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Article PARIS OF TO-DAY. ← Page 2 of 2 Article PARIS OF TO-DAY. Page 2 of 2 Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Page 1 of 2 →
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Paris Of To-Day.
and outre attempts at effect we so often see iu England . There is also a consistent uniformity of style which , as I have said before , is a species of renaissance with more elegance and freedom than we have heen accustomed to see in the designs of the modern purists ; so that in the streets of Paris we do not meet with the strange jumble we do in London , where one house is Gothic , tbe next Greek , the next bare brick walls , with square holes for windowsand ugly high chimneysthe next Alhambra
, , , and the next streaked with red and black , in the manner which some folks have the effrontery to call . the style of North Italy . Nevertheless , the great variety in the treatment of the architectural decorations and other adjuncts , of which this style , which I have ventured to call the Imperial Renaissance , is susceptible , g ives a pleasing variety to the general effect of the street , of which we may say , in the words of the poet ,
"Nee fades una , Nee tlivcrsa taraen , quails dccct esse sovorum . " The footways are wide , and , as I have said before , are planted with trees and liberally provided with seats for the public . The roadways are macadamised , and the trottoirs asphalted . At night these stately architectural avenues are brilliantl y lighted by elegant gas-lamps , which , in an artistic point of view ,
are very superior to the old glazed boxes , which are coeval with the application of gas to street-lighting . In some instances I have observed a successful attempt has been made to economise light . This is done by placing over the burning jet a metallic or porcelain reflector , which throws the whole of that portion of light which ordinarily ascends and is useless , directly on to the pavement , where it is wanted . As a friend observed in
London , " We send the best part of the li ght up to the sky , so that the stars might not lose their way . " Permit me now , for the sake of clearness , hefore closing my observation on the general aspect of new Paris , to offer a detailed description of ono house , which we may consider a type of the rest . Imagine a building six stories high , one of which would he in the roof , constructed of the beautiful white stone
technically called pierre tendre ; the great portal in the middle , which generally runs up some 12 or 14 feet , the aaehitraves round the windows , and the cornices at top being beautifully adorned with enriched mouldings , arabesques , and festoons . The balconies are protected by elaborately designed iron railings , often partially gilt . The upper story is on the roof of the construction , commonly called a mansard , and is covered with zinc , the windows of which are of the form technically called hicarues , and are also richly ornamented in the same metal . Let us now suppose we enter the spacious doorway of one of those dwelling-houses , which introduces us at once into a
courtyard sufficiently large for a carriage to turn round in with ease —a pleasing contrast to the grave error lately committed in London , where the court is narrow , and in which the air stagnates , and light can scarcely penetrate . On the right and left of the corridor leading to the spacious court-yard will be found the foot of two grand staircases . These ascend through all the floors , and form the means of communication to all the better apartments as escalier de serviceor servants' staircasebeing
, , provideoed in the court-yard leading to the roof , in which their apartments are usually placed . Each flat or floor is provided with all the domestic necessities of modern refinement and comfort , regardless of original cost . The decorations of the salons are generally in good taste ; not only the ceilings , hut the panels of the doors are enriched , and for the most painted white and
relieved with gold . The handsome mirrors found in all the apartments , together with the richly carved marble chimney-pieces , are the landlord ' s property , and let with the fabric . The floors are of the old-fashioned bright oakparquetrie ; and , briefly , it may he observed that the wood-work in these modern buildings is confined to the joinery ; the joists being of rolled iron , fitted in between bricks perforated for the sake of
lightness . The glazing of the windows is usually executed in single sheets of plate gias ; and the sashes are not hung to slide , as with ns , hut with hinges like our doors ; and they are fastened with elegant espagnolettes . The same stvle of decoration is employed up to the fourth and sometimes " to the fifth floors . The rents of these fiats or suites of apartments , varies from £ 150 to £ 600 per annum . On the right and left of the
-doorway will generally be found shops , which let for a very high rent . It should be observed that it very frequently occurs that a second block of building , forming one side of the court-yard referred to , is constructed immediatel y behind such
Paris Of To-Day.
a one as we havo already described , and which we have supposed to have one side facing the street . This second set of apartments is , of course , in tbe rear of the first , is generally finished with elegance , and with every comfort ; hut the suites , as it may be easily imagined , do not let for such high rents as those which are nearer to the thoroughfares . The underground floors are not used in Paris for the purposes of residences , but [ are made available for cellarage .
It is hoped that a just description has now been given which will convey an idea of modern Paris . It remains to be observed that nearly all these great arteries of this magnificent city lead to parks for the recreation and health of the people . Thus we have the Bois de Boulogne , the Park Monceaux , anh the widespread Park of Vinceunes , all of which act , as has been said , of onr own parks , as lungs of the metropolis , and are immediately accessible in their respective quarters . Independent of these
large means of supplying air ancl health , smaller public gardens have been laid out in every place— -round the column of July , round the Tuileries and Louvre , and other public buildings wherever space permitted . Here , in the morning , may be seen the juvenile population which form the rising generation of Paris , under the charge of their white-capped bonnes , in safety from the omnibuses and the voitures which traverse the streets ; and in the evening the groups of quiet citizens talking over the
events of the day , or the merit of the last piece at the Gaiete or Vaudeville . One feature that is very striking in these gardens is the introduction of almost every new plant or flower which is capable of being grown in the open air in our climate . In short , the grounds of no private estate can be better planted and more carefully kept than these gardens for the people avo in imperial Paris .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .
THE LATE BRO . DE . BOTOSES ON EKEEHASONKV . The following is extracted from a speech delivered hy R . W . James Burnes , K . R ., Prov . G . M . of Bombay , India , on bis visit to tbe Prov . Grand Lodge in Calcutta : —
" Tbe Duke of York , when he sanctioned lodges in the army , foresaw their advantages , not only as inducing the soldier to obtain and retain a character , but in conferring on him also a sure protection in the time of need . Every one knows that even in the fury of the late war , the charters , diplomas , and insignia of lodges used to be returned with courtesy after an engagement . I am old enough to recollect when my own fatherthe master of a lodgeand a magistratetook the
respon-, , , sibility of removing some French prisoners from jail to his owa house , because they were brethren . And it was only last night that Col . Logan , a brave officer of the Peninsula , but no Mason , mentioned to me an authentic anecdote , which will interest you . A whole battalion of the 4 th Foot had been taken prisoners , and tho officers stripped of everything . Several of them were bemoaning their lot in a dreary abode ,
when to their surprise they saw a subaltern of their corps passing along with a gay step , in fall dress . The explanation was very simple . Having- been discovered to he a Mason , his uniform , and baggage had been immediately restored to him , and he was then going by special invitation to dine with the French Field Marshal ! Some of you may have heard the revered Bro . Blaquiere , whose Masonic reminiscences , communicated as they are with such perfect courtesy and taste , possess
the most intense interest , mention the circumstance of a party of ladies and gentlemen having- heen taken prisoners in the Bay of Bengal by the French frigate La Forte , but who were all afforded-the means of escape on the captain ' s discovering that there was the Master of one of the Calcutta lodges among them . It is needless to multiply instances , since every one knows that a Masonic token has often arrested the sword of the destroyerand I would but ask those who represent our Order
, as a musty relic of bygone times , altogether incompatible with the golden age in which we live , to point out any other invention of man which could so soften the miseries of war , and heighten the courtesies of life between individuals of contending nations . For my own part , I conceive that , until the light of true religion shall pervade the universe , and the happy period arrive when the whole world shall become a lodge , and every man .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Paris Of To-Day.
and outre attempts at effect we so often see iu England . There is also a consistent uniformity of style which , as I have said before , is a species of renaissance with more elegance and freedom than we have heen accustomed to see in the designs of the modern purists ; so that in the streets of Paris we do not meet with the strange jumble we do in London , where one house is Gothic , tbe next Greek , the next bare brick walls , with square holes for windowsand ugly high chimneysthe next Alhambra
, , , and the next streaked with red and black , in the manner which some folks have the effrontery to call . the style of North Italy . Nevertheless , the great variety in the treatment of the architectural decorations and other adjuncts , of which this style , which I have ventured to call the Imperial Renaissance , is susceptible , g ives a pleasing variety to the general effect of the street , of which we may say , in the words of the poet ,
"Nee fades una , Nee tlivcrsa taraen , quails dccct esse sovorum . " The footways are wide , and , as I have said before , are planted with trees and liberally provided with seats for the public . The roadways are macadamised , and the trottoirs asphalted . At night these stately architectural avenues are brilliantl y lighted by elegant gas-lamps , which , in an artistic point of view ,
are very superior to the old glazed boxes , which are coeval with the application of gas to street-lighting . In some instances I have observed a successful attempt has been made to economise light . This is done by placing over the burning jet a metallic or porcelain reflector , which throws the whole of that portion of light which ordinarily ascends and is useless , directly on to the pavement , where it is wanted . As a friend observed in
London , " We send the best part of the li ght up to the sky , so that the stars might not lose their way . " Permit me now , for the sake of clearness , hefore closing my observation on the general aspect of new Paris , to offer a detailed description of ono house , which we may consider a type of the rest . Imagine a building six stories high , one of which would he in the roof , constructed of the beautiful white stone
technically called pierre tendre ; the great portal in the middle , which generally runs up some 12 or 14 feet , the aaehitraves round the windows , and the cornices at top being beautifully adorned with enriched mouldings , arabesques , and festoons . The balconies are protected by elaborately designed iron railings , often partially gilt . The upper story is on the roof of the construction , commonly called a mansard , and is covered with zinc , the windows of which are of the form technically called hicarues , and are also richly ornamented in the same metal . Let us now suppose we enter the spacious doorway of one of those dwelling-houses , which introduces us at once into a
courtyard sufficiently large for a carriage to turn round in with ease —a pleasing contrast to the grave error lately committed in London , where the court is narrow , and in which the air stagnates , and light can scarcely penetrate . On the right and left of the corridor leading to the spacious court-yard will be found the foot of two grand staircases . These ascend through all the floors , and form the means of communication to all the better apartments as escalier de serviceor servants' staircasebeing
, , provideoed in the court-yard leading to the roof , in which their apartments are usually placed . Each flat or floor is provided with all the domestic necessities of modern refinement and comfort , regardless of original cost . The decorations of the salons are generally in good taste ; not only the ceilings , hut the panels of the doors are enriched , and for the most painted white and
relieved with gold . The handsome mirrors found in all the apartments , together with the richly carved marble chimney-pieces , are the landlord ' s property , and let with the fabric . The floors are of the old-fashioned bright oakparquetrie ; and , briefly , it may he observed that the wood-work in these modern buildings is confined to the joinery ; the joists being of rolled iron , fitted in between bricks perforated for the sake of
lightness . The glazing of the windows is usually executed in single sheets of plate gias ; and the sashes are not hung to slide , as with ns , hut with hinges like our doors ; and they are fastened with elegant espagnolettes . The same stvle of decoration is employed up to the fourth and sometimes " to the fifth floors . The rents of these fiats or suites of apartments , varies from £ 150 to £ 600 per annum . On the right and left of the
-doorway will generally be found shops , which let for a very high rent . It should be observed that it very frequently occurs that a second block of building , forming one side of the court-yard referred to , is constructed immediatel y behind such
Paris Of To-Day.
a one as we havo already described , and which we have supposed to have one side facing the street . This second set of apartments is , of course , in tbe rear of the first , is generally finished with elegance , and with every comfort ; hut the suites , as it may be easily imagined , do not let for such high rents as those which are nearer to the thoroughfares . The underground floors are not used in Paris for the purposes of residences , but [ are made available for cellarage .
It is hoped that a just description has now been given which will convey an idea of modern Paris . It remains to be observed that nearly all these great arteries of this magnificent city lead to parks for the recreation and health of the people . Thus we have the Bois de Boulogne , the Park Monceaux , anh the widespread Park of Vinceunes , all of which act , as has been said , of onr own parks , as lungs of the metropolis , and are immediately accessible in their respective quarters . Independent of these
large means of supplying air ancl health , smaller public gardens have been laid out in every place— -round the column of July , round the Tuileries and Louvre , and other public buildings wherever space permitted . Here , in the morning , may be seen the juvenile population which form the rising generation of Paris , under the charge of their white-capped bonnes , in safety from the omnibuses and the voitures which traverse the streets ; and in the evening the groups of quiet citizens talking over the
events of the day , or the merit of the last piece at the Gaiete or Vaudeville . One feature that is very striking in these gardens is the introduction of almost every new plant or flower which is capable of being grown in the open air in our climate . In short , the grounds of no private estate can be better planted and more carefully kept than these gardens for the people avo in imperial Paris .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .
THE LATE BRO . DE . BOTOSES ON EKEEHASONKV . The following is extracted from a speech delivered hy R . W . James Burnes , K . R ., Prov . G . M . of Bombay , India , on bis visit to tbe Prov . Grand Lodge in Calcutta : —
" Tbe Duke of York , when he sanctioned lodges in the army , foresaw their advantages , not only as inducing the soldier to obtain and retain a character , but in conferring on him also a sure protection in the time of need . Every one knows that even in the fury of the late war , the charters , diplomas , and insignia of lodges used to be returned with courtesy after an engagement . I am old enough to recollect when my own fatherthe master of a lodgeand a magistratetook the
respon-, , , sibility of removing some French prisoners from jail to his owa house , because they were brethren . And it was only last night that Col . Logan , a brave officer of the Peninsula , but no Mason , mentioned to me an authentic anecdote , which will interest you . A whole battalion of the 4 th Foot had been taken prisoners , and tho officers stripped of everything . Several of them were bemoaning their lot in a dreary abode ,
when to their surprise they saw a subaltern of their corps passing along with a gay step , in fall dress . The explanation was very simple . Having- been discovered to he a Mason , his uniform , and baggage had been immediately restored to him , and he was then going by special invitation to dine with the French Field Marshal ! Some of you may have heard the revered Bro . Blaquiere , whose Masonic reminiscences , communicated as they are with such perfect courtesy and taste , possess
the most intense interest , mention the circumstance of a party of ladies and gentlemen having- heen taken prisoners in the Bay of Bengal by the French frigate La Forte , but who were all afforded-the means of escape on the captain ' s discovering that there was the Master of one of the Calcutta lodges among them . It is needless to multiply instances , since every one knows that a Masonic token has often arrested the sword of the destroyerand I would but ask those who represent our Order
, as a musty relic of bygone times , altogether incompatible with the golden age in which we live , to point out any other invention of man which could so soften the miseries of war , and heighten the courtesies of life between individuals of contending nations . For my own part , I conceive that , until the light of true religion shall pervade the universe , and the happy period arrive when the whole world shall become a lodge , and every man .