The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-31
PARIS SHRINES FALL
AS CITY PROGRESSES
Extension Of Rue de Rennes
Means Sacrifice of
Landmarks.

PARIS, May 2i.-wi,h the ext.nsion NJ
the Rue de Rennes, work on which "a no
pes'n soon. new highway leading from
tho care Montparnasse, on tho edge of
the Latin quarter, across the Seine to the
heart or the city's retail business district
will be afforded
kue de Rennes. starting at Boulevard
Montparnasse. terminates now at the
historic church OF st. Germain-de- Pros.
snort half mile away. and progress be-
yond that point Is confined TO Rue Bona
parte ana other narrow and congested
streets. The present purpose IL to ex-
lend the thoroughfare from a point lust
pehlho the church, In northeasterly d.
rection TO the intersection of Rue de
Seine and Rue de Beaux-Arts, whence IL
viii continue northwest to the junction
OF Rue Bonaparte and the Quai Mala-
quais
All OF these are names which must
revive almost sacred memories In the
mind or every American who Is familiar
with the lower sections OF tho Latin quar-
ter. II Is region Astounding In curio
shops. art academies, atollers and PEN
s!ons, which number many Americans
future Sirgents and Whistlers in the
number perhaps--among their patrons
The generous width Of the present Rue
de Rennes Is to be preserved In the ex-
tension and a street with as modern
newer sections OF Boulevard RaspaiI will
result.
But the Improvement will come only at
the sacrifice OF shrines dear to the hearts
OF students OF "old Paris" True. the
long haired artist may in future climb
in bus and be wheeled rapidly and
without transfer to Montmartre. with its
questionable night attractions. but en-
route he will miss many landmarks which
have come to be considered essential pos
sessions of "the quarter" For Instance.
the weatherbeaten old house at 20 Rue
Jacob. where the celebrated comedienne
Adrienne Lecouvreur once lived. Will
disappear. as will the tottering remains OF
| the building at Rue de Seine. where
| the dissolute queen Margaret found ref
uge after Henry ". had repudiated her
| to mention only two OF the more Inn
| portant shrines
The extension will pass the right wing
| OF the old Institute OF France. Mem
bers OF the institute feared that the plans
contemplated the demolition OF part OF
| this building. but the diagonal turn to be
made at Rue de Beaux-Arts obviates tht
necessity for this--at least for the pres
| ent Later a branch OF the street may
be constructed directly to DUAL de Cont
| emerging at the side of the Hotel des
| Monnaies. or Government mint. forming
with the highway to Quail Malaquais @
| "y'' around the sides and rear OF the In
! stitute In that case 1t viii be necessarI
| 10 chin of small corner or the let
wing, but the loss vii, be more thar
compensated by the construction OF a new
| and decorative south facade.
| II may be decided to build new bridge
across the Seine to afford direct egres
from Rue de Rennes at DUAL Mala0uais
FOR the Pont des Arts will be on I'M
main line then. This pont. by the way
ia only a foot bridge now, but plans 10
renianing IL by a structure capable o
handling vehicular traffic have been con
.,dered from time to time. One ingeniou
engineer proposed a few years ago IN
construction OF bridge In the shape o
the letter az" permitting approscnse
river.