The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1895-09-21
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marble, Ine DOrSuesc vast, AllCAdel
Angeles Fettered Slaves.
Still following the river we next come
TO one of the most magnificent hotels in
Paris the new Hotel de Vile erected
on the spot where the hotel by the
same name was destroyed by the Com
munists III 1871 by firing into petrol
cum and gunpowder which was stored
in the cellar.
A little farther south is the PaIais of
Luxemborgn the Senate House Of tie
Republic.
After long and tiresome walk into
the oldest part Of Paris through both
very wide and very narrow streets,
passing somewhere on the way the sta
tue of Joan Of Arc, a pretentious work
in bronze, astride her horse bareheud-
ed and carrying a flag in her hand. We
also passed the statue of Noltaire and
one of Shakespeare together with many
others, we finally reached our destina-
tion-the famous Notre Dame, after
many amusing experiences in asking
the way and receiving directions by the
French policemen who could speak no
English. This superb cathedral far ex-
Ceeded my expectations, and | expect
ed much. In my opinion it is unsur
passed even by Westminster Abbey. it
dates from the days of Charlemagne in
the eighth century but suffered greatly
during the first Revolution. 1t has,
l. lnn,
with the original design. There are
three imposing entrances prOtusely or
namented with carvings. Those on the
central portal represent the Last judy
ment, those on the left represent the
Burial of the Virgin and is very fine.
Above these is series Of nitches con-
tanning statues of twenty-eight French
kings and the figure of the Virgin Mary
supported by angels over all. In front
are the figures of Adam and Eye. The
spire above the cross 145 feet high, of
wood covered with lead, is of singular
delicacy and beauty. The great bell of
Notre Dame is one of the largest in
Europe. 1t weighs sixteen tons, the
pounds. The interior is strangely i'm
pressive and of highly aesthetic char
aCter. The nave and two aisle are cross
ed by a transept. The yaulting of the
nave is supported by seventy-fve cir
cular marble pillars. \ gallery sup
ported by one hundred and eight small
er pillars arises above the aisles lighted
by thirty-seven stained glass windows.
Most of the stained glass in Notre Dame
is antique and very beautiful notably
that of the three large rose windows
which are extremely fine. The wood
carvings Of the choir attracts especial
attention. Among the relics in the
treasury are fragments of the crown of
thorns and of the cross also nail from
the cross. This cathedral holds 10000
people. We feel that if we see nothing
more we would be richly repaid for
coming to Paris. but the end is not yet.
After making another effort to make
the police understand our wishes we
are at last directed correctly TO the Pan
theon the resting place of Victor Hugo
whose remains lie in the vaults here,
The fine interior frescoing illustrates
the history of st. Genevieve the patron
lady saint of Paris to whom the church
was dedicated and of Queen Marie An
toinette and other victims of the Revo-
luton. If you ascend to the dome the
finest view Of old Paris can be obtained.
Taking boat at the nearest point
from the Pantheon we pass beneath the
shadow Of the Louvre taking in view
of Notre Dame the Palace Royal and
getting a perspective of various boule-
wards the Garden of the Tulleries etc,
we ascend the river to Napoleon's
Tomb. This magnificent memorial
was by far the grandest thing Of the
kind | saw. | thought the memorial to
Mary Queen of Scots beautiful but this
was magnificent. II must be seen to
gain even a slight idea OF it's grandeur.
Its dome is gilded with gold and may
be seen sparkling in the sunshine from
nearly every part of the city. Beneath
the dome is vault twenty feet deep
and thirty-six feet in diameter. The
walls of it are Of exquisitely polished
white marble adorned with marble
statuary. The pavement at the bottom
represents a wreath of laurels. The
/ sarCophagus which contains the ashes
/ Of Napoleon stands in the centre of all,
over which shines a strong golden light
admitted through stained glass win
dow greatly enhancing the effect.
4 five minutes walk will bring you to
/ the famous EitIle Tower. The height of
! this tower is 9S5 feet. Washington's
monument is the next highest construc-
| ton in the world The Eitile tower has
three platforms the first is very spac-
ious and is as high as the towers of
Notre Dame. Here, you can get lunch
con before ascending to the other two,
using the powerful lifts if you choose.
/ There are no elevators in Europe they
are called lifts From the top the river
/ Seine looks like a silver thread l am
told, did not get way up there, and
the view over France is most superb.
Al our fIgut the Instance OF Il Ten ulLi-
utes walk, perhaps, are the Paris ex-
position buildings
We are told that we shall know little
if anything of the splendor of this wick
ed city unless we see it by gas light.
We accordingly make up a party and
start out on a midnight ride about the
city trying to see something of its
wealth and of It's poverty. We succeed
ed very well in both attempts. Surely
here the wealth of the wealthy is as
great as is the poverty Of the poor