The Republican journal., 1886-12-02

even If just We had visited and studied MANY
of the notable royal palaces on the Continent;
we had taken for granted that Versailles eclips-
ed them all and We're disappointed. 1t is ap-
parent that much of the grandeur of the time
of Louis XIV. has been lost. At that period
no one can doubt who reads, that for lavish cX-
penditurc for everything possible that could
make the life of one man merry, and debauch-
cry in every form, the world has never seen a
parallel. Most of the higl-handed rcvelry of
the reign of this monarch and of bis successors
Louis Nv and Louis NNI., centred at Ner-
Salles. One can but speculate as he wandcrs
through the bare, palatial rooms, as to the
amount of bliss and misery these mute walls
have seen. If walls could talk these would
make prime witnesses. At the time of our ys-
it there we're many signs of the late war with
Prussia. In fact the palace was made the head
quarters of the Germans during the siege of
Paris and it was here that the King of Prussia
was proclaimed emperor of Germany, JAN Is,
ISL The capituation of the city was conclutl-
ed here ten days afterward and the treaty Of
peace during the following month"; when the
seat of government was removed hther from
Bordeaux, where il had been transferred for
the time being.
The museums and galleries of paintings and
art are of vast extent. Though the paintings
shown here do not equal those of the Louvre
and Luxembourg galleries in the city, still there
are many remarkable figures on canvas here
About every one of the eminent French artists
arc represented but their best efforts are else
where. The writer took particular notice of
the famlllar countenance of George Washing
ton in different stages of his life. In those
early days the French were our stcadfast
friends and are seemingly no les so now. The
French painters have strange passion for por-
trayhg nature,-eSpecialiy human naturc,--in
its most perfect forms. Sprinkle, here and
there, in nearly every room, We're figures of fe-
male beauties, in somewhat Scant attire, It's
true, but nature as true as the painters brush
could make it 50. Very many of their finest
tcnnial Exposition in 1876. but We're not shown
to the public, on moral considerations. This
action of the authorities in charge cannot be
questioned when the diSSmiIar ideas and tastes
of the two nations a"e taken into account. Af-
ter rather curSory inspection of the art cal
cricS and portions of the palace open to visit
orS.-which must be seen as duty,-we stroll
ed into the grounds adjoining, where the in
spring strains of military band suggested we
should find company. The special cndcayors
of all the monarchS after Louis NV. rp to the
time of the Revolution, We're directed toward
beautifying these grounds. No whim of a de-
siSner or caprice of an architect, however sin
guar. was left ungratiied. Flowers. shrubs
and trees were brought from the ends of the
earth that their loveliness might help to PAM
per to the taste of royalty. Gardeners and
florists of the most experience were procured;
no expense was spared at any point where the
least bcautifying effect could be produced
Since the Republic, almost the same devotion
to this park has been in>tcd into the members
of the assembly and liberal appropriations for
keeping up its ma@niticencc have not been
wanting. In latter years about four hundred
men have been employed in different depart
mcntS. There are Not adjectiycs to describe
the beauties Of this spot; that they are unSur-
passed i'll the world is well known; that they
ever can or will b. is barely possible but not
prcsunabG. The attention is always drawn at
first to the flowers which are on every hand
and iii every shape Fortunatc indeed. are
those who have this for Il sunday pleasure
ground. 1t must educate the people to a sense
of the beautiful in nature. however uurcned
and crude they are Whatever tends to elevate
single persons mind from degrading thoughts
to the sweet beauties which even simple flow
erS possess, tends to elevate the human race bv
just much.
The sun was beating iercrlv down and the
shady avenues tempted us The band near by
played at interYals,-onc of the Government
bands, as we learned; children, with their
nurses, straycd about people of every grade Of
station passed and re-passcd. taking keen en-
joymcnt of the day and situation At three
O'Clock the grand fountains were turned on ac-
rording to custom; these fountains which are
i'll a sense tie greatest attraction of Versailles
play every pleasant sunday. but several of the
largest are used only on the first Sunday of the
summer months. The avenues extend in every
direction and intermingle with each other at all
points. Notwithstanding there are thousands
OF people in the park one can Frequently wan
der a long distance without seeing single per
son. l'hi> fits it perfectly for loyer-lke stroll
ers who care for no company but their own.
Refreshment stands are placed at intervals, but
no intoNicantS can be procured; nor are drunk
Ell persons allowed in or near the park, and the
French are far from being Prohbitionists. So
the day quietly and happily passed. 1t is no
wild stretch of the imagination to fancy all this
Il dream of heaven; with the soft rlStlng of
the trees, the mUrmur of music in the distance
and the bright flowers on every side and these
hardly brighter than tAc faces seen about us.
1t is Il painting that can he seen only III nature
never on canvas. 50 passed the day. and as
evening approached we betook ourselves to the
return train with the satisfaction of day well
spent Darkness had begun to creep on and
the inner man manifested an unmistakablc
yearnin@ for table d'hote, when the brilliant
lights Of Paris came into view T.