Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-07-13
FROM OVER THE OCEAN.
In Gay Paris-A Visit to Versailles
The Grand Opera House.
I,ONDON. lime 70. 1Sl

hONbON3 JUNO ~ 1000
We arrived in Paris just at the begin
ming Of the "season" and the month we
spent there was most delightful. The
annual art exhibition opened after a few
days; that was about the first of May.
This event is considered the real opening
OF the season. The first day is only for
artists, actors and actresses. On this
occasion they all appear in their new
spring costumes, and set the fashions for
the coming season.
The horse-chestnut trees, which flank
so many OF the handsome boulevards OF
the city, were all in blossom, and this
made the Champs Elysees more beautiful
than ever. Some call this park with the
broad avenue, over mile and a third
long, the most beautiful spot in the
world. The best view Of it is had from
the Place de la Concorde where one sees
the entire length OF it as it slopes grad
ually up to the famous Arc de Triomphe.
This triumphal arch was begun by
Napoleon; it is the largest in the world.
1t stands in the centre Of the circular
Place de PEtoile and the Champs Elysees
is one OF the twelve avenues which d.
verge from it, thus making the star
(etoie) after which the square is named.
Paris certainly looked beautiful in its
spring dress, and the Parisans thought
they did in theirs, but sometimes we
thought differently. Often we forgot we
were in ''gsi Paris" when we were roam
ing around cemeteries and catacom BIS.
The catacombs are quite different from
those we saw on the Appian Way at Rome
but nevertheless very interesting. In
these underground vaults the victims
Of the "reign Of terror" were thrown, the
remains of which have been carefully
arranged along the walls Of the passages.
Bones from different cemeteries have also
been placed here. We walked for over
three quarters OF an hour seeing nothing
but heaps Of skulls on each sids. The
catacombs are shown only twice a month,
and on these days quite a crowd collects
to visit them.
! Pere Lachaise, the most important
burial ground in Paris, and one Of the
principal sights as well, was not only in.
teresting in regard to the graves of cele-
brated persons, but also on account of the
fine sculptures. Among the composers
buried here are Chopin, Auber, Cheru bini
and Bizet, while among the celebrated
actresses is Nine. Rachel. 1t covers ITO
acres.
Celebrated statesmen and poets are now
buried in the crypt Of the Pantheon.
The facade Of this Pantheon is in imita-
ton OF the one in Rome, but otherwise it
bears no resem blance to it. N. Carnot,
the president of the republic, who was as
sassinated lies here, so also do the French
poets Victor Hugo, Rousseau and Vol
taire. Racine, Moliere and Musset lie in
| Pere 1.achaise.
For royal tombs we went out to ST.
Denis, a small town not far from Paris
where the handsome cathedral contain
ing the tombs of the kings Of France is
situated. The remains Of Louis XVI and
his consort Marie Antoinette are here
now; formerly they were in the Chapelle
Expiatiore at Paris.
The handsomest tombs in the church
are those of Louis XII, and Anne de
Bretagne, and of Henry ii and his queen
Catherine de Medicis. An interesting
fact connected with the cathedral is that
Joan of Arc hung up her arms here in
1929. After seeing the burial places OF
the kings of France we took an excursion
to Versailles to see the celebrated palaces
where they lived. Besides the large pal
ace there are the Grand and Petit Tri
anon. The latter was the tavoritt
residence of Marie Antoinette.
In the surrounding parks OF the cha
teau is the "hamlet" of ten rustic cot
tages where Marie Antoinette and hel
court ladies amused themselves by living
as peasants. There is the creamery wher,
they churned the butter and another cot
tage where the bread was made. We wen
through the chateau where still re
mains he furniture used by herself, anl
in which he: initials are carved.
Napoleon once lived in the Grand Tri
anon, where several membranes OF tn
emperor are shown. Adjoining it is tn
museum OF carriages. Four handsome
ones belonged to Napoleon, but the fines
one is that used at the coronation o
Charles X and at the baptism Of Napo
Icons son, the king OF Rome.
The palace OF Versailles is fourth of
mile long. The interior is more attrac
tive than the exterior. 1t contains
sculpture and picture gallery where tn
well-known painting OF Marie Antoinett
and her children by Nine. Lebrun is. Ii
the "Gallery Of the Mirrors, which is "a
feet long, King William of Prussia wa
proclaimed emperor Of Germany in 1871
1t was in room in this palace wher
the three guards sacrificed themselves t.
save their queen, Marie Antoinette, from
t The mob at the beginning OF the revolu
ton. In Paris we saw the cell where sh
was imprisoned before her execution OIL
the Place de la Concorde. The cell is yer.
small (the crucifix she used is preserved
here) and next to it is the one wher