Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-28
NO. 151.
GContinued.J
MI TRIP 10 EUROPE.
SOMETHING Apour PAR,s.


vaded France, he found village Of mud huts
ON small island Of the Seine, about ITO
miles from the ocean. The Romans con-
quered il, though not without hard fighting.
They called the savage tribe that had its
home there the PARISH. They erected 4 PAL
ace and other buildings on the island, and
stationed a tieet in the Seine. The place
grew in Importance. Several Roman en-
perors made il their home. After rssomc
years, it received the name Of Paris, derived
from the name of its original inhabitants.
This island is still in the center Of Paris, and
the cathedral Notre Dame, the Palace Of Jus-
tice, and other buildings are on il. II is con-
nected with the main land, north and south,
BY splendid bridges.
The city gradually extended to both banks
of the river, but was surrounded by walls.
After period il outgrew the limits If the
old walls, and in 1868, they were taken down.
The space which had been occupied by these
walls, which were called bouierayds Cor bull
warks), was laid out into broad avenues.
Hence these avenues took the name Of
- ''boulevards." These avenues were COM
menced in 1870, and others have been con-
structed from time TO time since. Louis Ma
polcon spent vast sums in constructing new
boulevards. They add greatly TO the attrac.
tions and convenience Of Paris. Besidc the
inner boule<ards, occupying the site of the
old walls, there is circle nearly round the
exterior Of the city, called the ''outcr boulc-
wards"
The population is about 1900, 900, and the
city covers space of thirty square miles.
II is surrounded with Notifications, 22 miles
in circumference, and there are 66 gates or
entrances called BARRIERS" some Of them
very handsome.
Amongst the palaces and picture galleries
in Paris, have neglected to mention that
we made visit to the beautiful palace and
gardens called the Luxembourg. II IL so
called because 1t stands on the site of q for
mer palace of the Duke Of Luxembourg.
The present splendid structure was erected
by Marie de Medicis, nearly 800 years ago,
but is now public property. During the rev.
olution. it was used as q prison. AMI has
since been occupied by the French Senate ut
shines. The picture gallery is very extensive
and containes some Of the finest paintiags Of
modern French artists. The gardens have
several beautiful fountains and numerous tine
statues, especially of celebrated French wo.
men.
TnE LOUVRE.
This magnificent building was erected for
a royal palace about 1900, but was not CON-
plete till the reign Of the FIRST Napoleon. Il
surrounds a square or quadrangle, and Il now
occupied by series of museums of paint
ing, statuary and antiquities. The paintings
number nearly 2,0o0, and comprise many
Of the finest works Of the old masters, as
well as rare modern French paintings. With
friend. spent large part of to-day in
viewing these art treasures. To do Justice
to them, would require weeks a. d morths of
time, knowledge Of art, and power Of
discrimination, neither Of which possess. I
could not. however, fail to observe that there
are many very beautiful paintings in the
Louvre One of the ''holy family, Joseph and
Mary and Jesus, with John the Baptist and his
mother, was very much admired by the most
of our party. One that interested me much,
was that Of young girl apparently Just dead
her head resting in the arms Of an aged man
and young, athletic man sitting at her feet
bowed in grief, whilst heavenly light from
the cross absve irradiated her features. The
Apollo gallery Of statuary was beautiful be-
yond description. The Antiquities were nu-
mcrous. quaint, and many Of them hideous.
There were some 20 artistic. male and female,
scattered through the galleries copying pic
lures. Some of them were making very fne
copies, one or two I thought equal 70 the
originals. We walked and gaxed urtil our
time and our strength failed, and then reluc-
family left
MORNINGS IN PARIS.
| did not neglect to take advantage of the
delightful mornings, to enjoy an early stroll
in the streets and amongst the fine bu.klings
near our hotel. There were numerous stalls
on the sidewalks where Paris newspapers
we're for sale in the morning, and I could but
notice that the passers-by, young - well ~
old, supplied themselves with papers, and
most of them cheap radical sheets. The
daily newspapers constitute school Of re-
publicanism. Passing aloDg few blocks,
would reach the Louvre. and also the Tuil-
leries, another immense palace, partially In
ruins since the siege Of the Commune. This
palace was called Tuilleries from the fact
that its site was formerly field where tiles
were manufactured. 1t was commenced about
800 years ago, but was finished by Louis XIV.
| II is about 1000 feet in length, and over 100
feet wide. 1t has ever been . fsvoriee resi-
dence Of the kings and emperors. West Of
il is large and beautiful public garden, with
fountains, statues, &c. A smaller one OK .
cupies the space between II and the Louvre.
The river Seine flows along the south front
of both palaces. The Rue Rivoli extends
along the north front. East Of the Louvre,
| 10 the church Of St. Germain rAuxefrois.
from whose belfry tolled at midnight the
mournful signal for the bloody massacre Of
st. Bartholomew on the 24th u august,
1879, when murder was let loose, and d;30. .OcO
Protestants of all ranks, ages and sexes per-
ished at the hands Of their Catholic neigh
bors.
Looking upon this peaceful seem, these
lofty and splendid palaces. these lovely gar
dens and squares, these delightful avenues
and handsome bridges, and the calm stsd gen.
tie flow Of the charming river, ons SOrgets
that this city. now 80 serene and besutifnl,
has 80 often been stained with blood. Be-
sieged and taken BY the Romans, by the
Franks, by the English. aDd asain BY the
French, it has suffered by civil and religious
csnnicts, by the massacre already mentioned.
By the great revelation which OvessAsew III
monarchy, and by suhsequent vsoloae chm.
lges, coup Fe5ats and basrieades, down - III
lGerman siege and the insane war Of the Con
lmune. Bat Paris has survived 1hem I'll IN
il more besntifhl than esefS poGtass u
most attractive city in the world TIE line
Of Woodwork aptly apply -