The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-02-23
LETTER FROM W. B. GOsEWIsOH.


EDITOR INTELLIGENCER:- city
covers an area of nearly thirty square
miles and contains population of g.
500, 900 souls. Its defense is provided for
by an elaborate system of fortlficstions
and by a garrison of nearly $4,000 men.
The construction of the Notifications
began in 1o40, and was completed
within five years, at cost of 1928, 8,0o0,-
600. The approaches to the city are
also commanded by seventeen "Forts
Detaches" at different distances from
the city, up to a maximum of two
miles. A second line of forts at a
greater distance from the ramparts has
also been constructed on the heights
commanding the valley of the Seine.
The area included within this elaborate
system of Notifications is said to be
400 square miles in extent, and beside
the capitol itself embraces the seven
towns of Versailles, Saint Denis,
Sceaux, etc. You are at once struck
by the imposing effect produced by the
city as whole. and by the width,
straightness and admirable condition
OF the principal streets. Picturesque
ness has doubtless been greatly sacri-
ticed i'll the wholesale removal of the
older buildings, but the superior con-
veDience and utility OF its spacious
thoroughfares is easily appreciated, and
the amount of traffic in them proves
that their construction was matter oi
almost absolute necessity.
The central quarters of the city are
remarkably bustling and animated, but
owing to The ample breadth of the new
streets and boulevards and the fact that
many of them are paved with asphaIte
or wood, Paris is net very noisy. The
modern business and fashion of this
city are chiefly confined to the quarters
OH the right bank of the Seine, which
contains the principal boulevards, the
most spacious squares, noble avenues
palatial edifices, handsomest streets and
the most attractive stores, cafes and
restaurants in the city. Here too, are
situated the most important theaters
the bourse, the bank, the PaIais Royal
the Hotel de Vile, etc., here also were
the Tuileries, ,once the seat of the court
but now entirely demolished, anC
which were the great centers around
which the whole OF modern French
history has been enacted; in the same
region of the city is the Louvre, con
taining the greatest art collection il
France.
The Place de la Bastille was formerly
a. IS a.. -
castle which was left standing when
the boulevards were levelled in 1910
This stronghold was erected in 1871
by Charles V, and was afterward usec
as state prison, chiefly for the con.
tinement of persons of rank who hat
fallen victims to the intrigues of the
court or the caprice of the government
and attained world wide celebrity il
consequence OF its destruction in 1899
in the beginning of the French revolu
ton. A model of the Bastille had fol
years been preserved in the museum
but was taken by the Marquis de La
Fayette to America, and presented tt
General Washington, some years befor,
the castle was destroyed. On his re
turn to America in 1925, Lafayette
took along The old key OF the Bastill'
to keep company with the model. The,
are both to be seen at Mount Vernon
the model on table and the large ke,
hanging near it Oh the wall. The castl,
was composed of eight heavy sombr'
towers whose walls were ten feet il
thickness. II stood just at the entrance
OF the city, which the cannon on il
| baltlements commanded. 1t formed &
standing emblem of despotic powe
under the old monarchy and presented
a formidable barrier to the advancing
| tide of the revolution. The popular de
| sire tor Independence, therefore, frs
raised the cry which speedily resouud
ed throughout the whole of Paris
down with the Bastille |! !Notwithstand
| ing the moats, the walls and the gun
with which the castle was defended
| the execution of the scheme seems I,
have presented no great difficulty. Th'
| garrison was said to consist of but l5t
men, and one-third of these were in
valides; their provisions consisted of
couple OF sacks of -four; they were un
able to prevent the s,oppage of tbei
supply OF water, and all hope of ali
from without was cut off. From th
suburbs never ending multitude o
armed men came toward the entrance
and from the city came several com
panies of regiments which had goh
over to the revolution, headed by tn
! French guards. DeLaunay, the com
mandant, however, refused to capitu
late, and the struggle began. a NUN
ber of citIzeus, with reckless bravery
succeeded in cutting the chains of tn
awbridge, and the first court of tn
castle was speedily taken, but to tn
excessive evaporation of the assalant
their attack on the second court wa
repulscd with great loss. The courag
of the garrison was now exhausted
The invaides desired to capitulate, an
DeLaunay, who had been prevented b
his officers from blowing up the cast
and its inmates. let down the secon
bridge on being promised a free re
treat. The victorious crowd immedis
tely poured into the ancient buildin.
some of them enthusiastic in the caus
of Liberty, others bent on murder an
destruction. The lives of the garriso
were now in great jeopardy. TT
French guards succeeded with gre,
difficulty in saving the common sol
di, rs but DeLaunay and his uaicers,
suIs of the long aud heroic. attamn