The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-12-26
Sketches i'm France.


letters written by a gentleman travelling in France
TO his friends in Honolulu. The last mail bring. an
other, from which We make 4 few selections. 1t
dated
PARIS, August 90, 1861.
The French, as a general thing, are op
posed to slavery Of every name and nature-that
human bondage. They love liberty, and the grea
mass draw no political distinction Of expediency
They do not sympathize with slavery by whateve
means it is upheld. Such, at least, is the ~judgmen
l have formed. But I am rather inclined to thinl
that the Government Of France will be governed il
this matter [SOuthern rebelliOnl by its interests. and
by nothing else. have heard some speculation as
to the object Of the present visit Of Prince Napoleon.
The questions are asked don't know with how
much foundation or fairness-' Why does he 60 to
the United States just at this time: Has not the
Emperor some design in sending him there. to ascer-
tain the condition of the country, the relative
strength Of the rival forces ?" sc.
/ have been surprised to find the French people so
we'll informed in general matters concerning the
United States. l think they are as well informed
respecting our affairs, as the people of our country
are respecting theirs; and in the great commercial
places, such as Marseilles, Paris ard Havre, perhaps
more so. They see a great many Americans. Amer
leans trade with them and they are too apt to sup
pose Americans are made of money. In Marseilles,
an honest Russian asked me if almost everybody in
America was not worth a hundred thousand francs.
In the South of France and in every town on the
banks Of the II inc. you see at the shop windows
Cooper's novels, and Uncle Toms Cabin. Cooper is
a great and universal favorite throughout France.
You see more of Cooper than of Waverley. l have seen
the faithful portraits of Washington in dusty rooms
in Provence, and in the magnificent Palace of YER
sailles may be seen those of Washington, Frank
lin, and half a dozen Presidents, down to James K.
Polk. The names Of Franklin and Robert Fulton
have a place at the Palace Of Industry, at Paris, side
by side with the great names of France. In Lyons,
at a shop window on one of the principal avenues, L
saw a crowd gazing upon an engraving of Washing
ton crossing the Delaware. | mention these little in
cidents as very gratifying to my national PRIDE, and
to show that we can boast of the respect of European
nations in matters connected with cur literature and
commerce if not so much in the affairs of war. The
French ~laugh-permit me to fly off again-the French
laugh when Americans speak of great battles and
one or two Thousand slain and wounded. They
point to Monticello or Solferino, when thirty thous-
and were killed in one day But the French also
at their own militia, or the National Guard,
which is composed mostly of gentlemen of Paris, the
men, merchants and clerks.
. Among the cities of France which | have
visited, / am greatly pleased with Marseilles, which
s one of the first in Importance, and has now q popu-
alton Of 500 900 inhabitants. The people are all
Kind and polite, and have considerable of that Italian
'oftness go peculiar to the South Of Europe-especial-
y the women, who are generally fine looking. DASH
ng and stately. Here you will Gnd people from all
quarters of the globe, among whom are the Greeks,
their striking Oriental dress. The docks present
IN interesting scene in the many vessels loading and
Unloading, bearing the flags of all commercial coun-
Since the Crimean war this city has increased
narvelously in population and business, and is still
in business and wealth.
Desiring to escape from the noise and hustle of
| took letters from a gentleman in the
ity to the landlord of a hotel at Arles-a place about
ighty miles northeast of Marseilles, having a popu-
ltion of about $1,000. 1t is celebrated for its anti
uities. being one of the oldest settlement in France,
FUNDED one thousand years before the Christian era.
# its extreme age l was fully satisfied by a glimpse
t the streets, which are in a bad and filthy condi-
on, instead of presenting on every side. beautiful
arks and fine views, as in modern French cities.
t my humble appearance among them, the inhabit-
nts l met r1dely stared, as though l were a monster
human form. The landlord and lady were az
ind and attentive as I could wish, but the hotel it
If was like a fragment of a Roman ruin. Here l
about a week, visiting many ancient ruins, some
which are as remarkable for their architecture as
ley are grand and striking. Such was the Amphi-
Ieatre, n vast pile of stone, built in the reign of the
nperor Augustus. 1t is more than a mile in cir
Two Of the marble pillars are still
so firmly that n Samson could scarcely hurl
EN- from their place. 1t was here that the gladia-
rs Of which Byron speaks fought their bloody bat
IS. Descending its vast caves, dark and dismal, 8
by a torch. | examined the place where once
ere kept ferocous animals and perhaps prisoners, Z
e victims of brutal violence. From its towers you
hold a vast level country, watered by the Rhone, O
read out before you. Many remarkable ruins are 9
be found here, which an a~ntiquary would be de- n
,hted to examine. Bull-fghts are very common u
re at this season of the year. But, to make allow
ce for want of modern improvements in works of n
t, nature is no laggard, for the place is celebrated .
the beauty of its women. They wear a pictures 7
costume different from anything in other parts 81
France. They dress their heads with a sort of il
-ban instead of u bonnet. The women, who all h
k alike, are black eyed brunettes, and captivating 7
that, but of their intellect or merit l have no means I
Judging as yet, and am therefore of the poets "
nion, that T
4" Beauty's in vain-the pretty eyes NAV roll; n
Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul"