Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-06-08
WHOLE NO., 23l

ers, while portraits OF the great Mar
shals OF France adorned its panels
The furniture was ornamente.i with
green velvet and gold. This was
used as ball room on State occa-
sions. -Four other magnificent halls
were conspicuous features. The car.
pets on them were of Gobelin's man
utacture, and cost 100000. These
halls were the White, the Apollo, and
the Throne Halls. The Throne Hall,
splendid apartment, contained the
imperial throne. The hangings were
OF dark velvet Of Lyons manufacture
leaves and wreaths wrought in gold.
The throne. facing the windows, was
surmounted by canopy of the same,
and the .lrapery depending from it
was studded with bees embroidered
in gold. A description of the re-
manning apartments would simply
embrace a repetition OF decorations
Of unrivaled elegance, the result Of
lavish expenditure. @
THE LOUVRE.
The world famed Louvre was main
ly constructed by Louis XIV: but
was lett in q comparatively unfinished
state until 1902, when Napoleon re-
sumed the works, and under him the
Louvre was finished and the sur
rounding streets and palaces cleared
It's internal arrangements were made
principally by Charles x. and Louis
Philippe. Since the time OF Louis
XIV. it has been devoted to the re.
ception OF the various museums oi
the fine arts, and was occasionally
used tor great ceremonies Of State
The eastern front OF the Louvre was
one of the finest pieces OF architect
ure of any age. The grand colonnade
was composed of % coupled Corin-
THAN columns, fronting . wide gallery
The central part OF the building form
ing the gateway was crowned by a
pediment tae raking cornices Of
which were each Of a single piece
This pediment contained bas-rel,el
executed by Lemot, and over the
grand doorway was another by Car
teller. The gates themselves, made
by order OF Napoleon, were OF mag.
nificently worked bronze. This front
was 525 teet long and IS feet high.
The southern front. also the work OF
Claude Perrault, though not SO bold
was very fine. It was decorated with
40 Corinthian pilasters, and, like the
eastern, had richly adorned pedi-
ment over the central compartment.
The northern front consisted of q
central and two lateral pavllions pro-
jecting from the main body. The
western front presented no special
features OF interest.
Almost all the interior of this pal.
ace was devoted to the museums tor
winch it was SO celebrated. These
consisted Of magnificent apartments.
filled with the rarest and most val
liable antiquities aud artistic produc-
tions that France could secure
through the reigns of successive SOW
ereigns, who made additions to it .
subject OF pride and emulation. Al
the valuable paintings were removed
during the Prusslan siege of Paris
the world will not have to deplore
the irreparable loss their destruction
would entail. Besides these, however
there were vast collections Of curl
ositles from America, China, India,
and Europe, which, it is to be feared,
were not removed. being of little In
trnsic value. eaf s..
THE HOTEL DE VILE, &c.
The Hotel de Vile was the place
of assembly OF the Municipality Of
Paris, and was erected and embel-
llshed at an expense of upward OF
$4,000 900. It contained several
magnificent state apartments, deco
rated in highly artistic manner, and
furnished At immense expense. ALI
the revolutions Of France were asso-
ciated with the Grand Hall Of this
building. From it Louis XVI. spoke
to the populace with the cap OF lib
erty ON his head. It was in this edi-
foe, also, that Robespierre held his
council and afterward attempted to
destroy himself and it was at one OF
these windows that Gen. lafayette
embraced Louis Philippe and. pre-
sented HIM to the people.
The Palais Royal which has shared
in the general destruction. was one
of the most remarkable paiaces oi
Paris, and was fitted mp in splendid
style for Prince Jerome and Prince
Napoleon. There were historical as.
sociations OF deep interest connected
with it.
The Palace OF the Legion Of Hon
or was built IN 1856. The interior
was decorated with elegance. 1t was
the home OF the Grand Chancellor oi
fFrAY