The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-10-28
From Crsoozag " YSaJ N Europe
PARIS.


Very few Euglishnen, and fewer Americans,
viii be induced 10 consider Paris, Gu the Ny DE,
as an elegant city. The gardens and plbliG
squares the palaces and private hotels 81 tie no
bility and some wealthy citizens, are In a style
OF magaiiceuce uneqHailed, li ] believe, BY any
town or city III Greet Britain. In the United
States we have certainly nothinE that hears any
comparison with them. The Boulevai Is, also,
combine the advantages OF wide and beautiful
promenade with display Of superb mansions,
public fountains, tea gardens, shops, &c. They
aff-.TrTt griaF gTFC7E E-ssgreet, which extends IA
CITY, forming circumferencra WI EfHfost seven
miles. Two rows OF majestic elms grow upon
each side, whose branches almost inteFlace
each other, forming a natural arcade on each
side OF the centre. The space between them is
travelled, for the benefit OF foot passengers
This extended and remarkable promenade, was
once the boundary Of the city, and a. that time
was covered with turf, and much resorted to for
playing az bowls hence tho name Boulevard
an abbreviation Of bouies ~ le Uerf. This
u IN at probability, the most conm0diOUs, and
most frequented public walk in Europe Here
an classes have the liberty Of amusing them
selves, and Il IL here that the gayety OF Paris IN
witnessed i'm its most vanegated forms In the
afternoon and evening, these walks are lined
with a double OF treble row Of chairs, which can
be hiredby the passengers for q sous each--a
rate 50 cheap that the fashionable lounger can
sometimes afford to appropriate two at them To
his indulgence, one for his body and one FER his
limbs, while the motley groupe which surrounds
him. contributes not little % BIZ entertainment
In this multifarious assemblage, are ballad sing
ers dancers, both children and dogs eoniurors.
puppet shows merry Andrews and fortune TEL
lers men with castles inhabited by white mice
which playa thousand antics ID its different apart
ments fortresses guarded by regiment OF Cana
~ birds, which perform their evoluti0ns with
great precision caricaturIsts, OF gIimacicrs who
change their tnces into rapid succession o. odd
and singuiarly grOtesque forms, which 70 risible
muscle can wei Withstand these and many oth-
err coatrivances, are performed with uuwearict
exertions 70 please, and By persons thankful i1r
the voluntary sous which may be thrown them
Interminglcd with these tricks, Is display Of fruit
women and hOwer girls, musicians hydrosiatie
experiments, and other alluremerts which con
vert the BOaievards Of Paris into place Of daily
amusement, highly characteristic Of TIE people q
this metropolis and Eation.
n But abstrsctingthese public places and build
ings Paris has no external attractions 20 recon-
mend IL The houses are very hiEh, and ~
clumsy and antiquated style Of architecture. The
streets are narrow, dark and dirty and without
sidewalks for foot passengers. They Gre Excess
sively crowded By wheel CarriaEes, and rctes-
IL
IchildrcH. The safest place % walk ~ generally
In the middle AZ the street but IL requires TO
little care and de1teFifv, 10 avoid the contact &
:. wheels ", ~ best, tie mud and dirt that fly
from them. The axle-trees of the CARTS TOO, pro-
liect outwards 10 an enormous sad needless
length, and increase the danger Tie shops are
not, ia common, 50 elegantly dressed out a. IN
Loudon yet those n the Palais Royal and
few other places, are a. sumptnous and attract
i've as the mosi splendid fabrics, artfulig and
ltastefuliy arranged, can possibly rsndcr them.
N There IL curious igrblinrt0rethero Nj odd cir
icnmstances in France4--Ihe same associations
% not seen 10 prevail here, that W fnd On ne
other side NJ the channel, " WI TIE AtlsHtc. "A
lwb0le family viii Live i'm spiendCr III the iuurth
Ist0ry Of a house. number ~ gentlemen >
houses open into one and TIE same front court,
which Communicates with the street nv mas
sive gate. The stables arc oiien found under
the same roof with the owner and DTS family ~
that while the Minister or Peer u ertertaiuir x
Ibis guests IN sslperhly furnished saloon in the
second story. his horses are enjoying their re-
past I'm the apartments Immediately below