The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-04
PROVIDENTIAL JUSTICE.

The Bols de BOulOgne IS the modern
pride of Paris, and it is to the French
capital what Central Park is to New
York, extending from the Triumphal
Arch, at the head of the Champs Elysees,
for mile or more by boulevard one
hundred and fifty feet wide, into what
used to be thick folest, Astounding with
game, and the resort of duelists and Or
gained bands Of robbers. All this is
changed now; millions of dollars have
been expended in turning the entire re-
gion into a charming park, intersected by
beautiful drives, waterfalls, fountains,
grottos and flower beds, all of which
form the favorite drive and promenade of
the Parisians
To create this beautiful and extensive
park many of the houses which had stood
here and there upon the grounds, were
necessarily torn down ard destroyed, some
ofthem mansions which bad stood for cen
tury.many pretentious buildings belonging
to noble families, and many of very hum
BILE aspect, forming the homes O; the mid
die class of people. Some, indeed many,
of these houses mad their story or legend,
we'll remembered by the eighborhood,
and it is one of these which we propose
to relate, as exhibitinga marked instance
of providential justice.
The Bots de Boulogre was one of the
crown domains under Louis Phillippc.
but in 1852 it was transferred 10 the Mu-
nicjpality of Paris, on the condition that
two millions of francs should be expen-
dcd upon it at once, and thatit should be
henceforth maintained as public park
at the cost of the city. Then at once
commenced the demolition of the build
ings referred to, the laying ou3 O; broad
and attractive thoroughfares, lakes, groves
and the like. So that the date of the
events we describe is scarcely more than
twenty years since.
In that section Of the present Bots de
Boulogne nearest to the Champs Elysees,
there stood an ancient stone structure
which had evidently once bee, a very
pretentious mansion, but which in later
times had been reduced in size, ard the
walls and building generally had been
adapted to the convenience of modern
residence. In effecting this false wall
had been erected on the cast side of the
building, so as to cover up the rough ap-
pearance produced by the removal OF a
portion ofthe former edifice on that side
This portion of the building OF which we
speak was. the back part, and, with this
exception, the whole dwelling presented a
very neat and handsome aspect.
1t is still remembered that in 1910 this
house was occupied by lady, known as
Madame Brienville, and her daughter, q
very beautiful girl OF eighteen or twenty,
and that the complement Of the little
household was made ~ by the addition
Of an elderly domestic, named Nannette'
Little was known relating to Madame
Brierville and her family; indeed, there
seemed to be some mystery connected
with them. She was understood to be a
widow and to nave come here to 1--we from,
the neiighborhood Of Lyons, but she had
no intimate acquaintance, nor any re.
lations, as far as could be discovered.
The old servant was very reticent, and
the gossips could get little or nothing
from her concerning her mistress except
that they had all come from the Depart.
mem Of the Rhone. That the widow
was possessed of ample pecuniary means
was clear enough to her neighbors, 70,
though there was nothing of an. ostenta.
tious character in her style of living. still
every domestic necessity, and even luxury
of desirable character, were freely .,ea.
joyed by the household, except that t;.ey
kept quietly. isolated and were satisfied
with the services Of old Nannette alone.
Madame Brienville and her beautiful
daughter were often seen together among
the shaded paths Of the vicinity, walking
arm in arm, on which occasion the ob
server did not fail to nota thu fl;on;frr