The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-11-29
JOSEPH f. PAUL & co.

The OMNIBUS SYSTEM OF PARIs,-I wish
to say few words about the omnibus system
IN Paris not only for the benefit of those who
propose visiting here, but also as an example
to our horse cars and omnibusses. There are
then, as you may conjecture, omnibusses rum
nlng from the main centres to every part of
the city, all under the supervision of one COM
Rany, which in its turn is subordinate to the
fre1ecture OF the Senate. At the place de la
Bourse, the Madelaine, the Pont Neuf. the
fontagne st. Michael, and many other promi-
nent stautlons, you see neat little square build
ings which are omnibus headquarters: and
mere are long lines of the vehicles always COM
ing ana gong, and taking up what passengers
are pound Tor each particular Destination
Within these tasteful little stations are COM
portable seats, where you may wait with ease
untii the omnibus you wish arrives; and mean
wmle police functionary, who is seated at a
oesK, tall functionaries, of whatever sort of
rank, wear uniforms in Franee) hands Won a
small, square ticket, with number, of large
type printed upon it; this indicates your turn
IN IN taxing your place in the omnibus-for often
tney are full, and the company goes on the
rIghteous principle of first come, first served" /"
When the right omnibus comes along, YOU
emerge With such other passengers as are going
the same route, and the conductor standing at
tne door OF the vehicle receives the cards which
nave peen distributed at the station, and allows
tne holders to go in as these are handed un to
ann; letting him who holds "1' go in first, ,"2''
"iiu ~. I'LL tue Sedbs are fulI. And here
IN IS the superiority (for great superiority is
9ften owing to apparently small things) of the
Erencn omhlbus system over our own, that the
number admitted is rigidly limited and is new
er allowed on any account to be exceeded. All
The Paris omnibuses have seats on top-com-
Iortable, easy seats-and this part is called the
Imperiale." for what reason know not, un-
less 1t is that it is an exalted place. The SIN
tereure" is divided off into single seats. to pre-
vent the possibility of overcrowding, and the
number of them is always 10. The cost of a
course is six sous for the 'interieure" (sx centsl
and half that for the "Imperiale;" conseouant-
ly the better class of the omnibus riders take
their places in the latter, while the former is
usually occupied by laborers and mechanics ir
their inevitable homely blue blouses. :
linen there IS the very convenient system
to go to some point beyond the route of the
omnibus, which, nevertheless, it is convenient
to take part OF the way, you pay two certs
more and receive a little ticket crowded with
hiroglyphics, which enables you to take a sec
ond omnibus when you leave the first, whereby
you may quite reach your destination Thus
you may ridea number of miles for eight cents.
or If you prefer the "Imperiale" Gas you will if
you are smoker and unincumbered with la
dies) for five cents.
what struck me, too, particularly, in riding
about in the omnibusses was the great regu-
larlty of system, and Ito an American extraor-
binary neatness of the vehicles themselves, the
affability and promptness of the conductors
and the rapidity and ease with which thew
travelled. And, turning my thoughts to those
choked up, uncomfortable, low and tight Jug
ghng, rumbling omnibusses, with surly con-
ductors and half famished horses. which are
too common in the streets of Boston, could
not help making comparison favorable to that
in which was riding.