Shepp's Photographs of the World

by James W. Shepp; Daniel B. Shepp

STATUE OF THE REPUBLIC, Paris, France.—This national statue is made of bronze, and was erected in 1883. The stone pedestal, fifty feet in height, is surrounded with seated bronze figures of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. The statue, thirty-two feet high to the top of the olive branch, makes a striking and imposing appearance. In front is a brazen lion, with the urn of universal suffrage. On the stone pedestal are hewn the words, "To the Glory of the Republic of France, to the City of Paris, 1883." This statue was the model for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

VENDOME COLUMN, Paris, France.—Here is an imitation of Trajan's column at Rome. It is one hundred and forty-two feet high, and thirteen feet in diameter, and was erected by the order of Napoleon I., from 1806 to 1810, to commemorate his victories in 1805, over the Russians and Austrians. The figures on the spiral column represent memorable scenes, from the breaking up of the camp at Boulogne, to the battle of Austerlitz. The metal of these figures was obtained by melting 1200 Russian and Austrian cannons. The top is a statue of Napoleon.

ROYAL PALACE, Paris, France.—The above palace, erected by Cardinal Richelieu in 1634, was occupied after his death by Anne of Austria, the widow of Louis XIII., with her sons Louis XIV., and Philip of Orleans, then in their minority. In 1815 the Orleans family regained possession of the Palais Royal; and it was occupied by Louis Philippe to 1830. Shortly before the outbreak of the revolution of July, he gave a sumptuous ball here in honor of Neapolitan notabilities then visiting Paris. In 1871, the Communists set the Palais Royal on fire, but it has since been carefully restored.

HOTEL DE VILLE, Paris, France.—The above edifice, in many respects one of the finest buildings in Paris, may be regarded as an enlarged reproduction of the original building, with richer ornamentation and more convenient arrangements. It has played a conspicuous part in the different revolutions, having been the usual rallying place of the Democratic party. Here was also celebrated the union of the July Monarchy with the Bourgeoisie, when Louis Philippe presented himself at one of the windows in August, 1830, and, in view of the populace, embraced Lafayette.

CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAME, Paris, France.—Founded in 1163, but not completed until the thirteenth century. Since then the building has been frequently altered. During the Revolution the Cathedral was sadly desecrated. The side chapels were devoted to orgies of various kinds. In 1802 it was again re-opened by Napoleon as a place of divine worship. During 1871 Notre Dame was desecrated by the Communists. The treasury was rifled, and the building used as a military depot. When the insurgents were compelled to retreat, they set fire to the church, but fortunately little damage was done.

PALACE OF JUSTICE, Paris, France.—This palace, occupying the site of the ancient palace of the kings of France, was presented by Charles VIII., in 1431, to the Parliament or Supreme Court of Justice. The palace was so much injured by fire in 1618 and in 1776, that nothing of it now remains except the two round domes which are seen on the right of the picture. The bridge seen in connection with the avenue in the foreground, spans the Seine, having been built by Napoleon, while the avenue itself leads to the Exchange.

ARC OF TRIUMPH, Paris, France.—This is the finest triumphal arch in existence. It is situated at one end of the Champs Elysees, on an eminence, and can be seen from nearly every part of the city. Twelve magnificent avenues radiate from it, nearly all of them sloping upward to the arch. It was commenced by Napoleon I. in 1806, and completed by Louis Philippe in 1836, at a cost of $2,000,000.

DOME DES INVALIDES, Paris, France.—The beautiful gilded dome, three hundred and forty feet high, which surmounts the church of the Invalides, and which can be seen at a great distance, is built on the north side of the Seine, and forms a part of the Hotel des Invalides. The Hotel des Invalides, founded in 1670 by Louis XIV., for aged veterans, covers an area of thirty-one acres. Immediately under the gilded dome, is a crypt below the floor, containing the tomb of Napoleon.

TOMB OF NAPOLEON, Paris, France.—This tomb is situated beneath the Dome des Invalides, in an open circular crypt, twenty feet in depth and thirty-six feet in diameter. The walls are of polished granite, adorned with ten marble reliefs. On the mosaic pavement rises the Sarcophagus, thirteen feet long, six and one-half feet wide, and fourteen and one-half feet high, a huge block of reddish-brown granite weighing sixty-seven tons, and costing $30,000. At the further end of the crypt appears Napoleon's last request: "I wish that my ashes rest on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French people, whom I loved so well." To these words, as well as to the tomb of the great leader, every Frenchman reverts with pride.

EIFFEL TOWER, Paris, France.—This enormous monument surpasses anything of the kind hitherto erected. From all parts of the city its graceful head may be seen, completely dwarfing into insignificance every public building and spire that Paris contains. It has three platforms. The first, of vast extent and comfortably arranged for many hundred visitors at a time, contains cafés and restaurants. The second is 376 feet from the ground, and the third, 863 feet. The total height of the Tower is 985 feet, being the loftiest monument in the world.