Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-20

cannon Dall ana Snell, the OOJecl OF Tue dTtlst
being to place him in the Fort of lssy, sur
rounded on every side by the incidents of the
siego. with the city OF Paris and Its monu-
ments, domes and steeples 10 the distance:
By close examination it could he discovered
that the nearer eathworks of the picture, and
even some of the cannon, for a distance of fifty
or sixty feet from the edge Of the platform, is
vertible earth, and undoubted cannon, and real
willows gabions and sand bags, but the exact
spot where the substantials ended and the can
vas begun was not so easily detected The
reader must take our word for it, that as We
stood on the platform, representing an elevated
position on one of the bastions OF Forst lssy,
that it appeared to the mortal vision OF all OF
us lust as If we were there 10 reality in the midst
of the siege. We could scarcely believe we
were inside of a building, as nature was SO close
" initiated that it seemed as if the vision chi"
braced every tree aud hillock up to Fortress
Mont Valeren, eight or ten miles distant Ihe
horizon was perfect all around the circles, aud
there was nothing visible to Indicate that we
were not out in the open air, except circular
canvas, suspended as if from the clouds, high
up over our heads, and nothing visible any
where to indicate that we were IN reality
inside of a building viewing a painting. The
whole seems to be q piece of legerdemaln ID
When we came out Of the building We invol-
unfairly turned around and measured its size
with our eyes, in vain attempt to unraVel Its
mystery. ."'
HOW PARIS is PAINTED.
It would astonish some of our old house
nainters of Baltimore if they could witness the
manner in which the painters OF Paris climb
over the fronts of these six and seven-story
houses and paint them from roof to door sill
without the use of'ladder, scatfold or any other
wooden coptrivance either for themselves or
their paint pots. One man, without assistance
Of apy kind, can paint the entire front OF one OF
these tall houses 10 two or three days. Directly
opposite our quarters, a sx-story building, front
ing about eighty feet, is undergoing complete
renovation, and the painting of the eutire walls
has been accomplished by two youths, appar-
emily not over nineteen years OF age. They are
each provided with rope about an inch IN
diameter, extending from the apex of the
roof to the pavement, on which knots, one foot
apart, are made throughout its entire length.
By means of an apparatus with straps, clam ps
and hooks, to which is appended board 90
which they sit, and stirrups to rest the feet 10,
which are strapped to their legs, they move up
ADD down the rope with great rapidity and ap-
parent ease. They move the clamps from
knot to knot, and without changing the posi-
ton of the rope are enabled to paint about six
feet on either side of them. Their smaller
brushes are stuck in little loops appended to
the seat, and the paint pot is suspended by a
smaller rope, on which it is fastened by a
spring of some kind, and is raised or lowered
with ease as they may desire it, Long prac-
tice has given them great agility, and they
seem to move up and down and pircuette and
oscllate along the front with great deal more
ease than if they were on ladders They use
brushes for most of their painting nearly double
the size of those used in America, and make
rapid progress With the work. House painting
in Paris is very extensive business, as Pc
riodical renovation of the houses Is rendered
imperative by law, no one being allowed to dis
figure neighborhood BY presenting stained
and dis6gured walls. The houses being all
built Of soft cream -colored sandstone, many
of the finer structures, instead of being painted
are redressed By the stone cutter, and come
out, after undergoing the process of scraping
and scrubbiug. as if fresh from the quarry. In
aluding to the amount of work these lads per-
form in day, it should be understood that
they commence work at 6 o'clocd in the morn
ing and stop at o clock 10 the evening, twelve
hours being days work among the mechaulcs
in Paris.
ADUELIsT PUNISHED.
Letters from Vienna to the London papers
record the fact that "a young Austrian othcer
has received merited punishment at the haUds
of an American gentleman for insulting an
American LADY,. When describing the lives
these young Austrian officers lead 10 one OF
our letters from Vienna, the fear was enter,
taiped that some Of your readers might regard
the picture drawn as an exaggeratloD. This
incident tends to the substantiation OF our as
ssrtion that in any other community such I'M
pudence would not be permitted They daily
aud hourly iosult ladias on the street, and pro-
tect themselves 10 their Infamous course by the
duello, their proficiency 10 broad sword exer-
else placing the civilian who may resent their
insults completely at their mercy. The Amerl-
can gentleman who punished this young scamp
declined to meet him on the ground that ne
had proved himself to be no gentleman; that
DO gentleman would wantooly insult a lady
This will probably, have the effect OF rendering
them more careful in future as to the natlonali-
ty of those they undertake to insult: as TINS
young scamp is at present the laughing STOCK
of all Vienna. They swarm by thousands 10
all parts of the city, and make the practice OF
insulting every young lady OF any personal at
is unprotected, 1t is for this reason that the
youpg girls of Vienna are seldom permitted by
their parents to 90 alone on the street. The
officers never associate with civilians, by whom
they are regarded with aversion, and the latter
avoid comiDg 10 contact with them, knowing
that to resent an insult is to receive challenge.
The idea that a man who would wantonly in
suit lady is no gentleman has pleased them
greatly, and is probably the hardest t. blow that
The duello has ever received in Vienna: 1t
has has had the effect of teaching these military
scamps good lesson. Nothing can be more
cowardly than for man, whose daily business
It IS to handle sword, to challenge mao TO
fight who has probably never drawn one rom
a scabbard. 1t would be about on par WIN
blacksmith challenging, quiz drl'eT 70 Isn' y
IEX NDRlA MUSICAL DEPOT
v. BECKER, 149 King street -, I'D