Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-29
rha rreneh CapllnI.

The work of restoring all the palace.
and buildings destroyed by the Com
mune, and repairing all the damage in
hicted by the war, is steadily progress
ing. The walls Of the palaces all stood
firm, and even the Hotel de Vile will
soon show no trace OF the destroyer.
Thousands of workmen are everywhere
engaged in the work Of reconstruction,
and the Column Vendome will soon com
mence to rise again, the base of which
is carefully rallied in again and made
ready for sustaining the restored
column. Public buildings are also be-
| ing erected in various parts of the city.
Tho column of July, which was
damaged by the mob, is scaffolded
ard thronged with workmen from
base to statue, and the damage
done to the triumphal arch by German
shells has been repaired. New statuary
is being erected in the Place de la Con-
corde, the Bots de Boulogne is resuming
its former attractions, and the Champs
Elysses was never more bright and gay
than at the present time. The theaters
are all open and crowded with visitors,
and the boulevards at night for miles in
all directions are throDged with people,
and the stores and cafes brilliant with
gas Jets reflected from the countless mir
rors which cover their interior walls.
The Academy of Music, at the junction
of the Boulevard Capuchines and the
Rue de la Paix, which has been in course
of construction for six years, is not yet
finished. This will be the greatest struc-
ture of the kind in the world, its front
being not less than three hundred
feet. The interior work and adornments
we saw rapidly progressing, and it will
doubtless be opened in four or five
months. 1t exceeds in magni6cence all
of the public buildings in Paris, and is
surrounded by statuary representing all
the great musical composers and the
queens OF song. On its dome there is a
large group OF figures, the central one
holding Tyre over his head. The archi
lecture is most imposing, it having been
erected regardless of cost, which, it is
said, will be nearly fifteen millions of
francs when completed. 1t is difficult
at night to cross any Of the boulevards
of Paris without danger of being run
over by the stream of carriages that are
rapidly moving in every direction. They
radiste to all points Of the city to the
extent probably of fifty miles, and
everywhere are thronged with people.
while the broad pavements in front of
the innumberable cafes are filled with
chairs and tables, at which the prone
naders stop for rest and to take refresh
Il ~woul1 ehot txtr< I'D ofi
the population are on the streets or in
the Champs Elysees at night, while more
than dozen theaters, two circuses, nu-
merous concert halls, and FIVE dancing
gardens, are filed to overhowing On
Sunday evening great many Of the
large stores have their windows lit up for
the display Of goods, but their doors are
closed, and there appear to be no sales |
men in attendance. The cafes are in full
blast, however, and doing an extra heavy
business The best of order is everywhere
maintained, and everybody appears
cheerful and in high spirits, notwith-
standing the recent national reverses.
There are no beggars on the streets, AS
in London, and almost entire abseHce of
street vendors Of all kinds except wo-
men and girls with fruit for sale. In
London crowds Of ragged boys and
girls interrupt you every moment with
matches or something for sale, and
whine and whimper' until you are com
PEELED to give them something to get rid
Of them. In Paris we have not met one
of this class, who seem to be altogether
excluded from the street traffic.