The general plan of this imposing monument is borrowed from that of the famous arches at Rome; but the transversal arch is an additional feature, while its reliefs, and inscriptions, and its colossal proportions throw the arches of Rome into comparative insignificance.  The interior sides of the piers are inscribed with the names of ninety-six victories; under the transversal arches are the names of generals.  A group upon the northern pier of the eastern front represents the departure of the army in 1792:—­“The Genius of War summons the nation to arms.”  The group on the southern front represents the triumph of 1810:—­Victory is in the act of crowning Napoleon.  History with pencil in hand is about to record his deeds upon a tablet before her; conquered towns are at his feet.  Fame surmounts the whole, blowing her bugle of praise.  The group on the southern pier of the western front represents the French nation’s resistance to the invading army of 1814:—­A young man defends his wife, his children and his father; a warrior falls slain from his horse, and the Genius of the Future encourages them to action.  Upon the northern pier is represented the peace of 1815:—­The warrior sheathes his sword, the farmer has caught a bull with a rope, and is taming him for purposes of agriculture, while a mother with her children is sitting by, and Minerva sheds her protecting influence over them.  Every group is 36 feet in height and each figure 18 feet.

A chain fence encircles this proud and noble monument, and shuts off all conveyances.  Pedestrians can enter until dusk.  An ascent of 272 steps brings the visitor to the platform at the top, from which one of the finest views of Paris and the surrounding country may be enjoyed.

There are three other triumphal arches in Paris.  The oldest is that of Porte St. Denis.  It was erected by the city of Paris in 1672.  The principal arch is 25 feet wide, and 43 feet high; and the total height of the structure is 72 feet.  Its reliefs and other representations are superb.

The triumphal arch over Porte St. Martin is 54 feet wide by 54 feet high.  The central arch is 15 feet wide by 30 feet in elevation.  It was built in 1674, two years after the erection of Porte St. Denis.

The last of the three inferior arches was erected by order of Napoleon in 1806.  It has a base of 60 feet by 20 feet, and is 45 feet high.  The cost of erection was about $275,000.  It stands near the Tuileries at the Place du Carrousel, after which it was named, and which was so called from a great tournament held by Louis XIV. in 1662.  The entablature is supported by eight Corinthian columns of marble, with bases and capitals of bronze, adorned with eagles.  The attic of this arch is surmounted by a figure of Victory in a triumphal car with four bronze horses hitched to it.  These were modelled by Bosio from the celebrated historic horses which Napoleon brought from Venice to Paris in 1797, but which were restored by the allies in 1815, and now stand again in the Piazza of St. Mark at Venice, as they had since 1205.  The original (those in Venice) are gilt, but those in Paris are black.