Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-24
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
FURTHER EXTRACTS
From the Family Letters Of an American Lady
abroad

FURTHER EXTRACTS
From the Family Letters Of an An'ertea@ Lazy
abroad.
~ PANS, MEURIcE's HOTEL, July -.
It does not seem half SO strange to lind myself IN
this great caravansera in the heart OF the metro
nolis of the world, as it did to be seated in the
Strand, the day after my arrival n London. don't
know wby perhaps my utter Indifference and dis
gust for all sublunary things consequent upon the
transit to Calais may account for my want Of ex-
citement in being absolutely face to face with Ia
belle DIES bellies. Dear, dear, those two hours All
the horrors Of the Atlantic concentrated French
at OF suffering AS pleasantly few by Folkestone,
along the margin Of the sea- wishing Economically to
follow the moonlight path its silver waters but how
was rcpeid by the treacherous beauty We embarked
where so many famous and had preceded us,
sud was dutfully full Of historical thoughts from the
times Of the Black Prince down to lady Bessngton, who
used to cross in her carriage deck vany hoping to
escape the heavy laid by these nhosptable waves
upon travellers. We watching Albons cliffs, Of
course and exchanging the usual original remarks in
sdeni the scene railing against the wet decks, dsa
greeabe passengers, and general discomfort when
little cookie shell began dance up and down in most
Aesnoniac manner stood it manfully rather
fully for little while; but, alas for in APP
preaching the country Of the Gaul All those blessed
twinkng lights Of the quay and the JOY Of first step
the soil France 1t bitter cold keen wind whist
ling gems ac garcons and custom house people shrek
ing at the top Of their lungs made way in stu
pid and frozen bewilderment to the douanc seated
myself quietly table to take in and enjoy the extra
ordinary and oen-deserbed hubbub and, while chief
had wildly rushed after the luggage we questioned
very closely as to business and general movements
whether they saw any thing suspicious in the appearance
Of four such Woebegone miserable looking women that
my French was not sufficiently explicit did not learn
but we were very politely requested to follow husse
who led the way and before had glmmeriDg of their
intention was passed through barrier, locked in
little with old woman, and then and there most
thoroughly and uncompromsingly searched. For the
FIRST minute very indignant but finished by chatting
with my foe and being highly amused at the incidents in
deed as foreign experience not undergone by many
ladies' rather enjoyed it. Great regret was expressed
by the officers when passport was produced lit had
been unaccountaby mislad and finding furthermore
that official was overwhelmed with apologies
for my detention.
AT ouillacs famous hotel had first French ROOM
with waxed floor perfect picture of provincial old
e-dechan5re with snowwhitc high cap and in the
morning such rolls such Coffee old Virginia
not approach We had time devote to mark
ed place as Calais and passed many walled and ancient
town which we will of these days quietly stop and
examine. The road unneresting and fat the women
with no pcturesqueness Of costume working in the fields
and rowing about little boats through the bitches which
mark the owners boundary, there being fences the
strips Of land back for miles, the farmers living at
the far end clustered together forming hamles favor
able for defence former times. On through Amiens,
where we lunched, terribly shaken and joted by the
miserable railway which is worse, if such can be con-
oeved, than the one between -- and --; at
AID r;ta iavfnu Twas ouf
of America without any PREPARATION of suburbs srag
Cling village we passed formidable Publications. gded
through immensely thick walls into superb station and
nous poia Paris confess being very little excited
for the first moments as drove through the curl
Gus streets each step, each odd gn the little soldiers,
the bouses the peasant and the bareheaded women
became aroused and entered the touecard hdten
passed Tortonis drove through Rue Ryo and entered
Meurices courtyard my heart at last gave throb of
recognition that actually in fascinating Paris
After vast sombre London, which at once impresses
stranger almost with ave. Paris is too bright too scat
tered and gay present at the first glance any adequate
idea of its immensely and grandeur 1t is said that one
should enter Europe by France to receive the full tide Of
foreign emotion To me- however Paris much resembles
New York in buse brancy of streets and shops,
activity Of crowds and brightness Of Skies although i'm
nedatey striking in the contrasts of an ancient
continental capital with young city There being no
one or two absorbing points of interest to u.s. as the
Tower and Westminster Abbey began our sightseeing
with the streets Of the ancient cite, filed with swarm
ing population principally in the middle of its zgzag tor
tuous ways then driving through the famed antouy St.
German very stately and aristocrstc, and the magnh-
cent quarters of modern Paris trying to penetrate the
mysterious gres Of the grey chaeaulookng houses with
the great gate and courtyard admirably adapted one
would suppose the revolutionary tendency Of the pre-
sent day.
l was all eagerness to the enchanting Tuileres
and other gardens but alas for first visit by daylight;
could these indeed be the fields with bare, brown
EARTH blade of grass, formal Of trees and
rows Of benches only relieved here and there by auny
bonnie flirting with moustache Fresh from
the glorious London Parks they looked dull and dresry
but what magic change in the evening" Filled with
shows, illuminated by gas, crowded with chsttering
laughing throngs smoking and drinking; here exhibit
ton Of lcgerdsmain circus and harlequin and merry
go-rounds; there little further of concert in the open
air. to which those who please give sous and to
which hundreds listen with delight bestowing enthusias
tic ravos the only thing perhaps they do bestow in
for really well given songs and good orchestral
music. Then there are restaurants and many cafe
where this vivid people dance until morning But
the place certain classes Of French in the height OF
their good kamor and fun is OF the often described
5arns doxssnts where hundreds nightly seek the popu
lar goddess, pleasure.
Sunday heuo the great holyday by conspiracy among