National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-20
AT VERSAILLES.
THE GREAT PALACE OF FRANCE,
Where the Kings Lived and Died-Marie Antoinette
-Grsnd Salons-The Gallery Of Glass-Aar.
bic Statues-A Splendid Chapel and
Other Interesting Sights.
Special CORRESPONDENTS of THE REPUBLICAN.

to st. Julien. Led by an adventurous spirit, Hugo
| Versailles and his large suite of attendants re-
! turned to Italy and went into combat against the
Moors, and also the Norrnans. They were victori-
Gus, and when they returned to France gave
thanks to St. Julien for the of their arms
They then gave themselves up to the pleasures Of
hunting and roamed through the magnificent for
est, which was yet untouched by the hand
of art The manor of Versailles was after
ward in the possession of Marshal de Le-
omonie, who was agsassinated by De Gondi.
marshal of Retz. To escape being massacred De
Gondi fed to st. Bartholomew, where he was af-
forded protection for a short time, but aSsas-
sinated on the feast day of St. julien, the 18th of
August. In 1924 Lonis XIII, through his architect
Jacques Lemercier, constructed on small hill
lodge or building where they rested in the shade
after their long hunts. Louis XIII. sojourned
portion of each year at Versailles and the rest of
the time remained OF st. Germain. Louis XIV.
was born at st. Germain in 1893. When youth
he often came to the chateau of his father to in
dulge in the pleasures of hunting. In 1864 the
first great theatrical play given at Versailles by
Moliere and his troop 1t was called lies Plaisirs
de File Enchantee" (he pleasures of the en-
chanted isle) In 1875 the great gallery was built
and in 1852 Louis XIV. established his dwelling
at Versailles. The building of the palace was the
work of such great artists as Mansart Lebrun
PHILIPPE de Champagne LIE Honore, and Others
LOUIS XIV. died at Versailles in 11l5.
BEDROOM OF LOUIS XIV.
| This ROOM wherein Louis XIV. slept, and where
he died, preserved in its original state. The por
ton of the where the bed stands is protected
by an iron railing to prevent the too curious from
making personal examination of the bed cover
ing. The hangings and coverings of the bed, which
is high. with q canopy, have become somewhat
dingy and lost much of their former splendor.
| The covering is of crimson velvet, surmounted by
an embroidery of golden tissue There are four
| tapestry curtains in gold, the figures and orna-
ments of which represent the four seasons. The
bed and furniture of the room are the work of ST.
mon Delahel, who was uuIt de chambre to the
| King. He devoted twelve years to the work. The
design of the work is still TO be SEEM 1t represents
| the Goddess of Love surrounded by thousands of
| nymphs. On each side of the bed are two pictures
| one representing the Holy family, the other the
crown prayer desk and other insis mia of the royal
family. The great arcade of the west side is set in
arches; under the arches are seated the figures of
two women holding trumpets i'll their hands.
These arches upheld by pillars of the composite
order. On the other sides is golden wall with a
frame work of roses. 1t was on the balcony under
this chamber that
MARIE ANTOINETTE
appeared before the people on the 9th of October
17S9. She was accompanied by her children when
she appeared upon the balcony The people cried
OUT, we 10 not want the children - and the
Queen bIavely sent them back and stood before
the populace alone. The King and Queen left the
palace that day, since which time the palace has
been uninhabited. The suite of apartments occu-
pied by the Queen still shown to visitors. The
te-chamber of the Queen was designed for the
Jfeinmes de chambre and other servants 1t commu-
nicated with the apartments Of the King, and it
was by this passage that the Queen escaped on Oc-
tober g. 1889. The ceiling of the hall of the guard
of the Queen is adorned with painting repre-
senting Jupiter accompanied by Justice and Peace
The day that the King and Queen fed from the
palace this hall was invaded by people armed
with guns, bayonets, and pixies, shouting Death
to the Queeni" VaricOur, one of the Queens
guards, defended the door of her apartment with
his musquct. He was dsarmed after receiving q
sabre cut upon his hand Durepaire, another
guard, took his place, but
WAS ALSO DIsARMED
third, Miomanche de Sainte Marie opened the
deor of the apartment and cried 10 the women
Save the QueenT He shut the door, and the
Queen took refuge with the King; but he soon
fell victim TO his devotion. In the Queens bath
room the marks on the floor still show where the
bath-tub was taken from, and the walls and cell
ing the pipes and shower bath. This demonstrates
to us that bathroom were known and tired in
France al least in the latter part of the eighteenth
century, although even at this date the houses of
w.
Gas is used in about the same proportion, and the
houses which burn gas in Paris have little pla-
cards fastened on them, similar to those formerly
used by insurance companies in our country with
the word, "GG<." The room wherein the Queen
was wont to rest after the fatigue of the bath is
very pretty room, and has in il handsome set of
furniture i'll golden satin damask. These apart
ments were also occupied by Queen Marie Lcezin-
ska.
SALON DE I'GIL DE BFIF
These words, translated literally, mean hall of |
the beef-eye or ox-eye, but in this connection |!
mean oval, and it was so named from an oval !
window called "Gl de Beuf" which was con- |
structed to let more daylight into the room. Here
the Lords and Princes, who were permitted to at |
tend the King, awaited him. The ornamentation |
of the ceiling of this room is very fine. The |
carvings are of gold, and represent children as
exercising, jumping and running after birds, who
are attacked by ferocious beasts, and sometimes
carried away. Two fountains are supported BY
figures of two young men in bas-relief. The cor I
nces are all golden, and the under part has at in
tervals, medallions, with festoons of flowers and
branches of laurel
SALON DIES PENDULEs
This saloon was one of the particular apartments
of Louis XIV, but was used as q counsel hall by
Louis XIV. In 1749 it took the name of Cabinet of
the Clocks. There is a very fine clock in it. which
was invented by Passemant and executed by Dau-
THAN. This clock is seven feet in height, and
marks regularly the seconds the changes of the
moon and the relative state of the planets the day
the month, and the year. This clock was believed
to have belonged to Louis XVI, but the Versailles
Almanac of 17s6 states that it existed in the time
of Louis XIV, and served to regulate the different
clocks and watches of the place. Another remarka-
BILE astronomical clock in this room was invented
by PasSemant. A clock taken at Algiers in 1880
has five designs of parks upon it-thGt of Com
peigne, Fontainbleau, Saint Germaine, De Marty,
and Versailles. The four upper portions of the
door represent Scion at distance from Athens |
Pythagoras inspired by the MUSES., Lycurgus and
the delegates ofSparta, and Numa and the nymph
Egeria.
THE GRAND GALLERY, OR GALLERY OF GLASS
This nall is very long and lighted by day by sew
enteen windows in arcades looking upon the gar
dens. Opposite to the windows are seventeen mir
rors of plate glass; which reflect all the objects that
are seen through the windows. The windows and
arcades separated by twenty four pillars of the
Corinthian order The pillars are duplicated in
the great pier glasses and before the marble pam
els are placed images of golden bronze The cor
nice is sluced and is surmOunted by paintings of
Victorius and twenty three figures of children
There are two fine marble statues in this gallery
One represents Venus and Minerva, and the other
Paris and Mercury beating two serpents with
stick.
THE CHAPEL
This chapel was built by Louis Kill, but was re-
constructed by Louis XIV. The interior is richly
ornamented. The chief altar is in marble and
golden bronze, the other affairs are beautifully
decorated with bas-relefs by CASTOR, Csypel, and
Lafosse opposite the chief altar is the chief work
Of Gonvenet "the Descent of the Holy Spirit This
chapel has been the scene Of many royal mar
riages. Among them is that of the Duke de Berry,
he young son of Louis XIV, and Mademoiselle
Orleans; the first daughter of Louis " with Don
Philippe, infant of Spain, and the Dauphin Louis
XVI, with the Arch Duchesse Marie Antoinette t