The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-05-07
The Place and Column of vendom..

| v000Omo.
The Place Vendome, which seems to b.
tue stragetic centre of the Partisan revolt
ana ls likely to become the scene of tn,
most desperate fighting 10 case the nationa
troops attempt to carry the city by storm
Is located on the site of hotel, once tn,
property OF the Duke de Vendome, an lille.
gitlmate son of Henry w., and Gabrie|ie
d'Estrees. In 1855, Louis XIV, at the aug.
gestion OF Loavois, the architect, purchased
and demolished this hotel, intending to
erect, around public place, buildings sui
aoie LOT a royal mint, library, and resi-
dences for foreign ambassador The death
OF LouvoIs caused the abandonment of this
dosign, and the ground was coded to the
CITY or Paris on condition that a square
shouid De laid out upon the spot. The edi :
u! ncss so ~hlcn now encompass it were begun
IN l699, after Mansard's plans, and finished
by John Law, the celebrated South Sea
tnancler. The Place Vendome is in the
shape OF q symmetrical octagon, the larger
sides OF which measure respectively 400
aud $50 feet. Its axis comedies with the
two spacious streets which form the onlv
entrances to 1.-THE Rue de la Paix and the
hue de Castiglione. In the centre once
stood colossal equestrian statue of Louis
XIV, done in bronze by Girardin and KEEL
Ter, aDd erected in 1869. This was demof-
ished August 10, 1892, but the superb figures
which ornamented the pedestal were spared
nusee de la Renaissance. The mutilated
pedestal remained vacant until 1906. when
1t was surmountsd by the Colonns Ven
dome erected by Napoleon to commemorate
Els victories in the German campaign of
looo. inns world renowned column, which
some of the Communist are anxious to
tear down, and which a wealthy American
offers to purchase and put up in Central
Park, is an imitation of the pillar of Ira
Jan at Rome-the proportions being the
same, but enlarged one-twelfth in size.
The height is 1876 feet; tho diameter of the
from IL to 20 feet in breadth. The pedes-
tai and shaft are of stone, covered witt,
pas reliefs of bronze, cast out of twelve
hundred pieces of Russian and Austrian
cannon, representing the triumphs of the |
French arms: The metal used in these |
weighs $4,000 pounds. The pedestal is !
also adorned with bas-reliefs SLOWING fac
Smiles of the uniforms, weapons, etc, of
Cue conquered troops. At each corner of
tue pedestal is bronze eagle weighing
i've hundred pounds aud holding q garland
OF oak leaves: The door is Of the same
leaves, upon which is an eagle; and above
all Is a bas- relief of two figures of Fame
supporting table bearing this inscription:
Neapolio Imp. Aug. Monumentum beffi Ger
nanici. Ammo MDCCCV. Trimestri Spatio, due
~ sue, prohigat', ex acre capto, Glori;e Exerc-
~S -~.S~NAiANA
The bas-relefs upon tho shaft run in q
spiral direction to the capital, displaying
n chronological order the principle COM
bats in which the French armies we're en-
tagged from the departure from Bouiopue to
he battle of Austerlitz. The figures are
'ald to number two thousand, and are
hre9 s feet high, the length of the spiral
Get. A bronze ribbon divides the lines.
md on this are cut the names of the battles
portrayed. The designs for this elaborate
york were furnished by Bergeret and exc
uted by thirty sculptors. A gallery
oulis ABOVE the capital, and is gained by
winding staircase of one hundred and
evenly six steps. On the capital itself ia
his inscription:
Monument eleve la gloire de la praude
rmee, par Napoleon le Grand commence 10
Ky Aout 1906 sermine le XIV Aont 1910,
'us Ia direction de d. v. Demon, NM. j. r.
epere, ct l.. Gondoin, architectes. =
The capital is crowned with an acroteri. r
m, on which was originally placed a gil
antlc statue of Napoleon as Emperor. In ,
5i4 the Bourbons melted the statue down
form part OF the horse of Henry w.,
oW on tue Font Neuf; putting in its stead D
1913, the present effgy of Napoleon was F
;lemnly lnangurate4 in the presence of q
ing Louis Philippe, The royal family and
hGers OF the government. 1t is of bronze,
odeiied by Seurre and cast by Crozatier, Fl
eleven feet in height and represents tt
eat Corsicau in the traditional overcoat.
cked hat and riding boots which formed
military costume when in active ser "
&c. The total cost of the column and its
was i 5000 francs.-St. ~
'uis Republican. ID
OUTRAGE AT ttemDt tn
urn an Entire Family.-Upon the town
nd of Gtassdrum, close to the village of -