Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-22
Ecfter from, Paris.

The following interesting letter from Paris is
from the pen OF young AlexauLrian now travel
ling in Europe. 1t was not written for public
perlsal, ,but its hearty freshness gives it an
interest that well iustifies its publication
GRAND HOTEL DE l. ATHENEE, PARIS, July
|, lS7l.-According to promise | shall endcavor
to give you I little account Off stay in this
beautiful city have been here about four
days. and during that time have seen many
places Of interest and historic fame. The city
itself is much more like our cities than London.
as there most of the houses, even Of the nobility
are small, compared with our own We'll, you
would much rather hear of other things have
seen. The first day went out to the Trium-
phal Arch, which was built by Napoleon the
lst It certainly is grand structure, 50 lofty
Us to be seen nearly all over the city: from it
you can see the palaces Of the former Emperor
also the beautiful gardens attached, Champs
Eylsees, the great Cathedral, Notrc Dame,
Hotel de lnyalides, where Napoleon : remains
lie, and all the forts around the city. The
structure has been much injured on one side
by the shells Of the Versailles troops in the
late revolutions much OF the statuary having
been mutilatcd All the houses in tic vincn-
ity are more or less in uret, some entirely de-
molished. Just outside OF the city gate, which
itself is destroyed; the destruction is Immense,
but it is wonderful to see how the owners Of the
houses have gone TO work TO repair and rebuild
them; it shows That there Is plenty OF money left
yet We next went to the Place Ncndomc
where stood the column Of Napoleon, which
you know was so ruthlcssly destroyed by the
Communists. The base still stands and hear
that an the metal has been gathered up for the
purpose Of rebuilding it. All the people seem
down upon the Communists, they certainly
acted like devils. We then went to the
Tullerlcs, which once beautiful palace is
Il complete wreck. and now ynu can smell
petroleum. We also Went to the Louvre,
which building adjoins it,anl is Il most cxquis-
lie place, filled with all the national pictures
and other works OF art Of various kinds, soul p
lures and bronzeS The ceilings arc all adorned
with trc>cocs, and TO tell the truth, the interior
looks more like fairy land than any place
| ever saw We went out to one Of the Gene
tcrieS Mont Martrc; it is on quite high hill.
about the centre Of the city. The tomhS arc
very different from any thing OF the kind i'll
our country, as the graves are dug about ten
or twelve feet deep and the bodies placed one
above another with slabs between, 80 that all
the family are put in one vault, above which is
built Il little chapel in which is placed an altar
1t is remarkable that the oldest Of them are
we'll preserved and fresh flowers placed there
every day. The French seem to pay more re-
sl,rrt ~ the dead than the living.
went out to St. Cloud which was the i:ly-
ortc Palace of the late Emperor The building
Itself has been burned by the Prl>>ian>, but
the walls are still standing. 1t must have been
a grand old ediiicc; the Park is the most beat
ttnl one have seen yct-lonkS like dense
forest with beautiful rivers and walks all
through it. These, however. do not take from it
the wild appearance Of Il forest. Near the Pal
ace are beautiful fountains, adorned with Statu-
airy. great deal of which has been destroyed
and muatcd We went out to the grand re-
view Of troops before President Theirs it was
Il grand sight. think there were about eighty
thousand intautry, artillery and cavalry: they
ali looked we'll well fed and in goo,i Spirits.-
saw McMahon and Einoy; they are both
fine looking mcn-was not near enough to get
Il good look at either OF them. The President
passed lis in carriage but being surrounded
by L guard. | could mn: get Il glimpse 1T him.
As have Il great deal to do. you must cx-
cns,, this hurried scroll NY mind i, 50 full Of
what ! have Sccn and what wish To see,
and my time is 81 short, that | hardly know
whether | I'm on my head or heels. We will
leave here in Il day or two for Switzerland and
ramble among the mountains for some time,
then 90 to Germany, looking there fora while,
come back here again for 4 few days. then 90
over 10 London. Scotland AMI thence home
sometime IN November next. {.