New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-05
RUIN AT VERSAILLES.
EVIDENCE OF NEGLECT AND DESTRCCTlO.
APPEAR on EVERY SIDE

Much popular interest Is mlilleoNu III t'le pro
cct recently submitted to the Legislature By
Yves Guy0t the Minister Of Public Works. for the
restoration and preservation Of the old Cour des
Complies the magnificent ruins Of which have
been slowly crumbling away for the las twenty
years. 1t seems strange that one OF the most
BEAUTIFUL and attractive placrs-Onr rcDletc with
historic int rest, and containing many priceless
masterpieces Of the seventeenth ccntury-should
have hecn allowed TO fall into such neglect and
aba ndonment The original demand Of tho Govern
mcnt for Parliamentary grant OF 10000
francs, which were, however, devoted u another
use and spent in absolutely necessary r'storatIons
and repairs at Versatile; AMI AZ tie Trianon. IL
IS difficult T. comprehend, however in what man.
ncr the money has .ncn spent. For both Yer
sallcs and the Irianon display the mos heart
rerdlIng conditions OF ruin, destruction ana neg
lrct The repairing OF the Louis NV facad" has
been conlplccd: bat nothing has been done to the
great front Of the palace, which remains In TIE
identical c0EGiti1n of ruin as before u tne
frequent falls of portions Of TIE structure have not
resulted in loss of lie it Is merely because the
entrance at the foot Of the great wall is pro
icccd by IRON grailnGS, which temporarily nod
it in position. There is an enormous scaiiolhns.
erected upon Wheels which is 10 he used IN the
repairing Of the front-but it is by no means q
solid structure This was constructed at great
expense but has not yet been u'izcd. In the
case Of the fountains Of the park III" work ~ re-
construction has been delayed, WIN ne "hle"t IN
view Of obtaining a further grant 81 money
The only one fountain that las received any It
tent.on is the Basin Of Latone, which occupies
a copsnicuous pos,,ion az the foot Of the grand
staircase, leading 10 the Tapls Vert. lnlS, too
m0uid uuult!css have been allowed 10 go to pieces
we're il not that II happened t. b" III" poii most
ir"iurn'ci by visitors. l!" pedestal has been re.
parc'l and ceu.aicl. ;ir fl"r,N % t'Il"I marble
read listed and the group Of statuary hy Mary
WINCH sarrnoIn-s II, haS recovered portion 81 us
iorns-r beatty Bat TIE yaec, Which snrr'urI II
have been left full Of block mould and are tast
crln bling away, while the Two smaller b. >iH, are
alr.;dv in ruins Tie ceIebrltc! fro-- IN III" !ar-er
BASIN haze been lcsilIrl and reflect tie l-i' Ike
- many hiirous faucets Ii is iIconceIvah.e Tat
anv man possessing the sli-h;csr atom of ars'G
tlS'r could layr pended 50 mNrh labor III tie
ul Ut Of rte .eu raj rGiu. |. tie SAN" amount o,
care hat t""l bestowed upon rhe H'Si" "a 'iiF"n
the lab would no. havc been thrown a"av. ana
if =" group, # Children and Towers Lai h'"u
pet" chrl VIII Il co.iina q gi.i tic general 'i''f
would ia,r sen good. for ne rose marry" l. STU
uirralre, by time BIT. in III" Basin La'o:". to
MS o." q, which tho 81 t>t at'ri toward !"'-
tors,on uas been made. ;c impression i 49, y
Ing 10 'te cyc ani leads one - d"pi"'" that t'i'
work las ircn n,rI>.-i to any bH' artists capa''"
Of appnc;li!E The w0;nS OF tcir i.moIs p''itceS-
sors
IT, statues have been merely w1S''d-hoe
rc,..rcl r. ..y are covof.l VIA back sputS AMI
are ,uo-r 49,. .;,,y. La Eynphe IA '"iuI!e
has Ac"a removed and substituted rs statue OK
II woman nurs.rc Ter infant. - m"I"rn PROD 81
which +. far t:on ar,.,ic. In III" Ayenu" ln las
of NO
nsrr,.icnn, vases are ei'hcr hroiscn or !c'''. a'
covered with ra.:.-, and oh>'cne J scTi3'i'no.
r. , a.,,lrrs-r, Of Questionable characters !! par
,rul,r with their professional! ann" re mems
ahoEnd eyrryyncfe and cover ever ava!!""' 50
i,cc of hc beautiful pieces Of STAT AIRY am N"'S
II l., lrnihrkabir that IN snrh phr" ~ ''is' -
much frequentri by STRANGERS. ;" liti'" ear" lag
been taken guard against such vandalism. Bif II
is wei. known that the mon employed I" look al''r
the grounds arc extremely negligent. AMI TIE VS.
lturs arc allowed ~ Il" very nUrh ne tl'V p''i"''
many II them hrrshirs Tits from u" s''' ''s 10
carry away as Souvenirs. Ire "h'lr" '"'I''' ."H
Of marble, Is sadly Le.!eced. whi.e /" ne
shruhbcry many If the groups are p'""'o "''u
covered with moss and w@!s
Tie Hal Of the Emperor presents shoc"ihS
,p,saran.e al the Statues beng covered WIN
tu,t and bhckcnel beyond rcc"gr.t.'n Inc
statue Of Marcus Aurcl.,l> has lost lis head. ah'
rho bust OF O,ho is surn.oun'ed by crown 81
fresh oak leaves placed rl"ve by som" f"rr''oi'
student one is IT,! IA bel exc N yiSi'tn! Veg
ssile, tia. the tiovernmen, !, utterly iHdire'e"
as - tic manner ia which &c H"''riin'A' c'"'
for tie maintenance Of tie palaces h's ''1"
spent That j. has been 'cri'i eS""hcie !
evident a. il also the fact tiat -" 'ast "o'"
hns been accomplished AZ the Creates p"H~"e
outlay Tie grass is uncH'. AMI T." '@'':r