The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-20
THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE.
A Sacrifice to the Exigencies of rbe situation
The Finest Park In the World TO be De-
stroyed. 10 Save Paris from the Prussiaus


A despatch which publish to-day announces
that the Council of War at Paris, as a defensive
measure has ordered the partial destruction of the
Bois de Boulogne This famous park is one of the
great attractions Of Paris and its destruction shows
now imminent the danger to the French capital
must be. The Bos de Boulogne is about two
miles to the north OF Paris, opposite to St. Cloud
and is situated upon peninsula formed at that
point by a bend Of the river Seine. 1t was in old
times the hunting-ground of the French kings, and
it began to be popular as fashionable place of re-
sort in the eighteenth century. In 1t was situated
the abbey of LoDgchamps, where a choir of nuns
attracted the attention OF lovers OF music partcu
larly during Passion week, when what was called
the Longchamp's pilgrimage made This was
interrupted by the revolution but after the egh
teenth Brumaire the place was again fayorse
walk and drive.
numbers of trees were felled to make palisades In
1852 the Bois de Boulogne was purchased by the
municipality OF Paris, and transformed into
magnificent park The Bos de Boulogne is an
preached from Paris by the Avenue d pInspera,rice
which extends from the Are de Triomphe to the
nearest entrance TO the park This entrance is
called Porte Daphine, and through it the visitor is
admitted TO the most magnificent pleasure
ground in Europe. Everything that wealth.
taste and art combined could do for it has been done
TO add TO the natural beauties OF the spot The Park
is four miles long by two wide, and it contains two
art1nclal lakes accomplishing TWO beautiful islands,
from which delightful views can be obtained. A
splendid carriage road winds around these
lakes for distance Of five miles, ana
upon this are daily TO be seen the most magnificent
equipages and finest horses of the French capital.
On the largest island is beautiful Swiss cottage,
where refreshments sold and other cottages are
scattered about under the trees in all directions On
the lake is an elegant little screwsteamer which was
presented TO the Prince Imperial
Included within the Bois de Boulogne is the Hip
pOdrone de LOnqchamps, race-course containing
100 acres and granted to the Jockey Club OF Paris
for fifty years. By the rules OF the club the net pro-
ceCds arising from the letting OF places are devoted
10 increasing the stakes 10 be for at the Govern
ment autumn races. The Hippodrome is reached
by the splendid Alice dc Longchansps
through which the annual Promsnadede Long hansps,
which takes place on Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday Of Passion week, passes. This is one
OF the finest in Europe, and all the buildings upon 10
display style Of elegant rural architecture. On
either side OF the Emperors pavilion which beau
tfuly fitted up, are two stands or tribunes, the
whole protected by an awning resting on cast-iron
pillars and surmOunted by gabled roof. All the
different stands divided into compartments for
the members Of different clubs Ministers OF the
Government. From this ace-course a Splendid
view OF the Bots dc B0u0gne is obtained