Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-21
4 DAYS RIDE IN AND ABOUT PAR
rs, AND VISIT TO ST. CLOUD.

Is, AMI VISIT ~ 81. CLOtb.
HOTEL DE New YORK EFT LONDON.
PARIS, June 30th 1878.
TO the Editor of The Journal:
have headed my letter, "a days ride il
and about Paris" but, were to tell you all
have seen in this days tour, fear should b'
intruiing too much on the space which ough
to be given to letter of correspondence, al
well ~ the patience of my readers. l will
however, try to say something about the spec
ialities, leaving the rest for another tinie.
Before commencing my descriptive letter
will observe that Paris is somewhat excited
inst now in preparation for the Shah of Per
Ella, who 10 expected in three days. 1t was
said in London in the newspapers that the
Shah would pass through Paris as private
gentleman, but, if some of the Londoners
could be here for two days, they would see a
preparation equal at least, to that in London,
which was, indeed, very grand The whole
city of ps,i. will be illuminated on the night
of the Shah's arrival, the illumination to be
effected by means of electricity streams of
electric light shooting from III, tops of the
churches. cathedrals, and lofty buildings in
al directions, over the entire city. 1t will be
the grandest sight Paris ever saw. She is
not able to bear the expense, bnt pride knows
no denial. mention the fact of this prepa-
ration, because my attention particularly
called to 1t in passing through the various
pisces Of public resort throughout the city.
Our party numbered four, all Americans
We were fortunate enough to secure the SER
vices Of 4 cabman, English-spoken. but resi-
dent in Paris for some years before, and dur
ing the war of 1911. After leaving our no.
tel We passed up Rae Havre, along the west-
ern side OF the Grand Opera House, which
was to have been finished, but left now, AS
the war found il, unfinished. To stranger
it has the appearance Of being finished on the
outside, but our guide informed US that many
thousand francs would be required to make
II equal in its appointments to what was de-
signed. Close by this in the Boulevard Mad
elaine IL the club room of the famous Jockey
Club, and further along en- route TO the Place
de IL Concorde We passed by the church Mag
dalenale, considerably injured by the war Of
the Commune, as the broken statues, and
patched walls bear testimony. The Place de
Ia Concorde is misnomer, judging from the
defaced colossal statues. and marks Of the
Commune war, on the public buildings sur
rounding the square. In the centre of the
Place de la Concorde stands the celebrated
needle, the monolithic obelisk of Luxor, which
Napoleon l. brought from Egypt. Fortunate
ly this escaped serious damage. The Place
de In Concorde is the central point OF ali tina
isgrandest and most beautiful in Paris. The
ruins Of the Tuileries are sad monument o.
the unfortunate war, the saddest perhaps O.
any in the central part OF the city. \ pair
iron fence surrounds the ruins, and the state.
ly trees formerly surrounding the Palaceart
represented by growth Of under shrubs, bare
~ reaching to the top of the iron enclosure.
Here al the time OF the seige, the unfortunate
Communists W ere accustomed to kneel, implor-
ing aid OF the marble statues. 1t grieyes ones
heart to think how much they must have suf-
fered, penned in the city, in a starving condi-
ton, tor the space oftwO months and nine days,
and more especially so, since they were fight
ing among themselves, Paris defending itself
against the rest Of France. Paris suffered
little from the siege Of Emperor William O
Prussia. compared with that of the Versatile
army.
turning our backs now on the Tuileries ",
found ourselves nearing the grand Arch O
Triumph, acknowledged to be the most mag
nifcent triumphal arch in the world 1t wa
begun in 1906 by Napoleon /, and iinshe
under Louis Philippe, at a cost of more tina
two million of dollars. If remember right
ly some historian states that Napoleon | ono
made the remark that he intended to conquc
the world and march them through this arcl
Napoleon III, the last of the Napoleons, wa
obliged to permit the entrance of Kaiser Wi
liams army through this identical archwa,
after the surrender of Paris on the 18th
January 1871. So much for the glory
Napoleon. He, and his line, are laid away
but the monuments OF his greatness, like III
Lgypuan pyramids, may yet out last its histc
y, As We approached the arch we saw tina
hao suffered some injuries from the lat
I' some Of the sculptures being broken
"ofkmen were busy putting up on the III
top the gas fixtures, for the electric illnminn
ti0n In honor OF the Shah As our cabmal
WAS Kind enough to stop here for few mo
ments TO rest, will give the reader the sam
privilege by commencing new paragranh.
Alter leaving the gateway, which | nav
Just been describing, we passed a line of for,
the inner Notifications of the city during ii
war. These iorts, completely surroundin
the city, are specially noteworthy from Il
fact that they stood the seige Of the Prussi4
army for more than two months. On o,
way to the suburbs we spent a few momen
in visiting the tomb Of the Duke OF Orlean
in the chapel OF st. Ferdinand, erected on 4
spot where the Duke died, from being throw
from his carriage, Gas some say, while othe
think he had received a death wound from
duel in the woods near by in the year lS4
The Duke Orleans would have succe ed
Louis Philippe on the throne Of France, b
this unfortunate circumstance changed Il
OSU0b CI utlIeulp
The Chapel containing the tomb is the on
building for some distance around, which W.
not pulled down by the Communists, thong
the beautiful garden and wall that once su
rounded it were completely demolished; an
nothing but a cheap fence and weedy gras
plot are left in their place. We found an oil
man at the door waiting to show us around
which be did in very pleasant manner, call
ing particular attention TO a rich painting il
the rear Of the alter, entitled the ''Death be,
scene of the Duke of Orleans Lou
Philippe and Queen Amelia were on ei;he
side attended by others Of the nobility. AZ
ter leaving the Chapel we found ourselves il
that part Of the suburbs called the belt of the
Rampant, the central point where the Com
mnnists fought 30 desperately with the Var
saiiles army from opposite sides Of the streets
for more than two months, adyanciny ar va,
treating, as the tide Of war swayea Ills wav
or that The houses are left now win Ca.
exceptions. as the civil war left them a s.@
mass Of ruins. Here on one side was once III,
residence of a gentleman, now nothing ia ief
but the walls Of the house, and they broke,
and pierced in 4 hundred places from sbo
and shell. All through the Avenue de Roule
Park d veauilly, and Rue de Chevy our eye