The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-29
FRENCH sEEATE CHAMBER, LUxEMDoURG
ALA


PALACE
but which has the distinction of affording
at least a plausible explanation Of an
understanding between q feryent replb-
lican like NJ. Derouledc and royalists and
imperialists, is to the effect that an ar
rangement had been reached between the
three parties concerned that after a sue
cessful military coup de main the ques-
ton as to whether France SHOULD have a
president, a king or an emperor should
be submitted to the people by means Of
a plebiscitum.
The real trial Of this fine lot of conspir-
ators will not begin for several weeks.
In the interim the senate is Investigating
the evidence and preparing its case.
The Luxembourg palace, whore the
senate is to sit as a high court Of justice,
1890, when Bonaparte left it to reside in
the TuiIeries. 1t is the palace built in
1915, after the death of Henri Nv, for
Marie de NEEDED, by the architect
Jacques Debrossc. somewhat in the
style of the Pitt palace at Florence,
where Marie de Medici was born. 1t
was for this building that Rubens paint
ed the masterful series of p ~allegorieal
pictures narrating the life Of Marie
which is now in the Louvre.
During the revolution the Luxembourg
palace served as a prison. Among the
prisoners were Philippe de Noailles, mar
shal Of France, who, together with his
whole family, was guillotined in the
courtyard; Vicomte de B~eauharnais and
his wife, who afterward became the EN-
press Josephine; Danton, Camille Des-
mouths and David. the painter, who
when confined there after the ninth Their
midor completed the first sketch for his
famous picture, .'1he Sadness" 1t was
in a small room adjoining the library
that Marshal Ney was kept under lock
and key in 1915 during the court martial
which sentenced him TO be shot.
Among the state trials that have taken
place at the Luxembourg are those of
the ministers Of Charles x, which pre-
cipitated the revolution of 1880; Of the
political offenders Of 1884, Of the July
"conspirators" Of 1885, Of Louis Napo-
Icon after the i'll fated landing at Bou-
logne in 1910, and it was at the Luxem-
bourg palace that In 1889 the senate was
for the first time eonvoked as a high
court Of justice and condemned Boulan-
ger, Dillon and Rochefort. 1t Is worthy
Of note that at that trial M. Quesnay de
Beaurepaire oficiated as procurator gen.
eral of the republic.
The senate chamber, where the high
court of justice win hold its sittings, Is
one Of the most interesting rooms in the
palace. 1t is lighted from the ceiling.
1t Is arranged SO as to comprise two
amphitheaters facing each other. The
larger Of the two amphitheaters contains
the seats Of the senators, at the ends Of
which are statues Of Charlemagne and
st. Louis. Between the columns behind
the senatorial desks are the galleries re-
served for the diplomatic corps and the
public.
The smaller Of the amphitheaters con-
tains the tribune for the orators, above
which are the seats and desks of the
president Of the senate, of the vice presi-
dents and the senatorial ~fnnetionaries.
Altogether the Luxembourg forms a
most picturesque setting for this new
piece which il presented by the state
for the ediGcntion Of the French people
and the world iii general