Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-10-10
THE SCENE OF MARSHAL BAZA;EE's
TRIAL,


The selection of the palace OF Great
Trianon, at Versailles, as the scene of
Marshal Basaine's trial, which event
will commence this week, will bring
once more prominently into the public
notice historical structure which dates
back to 1858, and which is associated
with many of the most brilliant episodes
in the region of Louis XIV, its found
er. The grounds attached to Great
Trianon we.e p evious to 1868 divided
up into manors and farms The hamlet
which was thus composed was called
Trianon, name derived from the Latin
word Triarnum, the designation OF a
parish belonging to the monks of the
Abbey of st. Genevieye, of Paris, in
the twelfth century. 4eg
In 1868 LouisAXIV. purchased these
lands and enclosed them within the lin
its of the park of Versailles. In the
course OF time the hamlet of Triauon
disappeared before the improvements
instituted by the King on the site, and
small palace was built on the spot,
which, commenced in the closing
months of the winter of 1870, was fin
ished by the beginning of the spring of
the same year. Under the influence of
the royal example, Trianons became all
The rage among all classes. Every
chateau, villa, and rustic dwelling bore
the name. The new palace had various
designations. 1t was called the house
of the sun, the palace of Flora, and the
house of Porcelain. The last appella-
ton was given it because porcelain en-
tered largely into its composition. The
king took great pride in this bijou of q
palace, and spent large sums oil mouey
in identifying it. In 1874 he gave mag
nificent entertainments there, at which
Nine. de Montespan, who was at that
time the royal favorite, attended. In
1877 the spirit of change came over the
kings mind, and he ordered the Palace
OF Flora to be demolished In the fol-
lowing year, acting in obedience to the
royal command, Mansard erected the
present palace Of Great Trianon. The
presiding female genius of the new pal
ace was Nine. de Maintenon, who had
succeeded in the Kings affections.
Again did the park echo to the sounds
OF feasts and revelries. Theatrical per-
formances and exhibitions of the ballet
followed in rapid succession, and here,
in 1859, were king James H., of Eng
land and his Queen royalty entertained.
Towards the close of 1905 the glory of
Great Trianon began to decline. The
old king, surrounded by few intimate >
among them Nine. de Maintenon and
Pere Ia Chaise, had become a valetudin.
arian. The beaux jours of Great Tria-
non had departed. Upon the 18th of
August. 1715, Louis XIV. paid his last
visit to the palace, and on the LIST of
September of the same year he died.
From the date OF the death of La
Grand Monarque TO the year 1850
Great-Trianon was comparatively neg
lected. In that year, however, Louis
XIV, as means of beguiling the tedium
of monotonous If, took up his resi-,
dence with his court at Great Trianon.
For few years thereafter the walls OF
the palace resounded with song and
music, and something like the former
glory of Great Trianon was revived.
But in the year 1857 the attempt made
by Damiens upon the kings life cast
damper upon the festiv ties that had
prevailed there. 1t was while entering
his carriage to proceed from Versailles
to Paris that the king received the
thrust of the fanatic s assassinating blade.
The death of Louis XIV. occurred in
1774, and up to that year few fetes
were given at Great-Trianon but the
erection in 1866 of the new palace of
Little Trianon, which was built by the
side of the older edifce by order of the
king, tended to cause Great Trianon to
he partially neglected At Little TRAN
on louis XVI. fixed his court when he
assembled the throne, as this palace was
the favorite residence of Marie Antoin-
cite. Great-Trianon was thenceforth a
deserted pile, and visited only occa.
sionally by the succeeding sovrreignsA-
Napoleon, Louis XVIII. and Charles
Kit fell into the oblivion of royal
neglect until the accession of Louis
Philippe to the throne. This monarch
had great liking for the place. On
occasions he would live there for week
or two at time, and visitors are shown
the apartments which he was wont to
occupy-his bed-chamber, modestly
furnished his work room, and the sim
pie table which he was accustomed to
use, ........-.s. tr
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