The Donaldsonville chief., 1871-12-02
The Restoration of Paris.

| ~ ASOOVo& ~SpASSAA VI n D1A1Os
The municipal authorities of the
French metropolis are most energetic
In their efforts to restore Paris in
some measure to its former splendor.
An army of twenty-five thousand ma
sons is at work under the direction of
competent architects, and the hope
may be now entertained that the un-
rlvaled city on the Seine will rise like
a Phoenix from its ashes at not too
distant period. Recent files of Paris
papers, giving many details ON the
subject, estimate the time when the
work OF restoration will be finished at
about three years, although many of
the magnificent edifices destroyed by
the vandals of the Commune present
already quite a respectable appear
ance, which reminds the beholder in
some measure of the days of their
glory. Many of the old works of art,
that were deemed lest forever, have
since been found intact under the Gin
ders, and it is a good proof of the So
lidity of the building materials used
that great many of the old and
blackened walls have been found still
solid and fit for use. If Paris had been
built like Chicago, not stone would
have 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, and thus prevented
a disaster in comparison to which the
burning of Chicago would have been
a mere bonfire.
The two most magnificent edifices
that were destroyed by the insurgents,
the Hotel de Vile and the Tuileries,
are in fair way of restoration. 1t
had at first been the intention to re-;
build only the most ancient part of the
former, without the magnificent wings
added by Louis Philippe, but this
plan was abandoned, and it is to be
restored as it was previous to the in
surrectiOn. All of the pieces of the
main reliefs that adorned this magnifi-
cent structure have fortunately been
found, and will be completely restored.
The bronze statues were also discOv-
cred almost uninjured among the Gin
ders, so that we may soon see the old
city building in its former shape.
The Tuileries, however, are to be
much reduced in size, as it would
prove too expensive to restore the
building to its original state. Never
theless, the new structure will be very
fine, and the plan is said to be taste-
fui and elegant. But an irreparable
loss to Paris is the fearful devastation
in the garden of the Tuileries. Dur
ing the siege it was used as an artil-
lery camp, and the bad usage it re-
ceived as such was mournfully MAIN
tanned by the Communists, who took
only pleasure in running it altogether.
The Vendome pillar is undergoing
a complete process of reconstruction.
Its completion is, however, prevented
by singular fact. Ali the pieces have
been found except those reliefs that
represented the victories of Napoleon
over Prussiain 1906. These are known
to be in the hands of foreign parties,
who ask exorbitant prices for the
same.
The same can be said of the Arch
OF Triumph. Only the sculptures of
this splendid archway have been much
injured by missiles, and M. Etex, their
original maker, is at present engaged
in restoring them.-
The Louvre, the palaces of the min
lstries, the splendid palace of the Lee
gion of Honor, and the Avenue de
FImperatrice have been almost COM
pletely restored, but the other public
buildings are still being demolished.
A good sign for Paris is in the fact
that a great many of the private build
lngs devastated by the fire were still
found to have solid walls, SO that only
internal restoration has been found
necessary, which viii materially has
ZEN the rebuilding of the city.-Louis-
vile Courier journal.