The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-11-17

w men tue yOltuTes dBhiu eooIPN"f wy
themselves in front Of long, low, stragghng
row of stone buildings, as much like cathe-
dral as a cOw-pen This they refused to enter
some pronouncing it prison, others palace
but, in reality, it contained the courts OF JUS
tce-but unanimously decided by the party
b" humbug bore. stuff )" and again the voclf-
erous alteration began. This time it had IN
it good deal Of decided, clear, hearty, English
abuse. At last Mr.. -, of Virginia one OF
the principal interpreters on former occasions,
said
"Now, stand back, all of you; you only deaf
en- the fellows to no purpose let me speak 70
them :" and speaking or rather shouting with
tremendous emphasis, he exclaimed
"Voulcz vous aller nous quelque chose
vieux?n*
The response to this was, first, very solemn,
stupid look of inquiry; then a light stole out in
the shape of grin, and gradually spread over
the face. until it resembled full moon where
upon the other Interpreter, the honorable bear
or of dispatches to St. Petershargh, having
consulted pocket dictionary, came at the drl-
vers, and in somewhat the same manner, and,
if anything, in louder voice, said
"Nous avoir besoin voir un-unf-what the
devil is cathedral in French. Un-un-com-
prenez vous!"
The answer to this, after quite an Grafton in
his native language by one of the drivers,
seemed to be an assent, and into the hacks
again fastened the gentlemen, in search of an
old cathedral When again the carr ages
stopped, they were under stone arch thrown
over the street of not very astounding dimen-
sions, but covered with figures carved against
the under side-an object of intense interest,
doubles .ly, to one acquainted with its history
4 I.xA i-,n Il, he oh
works of art before seen, a disappointment
not worth the trouble-another sale" as they
expressed it.
Again the clamor began, greatly aggravated
by the discovery that they had but twenty
minutes before the arrival of the cars They
probably would have ended the discussion by
pounding the drivers, had not that rare bird, a
good natnred Englishman, come TO the rescue
stating that the drivers asserted that the land
lord of Hotel dAngleterre had requested them
to drive to these points, and they had taken
them in their order, 80 as to save time, but
were now ready to drive to whatever place the
gentlemen might request This was clear
enough and would have ended ali difficulties at
once but Mr. -, who had heard from some
source that in Rouen might be seen famous
monument to the Maid of Orleans insisted
that as the time was not sufficient to Justify an
attempt at the cathedral, they should devote it
to seeing the monument. Some seconded this
proposition, others opposed; and so FIVE minutes
Of their precious time were lost At last, the
majority decided for the monument, and away
they all went.
The saddest disappointment was the last.
The gentlemen in search of startling antiqui-
ties drew up before fountain, surmounted by
black, rude mass of stone, that looked, Mr..
- said, like the Goddess of Liberty in re-
duced circumstances chained to a rock" They
gaZed in mute astonshment at this specimen
of the dark ages-looked round at each other,
and then burst into rOars of laughter. ii was
too ridiculous. Their merriment was of short
duration for the discovery was made that they
had just five minutes in which to get to the
cars. They left the fossil maid and splashing
fountain in great haste.
6 Get in" said Mr. -, faithful and honor
able bearer of dispatches to our Charg5 at
Naples hurrab, now, and hurry up; these
ears run to the minute. Jump in, Pll move
'emo
Saying which, he mounted upon the box
took the whip from the driver-D followed his
example, and away they went, at harum-sca-
rum gallop through Rouen-down one street.
up Notwithstanding people run for their lives
as they galloped round corners, and fixed the
astounded stare of the quiet citizens At the
corner nearest the depot, one of the carriages
took a fruit stand of an old lady and plums
apricots, peaches and melons, went rolling in
every direction | was watching anxiously for
the party and saw them dash into the court of
the depot with an uproar worthy the departure
OF six bearers of dispatches
Rouen may have an old cathedral-l believe
none of our party propose to dispute that fact
That it may have very old cathedral, every
way worthy the attention Of antiguary, archi-
tect, and artist, We will not doubt. Guide-books
are not to be disputed, unless they speak of no
tells; works of history are to be relied on but,
ask no honorable bearer of dispatches, no one of
our party, for the old cathedral of Rouen. To
such, it is an unpleasant iction-the base fab
rc OF n dream but that statue-Joan Of Arc
we can criticize. Ii we have seen, walked
round and closely Inspected; and let no man,
woman, or child, after this, utter aught against
Persicos group of Columbus and squaw, for
Joan OF Rouen is somewhat worse.
We took the second class cars for Paris and
found them more comfortable than the best on
the Camden and Amboy railway. Each car
is divided into three coaches, capable of hold
ing fourteen persons, one half with their backs
to the locomotive lamp was burning in the
top Of each car, and of it we soon had an ex-
PLANTATION. In few moments we were plung-
ing through a tunnel and had underground
railway, it seemed to me, half the distance.
But the care, certainty, and comfort Of these
railways are beyond all parallel. No accidents
here, no rushing into open draws, no collisions,
or running over animals, or off the track. 1t
seems something like tyranny, at first, the way
in which officials bow you into your places,
where you remain per force But you realize
sense of security-a comfort that is worth all
il-regulated freedom ever witnessed These
officials are in uniform with the name of the
Office worked upon the collar of each coat, and
their patience seems boundless No pressure,
no absnrdlty or wanton opposition, can draw
them from the mild frmness which seems
second nature.
Monsieur will please take his place"
Monsieur, an Englishman, was looking, with
great Indignation at a fleshy old lady who had
seated herself next him, and from some cause,
very Objectionable to him. and 80 he had
taken himself out The answer to this mild
command was some voluble bad French, min
gled with English swearing.
Monsieur will please take his place"
But Monsieur still declined, and the door
was closed, leaving the malconten. standing on
the platform. | could not see where he went
but directly the poor fellow returned, accom-
panied by an officer and in a very sulen man
ner took the place fret occupied All this oc-
cupied but a limited time, and so quiet that
but few Of our passengers noticed the transac-
ton.
Mr.. c. gave me much valuable information
in connection with these roads The Govern.
ment has large interest in them and the laws
are not very severe, but strictly enforced Every
accident is taken as proof positive Of criminal
negligence, and, unless shown to be otherwise,
punished My friend thought the laws, when
there are any, with MS, too stringent. When
an accident occurs, which endangers the lives
Of officers as well as passengers, to say they