The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-06-30
The HonleYards nf Paris.

Tho hest description we have seen Of these
promenades Of world wide celebrity is given
In letter to tho Baltimore American
A Paris paper, in alluding to the Isouleyards
4 few days since spoke of them the ''pride
and glory of Paris, and the envy of all Eu-
rope" There are, undou htedly, no othor tho
roughfares In Europe that can compare with
them, but still in any other city they would
be nothing more than broad and elegant
streets. 1t Is here, however, that the peculiar
charac cristics of the Parsians are displayed,
adding TO the magnificence of the Boulevards;
and nagnitving the attractions to an cxtpnt
that is scarcely conceivable to those who have
not visited Paris.
The Boulevard du Nord is about three m les
in length, running directly through the city,
but changes it's name every few square, like
most OF the streets of Europe, commencing
with 'des Madelres, p" "des Iialiens," dcs Ca
pncInes, &c, which embrace the gayeSt and
most fashionable parts. The Boulevard Stras
bourg, SevastOpol, and Nldi, the latter about
seven miles i'll length, are a 50 on the same ca
pncious scale. They are 2UU feet IN width.
with side walks about 3 feet from the houses
10 the curb, of smooth asphaltum, resembling
light brown stone The stTcet-wavs are about
l'i feet from curb To curb, OF smooth and com
l'act gravel, kept in such excellent order that
during rain storm the water Is swept of OF
them as fast AS it falls, to prevent il from
soaking in and softening the earth Rows OF
large shade trees are planted along The curbs,
and not II handful of mud or dirt Is ever al
On Il clear summers evening stroll along
the Boulevard du Nord from Rue Rivoli TO
The Boulevard Seyastopol, up one hidc and
down the other, presents To the stranger
scene that can bc Witnessed nowhere out OF
Paris. The houses lining this great thorough
fare are generally five or six stories III height,
many OF them of the most ornate architecture,
and for Il distance of two miles nearly ono
third of them are occupied as coffee rooms,
even to the third story, in some cases These
establishments may DO ranked as one OF the
most remarkable features of Paris. The fronts
are thrown open to the street. ana are httcd
up with lndeScribable cOstiiursS and splendor
their walls being covered with plate glass
multiplying 10 an indefinite extent the brllll-
ant decorations. chandeliers and furniture 1t
Is impossible to conceive anything more taste
fully brilliant than the Parisian coffee houses
when brightly lighted up 1T night, and ss nu-
merous they are III all parts of the city, 1t is
with difficulty at times that q vacant seat can
be obtained frolt O'Clock In the afternoon un-
ill midnight. The small tables and chairs are
even spread out on the parcmcnts in front, for
ten or twelve feet, where both sexes sit and
partake of coffee ices or wines, enjoying the
cool of the evening and witnessing the animal
ted scenes in the crow ded thorough fare around
them. These ~ Establishments are not visited by
men alone, but many are accompanied by their
wives, daughters and children, and reSpecia-
bic ladies even visit them alone without at
tracing observation. II Is one of The prlNl-
lcgeS OF the rex i'll Paris from which they are
to n great extent drbarr"d in other countries.
The stores interspersed among tile cafen are
also equally brilliant and attractive, and from
each dazzling ray OF light IL thrown out IN
I thorouShfare The pavcInentS are al the
same time lined with crowds OF well-drcssed
ladies and gentlemen. whilst the G;S lights
flashing from the trees. the inccSsant rolling
of carriages and the sounds OF music from the
concert saloons in the upper stories, combine
to present TO the eye and ear of the stranger =
medley ofsounds and sights such as cannot but
he both pleasing and interesting. Along the
1IG of
chairs, hired at one or TWO sous each by per
sons in attendance, where pr0mcnadPrs stop TO
rest and enjoy The picturesque scene.
The other Boulevards are'not 50 gay as du
NOrd, but are lined with elegant stores, and
Napoleon's new Bouleysrd Seba, topaI, lii the
southern section Of The city, promises soon TO
rival in splendor the older ones i'll the north
ern section. The Boulevard dc StrashourS. is
already equally as brilliant in some parts, and
has the greatest coffee and free music saloon in
the city. built like a theatre, and nearly as large
as old DrUry i'll Baltimore.
The Rue RlYoli, although not cl,S>ed among
The B0uICyards Is broad and elegant street.
having the Louvre gardens, the Tuilleries, and
the Louvre Paiac" on the east side, extending
for nearly i mile, whilst all the buildings on
The west side are of uniform construction, with
COlOnadca rising from the curh->tOnc about -
fcot in height, forming shade in hot weather,
and dry promenade among the brilliant
stores underneath in wet weather. The colo
naGpS on Rue Rivol and the streets leading
from IL, ar" from two to three miles in length
and have been constructed III TIN. manner
within = few years posi- 10y order Of Napoleon.
The upper stories of thu houses are thus
brought ont 10 liHo with the Curb-stone, and
the paNrmcntS hCcoInc a shaded avenue.
The paiaih Royal gardens and C0ionadP stores.
occupying The whole Of The basement pruha-
bly, not less than three hundred in nUmlFr
stand III close proximity tu The colOnade stores
of Rue kivoli, and are day and night throngtd
with respectfully dressed people, whilst thou
sands arr always sitting in the shade oi the
garden. or partaking of ices and coffee at tho
calos which have been allowed to invade this
beautiful spot.