The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-28

fire and violence before the present year, having
been out of repair and motonless from the time OF
the Revolution OF 1913, until the year 1s42, when it
was repaired by matchmaker OF Bas-Rhn and
was in full operation from that date up to the out
break OF the present war. At one time during the
siege it was reported to have been again seriously
damaged by the Prusslan fire, but later reports
have stated that 1t still uninured and in opera
ton, the full confirmation Of which intelligence will
be impatienty awaited. When StTasburg was
united to France full freedom Of worship was qua
ranteed to its inhabitants, but the great cathedral
was still consecrated to the service Of the Church OF
Rome
Among the other great curiosities OF the city
the vast library numbering 100000 volumes. This,
it has been announced, has been almost II not en-
tirely destroyed by the fire OF the besegers. This
library was the slow growth of thousand years,
and included collections of rare and curious monk
ish parchments but few of which can ever be re-
placed. But, although the art Of printing was pro-
baby invented at Strasburg, If not first practised
there, the library contained, with one remark
able exception, but few works Of substantial
value That exception was small folio volume I'm
which the dispositions in the famous lawsuits be-
tween Faust and Gutenberg were written by what
was said to be contemporary hand. This is open
to doubt but the volume OF the greatest interest,"
as one OF the most trustworthy sources from which
the prevalent opinions as to the origin of printing
are derived. Among the early specimens of typo
graphy there was a copy OF the first German Bible
printed by Mentelin about 1866 but undated; also
three early Latin Bibles by Mentelin, Jenson, and
Eggestein, the last bearing the manuscript date
146s. There was, besides rare copy OF Virgil by
Mentelin, still rarer Commentary Of Servius upon
that poet, printed by the celebrated Valdarfer;
Jeromes "Epistes" by Schoiffer,s 1470; and about
1000 other books printed before the beginning of the
sixteenth century. There were only two or three
Illuminated MSS. of any great value
The History of strasburx.
NH howl lao,
Romans, Under the name Of Argentoratum, as
barrier against the incursions OF the Germans
They ultimately made themselves masters OF the
place, however, and retained possession until they
were driven back across the Rhine by Clovis. In
the sixth century the ancient name changed for
that Of Strasburg. In the early part Of the tenth
century the city passed under the dominion OF the
German emperors, becoming free city and being
governed as a republic. After the Reformation it
became Protestant, and remained such until 1851,
when it was seized by Louis XIV and annexed to
France, the province of Alsace, OF which it
was the chief city, having just pre-
viously been ceded to that country
by the terms of the treaty Of Westphalia For
nearly two centuries it remained in undisturbed pos
session Of France, becoming, from its situation on
the extreme eastern frontier, one OF the most I'M
portant cities in that country At the outbreak Of
the war it still retained in general appearance,
customs, and language, the principal characteristics
OF a German town, although its long subsection to
France caused its interests gradually to become
identified with those of the latter country,
and prompted its people to espouse
heartily the cause of the eX-Emperor Napoleon,
when he started out upon his grand crusade against
united Germany. Before the siege commenced the
people enthusiastic in their support OF Napo-
leon to offer up prayers daily for the success OF
the French arms, the churches being crowded
with women on these occasions.
Napoleon's Attempt Upon Strasburg In 1885,
Onno NJ 10 nnn Ia.
tory of Strasburg was the attempt made upon it in
1886, by the exEmperor Napoleon ILL., la that year,
while an exile from France, and living in obscurtY
at Ahrenenberg, in Switzerland he formed the
ridiculous design OF attempting, almost single
handed, to overturn Louis Philippe and set himself
upon the vacant throne. Having perfected his plans
he seized Strasburg the first point OF attack This
city, with Is strong garrison, its associations with
the first Napoleon, and a population not very
well affected towards the existing government
seemed to him a favorable point for a demonstra-
ton. In the event of he intended next day
to march towards Paris, rousing and armng the
intermediate provinces, and taking with him the
| principal garrisons on the route, hoping to
| reach the capital before the Government could
take any effective measures against him. In June,
! Napoleon proceeded to Baden-Baden where he sue
! ceeded in winning over Colonel Vaudrey who was
in command of the artillery the garrison Of Stras
burg. In August he paid secret visit to that city,
where he had an int srview with fifteen officers who
promised TO co operate with him. He then returned
to Switzerland, while his adherents were perectine
| the plot The project, however, was miserable
failure, and Napoleon was taken prisoner, detained
at Strasburg from october 80 to November g. ant
| then conducted TO Paris. His life was spared OF
condition of his going to the United States This hC
did, under protest, but soon returned to Europe, tC
engage, in 1S4O in the equally ridiculous and abor
tive attempt upon Boulogne.
The Forti6cations of strnsburg.
At the outbreak OF the present war; Strasburi
was Justly regarded as one OF the most formidabl
fortresses IN Europe and in France it ranked equs
TO Metz in importance, and only inferior to it il
strength. The fortified citv is OF triangular form
enclosed by Fashioned ramparts, strengthened b.
numerous outWorks, and entered by seven gates
At its eastern extremity is strong pentagonal cta
del, built by Vauban. The city stands upon leve
ground, and is nearly six miles in circuit. Numerou
outworks and detached forts, large and small
finished and unfinished, added to its strength. Tn
Fashioned wall surrounded by q moat file
with water, and by means of numerous suices tn
greater portion of the surrounding country could b
hooded. The only side OF the fortress which coul
bot be laid under water by means OF the sluice
where the Ill enters the town was the Porte de
Mines and on that side the glacs was ruined. Th
safety OF the city depended greatly upon thes
aqueous apphances-too much So in fact; for, at tn
commencement of the siege, after four month
drought, the river was so low that at the landin
place Of the destroyed boat bridge the standard po
showed but two feet of water, while 1t ws
} constructed to reach nineteen feet. When II
besiegers succeeded in turning the course OF tn
river III from its bed, the Notifications were still mol
| materially weakened.
+ The citadel was pronounced to be the maste
work of Vauban. II is constructed upon pent
gona basis according to that great engineers fr