To-day, shops on the ground-floor hide part of the façade, so that it is difficult to distinguish the bossages and semi-circular tympanums, but the rich, severe ornamentation of the upper stories, composed of caryatids, pilasters, pediments, and garlands carved in the stone-work, is plainly visible. The different periods of life (childhood, youth, and old-age) and the passions are depicted. The head of King Midas with stellated crown is especially noteworthy. A judicious use of brick with stone, while ensuring a harmonious _ensemble_, reposing to the view, also causes the relief motifs to stand out well. [Illustration: THE INTERIOR COURT OF THE BOURSE, WITH STATUE OF NAPOLÉON I.] [Illustration: AN INTERIOR GALLERY OF THE BOURSE] Of the four doors ornamented with scroll-work, horns of plenty and royal coats of arms, in the four sides of the edifice, one gives access to the interior courtyard which is lined with four wide arcaded galleries. Doric columns of polished black stone support the vaulting, which is of brick, with binding ribs and nerves of white stone. On the plinth are heads of leopards connected by garlands of flowers and foliage. A bronze =statue= by Lemaire, representing Emperor _Napoléon I._, protector of the national industries, stands in the middle of the courtyard. This statue was inaugurated in 1854, and was cast from old presses from the Mint of Lille, which had previously been made from guns taken at Austerlitz. The interior galleries of the Bourse were decorated in 1850. Facing each of the bays formed by the intercolumniations are large tablets of marble surrounded by carvings, which recall those of the façade. In the midst of this sculpture are the symbols of commerce, industry and science. Inscriptions recall the most important dates and institutions relating to the commerce and industry of Lille. The busts over them represent great inventors or learned men (Jacquart, Philippe de Girard, Chaptal, Brongniart, Chevreul). _On leaving the Bourse, cross the square to the left, and enter the Place de Rihour._ At the corner of the Grand Place, the black façade of the =Grand' Garde= decorated with trophies and curved pediments bearing the arms of France and Lille, should be noticed. A large shell-hole in the left-hand pediment has been temporarily bricked up. _Cross the ruins of the =Hôtel de Ville=_, burnt down on April 24th 1916 _(photo below)_, at the time of the deportations. To the right, abutting on the Hôtel de Ville, is the =Palais de Rihour= which escaped damage from the fire. [Illustration: THE HÔTEL DE VILLE, BURNT DOWN ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 24, 1916 _(see p. 23)_] [Illustration: THE PALAIS DE RIHOUR AND THE RUINS OF THE HÔTEL DE VILLE] The Palais de Rihour Built in 1457-1462, this palace was the residence of _Philippe le Bon_, Duke of Burgundy. Only an octagonal turret, the guard-room and the chapel of brick and white stone remain. The Hôtel de Ville was erected on its site.