Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-16
The Tuileries Demolished.

Paris has always been proud, and
justly SO, of her stately public monu-
ments. She owes, indeed, her beauty
largely to her noble palaces, her vast
public offices, her lofty columns and
arches, and her imposing churches and
when, in 1871, the news went round
the world that many of these ediices
had been consigned by the reckless
Communists to the fl .mes, every one
who had ever seen Paris shuddered to
think how her beauty must thus have
been marred.
Among the buildings thus burned
was the ancient palace of the Tuileries,
the residence of the sovereigns OF
France for several centuries. After it
had been burned, only it's gaunt and
blackened walls renamed and SO it
has stood, u gloomy and maj sstic ruin,
and Il symbol of CJmmunistlc violence,
from that day to this.
What to do with this ruin LAS been a
question with the new government of
France. Should it be rebuilt, and re
main rs historic monument of the
past, aud as central adornment Of the
city /; or should it be torn down and
give place to u handsome park?
Its fate has now been decided by the
Chambers. Tue Tuileries is to wholly
disappear. 1t will, henceforth, be u
dun memory AMI the site where it has
stood will bloom with flowers, sparkle
with fountains, aud be bright with
smooth green lawns.
One cannot think of this decision
without regret. The Tuileries has
, 1t 'od through many revolutions aud
COMMISSIONS. Though the palace Was
entered AMI mutllated by the mob III
the first revolution, who there insulted
tnl almost murdered Louis XIV. and
VI ,rie Antoinette, 1t never seems to
nave occurred to those fierce spirits to
destroy the ancient edilice and after
wards. the first Republic took care to
pur 1t aud put it in order again
Tue mob oNce more invaded the iull-
cries IN 1889, AN third time in 1913 /;
bat still they left it Standing, aud It's
dome iooXed proudly over the R-pub
llcan as 1t had over the monarcnlcal
city.
Ih5 same Commune which burned
tue fulleries III 1871 also pulled down
the Z Iumn Vendume, which had been
reared to celebrate the victories of the
first Napoleon. But the Assembly re-
erected 1T, and it now stands Just where
it did before. Why should the Col
umn VendOme be- restored, while tho
Tulleries is doomed ?
1t is because the Republicans, who
now control the government, See III the
Tuileries monument OF royalty and
Of long periods Of oppression aud tyr
amy.
What memories the very name of
this ancient palace calls upl Since
three centuries ago, when factory Of
tiles stood on the spot tue name
- InilerIcs" means tile-factury
what scenes OF state and ceremony,
what brilliant assemblages, what ro
mances of royal life, what grave decis-
ions OF state, what secret councils, what
dark intrigues, the old editice has wit
nesse..! What gorgeous feastirgs,
what somber tragedies have taken
place within its walls!
The first to reign there was the Gu u
ming and cruel Catherine de Medlcis
the royal prisoner, she who instigated
the fiigutful massacre OF Saint BArthol.
omew III its very chambers, and wit
messed the carnage from its windows.
rhere lived brave Henry of Navarro,
and the magnificent Louis XVI, anu
the pleasure-loving fifteenth Louis.
Tue last to inbabit the Tuileries Was
Napoleon I'LL, who there entertained
czArs, sultans, and emperors, and held
u court not less splendid than any
monarch who had lived there before
him.
All these times of royal magnificence
have, perhaps, passed away in France.
The Republic, in all its democratic
simplicity, reigns, and will. perhaps,
long reign, and the Tuileries will no
longer oe there to remind people of
what has been.