The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-28
NUMBER FOUR.

NUMBER FOUR.
We arrived at Paris about o'clock Sun
day morning. Everything that comes into
PariNfor sale, or manufacture, or to be eaten
has to pay small import duty called 'Octrai.'
Until quite recently baggage was examined
on this account, now, however, they satisfy
by asking the passengers if they
have anything for such purposes. We went
to the "Grant Hotel, which appeared much
like our fine hotels, with the exception that
the carriage drove into . court, and upon this
court the Offices and principal parlors opened.
They set asplendid table for dinner ct six
o'clock. All the other meals you take, when,
and as you wish; in your rooms, in the res
taurant of the hotel, or in any Of the many
restaurants and cafes that abound in all Euro
pean cities.
and meeting Mr.. Payne at the Office, inqni-
ring for little girl who came over in the
Europe. made his acquaintance, and walked
with him through the Boulevards to the Place
de Ia Converda and up the Champs Elysees
to the Arc de Triumphe. The Boulevards
are simply broad streets, with broad pave
ments, well built up with snowy shops on
both sides, and trees at the edge of the pave
ments. As the streets of Paris are none Of
them straight for any great distance, and the
boulevards change name with every little
turn, there appears from hearing them spoken
of, to be a great number; but ! think in fact
there is but one street in Paris called boule
wards, and this changes name about every two
hundred yards.
We followed the bouleyards to the church
Madeline, which looks At the side like the
treasury building at Washington. Thence by
the Rue Royale to an immense open square
without trees, paved; the Place de la Conyir-
one block of granite, about sixty feet high
brought from Egypt
North and south Of it, are large fountains,
and at each corner of the square are colossal
figures, representing the four principal cities
of France. West from this place, extends
the Champs Elysees, in a straight line for
about q mile and half, to the summit of q
moderate elevation, on which stands l. Arc
de Triumphe. The Champe Eysees consist Of
rery wide and elegantly paved and cleaned
steet, flanked with sidewalks about sixty or
eighty feet wide. shaded with trees and this
again fanked With public grounds, not sepa
rated by public fence, and in the best pos
sible order, like Central Park; only It is
nearly all walks, and not SO much grass and
trees. The walks are lined with booths and
cafes, thea.ers, ''whirleigs,' etc. Here
nearly all Paris comes on Sunday But
will refer you to my guide book on MP return.
/ will try to give you my impressions OF what
seems peculiar to me. In Paris the houses
are nearly all built with courts, into which
you can drive with a carriage, and into which
most of the rooms open. In fact, except on
the principal streets, where the shops open on
the streets, as general thing the rooms all
open on the courts. For any office of the
street, you have to enter the court, enquire of
the .'corciage," if there is one, or be guided
by little signs over the various doors, show
ing the names Of the occupants 1 was dis
appointed in the appearance of the palaces at
Paris, and in fact, Of the houses generally
They are not usually more than four or FIVE
stories high, and Of these one or two are in
the attic, they being built like Col. Rankin 9
house in keokuk. In addition to this, they are
all of the same color, being built of light
cream colored stone, which looks very rich
for short time, and then turns very old and
dusty looking. The Palaces Of the Louvre.
and TuIl cries, form an immense building, en-
closing q court Of about sixty acres but they
are not high, nor striking till they are exam
ined closely; when one sees innamerable
beauties, and almost an infinite amount Of la
Dor in ahe carving, with which they are deco
rated. The stone is quite soft. and the cary
ing is done after the building is otherwise
completed. Twas much disappointed too in
the statuary in the garden Of the iTuilleries
There is large amount Of it, but it is so
worn and discolored by time and the weather,
as to look to me very common. Still, Paris
is great city, and in many respects superior
to, and different from all other cities. 1 did
not visit the churches, nor the picture CALLER
les, leaving them, and indeed nearly eli the
places Of most interest, until my return.
left there on the evening Of W ednesday,
by rail for Marseilles; having in charge
came over in the same vessel with ne, going
to Florence to her uncle to be educated.
The most interesting looking towns through
which we passed, were Trascanon and AVG
non; but all wore the same old appearance.
and these only differed in apparently having
some fine castles and churches In Paris.
the houses were all covered with slate, but
those that greeted our eyes on Thursday
morning, were covered with tiles, "a species
Of thin brick, and so have been all have
seen since. The country seemed roor to me
though great deal of it is considered one Of
the richest valleys Of Europe TIE country
is all cut up into little patches, but separated
only by imaginary lines, and not fences. u
The people were busily engaged everywhere
in digging and ploughing and pruning. The
grapes do not even have stakes to them.
They seem to be trimmed down close to the
ground every year, and as the new yines seem
to grow only three or four feet. they do not
need any support. "a vineyard after pruning,
seems to consist Of rows Of shors crooked,
gnarled stumps Wepassed through the mad.
der country. With this plant, ane) with all
the trees IN sight, the same plan of cutting off
sued. r..
Two or three hours before reaching Mar.
settles, we struck the mountainous country.
which produces the olive, and from there n
this place, every inch Of ground that can he
cultivated, seems to be devoted to the pr.ne
and olive. The olive grows on q tree the
size Of our apple tree, but With : verv differ.
enl leaf. Before reaching Marscilles, we
passed through tunnnl, said to Be two and
. q fourth mile: IN length. Isuppose it is
w, We longest tunnel completed in the world
~ ne arrived ct Marseilles shout ,. \. Thurs.
ut ana stopped At the Hotel do Marseilles.n
wMcn We .eund FIRST rate hcu y With moderate
r ras 70 oar great surprise, VI found there
Jsw W uI.. 20 Naples or Genoa until Mon.
rnsd - Nsnereiore Concluded to take the nil
sse ~, Ie a .ns next day at one o'clock, and
FRIDAY morning | walked .lone The on.v
ana through the jarden des plants. 1vhS;r Jhsy,
xnery nne,l 70 the American, and then ~ .h -
nonish Consuls, to have my pasepor. - In. .nc
one sees in Marseilles Is great Z v.r;s.n sed:
costumes q: at any place in the world. Z, 2.
, Ine Prnc'pal seaport Of France Also s.r