The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-07
OLD AND NEW PARIS.
DESTRUCTION OF The LOCALITIES MADE
FAMILIAR by HUGo's AND DUMAS STORIES
UNEARrHING MANY MYSTERIOUS AND Gu
RIoUs RELICS AND RUINS.
from the .ondon clohnl

FAMILIAg by HUGos AND DUMAS STORIES
USEARrHING MANY MYSTERIOUS AND Gu
RIoUs RELICS AND RUINS.
From the London Globa
PARIS July q, 1871
The Latin quarter is fast disappearing. The whole
sale pulling down OF houses which has taken place
make way for new streets and boulevards has swept
away nearly all cur traditional landmarks. The
Faubourg Saint German has escaped the hand OF
the denotisseur Some say that the majority of the
Paris Municipal Council acting the advice OF one Of
It's members, H. Nadaud, large contractor, has
made up It's mind to oquaizc everything in tho
building world, destroying tho crying rcproach to
the money grubbng house owners in new Paris
who allow no moro space Tor the five rooms en-
suite VIII CHI compose our modern apartments than
used formerly to DO reserved for OF the smaller
salons in the family mansions OF tho old iaubourg.
Baron Haussmann, who knew fow scrupes where his
improvements were concerned conceived the plan OF
the Boulevard Saint Gcrmain. He commenced at both
ends meeting with very little resistance until he be-
gan to trench on the family estates Of those who,
sIlking under tho Empire aud absent, had still nlu-
enough 10 their property ruth
less pickaxe Of tho demoseur. Tables Of compensa-
lion were drawn up by tho municipal au-
thorites, jury formed and arbitration
settled every claim, until at last tho Latin
quarter was travcrsed by tho new boulevard,
Baron Haussmann resting his laurcls
and declining the onus OF attack ON the privileges
OF the dncieane nobtesse The colleagues of NJ Nadaud
have, however, carried out the project Tho machinery
OF the law has been set In motion: lawyers clerks
have been busy serving wrIts of eject ment at tho
houses OF men whose ancestors would have considered
that parchment was excellent addition to the di.
gestivc organs OF the unfortunate scrbes The Hotel
de uignes aud other family have been pulled
down, ana In tine we shall find the ground which
they stood occupied by Gales and restaurants whero
the Auvergna' and the savoyard VIII hold their wedding
casis and dance their bouree, national jig which
reminds one oil tho bear hot bricks
MYSTERIES UPON MYSTERIES
Tho next generation Will know nothing OF old Paris,
and the descriptions they Will lind in books viii be
hardly credited by those who ind Intensely sur
rounded oy palaces The ground Is being over
deep foundations arc being dug and the Of The
past century unveiled traces Of
history are beng hidden from view, living Only The
memory OF the few. LAbbaye. that sinister prison
house. formerly portion of tho Monastery of saint
German des Pres, where the prisoners OF the Revolu
pierre, is no more; the house where Marat hvod
unt Charlotte Corday purged the earth of monster
has been lcveed to the ground and nothing re mans
TO mark the spot where the boodthrsty tyrant once
entertained his friends All kinds OF discover
les arc being made. The contractor who has
watch over the digging OF the foundations has had
TO establish an Office where treasure trove be
china, medals and repoussd work. When the
Commune In 1871 searched every religious house IN
the hope 0f hnding treasures OF gold and silver
great noise was made about some human remains
discovered under the earth in the cellars of the
oil Plcpus. There Wcrc skeletons OF children
OF adults ana grave charges wero brought against tho
sistcrhOod The accusations became IN public opinion,
even more serious owing TO the discovery OF some In
struments ortorture regular pilgrimage was mado
to the convent whore the bones thumb
screws and boots were SYSTEMATICALLY displayed Pub
lie Indignation great and would listen 10
any cxplanat0u until documents prod ced show.
ing that within twenty years the convent had been
transformed into an inrInary Tor worncn nd children
special attention being paid orhopodic cases. Tho
tempest IN the teapot was speedily at ~ end. and
orthoposdical instruments were hidden away
DREADFUL ALTERNATIVES.
Like the streets of Pompcii, tho sabtcrrancan pas
sagos OF Paris being laId bare. In clearing away
de Bac some strange discoveries been made
Digging out some old foundations the workmen came
across u vault which at ons time mad evidently been
used Us an ossuary In one corner was found
"yaut of penitcnce," like that in VIII CHI Constance de
Beverley immured "for b. oxen and convent
fled" hollow stone pillar, over what had evidently
been deep WELL was joined on 10 a raised coiinke
niche. in which tho vicmwas placed, the only means
OF exit being the one snort step leading to the we'll
Some surinse that owing to the niche being raised
above tho level Of the grounA, fire placed
1t and the luckless wretch had choose between be-
ing slowly roasted alive voluntary death by drown
ing IN the well. Time had dealt SO harshy with the
stone that attempt tho ''ia pace proved
a fallarc and IL has been destroyed bit by Bit the
stone crumbng away as the earth around 1t was dis
turbed
THE SUICIDES HOTEL
Another house has been pulled down which has
managed 10 obtain u certain Importance with Cos
SIPS OF the Lain quarter II called tho ''Suicde's
Hotel, aud had most uncnviaDle reputation IL
All hotel meubt and became infected some years
ago Win sulctuai mHuIa young student, despair
ing ana in love, blew his brains out in the he
cupied. and just one year alter another student,
In the same house and in the same room,
committed suicide in the same manner after
losing his money In a Tow gambling house. The
OF the hOiel, alarmed ut the tate which had be-
fallen the Two occupants OF tho room refused 10 allow
any TO i've IN II, and caused it to b. transformed
into box and lumber receptacle. few after
ward the waiter, accused oil having purloined some
articles Of wearing apparel from lodger stole away
to tho lumber room, where no was found hanged, and
the owner of tue house IN despair sold his lease and
Inft Al he nj rtIo
supreme. The hotel was sold again aud again, but
none could keep IL.
THE USUAL ENDING.
A strong minded druggist took the premises and
carried on ms business, dcspsng tradition and laugh
ing the old gOssips whose stories had enabled
TO make such bargain. Domestic msloriuucs shook
the cy ncism OF the unbeiever who finding his wife
had deceived hun, retired 10 the which had
self with his own drugs. Tho whole quarter was up
IN arms public opinion demanded that the fatal
should DO walled vi, but the new owner
laughed ut tho fears OF his neghbors, and
declared that he meant to occupy the chamber
In question. Al last notice given that the place
about to be pulled down to mako room for the
Boulevard Saint Germain An indemnity oil Gl0 900
was demanded but refused, and the jury having dc.
cded that GO, 500 was ample compensation the owner
He compelled 10 accept the money and was
elected In due course, but few days ago he asked
permission 10 visit the old premises before they
pulled down. HIa request gram cd, aud nothing
more hoard OF nm until the dlmotiSssurs went
into the place, where they found HIM hanging by tho
neck the fatal room.