Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-02-27
sIlNniY IN PARIs


To whatever cause II il owing, there is
nothing can be moro certain, than that inf
deity again reigns lord Of the ascendpnt in
Paris. u i impossible 60 be u week in the
metropolis without being sensible Of this. II
is computed that from Gu, 600 to ~, LOCO iudi-
Niduais. chiefly women, or persons Of tho
poorest classes, believe In the Christian reii-
gion The remainder, amounting TO about
coo 900, make no pretension to such faith.
% 10 impossible by any external appearances
20 Distinguishing Sunday from Saturday. ex-
tepting lhat every species Of amusement and
dissipation goes on with more spirit GA that
DAY than any other. We arc no advocates
for tho o,er-rigid or judicial observance Of
the day OF rest. Perhaps some protestant
nations have gone too far in converting the
Christian Sunday into the Jewish Sabbath,
and preventing on II those innocent recrea-
tons which might divert the giddy multitude
from hidden debauehery. But without stand
ing up for any rigid or puritanich IDEAS, IL
may be safely affirmed that the total neglect
of SUNDAY by nine-tenths Of the people, in.
dicaies n fixed disregard of religion in any
state protesting belief in Christianity. In
Paris the shops are all open, the carts all 20
ing. the workmen all employed on the early
part OF the Sunday; and although a part OF
them are closed after = O'clock iu the al
tcrDoon, IL is not with the slightest intention
OF joining in any, even the smallest, rcligi-
Gus duty, at this is done. u Is pour s'smi,-
SER to forget the fstigues OF the week IN the
excitement with which il terminates, that the
change takes place. Al 2 o'clock, all who
can diseDgage themselves from their daily
toll, rush away in crowds to drink of the in
toxicating cup Of pleasure. The omui-
buses roll with ceascless din in every direc-
tion out Of the crowded cspital, carry ing the
delighted citizens 20 st. Cloud, 81 Germaine,
or to Versailles, the Ginguettes Of DelleN lille,
or the Gardens Of vinccnncs when the Bou-
leyards TEEN with volatile and happy crowds,
delighted by the enjoyment Of seeing and be-
ing seen then the gardens of the Tuileries
and tho Luxemburgh, the Jardin des Plantcs,
and the Champs Elyscs, are enliyened with the
young, the gay, and the handsome of both
sexes, both rich and poor; then the splendid
drive 10 the triumphal arch Of Melville, which
Is filed with the comparatively few equipa-
ses which the two revolutions have left Co
the impoverished hotels Of the capital.
| While the scenes Of gaicty and amusement
are going on, the priests in each OF the priu-
eiPal churches are de voutIy performing mass
before a few hundred old women, tottering
eceiesiastics, or young children; and ten or
fifteen Protestant churches are assembling as
many thousands 10 the duties of the reformed
faith.
such is 4 Partisan Sunday; and such the
respect for a divine ordinance, which re-
mains ia what they ambitiousIy call the me-
tropolis of European civilization.
As evening draws on, the total disrcs ard OF
religious Observance IL, IL possible, still NOR,
conspicuous. Never u the Opera filed with
such enthusiastic crowds as on sunday even
ing never are the theatres OF the Port 81.
Martin, the Boulev ards, the Opera Comique.
the Vaudeville, and the Varieties, 80 full a. on
that occasion never are the balls be- ond the
barriers 50 crowded; never IL Tivoli so emil
yening, or the open ar Concerts, an the
Champs Ulysses. throngcd by so many thou
sands.
I, On Sunday evening, in Paris, there seems
to be but ooe wish, one feeling. one DESIRE
and that Is, 20 amuse themselves and, by IN
cessantly laboring at that one object, they
certainly succeed in il 20 an extent that
could hardly be credited in colder and more
4 austere ATTITUDES. IBiaeklcood's Magazine.