There is another famous church in Paris built to that other Mary in the Bible known as Mary Magdalene. This churchto Mary Magdalene is called simply “The Madeleine,” which is the French for Magdalene. It is a much newer church than Notre Dame but it is much older-looking, It is built like the old temples they used to build beforeChrist was born—before they had any churches. The Madeleine has stone columns all around the outside, but it has no windows, no towers, no flying buttresses, no spire, no dome.
Once upon a time France had kings and queens and princes and princesses, and along the Seine are many beautiful palacesin which they lived. Now, however, France has no more kings and queens or princes. It has a President as we have, for France is a republic as we are. So the old palaces are now used for museums or art galleries or libraries.One of the greatest of these palaces is the Louvre, and in the Louvre are many famous pictures and statues.
A photograph is never worth much—even though it may be a good likeness and the person famous. But a painting, eventhough not a good likeness and the person unknown, may be worth a fortune. One of the great pictures in the Louvre is the painting of a smiling woman called Mona Lisa. It is one of the most valuable paintings , but it wasonce upon a time stolen right off the wall in the Louvre where it was hanging. It was a foolish thing to steal, for the thief could not sell it nor even show it to any one. All the World looked for the picture, but it wasa long time before it was found in another country and put back again in the Louvre, where it is once more.