Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-12
The White House IN Paris


more attractive surroundings than that chosen
as the temporary American White House, facing
Place de la Concorde Every prospect pleases
there. The central point of all that is grand and
beautiful in the city, artistically planned and
| adorned by famous artists, the Place and its
neighboring recreation grounds comprise the
most delightful and artistic civic center in the
world.
The Crillon building, ducal palace of by
gone days, which is to house the American
peace mission. is one of two stone buildings OF
similar design stretching lengthwise along the
north side where Rue Rivoli and Rue Royale
intersect and merge with the Place. Both are
three story buildings with columned balconies,
resembling in general outline the Farnam street
front of the Douglas county court house, the
columns, however, standing clear of the walls.
Until recently the Crillon was occupied partly
as hotel and tie Offices of the ministry of
marine and is admirably fitted for the purposes
of the new tenant, Uncle Sam, who foots the
bill, said to be 100000 for years lease.
From the windows of the temporary White
House the peace officials may look out upon
vistas where history was made, and ease the
strain of history in the making. The Place as
now appears is comparatively modern, be-
gun in 1854, and improved as the years passed.
Beneath all that charms the eyes Of visitors lies
subsoil deluged with the blood of the revolu
ton. A century and quarter ago the guillotne
first started business on this then a marshy
spot and did more execution in the succeeding
half a dozen years than any political headsman
of the generation. Among the victims were:
Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Cor
day, Duke of Orleans Danton and Robespierre.
Lesser victims of the knife ran the Redeemed
score close to 5000, giving the modern Place
fair start as a cemetery Subsequent genera
tons quickly forgot the horrors of the past.
Better days had dawned. and the sunny spirit of
D.. ~1xaI 49,
ton of graveyard into an artistic beauty spot.
The Place measures 100 by 705 feet. Eight
colossal statutes contributed by and represent
ing the cities of Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Mar
settles, Lyons, Nantes, Lille, Brest and Rouen
form huge oval. In. the center, between two
magnificent fountans,> stands the rose,,colored
obelsk of Luxor 70 feet high, on the spot
where the guillotne stood. On its four sides
is traced in hieroglyphics martial song of
praise of Sesostrc, an ancient Egyptian king
otherwise smothered in the duty of 5000 years.
Sesostric was wiser than his successors who
planned the Cleopatra needles, now in New
York and London, as durable memorials. The
Luxor obelisk is syenite marble and has with
stood the assaults of Partisan weather without
visible hurt for 81 years. The lighting plan is
equally artistic and shadowless
Beyond the Place to the south flows the
Seine spanned by the Concorde bridge and
esplanade and Hotel des Invalides, in which the
first Napoleon rests. In this direction the view
is unobstructed for third of a mile and has
for background the Champs du Mars, the
Trocadero and the Eiffel tower. To the east is
the garden of the Tuilleres, noted for its beau
tiful trees, flower beds and statuary-a favorite
resort of chaperoned babies A few fragments
of the walls of the Palace of the Tuilleries,
burned down in 1871 recall the tragic activities
of the firebugs of the Commune. Adjoining the
garden is Place du Carrousal, formerly the site
of royal cabaret, now a part OF the general
Severus at Rome, built and decorated in honor
of the soldiers of the first empire, stands here.
Beyond are the Gambetta monument and the
Louvre art palace.
Westward for mile and half stretches
Champes DIES Elysees, the most beautiful of all
avenues, where the elite of Paris burn gas every
fair weather day and prornenaders crowd
double walks on each side. One third of the
length comprise park and avenue about 400 feet
wide and the remainder probably 200 feet wide.
Double rows of dwarfed trees on the sides
brighten the color scheme and relieve the garish
lines of stone palaces. hotels cafes and resi-.
dental castles of restricted height. Rows of
cluster lights flank the sides and center and
isles of safety afford pedestrians hating place
in dash across between speeders. Most of the
avenue rises gradually to the high ground on
the crest Of which stands the celebrated
Napoeonic "Arch of Triumph of the Stars"
projected in 1906 1t is the largest of its class
in the world and is profusely decorated. From
this central axis twelve streets radiate in every
direction, one of Them broad boulevard, leads
to the Bots de Boulogne railway station, where
President Wilson is scheduled to arrive in Paris.
In these victorious days and nights, with
JOY unconhned and notes of triumph heard
everywhere, scenes of animated life in this civic
| ca ter witnessed before
the war. The revulson from the strain OF four
and half years of war, is sufficient in itself to
restore pleasure seeking and recreation. But
Paris and France pulsates with deeper and
more heartening relief. Success in arms, the
salvation of France the redemption of Alsace-
wDed away, open new era of liberty and
safety and compensates for the sacrifices of war.
Who has a greater reason to celebrate and
make merry? And Place de la Concorde has
the space and the attractions for the multitude.
Looking backward four years and four
months these joyful scenes make bright back
ground for the gloom of Place de la Concorde
the first week of August, 1914. The deadening
shock of war and the agony of the fam
lilies separated by mobilization were visible
in the strained and fearful faces. Pleasure
vanished and duty filled the hours. Few people
other than marooned tourists were seen. A
mother accompanying her son called to the
colors, or wife and husband about to separate,
perhaps forever, walked silently and hurriedly
with bowed heads in the direction of the bar
racks Occasionally a child or two chung to
mother or father, fortunately uncomprehending
the coming trial and tragedy. Many young men,
unaccompanied, paused awhile before the
statue OF Strasbourg, still bedecked with
wreaths and garlands of July a. sauted and
passed on. The action embodied the spirit of
the men and was silent pledge of conservation
to France and the restoration. The figure of
Strasbourg. beflowered annually and wearing