This is the largest theater in the world. Its proper name in the National Academy of Music, but most people call it the Opera House. It covers almost 3 acres of ground. There are many theaters in the world that will seat more people. It will hold only 2,158 persons. Eight in the City of New York alone are larger in seating capacity. But the Opera House is far nner [finer] than these. The ground on which it is built cost over $2,000,000. The building itself cost almost $7,500,000. All kinds of fine marble were used in its construction. The best artists of France were called on to furnish the decorations. No expense was spared to make this the home of fine art. And this is as it should be for Paris has been for years the center of the world's art. In the front of the building on the ground floor you see 4 statues of Poetry and Music. Inside, there are monuments and paintings everywhere. It is a great store-house of French art. The stage is 180 feet wide, 82 feet deep, and 196 feet high. On this stage have appeared the greatest musicians in the world. In this theater on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights there gather the fashionably dressed people of Paris. Paris has long been a leader in the fine arts. Our fashions in clothes are settled by the French tailors and milliners. Students of painting and sculpture try to spend at least a year of study in Paris. Many of these live in the poorer Latin Quarter, and struggle all their lives to make a name for themselves. Architecture, the art of building, is another fine art for which Paris is noted. In the field of drama, you have all heard of at least one famous French actress-Sarah Bernhardt. In literature the names of famous writers would fill a book. Your teacher will tell you the name of a good story by Hugo or Dumas for you to read. Keystone ID: 1603 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.