Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-21
NO 145.
paiIg kennfttr journal.
Continued.
MY TRIP 70 EUROPE.
Tua PAi.AIs ROYAL.

Paris, August l5.-After returning from
Versailles through a part of the Bois de
Boulogne, and partaking of our second Paris
dinner, most of our American party took
ride through the streets of Paris by night,
Mr. Gaze having engaged carriages for us.
One of our first visits was to the Palais Roval.
This is magnificent palace built by Carli-
nal Richelieu, and at his death it became the
property of the royal family. 1t surrounds
beautiful garden. with beds Of flowers, rows
of lime trees. and fountains. The garden 10
abou, 700 feet by 800. II is entered from the
street under a splendid archwa,. The first
ioor of the palace is occupied by shops,
mostly of goldsmiths and jewellers, opening
upon an arcade which faces the garden on
three sides. There are few shops of other
kinds, but nearly all this vast extent of ar
cades, brilliantly lighted with gas in the
evening, is filled up with shops, displaying
IN their plate glass windows the richest and
most diversified display of watches and Jew
clry Such an immense and bew idering ex-
tent and variety of gold, diamonds, pearls,
and watches of all sizes aud fashions. I new
er imagined possible. All that was exhibit.
ed at the Philadelphia Exposition was but
trifie compared To this vast wilderness of
precious things. We spent at least half an
hour walking through these arcades. What
we saw WAS all within the windows, but the
bright gas lights made everything as visible
As by daylight. Most ofthe shop doors open
ing upon the arcades stood ajar. with smil-
ing young lady or gentleman clerk occupy.
ing the door.
We were told that the dealer who had the
richest and most valuable goods had water
tight safe which by machinery was made to
rise into the shop at night out Of water under
meath. The treasures are placed in the safe.
and it is closed. and then is made to descend
into the water, where il remains till morning,
secure from fire or burglars.
PARIS Bf NIcur.
We reentercd the carriages, and rode for
long distance through the streets and boulc-
wards. The bouevards are wide. straight
avenues, some of them five miles or more in
length, others shorter. Looking down these
avenues we could see rows of brilliant gas
lights many miles in extent. Besides the gas
Jets along the sides of the streets. were the
lamps in each one of the mu'titudcs of car
rages. and the gas lights in open shops and
cafes, and in the open air concerts. of which
there are many. Vast numbers OF people
are sitting at the tables in the cafes, and
around them, on the sidewalks. and in groves
and squares; slipping wine, beer, coffee, &c,
and smoking.
We went into one cafe consisting of an
immense room, brilliantly lighted, where
hundreds of little tables were spread out. sur
rounded by gay groups, chattering drinking
and smoking. Our party sat down in cor
ner, and had each cup of coffee or tumb-
Ter of lemonade, while we surveyed the
curious spectacle. We returned TO our ho-
tel about ! o'clock, but there were no signs
of the revelry or brilliancy coming to an
end.
Some of the squares and markets are light
ed with electrical light which has white,
steady radiance, very powerful but said to
be thus far more costly than gas. The gas
companies have put on improved and more
powerful burners in view of the competi-
tion.
SOME OF THL PARIS CnuRCnEs.
August III. Yesterday was Catholic holy
day, think Assumption day. We took an
other ride around Paris, and went into some
of their finest churches. There were ser
vices in most Of them; but we were assured
that the worshippcrs had no objection to vis-
- .. -: :,
c"urch many 'i'''es "ni,"e Tue "'y' s""ii
refer to only part Of them.
nave ,'e"'lo,,eu '''e "aoe','e' wiz" scoi-
ohhaneoeio"y P'''n,s surrounding II. mere
are D "a '''''e pi''a.,, an" oPpo.ne !" W,
spaces ne'"er" 'ne P''iars are nlshes nIieo
WIN coiio.sai statues vi saints me ihter'or
is splendid but unique. The only light came
rom ioar circniar aper'urfs IN the ceiing.
Inc Interior walls are iincd WIN rich mar.
pie. ana 'he ceiiing Is ilghy orhamentea
and gilded- Inc Pedifnent on thc sonth end
Is sald 10 De the largest sculptured pediment
IN the world.
The Pantheon makes a conspicuous ap-
pearancc WIN ITS ioity dome ZsZ iect IN
heIght. II was buiit by Louis AIE. Tor
church but 1t was afterwards transformed
into species OF inhdei temple. IL has now
become church again. anu IS caiIea ~. "e-
ne'r'''"'' j. ",,'ei N"o." "s '"o "'''"."
In ITS vaults, soitalre ana rousseau poth lie
! buried, their ashes uhdistnroeh ny tne prayers