Plioto and copyright by Stereo-Travel Co. 



VERSAILLES PALACE FROM THE GARDEN : ERAXCE 



It is estimated that the wonderful Palace of Versailles cost $100,000,000, besides the 

 forced labor exacted under the old feudal system. The leveling of the ground for the 

 gardens and park, the making of a road to Paris, and the erection of the Aqueduc de 

 Maintenon to bring waters from the Eure are said alone to have occupied 36,000 men and 

 6,000 horses for years. 



French, the shouting of dealers and hag- 

 gling of thrifty housewives, and the clink- 

 ing of silver passing from pouch to 

 pouch (see page 489). 



A PERFECT HILL TOWN 



Laon spells the perfect hill town, com- 

 pletely cut off from the plain above 

 which it rears, on a great triangular lime- 

 stone rock. Nature has bitten a huge 

 mouthful out of one side of it, leaving a 

 deep, irregular, horseshoe-shaped valley, 

 full of gardens and fruit trees and pines, 

 whose tops are far below the level of the 

 streets. The lofty cathedral, from whose 

 square towers peer out huge effigies of 

 the oxen that are fabled to have volun- 

 tarily helped in its building, adds its note 

 of command to this natural fortress man 

 has further protected. But, as in other 

 cases, appearances were deceptive at 

 Laon, and the militarv authorities knew 



better than to put their faith in them, in 

 the face of twentieth century artillery. 



The old province of the lie de France 

 numbers many beautiful and historic 

 spots like Laon — great chateaux like 

 noble Chantilly and Pierrefonds, the royal 

 palaces of St. Germain and Versailles, 

 glorious forests and parks and gardens. 

 But these are all so close to Paris and so 

 well known they have small right here. 



And as for Paris, who does not know 

 her beauties ? — the beautiful quays by the 

 smooth - flowing river, the magnificent 

 bridges, the majestic tree-lined boule- 

 vards, the arcaded streets, the narrow, 

 twisty, black little alleys ; the illustrious 

 buildings of every age, the stately tri- 

 umphal arches, the incomparable parks ; 

 and on the He de Cite, the germ and 

 heart of all France, the towering sub- 

 limity of Xotre Dame, and that jewel of 

 many facets, roval Louis's Sainte-Chap- 



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