The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-30

woman who signs herself E. d. w, ia vritins
her Experiences in Europe fer the Pniladei
phis Evening Bulletin. In q late letter she
describes, as follows, Q visit to the celebrates
sewers of Paris
appointed by the chief of the sewerage depart.
ment for our party to enter the subterranea =
vaults OF Paris, 90 interesting to the readers OF
!. Les niserabes." The ticket Of notification
Madeleine, on the side Of the Boulevard Male.
sherbes, at one and quarter O'Clock precisely
Arriving, We found about twenty-four persons
assembled around q temporary railing Of iron that
ihcioseo sne opening to the sewers two iron doors
that lsy hat on the pavement just like our covers
Philadelphia. "
The doors opened, a narrow spiral stairway wa,
disclosed, and ray OF light from lamp far down
tne dismai entrance rather increased the gloom
than any attractions the place might have. How.
ever, when the chief dressed 10 government mi.
form, with the title Of his Office in Gilt letters
placed conspicuously on his hat, gave the signal.
We started, single file, and in moment were
nearly blinded by glare OF light from Kerosene
lamps in the hands Of men who were 10 conduct
us through the sewers. At the foot of about
twenty five steps, two large boats were in waiting
for us, and when my sight became napasesble
was at first dazzled by the swinging lirhts re-
fected upon the water, the boat rocking as each
one stepped on the eide, | tried to realize that
was not entering death barge on the Styx
or hesrse gondola on the Via Mera, or funeral
q sewer, through which the dshwater of Paris
was carried, could be converted in a sewer twelve
feet broad, a foot path on either side, of solid
stone, where two persons could pass each other
vaulted roof, along which water and gas pipes.
two feet in diameter, were conducted, and tele.
graph wires by dozens were held.
From the center OF the arch large lamps were
suspended every ten or twelve feet. Our party
having seated themselves in two boats, there
were twenty men in blue bonnets and wooden
ssbots ready 70 seize the ropes when the com
mand AcoIacez" was given. Presently faint
sound of horn was heard, that grew louder ss
y was caught up and echoed from every angle of
the sewers. Our chief gave q shrl whistle. and
the men started on q trot. On the sides of the
walls small white porcelain plates were inserted.
bearing in black letters the dates and heights Of
risinRs OF the waters at different periods, some of
them considerably above our heads. and sugRes.
tive of the horrors escaped by Jean Vatican a. lie
Place de Ia Baste, at the time Of the Frech revo-
luton. The names of the streets under which We
passed and the corners of the cross streets we're
marked, so we could tell exactly our direction.
hunDing down the main sewer OF the Rue Boyais
TO the Place de Ia Concorde, we found-whaf 40
you suppose "a train Of cars waiting for US. Six
of the prettest little cars ever saw. They con
sisted OF six platforms, about eight feet square,
WIN brass ratings, seats cushioned with red
leather, no top to the cars. and each corner of
the cars brass lamp, with grained glass globes,
formed bright and beautiful firish to this fairy.
like conveyance.
The sewer was narrower here and the wheels
Of the cars ran on brass rails laid on the edges of
The footpaths. Each car had an iron handle
back and front, with brass cross piece like those
on our own hose carriages at home. When the
cars started, four men pulling and pushing each
down the grade OF the Rivoli sewer the long vista
OF the Illuminated vault, the regular clack Of the
sabots on the stone walk, water splashinR into
the side entrances either on stone steps to break
the force or inverted arches to prevent splashin9
Of the main canal, the speed of our human loco
motives. the expression Of deligh. aud wonder on
The faces OF our party, strongly thrown out By
-he four footlights on leach car-all was 90
strange, and half pleasing, half frightful that like
he rest. waited to see what the end would be.
After trottng mile and half we were suddenly
aDded at a large iron gate, and 90 intense was
be light there that went back 10 my irst theory.
md concluded we were at the gate of Dante's In.
erno. But it was no such place we had arrived
Il the Place du Chatelet, and the light was the
powerful sun OF MONDAY, on the white embsnk-
nent Of the Seine, and opposite the two tall tow
rs OF the Palais de Justice, inviting us to come
nd see that We were in q world of reality, that
here the beautiful Marie Antoinette suffered the
ortures OF imprisonment, and from there wasre-
eased BY death alone.