Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-21
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the room b quite dark. We ascended t. the
upper one by narrow winding stair. Here
the whole dome was Of stained glass, light.
ing up the chapel with dim religious light
- the poet describes it. This dome was so
exposed during the siege Of Paris, that they
could save It only by covering it deeply with
an immense pile of sandbAgs. This is called
Sainte Chapelle, the holy chapel; but not
withstanding its sanctity, services are held in
The courts and the lawyers only attend.
Whether they are not in need of many pray
crs, or whether they cannot be induced TO at
tend many, let the reader decide.
In all the churches we visited, except this
and the Pantheon. services were going on.
There was much ceremonial, very fine sing
ing, especially the trained boy choirs, much
kneeling and apparent devotion. Let US hope
That II was real.
HoTEL DIES ISvALIDEs.
This is . house or hospital for disabled
soldiers. 1t is of great extent, and will ac-
commodate 5000 inmates. but at present has
about 1900. They. wear blue uniform and
cooked hat. The building is one Of the
finest in the city. The dome Is very high,
the summit Of the cross being 323 feet from
the ground. Mansard il said to have been
thirty years building the dome, which is rich
ly scnlptured and gilded. The interior of
the church or chapel connected with the hos
pital is beautiful and deliberately ornamentcd.
The high altar facing the entrance is sur
mounted with canopy supported by four
black marble columns each 22 feet high.
When we visited it, services were being
performed, which appeared to be partly re-
ligious and partly military. The drum and
fife sounded out part Of the music in the in
Ia <xF
diers were present in uniform, and at the
word of command marched and counter
marched, and exercised with their arms. 1t
must be confessed that the performance was
not exactly consistent with our ideas Of dovo-
ton.
The tomb of Napoleon is in the centre Of
the church and directly under the great dome
Il is very magnificent. The sarcOphagus
If the emperor is Of polished red sand
stone, and is said to weigh - tons. The
whole tomb is highly ornamented, and a
lamp pcrpetually burning stands before a
statue Of Napoleon in a niche of black mar
bic.
The ARCH or TRIUMPH.
The Arch of Triumph is one of the grand
est and most interesting of the public works
in Paris. II stands on elevated ground in
the Place de FEtoile, (the starr so called
because from this point twelve boulevards
and avenues diverge. like the rays Of a star.
1t was commenced by Napoleon in 1906, but
was not finished before his overthrow. In
fact, it is hardly completed yet, for it was to
be surmountcd by statue Of Napoleon, but
neither that nor any other statue crowns the
arch. 1t is IGl feet high, l45 feet wide. and
40 feet deep The central arch is ~ feet
high and 45 wide There are smaller side
arches facing to the right and left. Each
face is adorned with sculptures representing
scenes Of war and peace and especially Ma
polcons victories. The names of Napo-
Icons generals and marslials are sculptured
on the columns Cf the arch, and also the
names Of his principal successful battle
fields.
Our party assembled the (nearly 300 steps
which led to the summit of the arch, thro' a
winding passage in one of the massive col
umns. Here we obtained a view not only of
the immediate surroundings in this one of the
finest parts Of the city, but of all Paris and
its environs, such as could scarcely be found
ut any other point of observation. Some of
the magnificent boulevartls starting from this
place extend three miles from the arch in a
direct line, intersected of course by multtudes
of cross streets. These wide boulevards and
avenues, 4fanked by colonades of trees, con
tribute wonderfully to the beauty Of Paris.
After spending perhaps half an hour gazing
at the charming scenes which surrounded u.s.
we descended by another winding passage to
the foot Of the arch.
Napoleon projected this remarkable me
mortal Of his successful wars, doubtless ex-
pecting that his statue would crown it, and
make it complete, and thus perpetuate his
glory to coming generations. 1t is not there.
1t never will be there. But one can hardly
draw moral from this fact. for Paris is full
Of mementocs of his brilliant And eventfu
career.
The Arch Of Triumph was protected during
the siege of Paris by piles of sandbags which
preserved 1t from being materially damaged.
1t is said to be the largest triumphal arch in
the world. May it ever remain so, The
world has nearly outgrown castles and
cathedrals. 1t Is time to pause in the wor-
ship Of heroes and eonquerors. and cease
building memorials of bloody conquests 1t
will be a happy hour when Whitter's vision
is fulfilled, and ''thc nations learn war no
more"
Ger swarded mounds cattle craze,
Where frowned the fort, pavilions gay
And cottage windows. hower.entwiued,
Look out uron the peaceful bay
And hills behiud."