Part 8 (2/2)

The Salle de Spectacle of the Tuileries was, even at this period, the largest auditoriuht thousand stalls and boxes, which gave a seating capacity of considerably more than that number of persons

In 1793 this playhouse, of which the parquet occupied the ground floor of the Pavillon de Marsan, underwent a strange islative hall for the National Convention All the na forth in its decorations and indicative of its ancient rule were changed into Republican devices and syalite, the Pavillon du Centre became the Pavillon de l'Unite and the Pavillon de Flore the Pavillon de la Liberte, where was lodged the Committee of Public Safety

The Hall of the Convention, according to reports of the tirandeur and effe that portion where the legislators actually sat was the great amphitheatre which for three years was occupied by a curious, vociferous public, more demonstrative, even, than those that had attended the former theatrical representations in the sa of the National Convention to the reaction of ”Thermidor” it is estimated that htly, or wrongly, considered as a ”spectacle” staged only for their amusement

By the time Napoleon had come into power the Tuileries was hardly habitable, and before taking up his residence he was obliged to make immediate and extensive transformations

On February 19, 1800, Napoleon, still First Consul, left the Palais de Luxe and took up his residence in the Tuileries, the Third Consul, Lebrun, being lodged in the Pavillon de Flore, in the ”Petite Appartement,” which Marie Antoinette had fitted up for her teave up his lodging to the Pope when the Pontiff came to Paris at Napoleon's orders Consul Cambaceres, however, refused to shelter himself beneath the roof of the Tuileries, and indicated a preference for the ly put at his disposition

Napoleon entered the Tuileries in state, preceded and followed by an ihted froes, and were received by the Consular Guard On their arrival the consuls read the following inscription posted at the entrance: ”On August 10th monarchy in France was forever abolished; it will never be restored” By the 20th of February the inscription had disappeared Besides, orders were given to cut down the two liberty trees which had been planted in the courtyard On August 10 a large quantity of cannon shot had been lodged in the facade of the Tuileries, and around the shot ritten these words: ”Tenth of August” The cannon balls disappeared, as well as the inscriptions, when the Arc de Triomphe was erected on the Place du Carrousel

This alteration gave great satisfaction It was iovernuillotine of Marat

[Illustration: _Salle des Marechaux, Tuileries_]

The inificence in the Palais des Tuileries, as a foregone conclusion anticipated

In a gorgeous and iht have seen in the deep case up, their hats off, the group of the Corps Diplons, and diamonds, trembled in the presence of the Little Corporal of other days; on the other side, the host of the Princes of the Rhine Confederation--all the personages that Germany, Russia, Poland, Italy, Denland excepted, had sent to Paris

It is needless to say that the wedding reception of Napoleon and Marie Louise at the Tuileries was celebrated with unusual nificence

Another event, on account of its peculiar ly excited the enthusiasm of the French On March 20, 1811, at seven o'clock in the , the first salute of cannon announced that the e of Roain served the monarch under the Empire, the Restoration, under Louis Philippe and under the Second Empire The palace of unhappy memory saw successively the fall of Napoleon, the entry of Louis XVIII, the file-by of the Allies, the flight of Louis XVIII, of Charles X, Louis Philippe and Napoleon III

Up to the time of the Second Einal interior arrangereat extent, the decorations hich it had been embellished under Louis XIV, Louis XVI, and Napoleon I

The Pavilion de Flore, at the juncture of the Tuileries and the Louvre of Henri IV, was practically rebuilt during the Second Ens of the adjoining building

Here are quartered executive offices of the Prefecture de la Seine That portion facing the Pont Royal contains a series of fine sculptures by Carpeaux, the sole modern embellishments of this nature to be seen in or on a Paris palace

As the Coration broke out in the Tuileries and soon the whole edifice was in flames Within what ration of its size the Tuileries was but a s pile of half-calcined stones

The Tuileries had another brief day of glory when the Prince President, Louis Napoleon, entered its gates, couration at Notre Dame

The cannon at the Hotel des Invalides blazed out a welcome and every patriot Republican shouted: ”Vive Napoleon!” They little knew, little cared perhaps, that he would so poured forth from the cathedral after the _Do the way, followed by the president and his attendants The orchestra played a lively lorious peal

The president's carriage drew up before the gates of the Tuileries and he entered the great apartiven to various public and ht thousand naval and military officers paid their respects, and about half a battalion of the ar the on, the Place du Carrousel was occupied by several squadrons of cavalry and the inner courtyards were practically infantry ca of its career The reception lasted until well on towards evening, when a banquet of four hundred covers was laid and partaken of by the invited guests

The last days of the Tuileries may be said to have commenced with that eventful September 3, 1870, at five o'clock in the afternoon, when the Eraphic despatch fro his captivity and the defeat of Sedan It was the overthrow

The evening and the night were calm; the masses, as yet, were unaware of the fatal news the journals would publish on theday was Sunday; the weather superb; the disaster was finally announced and the ed from all parts to the Place de la Concorde, where a squadron of Cuirassiers barred the bridge leading to the Palais Bourbon where the deputies were in session