Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-28
PRECIOUS MOMENTS
70 Waste One Seems a Sac
ri|ege in Paris.
The American Finds No Rest for
the Weary in a Palace.
Eiohteen Miles Of Pictures and Samson
and Oelilah in Vacation.

e
perience in the bus, at table d'hot,
word was passed among the member.
of our party, that Carriages would b.
ready to start fer Versailles at nine i.
the morning" AS soon as we appeare.
on the scene, at the hour named. oui
eyes fell on one driver so smiling, and
so wonderfully gotten up, that f anC
Miss Bruno quickly secured seats be
side him, while w. sat near His COS
tune, suit of robins egg blue cloth
was profusely trimmed With braid an
rows on rows of silver buttons, the saz,
of bullets. The jacket, zouave Gu
rounded up in the back. and rattle
low-cOwned broad brimmed hat
black leather completed one of tn
most noticeable of Hveres, to which tn
mans weight, of about one hundred anG
ninety pounds, added the finishin,
touch. His good nature was as excep
tional as his clothes, and he proved in
valuable as a guide. The drive wa
through beautiful woods, and the res
at St. Cloud made agreeable variety
Not a trace of that old palace is lef
and where now there are only terrace.
ilower-beds and tree-lined walks il wa
difficult to believe that stately build
ings once stood. the home of kings an.
queens. The royal carriages shown a
Great Trianon We're clumsy affairs, re
splendent in gold and crimson. an.
while Napoleon's coronation equip
age was dazzling, the modern dark blu
one decorated in red and gold am
sumptuously upholstered. used by tn
Car and Czarina during their lat
visit to Paris, was by far the mos
beautiful. Our visit to Great Trianon
where Napoleon and later rulers re
tired fer a space from cares of state
lost much of its attraction because W.
could not see the Little Trianon, which
was undergoing certain repairs. W.
have heard over and over that it i
very foolish to try to see everything
but we know that not a woman lives
who wouldn't rather look at the thin2
she couldn't, than anything else OF
earth This disappointment somewha,
clouded the days brightness and we felt
sombre when the gravelled courtyard
utterly barren-save for some startling
iy white statues of noted Frenchmen--
and the seemingly low building. of vast
area, of the Palace of Versailles Were
in front of us. But all thought of eX-
terror vanished when we stood in thNs
mighty halls, and walked through q
few of those almost interminable
rooms. Think of looking at Is miles
Of battle pictures, 1t was an i'm.
possibility even though they were by
the greatest French painters of wal
scenes. The apartments of Marie An
toinette We're opened for us, and many
of her personal belongings pointed out.
but we have been shown such an un-
limited number of writing desks and
tables, used by that unhappy lady. that
our credulity is exhausted if the supply
is not. The gardens of Versailles, trim
aad artificial, yet imposing from the:
extent, the many fountains made Ut:
long to be there on some fete- day When
some sort of humanity fills every space
and music and all forms of entertain
ment, combine to give a characteristic
sight Of French life. With eyes blinded
by the brilliancy of the 'Galerie des
Slaces,' vistas of mirrors on both sides
apparently stretching for miles: with
head swimming from gazing up a pie
lures, and down at marbles and bric-a
brac, We sank into an antique chair
FOR moments rest, when, seemingly
from trap door at our feet, Instantly
appeared gold-liveried three-cOrnered
nat official NhO politely assisted us to
rise, and realizing that there is ne
rest for the weary in a palace, w
sought the carriage. We barely sue
ceeded in reaching the National Scvres
INTrGlgin In ia l1.fa ~
closed for the day, but it really proved
better time than earlier. and this
visit was indeed worth the effort it cost
the guide inducing several workmen -
give exhibitions in moulding. We Sc
lecled some small but unusual speci-
mems Of the beautiful ware, that we
mad never seen before, ara finals
11uEd young man able to converse III
our favorite language.
We enquired minutely as to price
anu packing, and when We supposed an
arrangements were completed our pleas
ule was spoiled by-"But excuse me
tanaaame cannot have these, they are NOT
oi sale, they are all being made, new
~ nFfe,va,nens of our art. for the exhibition
~ ~ iNH If madame will kindly step into
p n room We will show other articles.
~ ,e tahtly We went. and had exhibited.
~, 10 Ht'ie souvenirs. that we could tuck in
ti turner's of our trunk. a magnificent
, r'"e punch bowl, three feet in diameter.
,aStH seven feet high, exquisite porcelain
lures; ii is needless 10 add that We
~d'le no investment. Perhaps even a
edte"teF qualification of our curiosity, was
~ forenoon spent in inspecting the
roNs IN tapestries. these are an exact re-
dF"uuellon. vita needle. woods and silk,
y, PalhtinSs by the greatest artists; and
~ "ofkfnon are years completing one
p'eNe Oh tapestry, so fine and laborious
~ tle work upon 1t. Carpets of velyety
vltueSs We're being made by hand. and
t9tIlhs' manufactured belongs TO the
soFernmert, the articles being mainly
w w Tor presentation to foreign powers.
H. men, IN the course of one of our many
ives we reached the Morgue. and amy
%Hes desirous of Investigating We're IL.
,a.tt 20 dilght we were in minority Of
wv; ms low stone building on the
h p"Hh OF the Seine. contains often many
"1ules OF unknown suicides and victims
W accidents, who clothed as when found
S 'e exposed TO view behind glass wiz
Tvs Vnat friends may identify them: the
pou'es are frozen and are kept often five
VI slA weeks The day we were there an
oi9 man and woman We're lying as If
asieep' their clothing indicated poverty
anu tne peaceful. even happy expression
~ lhelr faces. made us hope that they
Idu reached place where life would
meal, mean less of a struggle for them than 1t
mad in this world.
ihiie is the most valuable of possess
SONS to tourists with excursion tickets
' psl Il Il