Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-04-19
A Week in Paris.
LETTER FROM A. D. HAGAR.

missioner Hagar from the Rutland Herald:
Editors Rutland Herald Had been
called upon to narrate the events of each
day since my arrival here, ample material
would have been afforded for seven letters,
any one Of which would have been TOO
long for newspaper article.
We were taught in our school books
that the French were polite people
This is eminentIy true. 1t consists not in
bowling and chewing words, but in being
courteous to others, whether Of high or
low rank, and striving to make all happy.
On arriving at the railroad station OBJ
served long rows Of carriages in front of
the depot, and the drivers were silently
standing by, or sitting upon them. No
clamorous por,ers were there to signify to
the travelling public that the Hotel they
represented was short of patronage, and
needed a boisterous porter to keep it in
running order. When asked question
they answered it civilly, but did not beg
patronage. think it is not wide of the
mark TO estimate one-tenth Of the build
ings in Paris TO be either Hotels or Cafes.
The latter are eating rooms, in which
games of billiards, cards, draughts, domi-
noes, &C., are played. But what is re-
markable, very few are said to GAMBLE
have not seen an instance of il since
came here, but have seen hundreds play
ing for amusement. A few evenings since
visited one in which there is said to be
10000 gas lights. l will not vouch The
truth of the statement, as did not count
them, but did count the billiard tables in
one apartment, and found there were
twenty-five, and all were being used. In
that Cafe, which il the incest one in Paris,
! noticed the laborer in his new blouse
sitting at one table, and near him at an
other table was one who had the badge of
the +" Legion of Honor" upon him. Wo-
men as well as men were there, and am
told that many families, rich as well as
poor, eat all their meals at these Cafes.
The rich person here does not fail TO be
courteous to the poor, and all classes seem
TO be happy. The poor look cheerful, aud
are generally well dressed. The careworn
countenances SO often seen in New York
and Boston, are not common here. The
most careworn countenance I have seen
was that Of the Emperor Napoleon. His
struggles for the crown of France, and the
labor Of retaining it, have made heavy
mark upon him but the Empress is APP
parentiy as gay and thoughtless as any
shop girl in the city. As she is the re-
puied leader in fashions, ! will suggest
one, that all her transatlantic vo'aries do
not follow. In her walk through the
Champ de Mars the other day could but
notice the attention she seemed to besiow
grounds for the exhibition. As they
stopped their work and raised their hats to
the Emperor as he passed, she couresied
and bowed to them as though they were
Dukes or Lords. The laborers love Ma
poleon. He promised them employment,
and he has kept his word. Wages are low
in Paris, but there is ample employment
for all. Public works are constantly being
inaugurated by the Emperor, and these
are often upon scale much grander than
anything Of the kind in America.
Narrow streets, once so common II
Paris, are fast disappearing and giving
place to Avenues or Boulevards widel
than Broadway, New York. Many o
these are already completed, and stately
buildings, more magnificent than those o
Broadway, extend for miles along 'hei
sides. Wide streets are now being eu
through from point to point, aud building
of excellent finish, often seven storie
high, are being torn down to make NOR
room for streets or squares. Paris, to
day, more closely resembles Chicago iha
ary other city in the United States. d
not mean by this that it is as low and leve
as Chicago, but the wide streets-the va
rious improvements being made--'he pile
of stone and mortar--the half fnishe
sewers-ihe hustle and business Of the tw
cities have strong points of resemblance
During my weeks sojourn here, hav
seen neither beggar nor drunkart
Wine is the common drink at the tabl
but il does not intoxicate those who use
moderately.
had supposed vice and crime was
common here as in New York. but am II
formed that theft, burglary, defaulters an
swipdlers are of rare occurrence. Oppo
tnnites for thieving and burglary are her
as well as in other cities. Articles al
often placed within the reach OF tho;
who pass them, and the shop-keepers see
TO have no fear of their being stolen.
some of the windows are diamonds, Jewe
IN make the 0wQf