Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-19

the noted Trianons built for the favorites of
that licentioas king, Louis NV.
The pleasantest part of our excursion was the
ride out and back through the Notifications,
parks and villages. As we passed each object
of interest our intelligent driver pointed it
out and gave its history. The first place after
we started exciting our interest was an open
triangular square TO the right, near the heart OF
the city where had stood the smbuiances con-
tanning the sick and wounded Commun-
lists, and also many citizens who had come
there for the sake OF medical attendance All
these without regard to age or sex were indis-
crimnately shot by the soldiers OF the nation
al Government on their entry into the city.
I Such atrocity have these FrenchmeD, who
ordinarily seem the most quiet OF people,
when their blood is up! Passing out of the
city through stout walls of stone, backed with
earthworks and protected in front by deep
moat, into which the waters Of the Seine are
admissible, we saw before us vast ampi-
theatre of hills from which the Prussians
shelled the city. TO the right is the famous
stronghold Mt. Valeren browning the top Of
commanding hill, from which the French
shelled and destroyed the beautiful palace and
town of St. Cloud (San Clew) surprising it to
be occupied by the Prussian army while only
their pickets were scattered thickly about pur
posely with the intention of drawing the fire
and wasting the ammunition of the French.
city about three miles distant, in their s,rug
gle with the Commune. Much more damage
was done to their own property in and around
Paris by the French themselves than by the
invaders from Germany. On our way out,
three miles from the city, we stopped at the
celebrated Porcelain mandatory at Ceyres,
and visited the establishment. one of the
largest in the world. The town Of Versailles
is a large and very wealthy one, containing
yrtt Z
than its neighbor St. Cloud and escaped des
truction. Its citizens acquired their wealth
under the Orleans family, and are consequent
| ly strong sdherents of that party. Napoleon
| III was very unpopular there, and our guide
| told US that he was several times Kissed while
| passing through the place. He consequently
| rarely visited it, but made ST. Cloud his resi-
| dence, that being also the favorite resort
OF the First Napoleon. There were extensive
| parks and preserves bunting grounds around
both these villages, kept for the use of the
royal families for hundreds of years. Now
| of course the deer and other animals are gone,
| and during the bomhardment even the birds
flew away.
The Palace OF Versailles was completed in
1872 by lie Grand Monarque,' Louis XIV.
| While the outside of the palace is still much
disfgnred by age, the interior is very
magnificent. The fountains in the park, the
finest in the world, only play about once a
month, and we were much disappointed in not
seeing the beautiful sight, having to content
ourselves with purchasing Photographic views
in Paris, which city excels any other place in
the variety, excellence and low price of its
photographs. We spent nearly day in look
ing them over. and picking out some dozens
of different sorts. Stereotype views for which
g.. 80 dozen is asked in London, can be pur
| chased here for from 80 cents to 81 90. A
considerable portion of the Rue de Rlvoli IL
| entirely devoted to the sale Of these views.
On our return to Paris we passed through
an Immense military camp on the road 10 ST.
/ Cloud. Every able bodied Frenchman be-
tween the ages of 90 and % must serve in the
| army. Formerly the sons of the wealthy
could purchase substitutes, but now none are
exempt--every man must learn the art of war,
and many of the sons OF the highest families
of France are serving as common soldiers. A
standing army of 500 coo men is kept up, and
. the nation seems bent on wiping out the dis
grace OF the late war 1t seems quite likely
they will do it, though as they say it may take
twenty years. They are the richest nation in
the world, with the exception of England, and
c the tremendous drain of Prussia upon them
y has had the effect thus far Of deprecating
their paper currency only one per cent. This
result when compared with the depreciation
of our own money, is remarkable and shows
at once great reaeurces and very able finan-
ciering.
At St. Cloud We alighted AMI walked
though some of the streets TO see the effect of
the terrific Smelling which ruined large part
of the town The palace which was a mag
ni6cent building both outside and in, remains
only as bare walls, though the beautiful park
around it shows very little evidence of
the fight Here and at Versailles the
| great skill of the French gardeners in tree
culture and training is shown very conspicu
ously They have great fondness for cut
| ting the foliage Of the trees on their avenues
so that the lower portion resembles the sides
| of we'll kept hedge, and it must be ad
| mitted that the effect is very fine, as you cast
| your eyes up and down the long streets. In
the city of Paris nearly all the tops of trees
are kept trimmed down fiat and very thick,
| custom which We do not admire it
gives trees which would otherwise have a
ajestic appearance very dSarfish one.
1t is quite probable that this annual cutting
| is done quite as much with a view to keep
| ing the trunks and roots vigorous as to ap-
| pearancc. We have seen as yet no trees
either in England and France which
equal our stately elms. The oaks and elms
here arc noble trees, but have not the beau
tiful sweep and curve of the American elm.
| Leaving St. Cloud, which is very rapidly re-
| covering itself, we passed along a beautiful
|
de Boulogne, the great Central Park of Par
| is. The trees, as you are doubtless aware,
were cut down near the city in order to give
! free range to the guns on the ramparts; but
| the park was not nearly as much damaged as
one would naturally expect. Nature and art
! have cleverly united to restore it, and trees
I are rapidly springing up where the forest was
cut away. The grounds are very fne but
whole we do not think they equal those of
the famous New York Park. An artificial
grotto with a small Niagara pouring over it,
and several fine artificial lakes, are the prin-
| cipal objects to attract the eye. 4 man is
stationed here as keeper, who bears a won
derful likeness to Napolean Ill; so much so
that he is called the Emperor's brother, and
upon the death of Napoleon at Chiselhurst
| his photographs were sold in Paris, for those
| Of his more llustrons counterfeit He ex-
hibits himself lin the park near the restaurant,
and we, as is customary, followed him up 10
get sight Of his face. He is said to gather
| quite harvest from curious and generous
strangers. The underbrush is allowed to