The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-10-20
NAPoLEoN's TOMB.

khC AQA4ONtttk ID HE t2Sk lCkkCI NU tnC Al0~ nati Safs,day NIgAt.;
 The tombs of great men have been ob- jects of pilgrimage and adoration from time immemorial. As their living pres enoe and actuality impressed themselves upon all who came within the magic circle of their influence. so do their very bones seem 10 inspire venerz,ion and ave- With regard 10 the tomb of Napoleon, art has done all in its power to heighten and expand these sentiments. No one could be shown the grave of the great 1 captain, even were it no more than a simple mound, unmarked, in the moa humble corner of the obscurest cemetery in France, without profound emotion. Judge, then, how greatly this feeling is augmented when one visits the grand mausoleum where his remains actually repose. Napoleon doubtless anticipated some monument like this when, at St. Helena, he wrote this clause in his will :: :" desire that my ashes repose on the banks of the Seine, among the French people whom l have so much loved :'' words. by the way, that are now inscribed mos, ii,tlngly above the portals of his tomb. He knew this same French people well. and he knew the day would come when they would recognize him as the representative and embodiment of French glory and renown.
 II IS hardly necessary 10 inform any body that Napoleon's tomb is located beneath he dome of the Hotel des h. valides, "n the south side of the Seine. or thai ;his hotel was founded by Louis AlA ssme two hundred years ago as a comfortable retreat for old. sick and dis abled soldiers. The dome is a part of the church of the lnvalides. which is a square pile IQS fee, in breadth. The dome is S6 feet in diameter and it's gilded exterior IS one Of the most conspicuous objects in Paris. The cross upon the summit of the dome is S44 fee, above terra nrma. IL IS said tha, the parisans are always home-sick and unhappy when they cannot see the gilded dome of the invalides. Its glitter seems to be neees- sary 10 their continued existence.
 Napoleon's tomb is an open circular cryp, 70 feet in depth and S feet in diam eter, the walls of granite slabs highly pol lshed and adorned with marble reliefs. symbols of the emperor's victories. and annals oi his reign. From the mosaic pavement which represents ! wreath ot iaufeis. rises the sarcophagus, |, feet long. i-c feet wide. and l., r., feet high. II consists of single huge block of granite, reddish brown in color, which was brought from Finland. It weighs G. tons. l, IS said that the archltec, of the Emperor Of Russia was the hrst to em- ploy this granite. which is imperishable in its nature, and that from t he con- s;ruc,ed the temple of Sain, Isaac. a, St. fetersburgh. Above the crypt the interior ot the dome rises 10 the height of i6o feet which. with it's lofty supporting columns 1 and mural decorations, illuminated by faint blush light, enhances the solemn grandeur of the scene. Chapels on each sade of the tomb contain the tombs of Jerome and Joseph Bonapar,e, brothers of the emperor, one King of Westphalia and the other King of Spain. Descend ing 10 ,he entrance of the cryp, you find II iianked by two sarcophagi. bearing the names oi Marshals Duroc and Bertrand. the emperors 5 faithful friends. The former fell al the battle of Bar,zen. in 1915: the latter. who died in lSi4. was \apoleons constan, companion through ou, his wars and captivity. His pub lished memoirs of the emperor's life al St. Helena are among the most interest," ing and reliable records of the noted exile. Bertrand followed the remains of his fallen chief to their present resting pace when they were trough; from S,. Helena by Prince loinville in iS4o. Two lofty chapels each side of the cryp, contain the monuments of Nauban and Iurenne. overheard a Ia, and fussy American lady tell her daughter. in a hoarse whisper, ",hem's more of Napol con $ generals but as Nauban died in i-o- and the latter in i6-s. ,ha, was hardly possible. Turenne was a French marshal. killed al the battle of Sassbaoh. by cannon ball, which is preserved in the lnvaldes in a glass case
 On each side of the gate leading into the crypt IS a colossal brass statue. one holding in h,s hands on a cushion the globe. the other the imperial scepter. Formerly ;he public were allowed 10 en- ter this gate. but i, Is closed to them now. Amercans had fancy for cutting pieces ou; of the battle flags that hang there. as souvenirs a guide explained. All vandalism of that sort is laid al the door of my relic-huniing coun,rymen, l md. Ihis same guide told me that once. after having escorted party of Ameri- cans through the ancient church of St. Denis, where there is so much buried royalty and so many monuments to de- eayed greatness, a couple of gensd 'armes a~oke hlm in his bed that night, in a state of great excitement. informing him that one of his party of tha, day had broken on and carried away d finger of the statue of Marie An,oinette. a, S,. Denis. They seemed disposed to hold the poor guide responsible for the finger. more particularly on account of his being an American himself. They conten,ed themselves, however. by taking the names and addresses of the party. ventured to express hope that they were no, guilty as charged in the indictment, for the credit of my country people, and was much graiihed when he assured me they were not. They were innocent sad the guide. but another American party did commit ,he ,h ef- Then ,,,,. sr;x:,s