[Illustration: GREAT BOULEVARDS, PARIS, FRANCE.--The splendid line of streets, known as the Great Boulevards, which extend on the north side of the Seine, from the Madeleine at one end, to the Bastile at the other, was originally the line of fortifications or bulwarks of the City of Paris. In 1670, the city having extended northward far beyond the fortifications, the moats were filled up, the walls destroyed and the above Boulevards formed. This photograph represents the Grand Hotel at the corner of the Place de l'Opera.] [Illustration: JULY COLUMN, PARIS, FRANCE.--The above monument was erected after the Revolution of July, 1830, in honor of the heroes who fell on that occasion, and solemnly dedicated in 1840. The total height of the monument is one hundred and fifty-four feet, resting on a massive round sub-struction of white marble, originally intended for Napoleon's Elephant, which he had planned to erect in bronze on this spot; but his plans were never consummated. On the sub-struction rises a square basement, on each side of which are four bronze medallions, symbolical of Justice, the Constitution, Strength and Freedom.] [Illustration: STATUE OF THE REPUBLIC, PARIS, FRANCE.--This national statue is made of bronze, and was erected in 1883. The stone pedestal, fifty feet in height, is surrounded with seated bronze figures of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. The statue, thirty-two feet high to the top of the olive branch, makes a striking and imposing appearance. In front is a brazen lion, with the urn of universal suffrage. On the stone pedestal are hewn the words, "To the Glory of the Republic of France, to the City of Paris, 1883." This statue was the model for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.] [Illustration: VENDOME COLUMN, PARIS, FRANCE.--Here is an imitation of Trajan's column at Rome. It is one hundred and forty-two feet high, and thirteen feet in diameter, and was erected by the order of Napoleon I., from 1806 to 1810, to commemorate his victories in 1805, over the Russians and Austrians. The figures on the spiral column represent memorable scenes, from the breaking up of the camp at Boulogne, to the battle of Austerlitz. The metal of these figures was obtained by melting 1200 Russian and Austrian cannons. The top is a statue of Napoleon.] [Illustration: ROYAL PALACE, PARIS, FRANCE.--The above palace, erected by Cardinal Richelieu in 1634, was occupied after his death by Anne of Austria, the widow of Louis XIII., with her sons Louis XIV., and Philip of Orleans, then in their minority. In 1815 the Orleans family regained possession of the Palais Royal; and it was occupied by Louis Philippe to 1830. Shortly before the outbreak of the revolution of July, he gave a sumptuous ball here in honor of Neapolitan notabilities then visiting Paris. In 1871, the Communists set the Palais Royal on fire, but it has since been carefully restored.]