Connecticut western news., 1885-05-06
PARIS TO LONDON.
WRITTEN FOR THE CONNECTICUT WESTERN
 NRws.


 we lat but glimpse of Paris after all. There was very much to see and to us 1t was necessarily muhum iN parro; yet we rode through all the principal streets and thns gained general idea of the plan and chief buildings of the city, its principal arches, columns, gardens and statues. We visited the Jardin des Plantes and were glad to see the prom ise of the sprlng fulfilled by the peach trees, hyacinths and daisies blooming in the open air. A winding path in the Labrinthe leads up 8 tree-covered knoll, from which one has beautiful view of Paris. Among the trees is a magnificent Cedar of Lebanon 150 years old.
 One might pass many days in seeing the treasures of art in the Louvre. This fine old palace makes 8 magnificent pie ture gallery. and gives regal setting for the noted works of the early mas- ters.
 Among the many fine churches Notre Dame is of greatest note. This ca thedral is situated on the He de Ia Cite, one of the two large islands in the Seine, where it passes through the heart of the city. Notre Dame was founded in 1163 on the site of church Of the fourth century. It has had strange vicissitudes through the revolutions and was at one time changed into ''temple of reason. !" In 1871 the Communists used it as Q military depot. It was set on fire, but fortunately escaped with little damage. Its stained glass windows are beautiful. The fose-window is 42 feet in diameter. The two towers are 223 feet in height. The bell hanging in one of these tow CTS weighs Is tons.
 La Madeleine is more modern church, built of stone, without windows. and in the form of Greek temple. It is sur rounded by 50 massive Corinthian col umns. Thirty-four statues of saints adorn the inches in the colonnade.
 The new opera house of Paris is the largest theater in the world and covers an area of nearly three acres; yet the opera house of Vienna will seat 8 larger audience. Both these opera houses are highly ornamented and of great mag nifcence. The cost of the Paris opera house was nearly $1O, ,OOO,O 900.
 The Palais du Trocadero is & large and imposing building, built in the form of 8 crescent. It has dome and two minarets' It commands beautiful view of the river and city. It is built on an eminence, from which terraces adorned with fountains and statues lead to the river. Beyond the Seine is the Field of Mars, where the great exhibi- ton of 1867 was held. In 1878 the heights of the Trocadero were added to the exhibition grounds. Near the Field of Mars is the Hotel des Invalides. Be. hind thls hospital is its church witl it's conspicuous gilded dome 344 feet ir height. In an open, circular crypt be. meath this dome rests inc body of Ma poleon the Great. Above the entrance are words from his will, which translat ed mean 'I desire that my ashes repose on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of that French people whom have loved so we'll.
 About 12 miles from Paris are the beautiful Palace and park of Versailles The scenery on the way is charmingly diversified by river. islands, forests, parks and villages. Versailles is vii lage of about 5O, 1000 inhabitants. Louis XIV made here his palace and park at cost of $2OO, 100000. It is said that at one time 36, 900 men and 5000 horses were employed on it's terraces, roads and aqueducts. It is no wonder that Vol. taire called the town an "abysm of ex pcnditures. In the time of Louis XVI this palace was sacked by Parisian mob, which included thousands of wo. men. Louis Philippe restored the pal ace and converted part of it into his torical picture gallery. To-day one car go through so many ornamented rooms that there seems to be no end to them and read as he goes, in order of time the history of France written in the oil paintings which adorn the walls Among the pictures of noted historical scenes are "Cbarlemagne crossing the Alps in 773," Campaigns of Louis XIV, .'Scenes from the Seven Years War, 2 Campaigns of Napoleon the Great, , Napoleon at the tomb of Frederick the Great in Potsdam, in 18O6." There are rooms filled with portraits and many long corridors filled with statues of the sovereigns and noted men of France. From the Grande Gallerie fine view oi the garden and it's fountains may be gained from the IT large, arched win. dows. The facade of the palace tow. ards the garden is 8 quarter of mile in length. The garden itself is perfectly charming, with it's walks, Aower-beds, fountains. parks and statuary; yet many of the beautiful marble statues are Hardened with the weather marks of years. The bedroom is shown where Louis XV died in 1774. The room and richly adorned bed of Louis XIV are also showE. One may see also the small Ter rooms of the unfortunate Marie An tuinette.
 
 In the Salle du Sacre de Napoleon there arc large paintings of the 'sCoro- nation of Napoleon and Josephine in