Paris, France

From Encyclopediak

Paris, the capital of France and of the Department of the Seine, and the literary, artistic and social center of Europe since the decline of Rome. It is frequently referred to as the "City of Pleasure," and is the home of the freshest thought, the latest and most splendid luxuries, the newest fashions and the most extravagant wealth. Situated on both banks of the Seine River, 233 miles from its mouth, it occupies the heart of the so-called Paris Basin, and has an altitude of from 80 ft. at the exit of the Seine from its fortifications to 420 ft. the hill of Montmartre in the northern part of the city. A wall encircles the city, and the total area with its boundaries is 19,279 acres, while 8 m. of the river are enclosed within these limits. Paris is said to be the greatest fortress in the world and possesses three distinct rings of defense known as the "enceinte," the circle of detached forts around it, and the "new works".

STREETS, SQUARES AND PARKS, There are building laws and regulations now in operation that control effectively both the form and quality of the constructions that are to be erected, and as the result there is a homogeneity about its buildings that forms a pleasant contrast of the promiscuous assortment of edifices of many another capital. There is pleasing unity, but not monotony, in its uniform sky line as well as street line, and to this, as fully as to the imposing attractiveness of its buildings, the city owes its reputation for beauty and harmony. The principal streets are the line of boulevards known as the Grands Boulevards, containing some of the most celebrated avenues of the world. The streets are kept scrupulously clean, and their wideness and brilliance are very attractive to the visitor the life in the streets in the cafes and restaurants fronting the sidewalks, with their chatting throngs, laughter and music, is very impressive by reason of its distinct individuality. The most magnificent square in the world is the Place de la Concorde, laid out under Louis XV others include the Place de Ifitoile containing the Arc de Triomphe de Ifitoile, the largest triumphal arch in the world the Place de la Republique the Place de la Bastille and the Place Saint-Michel. The Gardens of the Tuileries are situated in the very heart of the city and are adorned with long lines of trees, numerous statues and playing fountains and basins. Other parks are the Gardens of the Luxembourg, the Jardin des Plantes, the Champselysees, the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes.

BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS. Prominent among the public edifices of Paris are its numerous churches, the Cathedral of Notre Dame undoubtedly remaining the most impressive. In classical style are St. Sulpice, St. Roch and St. Paul-St. Louis other churches are the Sacre Coeur, St. Etienne-du-Mont, St. Germain-des-Pres and La Madeleine. The Palace of the Louvre is the most important of its civil buildings See LOUVRE, PALACE OF THE. The Palais de Justice is situated near the western end of the island of the city, and was abandoned as a royal residence for the use of courts. South of it is the Hotel de Cluny, distinguished for its carvings and the grace and beauty of its architecture. The Hotel des Invalides, the Palais du Trocadero, the ficole Militaire, the Palais de Ifilysee, the Grand and Petit Palais des Beaux-Arts, the Palais Royal, the Palace of the Luxembourg, the Pantheon, the Observatory and the Hospice de la Salpetriere are other important buildings. Among the theaters and places of amusements are the Opera, Theatre Francais, Theatre Italien and the Odeon, all of which receive government support and are under strict supervision of the police. The largest theater in the world in 1920 was the new opera house completed in 1875 at a total cost of 5,600,000 for the building alone, exclusive of the site. It contains the world-famed Grand Staircase and the handsomely decorated Foyer, and is the home of the best that the world has to offer in theatrical attractions. The principal educational institution is the University of France, the chief buildings of which are located in the famous Latin Quarter, south of the River Seine. A new and magnificent building has replaced the old Sorbonne, and its extensive library is open to the public. Among other schools are the School of Medicine and the School of Law, the Jardin des Plantes containing immense botanical and zoological gardens and the ficole Polytechnique. The largest library is the Bibliotheque Nationale, containing over 2,600,000 volumes. The principal art treasures are contained in the incomparable Louvre, the Palais, or ficole, des Beaux-Arts, the Hotel de Cluny and the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers. Monuments of great beauty and artistic design are found everywhere throughout the city. In the very center is the famous obelisk of Luxor, 76 ft. high, covered over with hieroglyphics and brought to France from Egypt in 1836. The Arc de Triomphe du Carousel, the bronze statue of the Republic, Napoleon's column of victory, the Triumph of the Republic and the Arc de Triomphe de 1'fitoile are other features.

POPULATION. In 1911 the population of Paris was 28,110. Both the birth rate and the death rate in 1920 were low, and the city was preeminently a town of adults. About eight percent constitutes the foreign population, principally Italians, Swiss, Belgians, Germans, Russians, English, Americans, Spaniards, Dutch and Austrians. The bulk of the population is Roman Catholic there are about 90,000 Protestants and 50,00O Jews.

COMMUNICATION AND COMMERE. Electric tramways and omnibuses furnish the chief means of transportation. The electric railways are largely underground and over 35 m. are in operation. So efficient is the supervision of the traffic on the streets that, although it exceeds in density and amount that of any other city, they rarely give the appearance of being crowded and there is seldom a "block," but a continuous nd uninterrupted stream gives a constant air of gayety to this, the most aristocratic and brilliant city in the world. The steamboats of the Seine are used to a large extent when the weather is favorable. All the principal railway systems of the country except the Midi have terminal stations in Paris, and the large stations are the Quai d'Austerlitz and the Gare Montparnasse. The total mileage of thoroughfares exceeded 600, which in 1920 wewre maintained at an annual cost of $2,500,000.

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE. Paris represents the industrial center of the country, but it is only within recent years that there has been a drive toward the erection of large establishments. The products are brought out in small workshops and are distinguished for their elegance and artistic beauty. Printing, the manufacture of railroad supplies, chemical products, machinery, porcelain, leather, china, etc., are carried on in large factories, but for the production of clothing, furniture, gold, silver and aluminum ware, gloves and articles of luxury, the small workshop still holds its own, and in these products Paris is unsurpassed by the efforts of the rest of the world. The annual trade of Paris in 1920 was estimated at $600,000,000 in the products of its industry. The great financial institutions of the early twentieth century were the Bank of France and the three private banks, the Comptoir National d'Escompte, the Credit Lyonnais and the Societe Generale, the three last named having an aggregate capital of over $170,000,000. The Bourse, the stock exchange of the city at the time, had only 70 memberships, which, due to their limited number, were inevitably very valuable, and the amount of business transacted there annually was estimated at about $20,000,000,000.

GOVERNMENT. For the purpose of administration the city is divided into 20 arrondissements, and four members from each arrondissement, elected by the people, constitute the municipal council, of which the prefect of the Seine is the head. Each arrondissement represents a unit of municipal administration and attends to the assessment and collection of taxes, keeps the registration lists of jurors and voters, administers the schools and libraries and different forms of charity work and receives and files the various applications for privileges and licenses. An efficient system of civil service aids the municipal government by its adequate control of the appointments and promotions of officials. A service of sanitary police enforces the health laws, and the sanitary conditions of dwellings are passed upon at regular intervals.

HISTORY. Paris is described in the Commentaries of Caesar under the name of Lutetia as a collection of mud huts occupied by a Gallic tribe conquered by the Romans. St. Denis introduced Christianity in A. D. 250. In the fourth century the name was changed to Parisia, or Paris, and 200 years later Clovis chose it as his seat of government. The invasions of the Northmen caused heavy losses, but after the tenth century when Hugh Capet, the founder of the Capetian dynasty, made it his residence, the city grew rapidly in numbers and importance. In 1589, when Henry of Navarre came to the throne, many improvements were begun, which reached their culmination under Louis XIV, to whom the city owes in large part its prestige as the center of European civilization. Following the reaction caused by the French Revolution came the further construction under Napoleon of buildings on a more magnificent scale than ever before, and during 12 subsequent years he lavished a vast sum of money on beautifying the city. The siege of Paris in 1870-71 wrought great damage, and the fire caused ravages of buildings which in beauty and worth can never be replaced.