Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 07.djvu/158

LEFT PAHIA, GULF 114 PARIS imaginary magnificence, either antici- patory or retrospective. Meanwhile his physical condition is lowered, and he be- comes increasingly unable to attend to his own wants. His irritability may lead him into unrestrained profanity of lan- guage or indecency of behavior. There are strong emotional periods. His limbs and features tremble, articulation be- comes impaired, as well as the power of writing. Finally, after a period seldom extending over five years, paralysis and convulsions bring death from exhaustion, though a complication of diseases is apt to hasten the process. The disease is much more frequent in men than in women, and is apt to first show itself in the late thirties or the forties. The almost invariable cause is now believed to be syphilis, aggravated by alcoholic or similar excess, sunstroke, and injury to the nervous system. In the early stages rest, diversion, diet and hydropathic treatment will help the pa- tient. In the later stages constant at- tendance at home or in a hospital be- comes imperative. PARIA, GULF OF, an inlet of the Atlantic on the N. E. coast of South America, between the island of Trinidad and mainland of Venezuela, inclosed on the N. by the Peninsula of Paria. It possesses good arK^horage, and receives some arms of the Orinoco. PARIAH, in southern India, one of that section of the community with which even the lowest recognized castes will not eat, though there are Hindus inferior even to the pariahs. The latter are Turanian, and originally constituted that section of the aborigines of the S. of India who submitted to the Aryan and pther_ conquerors during the successive invasions of the land. Many pariahs are servants of Europeans, hence more civil- ized than the castes above them; and a number of them have embraced Christi- anity. PARIAN MARBLE, a white, large- grained and considerably translucent marble, called by the Greeks lychintes, from lychnos = light, because quarried by lamplight. It was the most celebrated statuary marble of antiquity, and was found in the island of Faros, also in Naxos and Tenos. The celebrated statues of the Venus de Medicis, the Venus Capitolini, etc., are made of this marble. PARIMA, or PARIME SIERRA, a mountain range situated in the N. E. of Venezuela. In general it is composed of bare plateaus, and its highest paaks rise to a height of about 8,000 feet. The Essequibo, Orinoco, and Rio Branco have their rise in this range. PARIS (anciently, Lutetia Parisi- orum), the capital of France and of the department of the Seine. The city lies in the Seine valley surrounded by heights, those on the N. being Charonne La Villette, the Buttes-Chaumont and Montmartre, those on the S. St. Gene- vieve, Montroug"e, and the Butts-aux- Cailles. Through the valleys between these heights the river runs from E. to W., inclosing two islands, upon which part of the city is built. It is navigable by small steamers. The quays or em- bankments, which extend along the Seine on both sides, being built of solid mas- onry, protect the city from inundation and form excellent promenades. The river, which within the city is fully 530 feet in width, is crossed by numerous bridges, the more important being Pont Neuf, Pont des Arts, Pont du Carrousel, Pont Royal, Pont de I'Alma, etc. The city is surrounded by a line of fortifica- tions which measures 22 mile's; outside of this is the enceinte, while beyond that again are the detached forts. These now form two main lines of defense. The inner line consists of 16 forts, the outer line of 18 forts, besides redoubts; the area thus inclosed measuring 430 square miles, with an encircling line of 77 miles. The climate of Paris is tem- perate and agreeable. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements, at the head of which is a maire. Each arron- dissement is divided into four quarters, each of which sends a member to the municipal council. The council discuss and vote the budget of the city. At the head is the prefect of the Seine and the prefect of police. The water supply of the city is derived from the Seine and the Marne, from the Ourcq canal, from artesian wells, and from springs. Streets, Boulevards, Etc. — The houses of Paris are almost all built of white cal- careous stone, and their general height is from five to six stories, arranged in separate tenements. Many of the mod- ern street buildings have mansard roofs, and are highly enriched in the Renais- sance manner. In the older parts of the city the streets are narrow and irregular, but in the newer districts the avenues are straight, wide, and well paved. What are known as "the boulevards" include the interior, exterior, and mili- tary. That which is specifically called "The Boulevard" extends, in an irregular arc on the N. side of the Seine, from the Place de la Bastille in the E. to the Place de la Madeleine in the W. It includes the Boulevards du Temple, St. Martin, St. Denis, des Italiens, Capuchins, Made-