TheysaythatapagantemplestoodwhereNotreDamenowstands，intheoldRomandays，eighteenortwentycenturiesago——remainsofitarestillpreservedinParis;andthataChristianchurchtookitsplaceaboutA。D。
300;anothertooktheplaceofthatinA。D。500;andthatthefoundationsofthepresentcathedralwerelaidaboutA。D。1100。Thegroundoughttobemeasurablysacredbythistime，onewouldthink。Oneportionofthisnobleoldedificeissuggestiveofthequaintfashionsofancienttimes。
ItwasbuiltbyJeanSans—Peur，DukeofBurgundy，tosethisconscienceatrest——hehadassassinatedtheDukeofOrleans。Alas！Thosegoodoldtimesaregonewhenamurderercouldwipethestainfromhisnameandsoothehistroublestosleepsimplybygettingouthisbricksandmortarandbuildinganadditiontoachurch。
Theportalsofthegreatwesternfrontarebisectedbysquarepillars。
Theytookthecentraloneawayin1852，ontheoccasionofthanksgivingsforthereinstitutionofthepresidentialpower——butprecioussoontheyhadoccasiontoreconsiderthatmotionandputitbackagain！Andtheydid。