The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-29

the Tuileries-so large, that the so called Park
of New York would be lost in one corner of
them. Then, we have the Place de la Con-
corde, capable of holding six squares of Phila-
delphia, at least Adjoining the Place, are the
Champs Elysees, yet larger, terminating in the
avenue that leads TO the Arch of Triumph !;
and all, | should think, extending over mile
These are on the Seine, and when you add the
breadth of the river TO these public grounds
your readers may have some idea of the extent
of the breathing places in the very centre of
Paris But this is not all We have the gar
dens of the Luxembourg, with the stately pal
ace surrounded by extensive grounds rich In
noblet works Of art, and richer yet in histori-
cal associations Every step one takes, a name
cop4es up that carries with it volume OF MEM
oyies and feeling. In these shaded walks to
The music OF these same fountains, under the
marble. gaze Of these ideei s1eations, what
comedies, what tragedies, bad been enacted by
the beautiful, the brave, the cowardly, the
mean-the poor slave and grasping powerful
sleeping in death hundreds of years ago! In
our visit to the Luxembourg, quite ali OF lts
historic memories were thrown away upon ID.
In bis fierce democracy, he affected to despise
all references to the bad, yet fascinating, Med
icis, the busy Guse, or stupid Orleans. He
considered them trash, and insisted on looking
q long while at the magnificent sale du Senat,
where in lS4S Louis Blanc held his socialist
meetings OF workmen. This gentleman, d. was
very enthusiastic over, prononnclng 1t a sub
lime spectacle-that presence OF tolling thou
sands, collected in this aristocratlc palace, to
hear from their great leader plans OF ameiora-
ton, by which they might have sacred homes
and daily bread For my part am not quite
80 enthused with the levelling system. think
often Of Enerson's illustration, when he said
that uniform cases will do to hold spoons, but
the marble statue must have its pedestal"
Beeides these, we have the gardens of Palais
Royaie, of Plantes, and public gardens and
squares without number, to say nothing OF the
places of public resort outside the city, that
would require volume to notice properly.
One thing strikes an American, possessed of
such tastes as lordly as old forests grow--and
that is, the barbarous manner in which French
men treat nature. A tree, in the eye of a
Frenchman is q thing to he cultivated, to be
trained, to be dressed and he goes about it in
a perfect frenzy First, he saws of all the limbs
he can reach then he scrapes the trunk, until
it resembles BARRIERS pole. This done, he
takes survey, and considers whether the tree
shall be of the Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, or Com
posite order of architecture whether it shall
be a Chinese pagoda or a chateau--a dog ken
mel or a cathedral. This important point set
tied, be rushes at the devoted tree---he SAWS,
he chops, he clips with shears, and cuts with
knives, until the tree disappears, and the crea
ton is finished and then his expressive and
satisfactory phrase is, tres gentt" The trees
in the grounds of the Tuileries look as if they
had started from the ground at military com
mand, and were prepared to march upon you
in platoons.
There is one city in the Union yet capable
of the most unlimited improvements, and that
is the city of Washington. have, you know,
never seen it in summer; but from what ID
aud others tell me, | can recognise what a
magnificent place it must yet be. IL has natu'
raj advantages am satisfied, no city in the
world can exceed: the broad Potomac. flowing
80 drsamily away tn the ses--a river | always
associate in my mind with Gen. Washington
full, calm, deep, and strong. His remains sleep
upon its bank the capital Of our nation, bear.
ing his name, looks on its waters; and 70 long
az we have love for the godikc man. or an
admiration for his deeds we should spare no
efforts to enrich and adorn the city which he
planned, and which is rapidly becoming asso-
cated in our minds with all that is national
D. tells me that in the summer the inequalities
of hill and dale and gentle slope of the grounds
about the Presidential mansion, with glimpses
of the sparkling Potomac caught through Wis
tas of green isles, present beauties uneqnalled
in public grounds here. When the water shall
have been brought into the city, ~ now pro
posed, and fountains erected, paving with sill
YER hoofs and tossing their snowy names in the
sunlight, above the green foliage as if rejoicing
ia their freedom think the tiEIe.worn sheer
will fade out at last and our capital recognised
to be in fact, what it il capable of becoming,
the most beautiful city in the Union.
Every sunny afternoon, Immediately after
dinner, we walk to the gardens Of the Tuile-
ries and selecting chairs near the military
band, that with tho fountains fill the air with
sweet sounds. dream away two hour. in listen
ing and gazing at the quiet happ7 things
around am told that-while Paris ". in an
uproar of revolution, the cltizens Were here
in numbers with their wives and children so
strong is habit, so powerful the taste for recio
alton, in these gay Parisians. One afternoon,
while we were drinking in the evening air, and
as near positive enjoyment as positive quiet will
bring heard a scream, aud the next moment
was almost frightened to death, by being seized
and nearly crushed in the arms of an apparent
stranger Good heavens! Bell Smith, is this
yor' Where did you drop from! In Paris,
as live am 30 glad When did you get
herea How long do you stay Can you speak
French. yet ?o were words rOarcd in my ears
When could get the attacking party at soffi.
oient distance, ] recognised our feshy friend
Mrs. -, Of -, with her little, lamblike
husband peering under her shoulder. We sat
down, and between pinches Of snuff | had all
Europe done up They had rushed through
Italy, flew through Germany, knew something
of Spain, pee A into Turkey, had u distant
idea of Russia; and, with no knowledge what
ever Of art, science, or language, had been
cheated robbed, abused bored and sckened to
death. Only think, dear Bell, when We came
over the Alps in our own carriage, we had such
. time Lem, (her husband,) where is that
stOopid courier! We have n courier, dear
pretends to speak English, don't know word !;
stoopid | believe he il an emissary or a thief,
Well, as tell you, bought cooked hat and
top-boots to make Lem look like Napoleon,
and study the picturesque-you know one must
study something here, and not throw ones
money away. Well, We got along we'll enough,
till we came to q lonely, dismal place, where
the yeturiny told us TO go to certain place
in tho rocks, where Napoleon went and took
view. Well, We went do you believe; ii wa-
On awful place; but took the hat and boot
aud courier and l. and dressed up poor Lem,
and set him off on rock, with arms folded
but, bless your dear heart the lamb looked ex.
actly like scarecrow, and liked to have died
with laughing 1t was no laughing matter,
though, Bell Coming back, We liked TO have
lost our way-fell down awful places-dear
Lem smashed his hat broke his watch and
lost his pocket book aud our stoopd courier
fell down fifty times and tore his clothes said
he was hurt in the keynees - meant knees.
Mean goose, can't speak word Of English
Well, when we 20. back, VIC found our carriage
had been robbed by brigands, and tho veturiny
tied, with his mouth full Of pebbles. | dop'r
know what he kept the pebbles in his mouth
for; but everything wa gone--ail my beauti-
t..l A a.