Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-07
NO 134.
Dailu krnnxhtr 3ournal.
Continued.
NY TRIP 70 EUROPE.
Frssr DAWN Paris.

|
Paris, Aug. 1--we have now exchanged
pour old conductor, who goes to Cologne TO
take charge of an English party Of tourists,
for Mr.. W. +. Gaze of Paris, smember Of the
! firm of IL. Gaze & Co., of London and Paris,
and gentleman who is familiar with what
ever is TO be seen in and about Paris, and
whose fluent tongue and ready wit are well
fitted to give all needful explanations. We
were joined by an English party of some 40
or 30, who, with ourselves, were bent on see
ing the sights in this famous city.
Carriages were provided, and We made our
| first visit to the church of ST. Vincent de
Paul, modern Catholic church, with fine
pillars of polished red porphyry. 1t was used
as hospital during the German war, but has
been restored.
| We were then conducted to Chaumonf, n
slight hill or eminence, where an extensive
view of the city may be obtained. The city
of Paris lies ON plain surrounded by gentle
elevations of land. Chaumont was formerly
a quarry, from which immense quantities Of
trees.onc were taken to build up the city.
The quarry having been exhausted, the last
Napoleon turned the hill into public park,
and adorned it with trees, avenues, and seats
for visitors. Here you may see all Paris
stretching out, as it were, at your very feet.
Many of the prominent buildings and spree
are distinguishablc above the wilderness Of
roofs and structures. Mont Martre is seen
at distance in one direction, and TO the left
of it Fort Valenien from which the French
garrison bombarded the German forces In
their advances on the city. Many of the more
notable buildings and points of interest were
pointed out to the party from this hill.
Descending from the summit, our atten-
ton was called to grotto or cave in the side
| of the hill. in the native rock, with a few in
significant stalactites adornng its roof. IL
would have excited more curiosity if II had
been natural, but in its present shape II was
confessedy artificial. There had been two
or three small native grottoes there, but in
changing them into one large one for the pur-
pose of show, the whole thing'was spoiled
| In our ride we passed by tower built of
the stones of the old prison called the Bas-
tile, pulled down during the French revolu-
ton. The tower Is now used for public pur-
poses.
We next visited the
CEMETERY OF PERE la CHAIsE,
the most celebrated of Partisan cemeteries.
| The system of burial in this cemetery is three
| fold. The poor are inferred without charge
in undistinguisbed graves in the rear part of
the grounds. The next class, by paying fifty
! francs, about $40, have the privilege Of tenn
porary burial in lot, and to erect monu-
ments, but at the end of five years they have
| to remove the bodies to some other location.
| These temporary monuments are quite numer-
l Dat 1nrn nrtt orn I'M
graves Of the wealthy and noble who pay 500
francs for perpetual right. There were
many highly ornamented and expensive mon
| uments of This class. They are built of stone,
| and most of them in the form Of small build
ing with an iron door Of open or lattice work,
or some other aperture, by which you can
peep in and dimly see, if your eyes are good
enough, the inscriptions and decorations in
side The structure is perhaps four or FIVE
feet high. Some are quite plain, and others
highly embellished. They are usually fami-
ly tombs. We looked into an open grave on
which the building had not been placed. 1t
was a pit perhaps fifteen feet deep, with
shelves on the sides, one above another, for
the coffins to be deposited upon.
OF the tombs of noted persons, our atten-
ton was first dirtcted to that Of Abelard ard
Heloise. the celebrated and unfortunate and
guilty lovers, whose tragic fate has so long
interested the world. 1t is in the form Of n
portico, with an elevated roof supportedby pill
lars Other monuments pointed out were
those of Casimir Perrier, a celebrated French
statesman of 30 or 80 years ago; Of Theirs,
the well-known author and patriot, and the
first president of the present French repub-
lie; and of I.avalette and his faithful wife
who. by her ingenuity and devoted love,
delivered her husband from imprisonment,
| L c. 81. waI f,r hts
These, as well as other less distinguished
tombs, were adorned with wreaths Of shining
beads and of immortelles. Once a year, on
the anniversary of the day Of their death,
Ffresh wreaths Of flowers are placed on their
ltombs The wreaths Of beads are perpetual.
The tomb Of Marshal Ney, one Of Bona
parts most prominent generals, who was
taken prisoner and shot by order Of the king Of
France, was covered only by a stone slab on
(which there not even a name, until q
few yeas ago a stranger had the letters
I.sNey' chselled upon it, with q Latin motto.
| MANY other distinguished Frenchmen,
statesmen, generals, poets and artists. as
well as more common mortals, are buried
here. The monuments are not all Of the
form have described, but that seems TO be
the prevailing fashion. The idea Of temper
ary burial strikes the Foreigner as the most
singular. In vain ''the storied urn. the
j animated bust, the boast of heraldry, the
pomp of power" the forid inscriptions on
the tombstones in five years it must be re-
moved. Instead Of the line in Gray's elegy.
Each in his narrow cell forever laid, n
lnew version is required, for instance,
each on his own hired shelf for five years
lplaced."
This cemetery received its name from Pere
LA Chaise, who was the father confessor o1
Louis XVI. and who built and occupied a
palace on Mont Louis, q gentle elevation,
then beyond the limits Of the city, but with.
in its bounds. The grounds were afterward.
changed into the present cemetery. 1t con-
tains about 200 acres, and is tastefully Orna
mented with shubbery and shade trees. A
fine view Of Paris and its surroundings 10 OBJ
tanned from the highest part of the hill. 1
il beautiful spot, but the sentry-bOx stylt
of monuments, and the wreaths Of tawdr,
beads, are too entirely French to suit the no
tions of foreigner.
THE GoBELIN TAPESTRY.
Afterwards we were taken TO view the gov
. ernment manufactory of Gobelin tapestry
Tapestry Is fabric formerly much used 70
hanging IN the valls Of rooms This manu-