the south of the Seine
are the forts of Charenton, between the
Seine and the Marine; Ivry, BiCetre, Mont
rouge, Vauves, Issy and the great fortress
of Mont Valerien, which towers above
everything in the neighborhoOd on the
west of Paris, and commands the wester-
ly reach of the Seize and the Bots de Bou-
logne. .-.r. -.. ..- ..-.-..
| THE BAYS. r.
The Notifications form girdle round
Dor;e Of 90 0n0 r1atreS nearly twpDtV-