Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-08-09

COrde where beautiful fountains are playing
upon the spot where the gullCtine once stood
1t is beautiful and majestic looking square
and forms link of beauty between the
Tulleres and the Champs Elysees, the latter
is the great thoroughtare to the park OF Paris
the Bots de Boulonge and yet this beautiful
spot has been the scene of the shedding OF
more human blood, and more horror and
confusion than any similar spot under the
canopy of heaven. Over $500 persons were
executed in this square by the gulllotine, in
Guiding Louis XVI, Charlotte CoIday, Marie
Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre and Dumas
all during the Is months succeeding January
81, 1893 Here, too, was ushered in the first
disturbance of the revolution IN 1913. Today
however, as we drove through it, the scenes
were gay and inspiring, with the brilliant
crowds Of Handsomely dressed people in all
sorts of vehicles rushing to and fro, auto
mobiles being largely among the number.
Paris Is now enfete preparing for the 18th
of July, celebrating the taking the Bas,ile,
flags and streamers everywhere to be seen,
and electric lights will shine from every cogn
of vantage.
On Friday morning we enj yed boat
ride on the Seine, went up as far as the
Louvre. | will not undertake to give any
account of the many treasures Of art, &C.,
contained in this great building, it is almost
enough to give one the brain fag to even
think of It.
After lunch we took our first look at the
Exposition. The buildings are very fine but
the confined space IN which they are built
prevents the general effect being rs good as
the Worlds Fair. We visited Il few of the
national buildings-ours is not one Of the
landsomest The reception room, furnished
by New York, Massachusetts and California
is decidedly poor looking. The exhibit of
ceramics and jewelry is very fine; in the latter
| think Tiffany leads them all We were
delighted with the japanese exhibit with its
beautiful cmbroideries, pictures Of natural
scenery waterfalls. temples, a pond with
swans, cherry trees in bloom, chrysanthe-
NUNS and Fuiigamo, the volcanic mountain,
all SO true to life that one could hardly he
lievc 1t was not painting or nature itself.
The display of beautiful dresses, turs, mach
merry. wines, chocolate and candy nanufac.
turing is all very interesting.
The buildings of Italy. Persia and Turkey,
which contain the chief products of their
respective countries, make a very crctitable
showing. Worth has a beautiful exhibit Of
gowns aud coaks, The famous Gohchn
tapestry is well worth seeing
In one of the art palaces lie Petite were
the paintings of various nations. Iregrct to
say was very much ashamed OF the display
OF my own country, to use the expression of
| an American in our hearing, It was bum. y
The Examinations at night were magnificent;
most Of the buildings had their cornices out.
lined With electric lights, and the dome OF
the Tlocadero had very elaborate design in
brilliant light The Paais Lumicll is al odd
pagoda shaped building with cupola, gay
with globes Of all colors and shapes. We
got splendid view Of the Exposition and
iluminatisns from the Eiicl Tower. The
Chateau d Eau (castle of water) was perfectly
lovely; IN the background were The brilliant
arched facade of Il chateau, while underneath
| the arch were tiers of lights and fountain,
and in front circular basin of water with
jets Of crystal throwing their pcarly drops
| high in the air. First the light WAS white,
then it changed to red, blue, orange and
violet; the effect was simply indtscrlbable
A number of search lights illuminated the
surrounding buildings and the Arc de Tri.
omphc and the dome of lnvaidcs shone out
conspcu0usly,
The sea Of heads below us surgcd to and
fro and the grounds were solid mass of
humanity. 1t was like fairy land and we
felt ourselves moving i'll an enchanted palace
Of delights.
We were fortunate enough to hear Sousa
this afternoon. AT the conclusion of the
concert the band and all the audience stood
while the Star Spangled Banner and the
Marsellaise hymn was played.
On Saturday morning we paid n visit to
the Jardin de Plantes which was disappolnt-
| ing to US as the flowers took rather II tame
land. There is, however, quite fl re collcc.
ton of animals and a baby seal that enter.
tanned us very much.
AS this is fce night the streets are cleared
of all vehicles, and music and dancing seemed
everywhere On every side were gIittcrng
! lights, gay colored lanterns, streaming ban
ncrs and a merry, iostling crowd of pleasure
seekers. After extriCating ourselves from
| this scene of reveling animation we turned
to gaze upon it en- massc, and as a moving
panorama we have seen nothing so animated.
From here we went to the Place dc la
CouCorde where, from one end to the other,
as far as the eye could reach, stretched rows
of scint.latng gas jets. The trees were hung
with lighted coored lanterns while the square
was decorated with numerous designs in col
ored lights. The emblem Of France WAS in
red, white and blue and the letters Il. f.
shone on all sides in blaze of glory. Away
off in the distance the Arc du Tri0mphe with
a glttcring crown seemed to consummate the
scene
! The oldest civilization In the world typi-
fled by the Cbelsk of Egypt looked down
upon the modern celebration of the liberia
ton of a nation.
A little further on the scene changed
Here we stood in the midst of group of
statuary representing Alsace Lorraine, which