The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-28
FRENCH CITIES
DISPLAY SPIRIT
OF MIDDLE ACES
Quaint Architecture of Bor-
deaux Described in Letter
From Corporal Pardieck.

Corporal j. B. Pardieck, Of Head
Train company, has written the fol-
quarters company. 315th Ammunition
Train company, has written the fol-
lowing letter to Charles Green. chief
clerk Of the p. c. c. & st. l.. railroad
here. The letter follows:
Am on duty In the office tonight
and knowing you would appreciate a
line or two, am taking advantage of
the idle typewriter.
Am still located near Bordeaux
not doing much except taking on
weight: pulled the scales Sunday at
176 pounds; must be open air and
lots OF sleep that is doing it. Thought
! had better get a memento of myself
at my prime so had my face shot
Sunday and will send you cut II they
are in anyway recognizable; they are
only post card pictures.
The unusual happened last Friday
and I was given two days pass to
the gay city OF Bordeaux, which. II
you still remember your history, Is
about the third largest city in France.
and the principal wine center. 1t Is
really q fact, l didn't see a place to
get water the whole two days l was
there; wine Is a part Of dinner
menu, and II you want mineral water,
It is extra. The cafes occupy the most
prominent corners and their tables
placed on the sidewalks in front, make
the pedestrians walk in the streets.
Everything Is served in the open and
you take your ia femme and can
sit and watch the passing crowds on
the crowded sidewalks.
Bordeaux has large, beautiful de-
pot, up to date in every respect and
in glaring contrast with the buildings
of the 10th and 18th and 14th cen
turtles. 1t has a train shed covering
ten tracks, each set OF tracks being
reached by undergrade tunnels. The
station itself is three story solid
stone building about block long and
what strikes ones eye is the cleanli-
ness Of everything-not stray piece
Of paper or accumulated grease and
dirt--a compliment, | guess to the
women car-cleaners on the job.
Leaving the station, you are imme-
diately again in the spirit of the mid
die ages, streets ten to fifteen feet
wide, following no plan whatever; the
ever leather-lunged pedler; the mus
ty smell of old buildings; the quaint
architecture Of medieval Gaul-in fact
you can scarcely imagine again our
roomy scattered modern cities. The
Oldest building we were able to find
was the ruins OF an old Roman amphi-
theatre, dating back to about 20 A. d.
Churches Of Interest.
climbing the centuries, the tenth
century claims our next attention as
hot NJ
the greatest churches were started.
The 'Cathedrale Saint Andre probably
has the greatest art treasures. 1t is
a massive solid stone structure In pure
Gothic style and to appreciate the
work and minute detail Of its con-
struction you would have to see it.
In the interior the main altar attracts
your first attention. Nothing seemed
to be too good-the altar is Of pure
white marble; the candle sticks of
gold. There are no pews in these
churches and the faithful stand during
the services.
81 believe you would be particularly
interested in the shrines, of which
there are about ten, most Of them to
the Blessed Virgin. They have been
richly endowed by grateful petitioners
and the statues are crowned with mag
nificent crowns, costly urns Of pre-
cious metals hold flowers and hun
dreds Of photos of cures are clustered
about. The pulpit is masterpiece OF
wood engraving, each station mas
terpiece in oil. At one side is the &c.
clesiastical court setting, the only one
! have ever seen. Then, too, there
are so many beautiful sarcophagi OF
great bishops and prelates-in fact
so many points Of interest in this one
cathedral that you could spend days
and not study everything.
81 visited about six Of the churches
and each Is especially interesting for
either the rare painting OF the walls
and domes, the statuary, the artglass
windows, pulpits, or affairs.
Bordeaux has also a number OF
triumphal arches. built in memorial
OF different victories of the Gaulic and
French armies. The Grand theatre,
two and one half million dollar stone
structure. built in 1900. is very impos.
ing with it's massive and imposing col
onnade. It's interior is claimed to be
one of the grandest in Continental
Europe, but it was closed for repairs
and was unable to get In.
Medieval Splendor.
81 visited two Of the museums OF
painting and statuary. Nearly every
thing Is in the nude; landscape paint
ing Is in the minority. I might say
that every emotional feeling is por-
trayed in OIL the seven vices are per-
sonified: beauty is there and many
Of the old mythical tales are produced
on canvas Power. a huge statue hewn
from a solid piece OF white marble,
with every muscle and tendron taut.
attracted my eye. and Louis XVI, in
All his court splendor. a twenty-five
foot statue Of bronze. ruled over every
thing The original painting of the
Battle of Waterloo is in this museum
and this painting in itself is a days
study. so wildly are the details
brought out.
1.-THE hotels, too, seem to reflect our
forefathers. The beds are massive,
and they seemed to have ben placed
In room and the walls of the room
built around them. Can you imagine
a soldier who has been sleeping for
about four months on few flattened
pieces of straw scattered in the four
ends of tick, getting in bed with
about twO-foOt mattress and a