Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-28
srRoLLrNa rHRouan PARIS.


PANS, Oct. 25.-Ihe most interesting
trip in the vicinity Of Paris is to the
royal palaceg Of st. Oloud and Versailles.
II was bright, warm, sunshiny day
when I embarked on one of the small
river steamers (about the size OF the Will
mington) al the pier in front of the
Louvre. The river is clear and pure as q
mountain lake, thanks to the most per-
feet system of sewers in the world. All
drainage from the city enters the river
several miles below the walls. Many
floating lighthouses are situated along
the banks, in the heart OF the city, and
are well patronized. The river banks are
neatly enclosed by massive walls OF
dressed stone for its whole course through
the city, eight or nine miles. There Is no
traffic on the stream beyond few canal
barges carrying coal, wood, charcoal,
stone, brick, cement, lime and sand.
From the Louvre, going westward we
passed under eight fine bridges within
the walls Of the city.
| Just below the Louvre, on the Same
side OF the river, are the palace and
gardens OF the Tuilleries. The gardens are
very large and, being in the centre of the
city, are q popular pleasure ground. Here
on fine afternoons may be seen large
boys and young men playing game
with q solid rubber ball, about the size
of q billiard ball, which they knock long
distances with considerable precision by
means OF wooden frame covered with
sheepskin, not unlike o small tsmbourine.
Hundreds of nursemaids are airing their
charges by promsnading or In perRmbu
lators In the western end is an octagonal
lake, 900 feet in diameter, with fountain
in the centre, in which fully hundred
model yachts ranging from inches to 8
feet in length, may be counted any foe
afternoon, blowing their way over the
lake, while their youthful shippers dance
around the banks with delight. Collisions
are frequent, but few high words be-
tween rival owners usually suffice to ad-
Just matters, without the Intervention OF
courts Of admiralty.
To the west OF the gardens of the
Tuilleries, at the end OF the Pont de la
Ooncorde, is the Place de Ia Ooncorde, q
large open space in the centre OF which
an Egyptian obelisk, from the banks OF
the Nile similar 10 those in Central Park,
New York, and on the ThameB embank.
ment, London, is erected ON the spot
where, in 1898, the guillotine commenced
its bloody work with the execution Of
Louis NVI, Marie Antoinetto, the Duke
OF Orleans and many others soon fol-
lowed. In little over two years 2, 800
heads were chopped of by this horrible
NAL machine. From the Place de la
Ooncofde, the Champs Eysees, said to
be the finest street in the world leads
westward, at o tangent to the curve Of the
Seine, one and third miles to the
, famous Arc de- Triomphe.
, Directly opposite the Place de Ia Con-
Nn lao /, 10 .,r L.
the chamber OF deputies, the front facade
of which. with its Auted columns, has
similar effect, at least to one who is not
close observer of architectural detail, to
the front OF Girard College, Philadelphia.
D A little further down the river we come
to the Palace OF Industryon the north
bank. IL ia large oblong building with
: glass root, forms part of the present
= exhibition, and was erected for the eXhi-
I pition of 1855. Opposite, on the south
' bank, is the Esplanada des Inyslides,
used for part OF the expedition, extending
q back to the Hotel dss Invalides, q largs
Q building with richly gilded dome. used
!: as hospital for soldiers and containing
= the magnificent sarcophagus wherein re-
: pose the remains Of Napolean Bonaparte.
a A little further down the river and we
9 are between the Trocadero Palace, on the
b north, and the Champ de Mars, with the
Is principal part OF the exhibition and the
g Eidel tower, on the south about two and
I one-halt miles father down and about
j five miles from the commencement of the
u trip We pass the walls and are outside
i, the city proper.
|, The walls entirely surround the city.
!; They arc 81 miles in length, from 80 to
40 feet high, very massive and Of dressed
atn init Aaa,1 IL. -, n
backed up with bank OF earth inside.
At intervals along the walls are located
/ army barracks. At the end of all prinoi-
d pal streets are gates, where soldiers and
70 customs officers are always on guard.
4 All kinds of merchandise entering the
le city is taxed. II you hire cab for O
drive outside the walls, an officer will
politely step up and search the vehicle aa
a. you re,enter the city. A few miles out
a side the city, on the south bank, are the
! far-fRmsd porcelain works of 6evres.
1, Forty.iv minutes from starting and
we have arrived at Saint Cloud. The
palace, now desolAte ruin, was built
>, over three centuries ago by private citi
/ zen, and afterward purchased for royal
~ residence. 1t was favorite residence Of
q Napoleon and was destroyed by the
II Germans in 1870.
From Saint Oh I'D to Versailles, by
y rail, occupies only few minutes, ant
ID after short ride on bus we arrived al
ID the palace and gardens Of Versailles. The
N immense palace is now used as a nationa
Is gallery of paintings, statuary aud relics
Together wit the gardens, 1t il said Il
p have cost its builder, Louis XIV, thu
l. fabulous sum OF $500, 600, 600, extortet
10 from starving people already overbur
W dened by expensive wars and on the varg,
ii OF a revolution. The gardens are bssuti
IN fully and symmetrically laid out will
terraces, walks, drives. founta ms anC
az statuary, and are of very large extent.
10 was completely bewildered by the magni
an tude OF the collection in the palace aud
I'd after superficial ipspec ion OF q small
OF portion of it, returned TO Paris by rail Il
an the Care San Lszsre
But even so beautiful CITY as Paril
:, becomes weArisome to solitary traveller
. who cannot speak the language, and so
: prepare to depart. Before going mad
"a an ascent in military balloon, attached
y, to the earth by o rope and with steam
~ engine to haul 1t down. II ia located In
! private garden near the Trocadero Palace
al The charge for ascension is 10 francs
NJ The sensation is quite similar to rollinl
~ gently in small boat. On alighting
~ was presented with o small souvenir oar
% which informed me that l had been nj
l,0l5 metres, more than three times tn
" height Of the Eifel tower. think 80 pc
10 cent of wonld be nearer the truth. |
ue commanded a fnaunifoanI WAN fnr mill