New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20
VERSAILLES.


France on Saturday involved one dramatic and
romantic feature for the Ike of when we si'oui'
have 70 seek far and wide 1t was not the COM
position Of the gathering. angus, as II WIS
Neither was il the purport OF II. though UNI
was impressive in n high degree Nel'ner was
i, any consideration OF issues of national veal
or woe. which were hanging upon the Assem-
lv's decision No. but II was simply the ideh-
tjtv Of the place in which the Assembly met
with It's unmatched associations. For WINE u
is often said that Paris is France there Is
scarcely q city or town in Europe 'ha' more
fully opitomizcS the history of lis country ana
that is more rich in national memories thah
Versailles.
Under thc Bourbon Kings Versailles was the
caoita! Of France and the seat OF the court. II
WAS. indeed partly thar fact that cXaspera'ed
the mob Of Paris against the Bourbons ana
rrocp,tated the fures Of the Revolution Ill
the prologue to thar mighty tragedy \erSail'S
and the road between Versailles and Paris occu-
pied The centre Of the scene Why the Irahon
ESCAPED the destroying mania of the mon Is one
of The unanswered problems or history. ohe
would imagine that the annihilatOrs OF me DIS
tile would have left not one stone upon anOIher
at Versailles But they did. and they LEFT The
ralace substantially intact though they fllled II
with haunting memories which time can never
eNpcl Neither Convention nor Directory couid
determine just what 10 do with the place.
Ronapartc made an effort 10 restore lis g0rleS
bv rcfurnishiDg some of the apartments ana
cultivating the gardens. He even made II Il
place OF residence for "A short time. But he
could not make himself feel n home there. The
restored BourhonS Stunned II as n pcsthouse
II was Identified with the glorics OF their race
But II contained TOO many memories OF their
brother LouiS NV. 10 be an abode for them.
But their cousin. Son of Philippe Egaliie. was
not 50 suucamlsh. or was more practical ana
fa1ful He dedicated the palace 10 All the
GlOr;es of France and made OF il sort OF Pan
thcon. The vast wall-spaccs were filled with
acres Of paintings representing scenes In
French history. But in doing 50 he colnlassed
his own ruin. For while he COMMUNICATED the
gloricS OF Henry " and Louis NV. II was IN
c,'tablp that the bulk Of the paintings should
celebrate the achievements Of the First Empire
II was a graceful thing 10 do. SO was the
bringing home Of the body Of BOnaparte. But
Il led straight 10 the Napoleonic revival. 10 the
Revolution of 1s4S, 10 the election Of the schem-
ing Prince President and 10 the Coup dEtat
Had not Louis Philippe made Versailles mu-
scum Of All the GlorcS or France Nllah 81
Prussia might never have been crowned Ger
man Emperor IN It's Hall Of Mirrors
II IS in that place. associated with The ancient
splcndors Of France, and dedicated 10 All Her
Glories Vet the scene Of the greatest hunia-
ton she ever suffered in all her history, that
French Presidents are elected The original
Constitution Of the republic made Versailles the
executive and legislative capital Of France. In
1870 that provision was repealed. and President
and Parliament were seated in Paris But YER
snines is sin the meetng-place of the National
Assembly. The President receives his title IN
the old home OF Louis Capet The Chief of
State Of the Third Republic Is chosen where
the German Emperor was chosen, and where
the Grand Monarch reigned and ruled. In that
simple fact is sounded such an epic note Us Is
seldom elsewhere heard in our times.