justly excites the admiration of every beholder, and is probably
the most magnificent Gothic edifice in the world. It stands on a
slight eminence, sixty feet above the Rhine. As early as the ninth
century, an Episcopal church occupied the site, but the inhabitants
regarded it to be unworthy, as compared with the prosperity of the
city, and consequently started a new one. The foundation-stone
of the present structure was laid on August 14, 1248. On the 15th
of October, 1880, the completion of the Cathedral was celebrated
in the presence of William I.]
[Illustration: BINGEN, GERMANY.--Bingen, a Hessian town of Prussia,
with a population of 7100, is situated at the confluence of the
Nahe and Rhine rivers. The Romans erected a castle here in 70,
when a battle was fought between them and the Gauls. Bingen carries
on a large trade in wine, starch and leather. The town is in a
beautiful and highly picturesque country, and is visited by thousands
of tourists during the summer season. On an island in the Rhine is
the Mansethum, or "Rat Tower," a structure erected in the thirteenth
century. Bingen is celebrated in song, poetry, story and history.]
[Illustration: EHRENBREITSTEIN, GERMANY.--This small town, with
five thousand three hundred inhabitants, prettily situated in a
valley, is crowned with the fortresses of Ehrenbreitstein and
Asterstein, which are connected with Coblenz by a bridge of boats,
about four hundred yards in length. The majestic fortress of
Ehrenbreitstein rises opposite the influx of the Moselle, and is
situated on a precipitous rock, three hundred and eighty-five feet
above the Rhine, inaccessible on three sides, and connected with
the neighboring heights on the north side only. The view from the
top is one of the finest on the Rhine. It embraces the fertile
Rhine Valley from Stolzenfels to Andernach.]
[Illustration: FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.--The above city,
formerly one of the few independent towns of Germany, now belongs
to Prussia. Old watch-towers in the vicinity indicate its ancient
extent. The city lies on a spacious plain bounded by mountains,
on the right bank of the navigable river Main. On the left bank
lies Sachenhausen, a suburb connected with Frankfort by four stone
bridges and one suspension bridge. In a commercial, and particularly
a financial, point of view, Frankfort is one of the most important
cities of Germany.]
[Illustration: MARTIN LUTHER'S HOUSE, FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN,
GERMANY.--Here is a historic relic which justly excites the admiration
of the beholder. This is where Martin Luther lived for a time after
he had nailed to a church-door in Wittenberg the theses in which
he contested the doctrine at the root of the detestable traffic
carried on for the Pope by Tetzel and his accomplices. This brought
to the front a man who had certainly many faults, but who amply
made up for them by his force of intellect and the loftiness of
his aims.]
[Illustration: ARIADNE ON THE PANTHER, BETHMANN'S MUSEUM,
FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.--This exquisite piece of sculpture
is the masterpiece of Dannecker, a sculptor of Stuttgart, who is
likewise famous for his bust of Schiller. Of the many subjects
sculptured by Dannecker, Ariadne, especially, has a peculiar charm
of novelty, which has made it a European favorite in a reduced
size. It is perhaps the contrast between the delicacy of the female
human form and the subdued rude force of the panther she rides,
that attracts the admiration.]
[Illustration: UNIVERSITY BUILDING, LEIPSIC, GERMANY.--Leipsic
is one of the great commercial cities of Germany, the centre of
the German book-trade, the seat of the supreme law-courts of the
German Empire, and contains one of the most ancient and important
universities in Europe. The interior of the city consists of lofty
and closely built houses, dating chiefly from the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, and is surrounded by five handsome suburbs,
beyond which is a series of villages, almost adjacent to the town.
The above picture represents one of the University buildings.]
[Illustration: ROYAL PALACE, BERLIN, GERMANY.--This palace, six
hundred and fifty feet long, three hundred and eighty feet wide,
and rectangular in form, rises in four stories to the height of
one hundred feet, while the dome on the right is two hundred and
thirty feet high. In the time of Frederick the Great, it served
as a residence for all the members of the royal family, contained
all the royal collections, and was the seat of several government
officials. Now it is used for reception rooms, and a dwelling for
royal officials. The exterior of the palace is massive and imposing;
the interior is beautifully embellished.]
[Illustration: BERLIN, GERMANY.--Berlin, the capital of Prussia
and the home of the emperor, with its large and beautiful buildings
and its regularity of streets, ranks among the finest cities in
Europe. The most noted street is that called "Unter den Linden,"
the city's pride, a broad and imposing thoroughfare, resembling the
boulevards of Paris. It contains four rows of trees, ornamented at
one end by the Brandenburg Gate, and at the other by the equestrian
statue of Frederick the Great, well represented by this photograph.
The palace of the king, different gardens, the aquarial museum and
many other noted buildings border on "Unter den Linden," which is
nearly a mile long, and thronged all day with pedestrians.]
[Illustration: STATUE OF FREDERICK THE GREAT, BERLIN, GERMANY.--This
impressive and masterly work was erected in 1851 at one end of
the "Linden," and is probably the grandest monument of its kind
in Europe. The great King is represented on horse-back, with his
coronation-robes and walking-stick. The pedestal is divided into
four sections. The upper one contains allegorical figures and scenes
in Frederick's life, with the figures Moderation, Justice, Wisdom
and Strength at the corners; the second section contains figures
of the King's officers, and the lower section, the names of other
distinguished men.]
[Illustration: THE BRANDENBURG GATE, BERLIN, GERMANY.--The Brandenburg
Gate, forming the entrance to Berlin, from the Thiergarten, was erected
in 1793 in imitation of the Propylæa at Athens. It is 85 feet high
and 205 feet wide, and has five different passages, separated by
massive Doric columns. It is at the one end of "Unter den Linden,"
and its middle passage is reserved for royal carriages only. The
material is sandstone, and it is surmounted by a Quadriga of Victory
from copper, taken to Paris by Napoleon in 1807, but restored in
1814. On the side are two wings resembling Grecian Temples, one
of which is a pneumatic post-office and the other a guard-house.
Both combine in their construction, strength, elegance and beauty.]
[Illustration: MONUMENT OF VICTORY, BERLIN, GERMANY.--This monument,
rising to a height of two hundred feet, stands on a circular terrace,
approached by eight granite steps in the Thiergarten. It was dedicated
on September 2, 1873, to commemorate the great victories of 1870
and 1871. The massive square pedestal is adorned with reliefs in
bronze. Above, in the flutings of the column, which consists of
yellow, grayish sandstone, are placed three rows of Danish, Austrian
and French cannon, captured in the different battles fought with
those nations.]
[Illustration: THE HISTORIC WINDMILL, POTSDAM, GERMANY.--Potsdam
is almost entirely surrounded by a fringe of royal palaces, parks
and pleasure-grounds. Here is located the palace of Sanssouci.
Adjacent to the palace is the famous windmill, now royal property,
which its owner refused to sell to the King, meeting threatened
violence by an appeal to the judges of its supreme court.]
[Illustration: MADONNA DI SAN SISTO (BY RAPHAEL), DRESDEN GALLERY,
DRESDEN, GERMANY.--This masterpiece of Raphael, was photographed direct
from the original painting, worth $400,000. It is an altar-piece,
representing the Virgin and Child in clouds, with St. Sixtus on
the right, St. Barbara on the left, and the cherubs beneath. A
curtain has just been drawn back, and the Virgin issues, as it
were, from the depth of Heaven, her large serene eyes seeming to
embrace the whole world in their gaze. The most striking feature
of the painting is the expression of naive innocence depicted on
the faces of the cherubs.]
[Illustration: MAGDALENE (BY BATTONI), DRESDEN GALLERY, DRESDEN,
GERMANY.]
[Illustration: BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PARIS, FRANCE.--Paris, the largest
city in the French Republic, and its capital, covers an area of
thirty square miles, with a population of about 2,000,000. The
river Seine, which flows through the centre of the city, is spanned
by twenty-eight bridges, of which the seven principal are shown on
this photograph. The city is noted for its fine parks, magnificent
churches, colossal buildings, and wide boulevards, of which the Champs
Elysees is the most famous. Paris is the centre of the political,
artistic, scientific, commercial and industrial life of the nation.]
[Illustration: PLACE DE LA CONCORDE, PARIS, FRANCE.--Place de la
Concorde, one of the most beautiful and extensive public parks
in Paris, being considered, by the best authorities, the finest
in the world, is bounded by the Seine, Champs Elysees, Tuileries
and Rue de Rivoli. Numerous historical associations are connected
with the place. The guillotine did much bloody work here during
1793-4-5; upwards of 2800 people perished by it. Foreign troops
frequently bivouacked on the square when Paris was in their power.
The Obelisk of Luxor, a Monolith or single block of reddish granite
76 feet high, was presented to Louis Phillipi by Mohamed Ali and
erected in the centre of the Place. It adds very much to the interest
of the park.]
[Illustration: MADELEINE, PARIS, FRANCE.--The foundation of this
church was laid by Louis XV. in 1764. The Revolution found the
edifice unfinished, and Napoleon I. ordered the building to be
completed as a "Temple of Glory." Louis XVIII., however, returned
to the original intention of making it a church. The edifice was
finally completed in 1842, and the amount of money expended was
upwards of $2,500,000. It stands on a basement, surrounded by massive
Corinthian columns. The building, which is destitute of windows,
is constructed exclusively of stone, light being admitted through
sky-lights in the roof.]
[Illustration: OPERA HOUSE, PARIS, FRANCE.--This is a most sumptuous
edifice, completed in 1874, and covering an area of nearly three
acres. Nothing can surpass the magnificence of the materials with
which it is decorated, and for which almost all Europe has made
contributions. Sweden and Scotland yielded a supply of green and
red granite; from Italy were brought the yellow and white marbles;
from Finland, red porphyry; from Spain, "brocatello;" and from
France, other marbles of various colors. The cost of the site was
over $2,000,000, and that of the building nearly $8,000,000.]
[Illustration: GREAT BOULEVARDS, PARIS, FRANCE.--The splendid line
of streets, known as the Great Boulevards, which extend on the
north side of the Seine, from the Madeleine at one end, to the
Bastile at the other, was originally the line of fortifications or
bulwarks of the City of Paris. In 1670, the city having extended
northward far beyond the fortifications, the moats were filled up,
the walls destroyed and the above Boulevards formed. This photograph
represents the Grand Hotel at the corner of the Place de l'Opera.]
[Illustration: JULY COLUMN, PARIS, FRANCE.--The above monument
was erected after the Revolution of July, 1830, in honor of the
heroes who fell on that occasion, and solemnly dedicated in 1840.
The total height of the monument is one hundred and fifty-four feet,
resting on a massive round sub-struction of white marble, originally
intended for Napoleon's Elephant, which he had planned to erect in
bronze on this spot; but his plans were never consummated. On the
sub-struction rises a square basement, on each side of which are
four bronze medallions, symbolical of Justice, the Constitution,
Strength and Freedom.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: PANTHEON, PARIS, FRANCE.--This structure standing
on the highest ground in the City of Paris, occupies the site of
the tomb of Ste. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. The present
edifice was completed in 1790. The new church was dedicated to
Ste. Genevieve, but in 1791 the Convention resolved to convert it
into a kind of memorial temple, which they named the "Pantheon."
In 1885 it was secularized for the obsequies of Victor Hugo. The
edifice is of most imposing dimensions, in the form of a Greek
cross. The building resembles the Pantheon in Rome.]
[Illustration: LOUVRE BUILDINGS, PARIS, FRANCE.--Here are presented
the most important public buildings in Paris, both architecturally
and on account of the treasures of art they contain. The oldest
part of the Louvre has been the scene of many historical events.
It is divided into two different sections, the ground floor being
devoted to an Egyptian museum. The other apartments contain the
Asiatic museum, collections of ancient sculpture, collections of
Renaissance sculpture, collections of modern sculpture, a picture
gallery, a saloon of the ancient bronzes, and a collection of Greek
and other antiquities.]
[Illustration: VENUS DE MILO, LOUVRE GALLERY, PARIS.--This statue
of Aphrodite, which was found on the Island of Melos, now Milo,
at the entrance to the Greek Archipelago, was sold to the French
Government for 6000 francs, and is now not for sale for its weight
in gold. It is exhibited in the Louvre and represents one of the most
celebrated treasures of the Gallery. Aphrodite is here represented,
not only as a beautiful woman, but as a goddess, as is seen by
her powerful and majestic form and the noble expression of the
head, indicating her independence of human needs and the placid
self-competence of her divine character. It is one of the masterpieces
which constitute the great marvel of antiquity.]
[Illustration: TOMB OF PHILLIPPE POT, LOUVRE GALLERY, PARIS, FRANCE.]
[Illustration: PEACEMAKER OF THE VILLAGE (BY GREUZE), LOUVRE GALLERY,
PARIS, FRANCE.--This painting was executed by the renowned French
artist when nearly at the zenith of his powers, and is only one of
the many giant masterpieces by this celebrated painter. Greuze,
when quite young, showed considerable talent, which was encouraged
by a Lyonese artist. At the advice of the latter, he drifted to
Paris and produced several Biblical subjects, followed by others of
the same class. He left France for Italy, but returned soon after
and produced the above painting in 1759-61, followed by others,
with increasing success.]
[Illustration: THE LAST VEIL (BY BOURET), LUXEMBOURG GALLERY, PARIS,
FRANCE]
[Illustration: ARREST IN THE VILLAGE (BY SALMSON), LUXEMBOURG GALLERY,
PARIS, FRANCE.]
[Illustration: A MOTHER (BY LENOIR), LUXEMBOURG GALLERY, PARIS,
FRANCE.]
[Illustration: JOAN OF ARC (BY CHAPU), LUXEMBOURG GALLERY, PARIS,
FRANCE--Known in France as Jeanne d'Arc, the maid of Orleans was
born about 1411. In 1428, when Orleans, the key to the south of
France, was infested by the English, she rode at the head of an
army, clothed in a coat of mail, armed with an ancient sword, and
carrying a white standard of her own design, embroidered with lilies,
and having on the one side the image of God holding the world in
His hand, on the other a representation of the annunciation. The
siege of the town was broken, but she was often accused of being
a heretic and sorcerer, and was burned at the stake May 30, 1431.]
[Illustration: PAYING THE REAPERS (BY LHERMITTE), LUXEMBOURG GALLERY,
PARIS, FRANCE.--This famous painting, from which the photograph is a
direct copy, represents a farm scene. The laborers have just finished
their day's work. The man with the scythe, rolled-up sleeves and open
shirt, is a genuine representation of an honest and industrious
laborer. The expression on his face shows a tired look, but a spirit
of contentment gently steals over his face, which nearly all true
and honest country people possess after a day's hard labor.]
[Illustration: IGNORANCE (BY J. COMERRE PATON), LUXEMBOURG GALLERY,
PARIS, FRANCE.--This is one of the most celebrated paintings by
this popular artist. The outlines of the girl are perfect. The
graceful curves of the arms, the sweet expression of the face and
the tender look of the eyes are all charmingly beautiful. The tiny
cap, the loose garment, the uncovered feet, the bare arms, and
the comfortable position of the girl, all add to her beauty. In
the photograph the blended colors of the original painting are
lost, yet the subject can be well studied from this copy.]
[Illustration: ROYAL PALACE, VERSAILLES, FRANCE.--This palace presents
a most imposing appearance; the principal façade is no less than
one-fourth of a mile long. The building dates back, for the erection
of its various parts, to several different periods, and was the
royal residence of the various rulers of France. It has remained
uninhabited since it was sacked by a Parisian mob, which included
many thousand women. The various halls and rooms are now devoted
to the use of most interesting picture galleries.]
[Illustration: ROYAL CARRIAGE, VERSAILLES, FRANCE.--In the Museum
of Carriages at Versailles is a collection of royal vehicles from
the time of the first Emperor to the baptism of the Prince Imperial
in 1856, besides sledges of the time of Louis XIV., and sedan chairs.
The royal carriage in the picture is that of Charles X., afterwards
used by Napoleon on various occasions, the letter "N" being still
seen on the drapery adorning the seat. The carriage is valued at
$200,000, and considered one of the finest vehicles of its kind
in the world.]