The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-06
Especial Correspondence OF the GLops.l
FOREIGN LETTER.
a GLIMPSE AZ PARIS,

Although the existing misery and desola-
ton of France IRE in the main due to the
influence of the past war with Prussia, yet
the devastation of Paris can alone be at
tributcd to the insanity of the Commune
which, by its unreasonable ravages, has de-
stroyed the majority of those monuments
which rendered this famous city of pr-
mary Importance in Europe.
TIE RUINS.
One of the first objects of interest which
meets the eye Of the stranger is the mag
nifcent Arc de lEtoile, erected by Ma
poleon First in commemoration of his vic
tories upon the side of this triumphal arch,
which is one of the outlets of Paris to the
open country, are observable numerous bull
let marks, upon the PREPARATION of which
and the shattered basso-relievos, artists have
been employed for more than a year. From
this point, along the Champs Elysees, al
most all Of the fine residences are more or
less injured. Here, the stone ornament of
a window or sculptured door-post is ser-
ously marred; there, gaping rent in the
front wall of little palace tells its tale Of
the wretched sieges while, all around,
trees, statues, and gardens, have suffered
by the events of 1870 and II. Not, how
ever, does the grim visage of war display
its full horror until the Gardens of the
Tuileres are reached and the long line of
beautiful palaces lies before the observer
shapeless mass of ruins.
THE TUILLERIEs.
This royal residence has, since the day
of its erection by Catharine dc Medicis,
ever held prominent position, not only in
French history, but indeed in the annals of
the world. AS one gazes on the sole re-
naming wall which faces the louvre and
the palace yard, the memory of the ''Reign
of Terror" Involuntary flashes into being.
From this entrance Louis XVI and Marie
Antoinette fled to the Royal riding school
upon the fatal night when the revolution
lists and the mob, emboldened by successes,
took possession of the palace, after merci-
lessly butchering number of mobiles and
the Swiss guard. Within these walls, also,
the kingdom of the restoration terminated /;
here, too, the July kingdom met its death
blow when Louis Philippe abandoned the
palace to the popular fury, and again the
regal interiors were desecrated, while the
royal furniture and carriages were burned
in the palace yard-the throne meeting its
fate at the foot of the July column. Thus
through the successive reigns of the
French kings and emperors, this grand pile
has run the gauntlet with destruction and
been victorious until the 22d of May, 1871,
when it fell the prey of its former guard
lans and admirers.
Upon the heads of the Communists rests
the fate of this and the many other noted
structures, which at present exist but Sin
the minds eye" These Communists being
aware of their desperat e situation, deter
mined, at their secret councils, to burn the
principal public edifices of the city before
the Versailles troops should be able to ef-
feet an entrance into Paris. BY an ad.
mirably concerted plan, issued under the
seals of certain prominent insurgents, the
Tuilleres, the Hotel de Vile and countless
other celebrated sights were RACED to
the ground by an adroit arrangement of
gun-powder and of missiles soaked in pc
troleum.
THE HOTEL DE WILLIE,
No edifice in Paris was SO interesting,
INTELLECTUALLY and historically ; no site
eyer passed through such varied vicissi-
tudes of fortunes and events, and none OF