Royal Palaces and Parks of France

The modern traveller sees something beyond mere facts. Historical material as identified with

the life of some great architectural glory is something more than a mere repetition of

chronologies; the sidelights and the co-related incidents, though indeed many of them may be

but hearsay, are quite as interesting, quite as necessary, in fact, for the proper appreciation of

a famous palace or chateau as long columns of dates, or an evolved genealogical tree which

attempts to make plain that which could be better left unexplained. The glamour of history

would be considerably dimmed if everything was explained, and a very seamy block of

marble may be chiselled into a very acceptable statue if the workman but knows how to avoid

the doubtful parts.

An itinerary that follows not only the ridges, but occasionally plunges down into the hollows

and turns up or down such crossroads as may have chanced to look inviting, is perhaps more

interesting than one laid out on conventional lines. A shadowy something, which for a better

name may be called sentiment, if given full play encourages these side-steps, and since they

are generally found fruitful, and often not too fatiguing, the procedure should be given every

encouragement.