40 



u'itli assistants, an officer with assistants, who has the charge of 

 keeping the avenues, paths, gardens, and plantations around the 

 moniinients in perfect order, and tlie direction of all excavations 

 for the construction of perpetual sepulchies, and a guaid of seven 

 men under the coniniaiid of a chief, which keeps watch, night 

 and day, for the security of the monuments, the maintenance of 

 the police, and the enforcement and observance of the regulations, 

 which are posted up in various parts of the establishment. 



All inscriptions must be left at the office of the superintendent 

 for examination, before they can be engraved on the monuments ; 

 and none are allowed, which are in violation of the principles of 

 religion, morality, the government, language, or orthography. 



At the time this establishment was commenced, no one had 

 conceived of the high public favor which it was destined to ac- 

 quire. It presented nothing peculiar for a burying-place. A 

 disposition for its embellishment was evinced with a tardiness, 

 then not common in the erection of public monuments. The in- 

 humations cofumenced in the deepest and most remote part of 

 the vale, which was overlooked by the old habitation of Pere La 

 Chaise, then ftiUing in ruins. The entrance was from a narrow 

 street, bordered with houses — the interior edifices presented a 

 hideous aspect, in consequence of their antiquity, irregularity, and 

 dilapidated state. On arriving at the place of interment, it was 

 found to be without any point of view. The fir trees, which grew 

 along the walls, shaded a few grave-stones, or merely wooden 

 crosses. A deep pit, always open, was to be seen, in which the 

 remains of the poor were thrown. All was sad and cheerless in 

 this confined spot ; still it was visited by a few persons, who cher- 

 ished the memories of their friends ; filial piety traced upon a 

 humble monument the name of a virtuous father ; a few widows 

 came to shed tears over the graves of their husbands ; mothers 

 formed wreaths and crowns of myrtles and roses, which they 

 placed upon the tombs of their children : such tributes of the 

 heart were then not uncommon. 



During eight years the temporary sepulchres were formed al- 

 most exclusively in the lowest part of the grounds, and there 

 were but a few perpetual monuments scattered over the top of the 

 eminence. When returning from an interment, no one was 

 tempted to ascend the steep acclivity of the hill, to behold more 

 near a ruined mansion and a few dispersed monuments, some 

 small clumps of trees, an isolated gothic chapel, and grounds 

 without embellishment or cultivation. The perspective of Paris 

 was very magnificent from this point ; but any other place thi-n a 

 cemet(!ry, seemed preferable for its contemplation. 



Public opinion, which subjects every thing to its laws, had not 

 yet included, in the number of essential domestic virtues, a re- 

 spect for the ashes and memory of relations. A people intoxica- 

 ted with glory, satiated with victories, and proud of their power, 



