Fame in a Name; #7 And #8

Him and me each week at this time pace college faculty members present fame a mundane word portraits of men and women past and present whose lives and careers have added to the wisdom comfort or beauty of the world with you today is Dr. Joseph Epson's a professor of history at Pace College of New York. He discusses the fame in the name of the octu trail Paris France. Part one is Doctor since it takes four men to hoist the French flag above this monument. Some one hundred sixty three feet above the ground. The monument is so large that it should be placed on its side. It would cover three city blocks. It weighs one hundred ten thousand tons and the tri color plank that flies from its top weighs one hundred and seventy six pounds. According to legend everyone who visits Paris France stands silently under the monument to meditate about the past and about

oneself. Of cause the monument is the Ark tree on the Arch of Triumph the largest arch built in the world. The monument is a massive memorial to French greatness for more than one hundred sixty years. Frenchmen have held their public moments of celebration here giving homage to the great wall commemorating victories and even defeat to Frenchmen. It is their history chiseled out of stone to the world the monument is a triumph an architect and a symbol of a man who dreamed of conquering the world. When you visit Paris and stand on the monuments balcony Peris below your eyes will take in 12 great busy boulevards all of which are from French cities towns or villages miles

away from Paris and lead to 12 apexes at the base of the ark the ark indeed was constructed in the center of a star. Why the French call it the star. Another famous the world over each Avenue was grandly designed. Especially the beautiful. With its double row of trees stretching away toward the plaster Loch encore. And the famous garden of Twitter. Twice a year during the summer solstice once in May and again in August. Nature creates a mysterious phenomenon. The sun strikes at the foot of the Oval Office in the plaza and at this very moment the Oval Office is framed in the exact center of the great arc at the opposite end of the show.

The construction of the Arc de Triomphe was a long arduous process be set by rivalries upheavals and fortunes of war and sometimes still do all together. It's the place the star was in the beginning of forest hilltop. It was here that Caesar was a lieutenant the defeated camel or Jean King of lute in 56 A B C for 18 centuries it remained only a forest of cross roads described as a field of mud or dust rock enough to break the strongest coat it had such an evil reputation that at one time it was necessary to station a military post clear of the kings with guard. Then in 17 24 was then known as the grand coup was extended right up to the late

and the marquis the brother of Madame de Pompadour had the original elms replanted along at seventeen hundred seventy. However the late while hill was so steep and treacherous that in 1768 inspector of the royal buildings decided to have part of the road levelled the survey completed. The Fermi commissioned architect Claude Lagos to build a stone wall around the city and each entrance was placed a customs house to promote a higher moral tone and to discourage cheating. The architect designed the customs houses has Greek temples. They gave Customs an aura of righteousness and respectability. Thus side of the colonnade Greek provisions were built a fence joining the two custom houses formed the

barrier. The splendid new avenue inspired various ideas for a monument on the Hill one of the first was proposed in 1758 during the reign of Louis the Fifteenth. It was to be a gigantic elephant on its back. A colossal statue of the king was to be place in the belly of the elephant would contain a ball room and a restaurant and an immense jet of water emerging from the elephant's trunk would irrigate the gardens at the sides of the avenue. For some reason the project was never considered. However the idea was reviving an elephant 75 feet high. It was constructed from wood and plastic and placed on the site of the Basti the fortress turned prison which was stalled and taken by the citizens during the French Revolution. An event which is now come aerated on Basti day.

The elephant stood here until 1847 when infested with rodents it collapsed. It was at the beginning of the 19th century that plans finally took shape for a monument to be constructed on the lake. The site had already become the central place for a national celebration ordered for Napoleon was crowned Emperor of the French for Paris. The new century was beginning. New buildings were being constructed everywhere. The city in fact was one large building site under the revolution. Nearly one third of the land in Paris had been confiscated. Much of it however was subsequently sold at drastically low prices to private individuals to raise needed municipal funds the Bolian had a great respect for private ownership. And so it was frequently necessary to buyback at great expense. The land needed for

public buildings new projects therefore were often delayed in order to raise the necessary capital. The French Minister of Fine Arts was inspired by the architecture of ancient Egypt. He had seen during his service with Napoleon in Egypt. He drew up a grandiose program for the construction of public buildings as well as a badly needed sanitation system designs of COs were based on the architecture of ancient Egypt and met with the approval of the Emperor to add grandiose symmetry and splendid effects will be for convenience and practicality. This led of calls to the construction of imposing monuments to flatten Napoleon and to realize the glory of his victorious always Napoleon as well as French rulers before him were fascinated with the Roman art.

At one time Rome had 21 walkers of which only 5 remained a day to the French to the ox was the symbol of victorious always. It was Louis the Fourteenth who revived the triumphal arch in France to which he had constructed still stand today one at the gate of sand which was then the largest in the world and one at the gate of Samar. According to a note written by Napoleon's personal secretary the Emperor intended to construct for a triumphal office to glorify his victorious armies and Austral it at the Battle of the Rango Napoleon had defeated the Austrians. The battle of Austerlitz was one of his greatest victories. Here he defeated the combined forces of Austria and Russia. The Russians

retreated and the Austrians agreed to a truce. The other two watches Napoleon intended to construct was in honor of Religion and Peace. Nothing however was ever heard again of the two projects. The first doctor Napoleon had his design his build was placed in the courtyard of the Tuileries palace and was a reproduction of the Constantine auction role. It took two years to construct and was dedicated in eighteen hundred and six to the office victory. The palace grounds by the way were used by Napoleon to stage military shows and parades which just became known as the Paris of the horse parade. The English as a synonym for merry go round the arch to commemorate the victory at the battle of Marengo which was four hundred

five years before or still it was still in its discussion stage. Famous architects of the day competed to design the triumphal arch. Finally two architects were commissioned shall ground and Raymone. Both had ideas that were similar but the dual commission was never a success. Ground design was in the style of the Italian Renaissance classically elegant and of modest proportions. Ramon's ideas were on a grand scale with two huge sculptures on pedestals at each side of a main arch dominated by a colossal triumphal chariot to architects who were unable to compromise basic disagreement also took place to the site for them or go off. I had already appropriated five hundred thousand francs for the building of the triumphal

arch at the Boulevard near the site of the Basti. But the minister of the Interior had by now adopted on architecture grounds choice of. Where the barriers stood. And was the most beautiful site in Paris in full view of Napoleon's palace. To avoid offending the Emperor the minister presented a report to his Majesty in which he attempted to prove that the ark should be built at the late while. After a long involved explanation. The minister concluded his report. The site will necessitate a monument of almost colossal dimensions which will increase the expense. But walk in an advantageous position. To be seen from the height of Paris as well as from the plaster by visitors entering Paris from a great distance

and impressing those leaving with a profound memory of its incomparable beauty also seen from your Majesty's palace which is the center of the capital as Paris is the center of France. It will always face the Conqueror and your Majesty will pass through it. When going to Malmaison. Emperor Napoleon could not resist. After consulting the government architects who are courageous enough to support the minister's choice in opposition to the royal decree the matter was settled and making her he consented to sighting the Ark at the lake while five years later the ark was still being built. Napoleon took an increasing interest in the late twilight area. He in fact a magnificent new palace to occupy the

height of all near the end. It was to be named after his son the King of Rome had Napoleon remained in power. This palace might have rivaled the Paulian in 1815 however was exiled to the island of St. Helena where he died six years later. The triumphal arch. Dedicated to the valiant Rango was to take 30 years for royal reign to build. You have just heard Dr. Joseph Sims a professor of history at Pace College in New York. This gust of fame in the name of the OC to try a pirate's Bryant Park one he returns next week to complete his talk. We are indebted to live while restaurant on Manhattan's East Side for permission to quote freely from its book written by

Christine cook a Navy free transcript of today's talk as well as a list of other lectures given in this series may be obtained by writing to Feynman in the name College New York New York 138. This program was distributed by the national educational radio network for for. Fame in a name. Each week at this time pace college faculty

members present fame in the main word portraits of men and women past and present whose lives and careers have added to the wisdom comfort or beauty of the world with you today. It is Dr. Joseph F. Simmons a professor of history at Pace College in New York. He now completes his talk on the fame in the name of the octu triumph Paris France. It's Dr. Cincy. The building of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris was begun August 15th eighteen hundred to six on the thirty seventh birthday of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte the foundation stone duly inscribed and covered by a heavy lead table was laid without ceremony by the workers themselves. It took two years to construct the foundation. The chalk subsoil was too soft to support the great weight of the arch and so a substructure had to be sunk covering an area one third more than the arch itself. In July eighteen hundred and seven Napoleon returned to Paris from Tilsit East

Prussia. Where he had concluded treaties with the kings of Russia and Prussia after winning the battle of Friedland. Although it was his own dictum that architecture was the ruin of sovereigns. He was now obsessed with plans to make Paris the first city of the universe. What do you envision was numerous public monuments splendid in every detail. The mania too was caught by his government architect one Taim who even dreamed of pulling down and rebuilding the entire city of Paris. Ambitious plans proposed by the architects shall ground. And Raymonde who were commissioned to design the monument would have required over seven and a half million gold francs and equivalent today four million four hundred thousand dollars. The Emperor was astounded and decreed that the monument should not cost in excess of two million francs not counting the money already spent. Approved plans were adopted on March 29 heard of neat changes however were made by Napoleon which did not please the architects. The

work seemed to drag on while the two architects constantly quarreled. Finally in October rame all resigned. Shall ground carry it on alone. Yet two years later the year was eighteen hundred ten. The sides of the auction are only a few metres high. In that here too. Napoleon was married to me Marie-Louise of Habsburg Lorraine to mark the occasion the Emperor ordered a temporary object to be constructed at the late quad. The date of April the second was fixed for the ceremony. The Emperor had ordered the work to proceed as fast as possible and authorised whatever assistance was needed. Nearly five hundred workmen were employed. And in accordance with the Emperor's instructions the cloth was decorated with paintings and the inscription to Napoleon to Marie Louise. The town of Paris. After their civil marriage at the Imperial Palace of St. Cloud The two also had a religious ceremony later at that palace. The Emperor and the new emperors made a

ceremonial entrance into the capital in a splendid carriage drawn by eight ten horses. The procession passed under two triumphal arches the temporary one at the A and the other at the entrance to the Tuileries gardens. The crowd was immense stands had been put up by the way told locked and in front of these polling was ceremoniously presented with the keys of the town. Newspaper accounts of the day reported that the decoration of the arch was absolutely spectacular. The base was painted with medallions and inscriptions of welcome. They were also allegorical figures notably force and prudence and trophies of all sorts. The bar beliefs which portrayed the arrival of the real Louise at Paris showed a sketch of the permanent triumphal arch. The piece of theatrical scenery was expensive indeed. But it proved useful for the design of the permanent arch. As a result several important changes were made. The monument was due to be completed by eighteen hundred fourteen the necessary stone from

the quarries were accumulating at the Nguni barrier and Wall St. was blocking the avenues near the site. The Emperor became impatient insisting that it be finished soon. On January 20th 1811 the architect Shalah Graham died. Incidentally his old colleague an antagonist for a moment had died in the same month. The minister of the interior then choose ghost a pupil of shall ground to carry out his master's plans faithfully in his widow shall Gran had left his pupil his plaster model for the arch. The Emperor however was never to see his triumphal arch completed by 1813 Napoleon and the whole structure of the empire was diminished. His enemies were at the gates of Paris now in front of the triumphal arch which was never used by Napoleon's grand army marched the Russian and Prussian troops. The commandant of the late Twyla sect ordered the scaffolding to be removed from the arch and

had trenches dug across the roads to obstruct the approaching cavalry. The pillars of the arch some five metres high were used as observation post to plot enemy troop movements in the plain. Louis 18 succeeded Napoleon during the first years of his reign. The late while remained a sad jumble of stone piles and broken down fences an immense building site for a long and abandoned. Suggestions were made by his ministers to Ted down the incompleted monument or to convert it into a water tower. None of the ideas were heated for Lewis presumably fear of the wrath of Napoleon's followers three years passed. Then France undertook to re-establish Ferdinand the 700 throne of Spain Ferdinand had been forced to renounce his throne by Napoleon and was then later imprisoned. In the meantime a liberal constitution was proclaimed by the court as of cabbies. A contingent was sent by the French monarch to overthrow the Cortez. It was successful. The French took at the

Louis the 18th decided to renew the old ideas of glory the triumphal arch of the late what was to be dedicated not to imperial glory but to a secondary campaign in Spain. The rebuilding however never did get started. Another battle of the architects was launched. Finally a commission was created to complete the monument. But then in 1824 Louis the 18th died. His successor Charles the 10th arrived in Paris from St. Cloud. He too received the keys of the city at the late twilight. Work on the monument proceeded very slowly during his reign. The architects again constantly cause trouble. At last the job was handed over to architect a bell blew it. He finally completed the monument. By this time the revolution of July 1830 had brought in a new regime placing the Alium family on the throne with Louis Philippe. I was keen more realistic than his predecessors Louis Felipe decreed that the monument should after all

be dedicated to the victories of the Empire. Napoleon the little corporal in retrospect had grown in glory as the great leader of his people. Thirty years after the laying of the first stone the triumphal arch was completed. It had cost nearly ten million gold francs. The Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated on July 29th 36 the anniversary of the July revolution. The place they had been cleared and paved granite posts one hundred in number to recall the hundred days during which Napoleon had returned from exile in Elba to attempt to rebuild his empire. We're joined by a chain which encircled the arch. The inauguration was unspectacular for the celebration had been canceled at the last minute. There were fears not unfounded of hostile demonstrations by the crowd. Even an attempt on the king's person just a small assembly was present. The president of the council the Minister of Public Works and the keeper of the monument. Later in the evening

however balls and fans took place in spite of an intermittent rain a thousand rockets of all colors were set off at the plasterer concourse. The arch itself lit up by thousands of gas jets cast a beautiful compensating glow over the whole while the masses grand wrote a reporter at the time after the pyramids of Egypt. No work of art in the world is so magnificent as this mountain of stone. But while it was the size of the monument it made the greatest impact the sculpture the provided the decorative detail was almost of equal value in its overall effectiveness especially to those interested in art as history and history as art. A certain lack of harmony exists among the four sides of the arch Although a single commission was offered to the sculptor route to decorate the bases of the arch. He had to share the Paris side with Korto where the newly side was given to a day. Indeed rude relief.

Better known as the MA CA's is considered the work of a genius. It symbolizes the departure of the volunteers of 1792 to fight the royalist forces in the French Revolution. Incidentally them RCA is the national anthem of France was composed by Rouge ally who died in 1836. The inauguration year of The OC. The lift pillar. Face English absolutely say is entitled The triumph of 1810 in honor of Emperor Napoleon. A newly side the group decorating the left pillar of the arch represents the resistance of 1814 and the right side depicts the peace of 1850. All along the impost of the arc various Bar elites called by different sculptors retrace the most important events of the Republican and imperial wars. But it is the events that have taken place beneath the Arc de Triomphe which are fulfilled its symbolic historic function exceeding even the dreams of the men who had

inspired it. On June 30 1830 seven the newly wed Duke Ferdinand eldest son of Louis Philippe and his bride accompanied by the king passed under the arch to went to Paris. The king passed through the arch again 5 years later. This time in future road procession this funeral was a precedent and the great of France have thus been honored ever since at the late twilight. The casket of Napoleon brought back in state from St. Elena rested on the ground archway under somebody Fifty thousand eight hundred forty one thousand years after he had died. A great black crape veil hung from the top of the arch as Victor Hugo's casket in hers moved under it in 1885. Delegations from all over France filled the avenues in the lawns of the Shamsi say to hear the representative from the French Academy pronounce to the king of poets France today rend his royal mama. During World War One the Monument came under attack from bombs in

German shells sent in by Big Bertha. At one time only 90 kilometers away from the city sandbags were placed around the Arctic to protect its sculptures. But when the wall was all the triumphal arch at last was put to the use Napoleon had envisioned a celebration of victory. On July 14th one thousand heard it in one thousand. A tremendous silent crowd gathered around the Senate at a burial chamber that had been constructed there and dedicated to the fallen for the Fatherland. A double row of captured guns surrounded the monument which was otherwise left undecorated. The procession began with a thousand disabled men on crutches or carried on stretchers passing under the arch in file while a cannon sounded then riding side by side came generals and foes victors of the first and second battles of the Marne. Behind them came detachment of the allied forces. Two years after this victorious March the Arc de Triomphe became

the national memorial for all the anonymous and unrecorded soldiers who had given their lives for France in secret and from different sectors of the front. The bones of 8 a.m. to 5 soldiers were brought together and they are placed in a tomb under the main arch. Here lies the Unknown Soldier. A small eternal flame by the tomb has burned ever since. Perhaps the most stunning sight of all that plaster they have is on a national holiday when the immense arch is decked out with a huge tri colored flag as the flag flutters and whips in the breeze. It seems to call attention to the destiny of the arch to remind all of the meaning of the quiet fall beneath. Sometimes as the day draws to a close and the triumphal arch of the stars is silhouetted against a fiery setting sun it seems not so much to glorify mortal victory as the spirit in man which ever rises above earthly conflict in awareness of beauty and peace.

You have just heard Dr. Joseph F. sin's a professor of history at Pace College New York complete his talks on the fame in the name of the octu triumph Paris France. We are indebted to a restaurant on Manhattan's East Side for permission to quote freely from its book written by Christine quite a nave free transcripts of today's talk as well as a list of other lectures given in this series. Maybe obtained by writing to fame in the name paste College New York New York 138. This program was distributed by the national educational radio network.