The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-09-30
Paris Letter.


PARIS, France, Sept, II, 1889.
For some three months past the Ameri.
can tourists have been surprised to find
the arc de Triomphe surmounted by q
huge scaliolding, and have had to ques.
ton the guardian at the bottom of the
stars, who must slnccla June have given
many thousand answers to the question
."What are they building on the top of the
arc dc Triomphe?" The unfortunate man
who has thus been lnterrOgatcd from
morning till night by visitors from every
cline and with every known kind of for
eign accent, is himself rather vague on
the subject, and usually only volunteers
the information that They are putting up
group of statnary.n When first erected.
the trjumphal arch, with Its rich bas-reliefs
and bold groups of statuary commemora-
tive Of the glOrieS Of the first empire. was
intended to form the basis for a crowning
decoration Of sculptor's work. Various
designs were offered during the first half
Of the century, but most were rejected on
account of their absurdity or want ofstrlk
ing effect. One sculptor wanted to sur.
mount the arch with a bronze eagle Of gi.
gantlc dimensions, using the platform as
perch. Another genius, more patriotic,
wished to see huge France" sitting on
a lion receiving the submission of the
other four Great Powers, including, of
course, England. This plan was discarded
possibly because, even II the pages Of
French historians, no occasion could be
found on which England had to bow down
to her amlable and glory.loving neighbor
NJ. Falguiere 1t is who has at last prevailed
upon the authorities to allow his design to
grace the arc dc TrIomphe. As tar as one
can judge from its present unfinished state
the group will turn out decided success
and an important addition to the many
beauties Of the capital. a group had to be
imagined, therefore, which would look
well from every point Of the cOmpass-a
consideration Of infinitely more import
anCe than the choice of subject. The
design itself consists Of female figure of
France standing erect in Roman chariot
and holding a half lurlcd flag in her left
hand. -Four horses abreast, maiestcally
throwing out their fore legs toward the
front corners OF the arch, draw the car
each outside pair being led by a female
figure Of Progress. In a foreground is q
group representing Liberty overcoming
Official tyranny the back Of the platform
facing the avenue dc la Grand ArmeG be
ing occupied by two allegorlcal groups of
figures illustrating the defense Of the
country. These latter are not yet com.
menced. The figures now erected are of
course only the models serving to show
the general design of the artist, which, If
accepted, Will be definitely carried out IN
bronze. The cast OF the Temporary cree.
tion-horses, figures, and Chariots are in
fact, simply made OF old planks of wood
nailed together, the intervening spaces be
ing lIled IN with wire netting, and the
whole covered with coarse canvas stepped
in liquid plaster, and subsequently painted
brown to represent new bronze. Anything
cheaper than this it would be impossible
to devise; yet the effect is very good, and
the model will fully answer its purpose
Thlrty.iive workmen are employed by VI.
Falguiere, who would have completed his
gigantic tssl- some weeks ago ll. Tor the
stormy wet weather winch at Zines made
work at 5usl IN .,tl,..5 40, only difficult
Ia, very dangerous. When fully exposed
TO view the group Will doubtless encoun-