The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-12-10

TIE RESIGNATION or PARIS. THE ccu,
nicipal authorities of the French metro
polls arc most energetic in their efforts
10 restore Paris in some measure to its
former splendor. An urmy of $4,000
masons Is ut work under the direction of
competent architects, and tho hope nav
be now entertained that the upriyaled
city on the Seine will rise like Phoenix
from its ashes at q not too distant period.
Recent files OF Paris pupers, giving MANY
details on the subject, estimate the time
when the work OF restoration will be
finished Mt about three years, although
many Of the magnihcent edifices do.
stroyed by tue vandals Of the Commune
present already quite q respectable ap.
pearance, which reminds the beholder.
iii some measure, of tho DAYS os their
glory. Many OF tho old works of art,
that were deemed lost forever, have since
been found intact under the cicdors, and
it is good proof OF the solidity of the
building materials used. that great
many Of the old aud biackeued walls
have been found still solid ard fit for
use. Ii Paris had been built like Chi
cdgo, not stone would hive been left
standing, and the loss of life would have
been fearful. AS it was, the solid walls
kept the fire flood in proper bounds, aud
THUS prevented disaster in comparison
10 which the burning of Chicago would
have been q mere bonfire.
Iho two most magnificent edfices that
were destroyed by the insurgcnts-the
Hotel de Vile and the Tuilleries-are in
o fair way OF restoration. It had ut
first been the intention to rebuild only
the most ancient part Of the former,
without the magnificent wings added by
Louis Philippe, but this plan was aban-
doned. and it is to be restored as it was
previous to the insurrection. All Of the
pieces OF the main reliefs that adorned
this magnificent structure have fortu-
nately been found. and will be com
pletely restored. The bronze statues
were also discovered unipjnred among
the cinders, so that We may soon sec the
old city building in its former shape.
The Tullleries, however, arc TO be much
reduced in size, as it would prove too
expensive to restore the building to its
original state Nevertheless, the new
structure will be very fine, aud the plan
is said to be tasteful aud elegant But
an irreparable loss to Paris is the fearful
devastation in the garden of the Tuille-
ries. During the siege, it was used as
an artillery camp, and the bad usage it
received as such was mournfully main
tanned by the Communists, who took
only pleasure in running it altogether.
The Fendome pillar is undergoing q
complete PROCESS of reconstruction. Its
completion is, however, prevented by a
singular fuct. AL the pieces have been
found except those reliefs that represent
ed the victories of Napoleon over Prus-
sia in 1906. These are known f, be in
the hands Of foreign parties, who ask
exorbitant prices for tho same. The
same can be said Of the Arch of Tri.
umph: Only the sculptures of this
splendid archway have been much in
iured by missiles. and NL Etex, their
original maker, is Mt present engaged in
restoring them. The louvre. the puluces
OF the Ministries. the splendid pn!nce OF
the Legion of Honor, aud the Avenue
de rImperatrico have been almost com
pletcly restored. but the other public
buildings arc still being demolished. A
good sign for Paris is in the fact that q
great mnny Of tho private buildings de-
vastated by the fire were still found to
have solid walls. Sd thnt only Internal
restoration has been found necessary,
which will materially > hasten the re build
ing OF the city.