The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-27

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the crown. and enjoys stipend from the
Government. Scarce is there Protestant
church in the kingdom but receives some
degree Of administrative support. Event the
first man in authority in the realm---M.
Guizot, is Protestant. And amid all the
hatred to which that minister is subjected,
by his peace policy, -one hears no odium
thrown upon his Religious belief.-This is
thing apart--a thing speculative--a thing
for noble rehections-a thing to lend lit
tie mystery to versa sublime episode to
life-a thing TO render beauty attractive by
adding devotional sentiments-a thing to
add little grace to companionship, by an
unseen, but fully accredited tie;-little else
of Religion is recognized at Paris%
The Sunday at Paris is richly illustrative
OF the Religious tendencies of the people.
1t is the festive day of the week. The au-
thorities give their finest military displays
in the court Of the palace 1.-The fountains
Of the gardens play in their best style; =
the shop windows wear their richest appear.
ance the theatres show their best pieces ;
and the galleries Of art are crowded with
their gayest company. Yet it IS not forgot
ten by the Parisians that the day has sa-
cred purpose. At the morning mass,--at
an hour when many good Protestant peo-
pie are dallying with sleep,-the pavement
Of Notre- Dame, and the Madeleine is GOV.
cred thick with kneeling worshippers, who
say their beads, and say their prayers with
the earnestness Of true devotion.
have many time leaned against one OF
the beaded columns of the Madeleine, when
the sun was Just beginning to throw slanting
rays through the windows Of tho roof, and
listened meditatively to the broken chant
ings by the altar. or watched the comers, as
they dipped their fingers in the Holy iont
stepped lightly along the marble floor
crossing themselves as they passed opposite
the altar, and bowling to the sacred image
throwing single rapid glance over the
kneeling company, then STOPPING gently till
their knees met the marble pavement, and
began their silent Worship.
Perhaps it would be some poor girl seiz-
ing those early hours, before the employ OF
the shop began, and hoping by the favor OF
the Virgin, under whose image she prays,
for happy stroll at evening with her lover,
under the trees of the Champs ElySees.--
Perhaps it is some lady in rich dress, with
gold-clasped service book,-for there is this
Religious beauty in the Catholic Church,
that rank aud wealth lose themselves amid
the "crowd Of Witnesses" and there--the
Countess kneels, with a begging woman
kneeling beside her-and they beg together
for Grace.
Perhaps it is gay position, in has Grim
son-laced coat, who now comes tp-toeing
along, looking grave, and crossing himself,
and kneeling in humble place, and gazing
steadlas;ly upon the image Of Christ that is
over the altar. For little time, his soul
seems absorbed in the view, but now his eye
wanders over the fesooes of the ceiling.
the little bell tinkles-he remembers him
self, and bows his head Now he rises
and wanders stealthily to the door-dips
his hand in the Holy wateG-turns his face
to the. sVirgin-bOws-goes softly out-and
in an hour thereafter, is shouting French
oaths 10 his horses, on his way to the Dor
ders Of France.
Perhaps it is a stout Sergent-de-ville,
striding about with his chapeau under his
arm, that meets your eye. His looks wan
der over the kneeling forms. He is least
religious Of ALL II he prays, it is hurried
ly, as if it were not his business, and he
kneeIs, as if he rarely knelt The people
come and go, till the sun is fairly up in the
sky, and the crowd disperses.
Sunday is the great day at the Cafe, and
Restaurant; on no other day are their gains
so great. The savings Of the week, are Law
ished upon the indulgencies Of Sunday.
Whoever dimes upon knuckle other days,
lu1uriates in fricandeau on the Din,dlche.
Whoever dimes at moderate prices the SIX
days, dimes at the Trois Freres the seventh /;
and who drinks ordinary wine the rest Of
the week, on Sunday orders the best.
The garden Of the palace is full to over
flowing Versailles is crowded with Pa
risian company, and the Gallery of the Lou
vre on no other day is 50 thronged with
visitors. The stall-men Of the Champs Ely.
sees, with their cakes, and games, and
swings, drive their best bargains on Sun.
days-the necromancers, and sleight-of-hand
men under the trees, ale always at work on
Sunday. The public balls are fullest-sol
diers are plentiest along the walks ;--omni
buses charge double prices and the pub
lie conscience seems lighter upon Sunday
than any day Of the week.
Partisan Religion with all that is good in
it-and its tender devotional sentiment i.
good, and its charity and liberality are good
has yet very little about it of that sturdy
selCdenial for conscience sake" which
makes the Protestant Religionist moral. In
deed, so much is Religion at Paris senti
nlent, and 50 little principle, that it seems
to adom even profigacy; and the poor girl
thrown loose upon that luxuriously rolling
tide Of Paris life, with eyes fearful before the
Virgin in Notrs-Dame--prays for constan
cy; and would as soon be without hel
crucifx, as without her lover.
OF the priesthood, there are without doub
very many who are vicious, and perhaps al
rmany-certainly many, who are pure
There are. it may be, many worthy, anc
welLmeaning souls, in valleys of New
England-pOssibly in other valleys-.look
ing ever on Papacy as a scarlet-clad harlot
or spotted beast, who will not accept ever
my Protestant testimony, to the fact, tha
human sympathies sometimes dwell under
PaPal priest-robe. Yet however sad the
truth may SCENT is even so. Nsy-Or
thodoxy ITSELF sometimes lifts up its voice