National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-20

and one by one they slipped out, and were soon
initiated by the courtieB. When assured that
| they had departed, Brissac returned with the
guard, and soon after the King appeared. Look
ing around the chapel and seeing in it only two or
three ladies, who were really and truly pious, he
asked where his court was. Brissac then ex-
planned the proof that he had put the piety of the
ladies and courtiers to. The King laughed heartily
| at his officers sasacity.
THE PAINTINGS, sTATUARY, BUsTS
There fourteen rooms in this palace devoted to
portraits in oil of all the marshals of France. One
of these Uric Fred Waldemar, bears a striking
resemblance to George Washington. In the gal
lery of battles is painting representing the taking
of Yorktown, October 17S1. GeReral Washington
and General Rochambeau are standing outside OF
their tents, and Washington is giving orders for
the attack on Yorktown. In the Salon du Sacre
is picture of the coronation of the Empress
Josephine in the Church of Notre Dame, Paris, in
1904. In this same room is sculptured
IN MARBLE, LIFE SIZE,
seated in a chair with a newspaper in his lap,
Napoleon 1. The expression of calm repose upon
his features is almost life like; the paper lies in
his lap apparently just as it has slipped from his
hand, while he seemingly unmindful of it, is en-
crossed in deep thought. 1t is probably one of the
best sculptures of Napoleon /. in existence. There
are several paintings of him here representing him
from his earliest youth until maturer years. In
one of the rooms is excellent bust of George
Washington. In the saloon of the Kings OF
France paintings of all the EmperorS of France
from Clovis l. to Napoleon Ill. There are 152 diff
ferent saloons and vestbules in the palace, oil Of
which are filled with paintings, statuary, and
bronzes of the best artists of the French and
Italian schools There is also some admirably
executed tapestry. A portrait of Louis XIV. is so
artistically worked that an unskilled eye could
not detect it from an oil painting.
THE GARDENS.
The gardens of Versailles are very beautiful and
deserve more than passing notice. Even at the
time of year when the fountains have ceased to
play, the trees leafess and bare, and the birds
fed to warmer shores, there fingers a charm about
them which awakens the warmer emotions of the
heart There are eighteen fountains, the basins
of which are adorned with fine sculpture, mostly
reclining figures The fountain of Apollo is par
ticularly beautiful; it is surrounded by grove
with winding paths, which lead 10 picturesque
artificial rock. This is the entranceinto a deep
grotto, where falls sheet of water in cascades
into basin which seems to be cut into the rock.
At the entrance of this grotto is the figure of
Apollo, surrounded by Thetis and the nymphs
of the ocean The basin Of the dragon is also very
fine. The middle of it is occupied by the dragon
and the serpent Python with dOlphins and swans
The basin OF Neptune is perhaps the most remarka-
bic of all. Near the marble sides are placed the
pipes or vases which throw out q large number of
water-jetS. Three groups ornament the wall
which forms the highest side of the basin. The
centre represents Adam, the next Neptune and
Amphitryon
SEATED IN A SEA-SHELL,
drawn by horses and marine monsters, who throw
out great quantity of water. The other group
is the ocean, father of rivers; one of the groups
Lemoine the other Protee, his son, and BOuchar-
don. On each side are two dragons spOuting
water; in the middle OF the path which sur
rounds the basin a group which represents the
writing of the history of Louis XIV; two statues
complete the Ornamentaton, one of Bennice and
the other of Faustine The palace consists of two
wings, reaching forward, and an upright post
The entrance is through paved court so that all
of the windows of the palace except the 'front.'
look into these beautiful gardens. In summer the
fountains play only on Sunday; but on Sunday
crowds of people come from Paris and the sur
rounding country to gaze upon the wonders of the
hydraulic art, to rest in the tranquil shade TO
feast upon the beauties of nature and artistic
skill, unmindful if not forgetful of the scenes of
royal splendor and magnifcence which here trans
pired nearly century ago. L.