San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-17
A CITY OF THE DEAD.
PERE LA CHASE, THE GREAT AND
BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY OF PARIS.

Pere la Chaise, so called after Louis
| XIV's COMPRESSOR, who had his residence
on the hill long ago, covers 106 12 acres
and is laid out, like a miniature city,
in nearly $50 streets or avenues and lit
tie paths Bordering these are 96, 900
mausoleums and monuments of every
description, from the most magnificent
tombs to the most unpretending urns.
Each little house has its family name
above the door, and few are ever with
out some fresh tokens of loving remem-
brance
The French may not be a deeply re-
ligious nation, but they certainly do not
lack personal affection and respect, and
this is strikingly shown i'll their devO-
ton to the memory of their dead. Orna-
mental wreaths made of beads or tin,
black, white and colored, many of them
with appropriate notices, were piled or
hung upon the monuments.
Entering one of the main streets and
walking up the hill, we were soon in a
labyrinth of tombs. Inside of one little
house, which had glass door, there TEas
a shelf built of marble, upon which
stood a framed photograph of man.
On each side were vases filled with
white lilacs, and underneath was stretch
cd white ribbon, and letters in gold
upon it told that this was an offering
from his sCITOwful schCOlmates. Three
columns rising from one pedestal and
resembling some fragment Of Roman
ruin stood to commemorate three broth
ers who had wished to be laid together.
Many monuments were like Obelisks or
in other Egyptian forms, showing the
influence upon the fashion of the time
of NapOleOn's eastern campaign. One
large column with broken shaft stood
alone in an open space upon a raised
platform and attracted our attention be-
cause Of the great number of wreaths
and flowers piled high upon it. This
was monument to those whose burial
places We're unknown, whose deaths
were shrouded in mystery, and whose
mourners come here to pray and weep.
AS we looked a poor woman with a
child by one hand added her little spray
of chrysanthcmums to the gay but pa
thetic heap. Soon familiar and world
famous names began to claim our inter
est. Here lay MOliore and further on
Alfred de Musset, the great poets
Chopin's last resting place marked by
beautiful figure Lafontaine, with
little fox appropriately browning his
sepulcher-fOr who can mention him
without thinking of the sly puss that
got the crow S dinner?-BalZac, the nov
elist; Cherubini, the composer, and
many other famous painters, authors
and musicians. Then the brave men
who fought for France-Marshal Ney,
Napoleon right hand man, who lies in
a little inclosed lot filled with shrubs
and flowers, but with no monument, for
when he died his enemies were in power
and would allow none to he erected, and
now its absence and the simple grave
speak more eloquently than could the
finest tomb.
Near by lies poor Villeneuve, who
lost at Trafalgar and in consequence of
NaDoleon's displeasure received such a
harsh repulse when he returned to Paris
that he ran a needle through his broken
heart. Just across the way from him is
Parmentier, the agriculturist. He was
the man who with the utmost difficulty
convinced the dainty French that the
potato was worth cultivating and eat
ing. They say that Marie Antoinette
helped him to attain this end by wear
ing potato blossoms with her beautiful
ball gowns. However true this may be,
certain it is that the vegetable is planted
every year around the good mans tomb.
There is one tomb which every one is
sure to visit at Pere la Chaise, and this
is the grave Of Abelard and Heloise, the
grave that has been the subject Of sc
many songs and verses, and where Low
ers come to plight their vows and pledge
! their faithfulness. Very romantic il
must be, too, ON a moonlight evening
with the pale rays falling on the stone
figures lying peacefully side by side
with folded hands, under the canopy o
early Gothic style, with queer gargoyle
at each corner The story of the lover
is we'll known. They had many trial
and tribulations, but at last they res
together, according to Heloise's las
wish that she might be reunited to he
idol. Through the tombs and trees w
went higher and higher, until we cam
out upon a wide terrace and Paris burS
upon our view. Paris, sparkling in tn
sunlight, spread before us in gEtterin
panorama, an immense e1panse of whit
buildings with domes, towers, spire
and bridges, and the Eiffal tower risin
like gaunt skeleton amid the feast Q
beautiful architecture. 10 wonder tina
the mutineers of the commune apprec'
ated the fine advantages of position al
forded by Pere la Chaise, Here they IL
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