Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-08
WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT
sBTygD BY BELLE MEADE SMITH.
The Battle of Paris.

1Re ht0ttse Oh Paris
One day last week l had to hoOor to
be the first lady who viewed the Battle
oi Paris. called ct the building on
business, and without the least idea
of the pleasure that was in store for
me; SO that when Mr.. Arms, who is
preparing the exhibit for public gaze,
invited me up upon the housetop
which overlooks the scene, was both
surprised and bewildered. Words
fail to depict the grandeur of the
spectacle thus presented. The pano-
rama is the work OF the fa-
nous artist Mr.. Felix Philip
poteaux, and depicts in realistic
manner the most remarkable seige
the world ever knew. The fierce and
conclusive struggle OF the 10th Of Jan
uary, 1871, is the subject of the pict-
tire, wherein is portrayed all of the
salient features Of the loss, the de-
struction and the carnage OF that ter
rible day. For four months previous
TO the dsaouement the capital had
been the theater of the German
rapine which had set it apart as the
grand point of attack, while the &C.
verify of the winter and famine of
food and fuel had reduced the Pari-
slams to state OF desperation. Still
the men were dauntless, and even the
women and children were ready to
brave all hardships rather than yield.
All that valiant and devoted people
could do to keep the enemy at dis
tance was done. The quarries were
filed up Or defended by mounds of
earth. The houses which might in
any way tend to interfere with The de-
fense were torn down and the bridges
and woods were consumed. Mean
while, the military we're reinforced by
companies gathered together from the
municipal departments, tie Seine
boats, the omnibusses and the
railway companies. During the
night and in the vivid glare
Of the electric lights, the work
was carried on by 20, 900 fearless and
enthusiastic workmen. But the Ger
mans were too numerous and tso
powerful to be resisted by tho in.
trepid sons Of Foltaire and the French
revolution, and at midnight on the
26sh of January, the Government was
compelled to agree to truce, in con-
sequence OF which firing upon both
sides was suspended. During the last
month OF the seige there were more
than 200 600 balls hurled by the Ger
mans, 10000 of which were received
by ii e fort Of Issy. The picture re-
cords the supreme moment OF the bat
tie as it tappears from the housetop upon
which the spectator is placed to Wow
it. In one direction can be seen the
smoke as it rises from the burning
tower of st. Cloud. in another the for
est OF st. German; while at differ
ent angle are visible the slopes of
Mount Valerien covered with the
troops which are responding to this
fire of the Prussians. The Arc de
Triomphe, the churches of st. Angus
tine, the Hotel des Invalides, Ste.
Oiotilde, St. Sulpice, Ste. Genevieve,
Notre Dame, and the Grand Opera
as we'll as the Forts of Bicetra, Mon
trouge, Vanvers and Issy all stand out
in hold relief. These edifices are the
historic landmarks OF the panorama,
but 1t Is the water frozen in the Seine,
the window-panes shattered by the
soldiers crouching in ambush, and the
dead and dying being carried off by
their comrades which serve to create
a scene the details OF which may
escape the recollection, but the gen.
eral impression OF which can never
be effaeed. In New York, New Or
leans and other large cities OF the
Union the Battle of Paris has been
pronounced success. so there is no
doubt that in appreciativa Los Ange-
les it will receive the applause and the
support il so we'll deserves.