The Portland daily press., 1874-11-11

picted in vivid colors, offers pleasing re-
freshmert to American eyes in the midst of
so much foreign fighting, and quite by itself
behind column, noble Joan of Arc, enter
ing Orleans holds us long time IN admira-
tion before the quiet grandeur of the painting.
We continue our walk among the pictured
multitude until the last room leaves us at fhe
foot of narrow wooden stairway we as
cend-wondering if once tbis was some prl-
vate passage for the gsJ court people; or II IL
were only a sort or kitchen back-stairs, where
the servaHts used to hurry up anG down. Be
that as it may, they led US that morning in
to the immense portrait gallery filed with
faces of the words celebrities, at all Of which
we faithfully gazed. From here we passed
through the bed chamber of Marie Antoi-
nette, the waiting rooms Of the attendants,
and reached the sleeping apartment of the
greet king Louis, still preserved in its origi-
nal condition, with gilded railing around
the state bed to keep curious hands from APP
preaching too near. From the little balcony
of the front window, one looks across the
courtyard down the long avenue leading to-
ward Paris, and here it was, that when the
king died, the Lord Chamberlain an
nounced to the people, while breaking the
wand of Office, "Le roi est mort, rice le roir'
Back of the kings room extends long sa-
Ion lined with mirrors, and running the en-
tire length of the chateau. 1t is called the
hall of glass; once it was the palace ball
room, and we imagined the pretty royal la
dies of the portrait gallery fitting over the
waxed floors, and taking the places of the
peasants, soldiers, and tourists, who to-day
are reflected in tine long mirrors. Our necks
are quite broken with gazing up at the
painted ceilings, and with a vain attempt at
enthusiasm we drag listlessly through the re-
naming rooms, out to the garden; there we
sink down on the nearest seat, too tired for
utterance and feeling the weakness of the hui
man frame to be an undenable truth.
The garden is fast filling up with people,
many of whom are picnicing under the trees.
Patronizing the booth of a second old cake
lady, we followed the example of our neigh
bors. This, and the noen-day rest, puts new
strength into our party, and we start OFT re-
freshed in the direction CT the two Trianons.
Long avenues of beautiful trees, hiding the
sky above by solid arch of green, lead 10 the
great Trianon, the palace built by Louis XIV
for Madame de Maintenon. Soldiers are sta
toned at the iron gateway, who watch that
no ventursome traveller steps on the smooth
turf. We did, however, finding the walk
ing easier, but questioning in our minds at
each step as to the possibility of a shot from
the sentry at the entrance; our doubts were
soon settled by the breathless arrival of an
individual in uniform, and we finished the
walk on the common highway. The great
Trianon is built in the from of an Italian
villa, and is Of but one story. We thought
it rambling, uncomfortable place to live in,
though some of the rooms were bright and
cosy, especially one with long window:
opening on to the garden, and an inlaid
workable in the middle, around which the
court ladies used to chat over their embroid-
cry. .t'Da'n- s.
Another avenue of trees now leads to the
grounds of the little Trianon, and few
steps bring us to the Swiss village of Marie
Antoinette. 1t is composed of several rustic
cottages, half grown over with ivy and
honey.suckle, and the mill, farm house and
dairy of the il-fated queen. The buildings
are grouped about little lake, where fam
lilies of gold fish are darting about in the
water. The scene is wonderfully quiet and
pretty. One cannot help feeling the COM
fort it must have been to exchange the mag
niicence of the court lite now and then for
a play at peasant life at the farm of the little
Trianon. We spent pleasant hour under
the great oak tree, ,over-shadowing the royal
cottage. To have rested longer was impos
sible since the fourtalns of Versailles were
announced for four, and not to see the wa
tiers play would be to miss one of the most
wonderful sights in the world, according to
the guide book and the received public opinion.
Back we turn to the garden. On ever side
showers of spray are rising and falling, form
ing thousand rainbows in the sunlight.
Before US in the midst of little lake huge
bronze Neptune seems to be hurrying on his
horses amid clouds ofmist. Just above rises
by crystal like columns falling into marble
basins, and on another terrace the waters
are throwing themselves like veil over a
beautiful group in marble. Down every alley
one catches glimpses of some different fancy
of the artist, and each little flower-bed is be-
ing bathed in the spray of its own fountain.
We climb the highest terrace, and look back.
1t is like a glance into fairy-land-the gar
dens, the people and the sound and sight of
the water continually rising and falling.
"a An old Frenchman near by touches Lon
doner number one on the shoulder with, "We
must hurry ourselves, my wife, or the omn-
bus will start on without u.s." We feel CRATE
full to be notified, assure the bewildered gen
tleman that his mistake is of no consequence,
reach the station in time to secure ou- places
and for us-the fete of st. Louis is over. -.
agsog eti gal "ls .E1l rrlhIr 3.
ANOTHER NEW GARMENT For WOMEN
My carryall is substitute for the corset--a
hnfrr { IL GA.