Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-10-01
From our European Correspon-
dent-Paris and its Wonders.
LcorrespOndence Gallipolis Journal.l

Correspondence Gallipolis Journal
PARIS, September l, 1868.
The American who visits Europe for the
purpose of sightseeing will do well wher
landing at Liverpool to do the places between
that and London, upon his way to the great
, city. and also before leaving England's boast.
ed city, see all the interesting sights to be
found therein. before crossing that narrow
water, the English Channel, and seeing Paris
for Paris, the heart and soul of France, once
seen. with its beautiful buildings, it's elegant
streets, beautiful shops and gaily dressed citi.
zens, London, with its dark, scot -begrimed
old houses, its narrow, crooked, and often
dirty streets, its sombre-looking inhabitants
all dressed after the one pattern, land in
American ewes. peculiar pattern,) loses
nearly all the charms it at first possessed, and
Paris, only Paris, is then enjoyed Observ-
ing only the dress of those around him in
Paris, New Yorker would be unable to de-
termine that he was away from home, so close
ly do the styles of dress in the two cities re-
sembls each other. 1t seems strange that with
| New FORK city three thousand miles from
Paris, and London not three hundred miles
away, the dress Of the New Workers so much
resemble that of the Partisan that the differ
ence can hardly be detected, while that of the
known in moment Johnny Bull, notwith-
standing the warm weather, (and it was fear
fully warm in London during this summer.)
dresses in the heaviest material, buttons his
coat closely about him, wears around his
burly neck era vat composed of about square
yard ei SIX, and claps upon his head the in
evltable black silk high hat, and with flow
er IN his button hole, saunters out to sweiter
in the heat; while the Parisian uses such ma
terial for his clothing as keeps off the heat,
and does not think his dignity gone forever if
he dons straw hat, or a low crowned hat of
any other material, so it is in keeping with
the balance of his dress, (for good taste seems
to crop out at all times,) and seems to be pre-
pared for whatever amount ofhestis dispensed.
few such warm seasons as the one lust pass
ed might have the effect of causing change
in the style of John Bulls attire, for during
the past season numerous letters were sent to
the Times suggesting that gentlemen set the
example and discard clothing unsuitable to
the season, In the hope that the lower classes,
whose occupations caused them to be exposed
to the heat, might follow the example thus
set them. But started to say something of
Paris, and must do SO.
Paris, no matter when it was first founded,
for authorities differ about it, or whom it was
named after, for here again there is difference
of opinion. is certainly the headquarters of
European luxury and pleasure, and offers to
the visitor the noblest houses, the most i'm
posing streets, the finest pleasure grounds,
and has the greatest variety and best regulat-
ed amusements of any city in the world, and
yet, Notwithstanding the position row occu-
pied, Improvement is being made, and the at
fractions multiplied every year. Old houses
are being torn down, and in their stead new
ON of he anti if,,l Il
ish are erected; old streets are wiped out" of
existence, and beautiful broad avenues take
their places; while the finest opera house the
word has yet seen is rapidly being completed,
at cost of S3,5OO.OO0, gold. The situation
of the city, especially those parts bordering
on The sluggish river Seine, can hardly be con
sidered good, yet so perfect is the system Of
drainage and sewerage, that anything like
sickness from this cause is not known The
streets and road-ways are so cleanly swept
that one may walk for miles in the carriage
way without soiing the most highly polished
shoeaand in many cases have seen the Car
riags- ways scrubbed as foot walks are scrub
bed at home, with broom and water. So
smooth are the streets that the smallest ponies
draw such loads as would call forth the inter
vention Of the "Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals" and that seemingly
without effort, and one is almost inclined to
think that carriages used here would never
need repair, but when their term of service
was ended that they went to pieces like
the "W onderful One-horse Shay" Most in
teresting museums, and collections of all that |
is interesting in sculptures, paintings or curl
osities, (the Louvre Museum being probably |
the finest collection in the world) are open to |
the public free Of charge, and beautiful gar
dens, abounding in shaded walks and cool re- |
treats, with charming fountains constantly |
playing. and excellent music discourssd at |
certain hours of the day, are to be found all |
over the city, and are fully made use Of for at
certain hours all Paris seems to turn out and
heartily enjoy what is offered. All this of
course costs great amount of money, which
the people have to pay; but though we at
home often read of grumbling and discomfort,
no evidence Of it are shown to the casual visi-
tor, and as proof that the people have conf
dence in the government, the zeal TO obtain a
share in the late loan Is cited | was passing,
late at night, along the Rue Rivoli, on which
is sltuai ed the hotel of the Minister of Finance
and upon the sidewalk IN front of the build
ing was gathered motley throDg of the lower
class, numbering can scarcely say how many
Some were chattering as only the French can
chatter, others were smoking their pipes or
cigarettes, or eating frugal lunch, while more
were quietly sleeping upon the stone side
walk. The crowd attracted my attention, |
but passed on. For three nights in success
sion did netlce the same thing; but on the ,
third evening the crowd was so large that a ,
squad OF sergens de Uille or police, was on duty
to preserve order. On this occasion | made t
inquiry, and found that these people were $
only would be subscribers to the loan. who, {
taking time by the forelock, had come early
to stay all night, that they might be on hands S
in good time on the morrow. The sight was /
a singular one, and if these people are of the {
dissatisfied, and are only awaiting the oppor |
tunlty to cause change in government, can 4
only say they exhibited strange desire to
get rid of their money. Among the better ,
classes whom have met, the pride they have !
in their bueatiful city seems to sanction all ex-
penditure of money for improvements such as
have mentioned as taking place; and to the
poorer classes the work it gives them is suffi-
,ient recompense for the taxes paid, to say |
nothing of the pleasure they take in the public :
gardens, etc.
During the summer season the Parisians l
ne arly all seem to live out of DOORS On oil
,he principal thoroughfares, and in fact on all l
streets, are located cafes and drestaurants where
coffee, wine, beer, absynthe, cognac, DC. de-, 9
without limit. are dispensed to the thirsty
the sidewalks are great numbers of small q
.ables. around which sit those who refresh I
and in the open air, in full view +
of all passers by, calmly and complacently sit ,
and sip whatever they have seen fit to order. i
1t is quite "the style" Everybody does it, t
and nobody finds fault with it. Coffee with +
,ognac is the favorite drink, seemingly, but |
absynthe is to seemingly fearful extent dis q
posed of. and considering the fact that an
absynthe drinker is about as far gone as an G
opium eater, there must be number of t
Frenchmen on the way to ruin The rotation G
Of meals which Partisan usually observes is J
about as follows Upon rising, generally
pretty late, he has cup of cafe au Lait, Coffee
with milk,) petit pain, (small roll of bread,) t
and possibly some butter, always unsalted,) I
and if in season, few radishes; about ~ c
o'clock he takes breakfast, or luncheon, of I
bread and meat and bottle of wine; between :,
five and six o'clock he takes dinner, consisting
Of about three to five courses, and during an
hour or so later takes half cup OF coffee with 7
out milk and small glass of brandy. These t
meals are generally all taken at the public
cofee-roJms or restaurants, and as l stated
before, all classes of people frequent them; {
though it is said that the desire to live more /