Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-03-26
Our Foreign CORRESPONDENCE.
The trip across the ChanneI-Paris.-H
sights and iessonS.-The Naturalization Of
Louis Napoleon, &C.

moment But the experience of last week
taught me differently. The hurried ride from
London Bridge to New Haven was agreeablv
occupied with the reflections naturally attending
the departure from a wonderful city, and the
expectation Of visiting that great holiday city Of
Paris. But among them it never occurred to
me that the six hours experience on the Chan
mel from New Haven to Dieppe, could be fraught
with such commingling Of feelings as | now
recall. have now merely TO record my pro
test against the Accommodations afforded On
the steamer; which was very small. and princi-
pally designed as a baggage transport, on which
if there was any room left We were expected
TO occupy it, But the night was bitter cold, and
we were all driven into dark pit called a cabin,
where We had ample opportunities to learn the
remarkable sympathy Of men toward their fe-
low creatures IN adverse circumstances. From
Alpha TO Omega We were united in method and
action, and probably had hut one desire, " to 90
home" However, we arrived safely at Dieppe,
and were soon on the way to Paris. regretted
that l could not tarry for a while at Dieppe
/ where the first navigator of Lake Champlain was
born. and at Rouen, so celebrated as the home and
place Of the murder Of Joan Of Are At Rouen,
the scores Of ehimneys towering above manufac-
tories indicated commercial activity; and the
vast farming districts told the story Of thrifty
farmers.
Upon my first arrival at Paris caught the
usual fever, and thought myself in the happy
land Of Canaan. What grand display Of
maEuifcence What a contrast with the busy
scenes Of London The happy people seemed
united with one purpose, in enjoying their facili-
ties for pleasure; and was not slow in joining
the crowd A French tongue was not essential
to the enjoyment Of anything. Every one that
l met seemed to apologize for not understanding
the English language. The greatest inconveni-
ence that l experienced was at table d hote each
day, for it was no easy tasl, to learn the bill Of
fare. The universal politeness of the French
people affords quite an agreeable contrast with
the blunt style Of Englishmen So polite are the
policemen, aud all others who may have occasion
to answer an interrogatory that one undergoes
sort Of martyrdom. With the assistance Of
pocket dictionary propoundej an inquiry oc-
casioually, and never failed to receive reply
which, for aught 1 know, embodied an grafton
upon the subject Icontrived to get out Of all
difficulties by gestures. and with one expression,
merci monsieur, which if practice makes perfect
l should pronounce as well as any one.
In the first two weeks one exhausts the vo-
cabulary ia expressing admiration for every
thing in and around Paris. There is a guide
book published by Galignani, which recommends
the plan Of 80 doing No 50 the sights in " twenty
walks each walk embraces one hard days
walk. And in following this plan one cannot
/ but regret that he must hurry along.
Nothing remains but monument to designate
tie place where the Bastile stood, and it is not
expected that the traveller should delay to ex-
press sympathy for the unfortunate victims of
the Paris mob At the Madeleine and Notre
Dame churches, one sees proud monuments Of
Greek and Gothic architecture These. together
with many others Of equal celebrity, explain the
Roman Catholic strength in Paris Thevare re-
posit1ries Of art and models Of architecture.
sources of pride 70 all Frenchman, and strong
arguments against Baptist simplicity. When
Spurgeon rants against display IN a church, and
likens Christianity to a bare wall without spot
upon it, he forgets that his church is filled every
Sunday by admirers Of the pictures Of his own
Imagination.
The cathelrals engage the attention Of an
Americans particularly, because they suggest
the study of French religion. When DR.. Bel
lows was in Paris he wrote a great deal upon
this subject, and one expression Of his seems to
emboiy the idea we have oft: sit is Ike
honor among thieves, which is SO reliable and
yet SO purely immoral in its origin.
It is wrong, however, to judge harshly upon |
this subject. The Puritanism which suggests the
improperly Of attending divine service in the
morning, and a fete in the afternoon Of each
sabbath day may he too rigid. The history Of |
France shows that a peculiar religion, founded |
upon experience and the temper of the people,
alone viii stand And the religion Of Paris
seems SO appropriate that many intelligent
Americans as well as Englishnen. become very
punctilious in the observance of the religious
forms-such as visiting theatres and musical |
entertainments and frequenting cafes
regard my sojourn in Paris as the happiest
experience in my life, and the visit at Versailles |
rs the most interesting. That paradise Of
statues and fountains and allegory and history
was even interesting on a winters day 1t !
seemed, however, more like a September day at /
home The grass was green, and eycrgreens on
every side, together with bright sun over
head dissipated all cares, while we roamed
over the gardens and sat in the bowers in which
Louis NV. XIV. and XVI. INDUCED their leisure
time. There were frequent monuments in the
shape Of Swiss cottages and bowers to mark the
caprices Of Pompadour. The fountains, repre-
sentiug every species Of Neptunes kingdom,
are supplied by large reservoirs that are filed
by the Seine, and which alone would supply the
city Of Paris. 1t is said that it costs one hun
drei thousand francs an hour to supply the
fountains, but they are not used, save on pleas
ant Sabbath afternoons.
y !
Justly beheaded. Our own Government debt
hardly exceeds the expenditures at Versailles,
and We do not wonder that the French nation
should have become bankrupt The palace ex-
ceedei my power Of imagination. 1t was royal
splendor in earnest. Solid and splendid What
a privilege to Frenchman to enjoy the Injuries
oil Nersail.es-once the abode Of princes only
and now the meanest person has but to fancy
himself royal Parsonage and he has all the
privileges OF one. What makes Paris and Lon
don SO interesting is that the public parks and
Libraries and museums are common property.
and one has merely to find shelter and food and
indulge in all the luxuries of king.
I shall ever remember the drive to the Bots
lie Boulogne-so interesting in all its associa-
ions Surely Napoleon, though he is tyrant.
appreciates a millennium. He has completed
econd Paradise, and representatives from all
Countries assemble daily in it. Nature and art
ave combined to build perpetual monument
o the judgment Of the Emperor. On an ele-
ated spot near the park, stands the -fre de
vent in the history of Napoleon |. when he re-
urned to Paris as Roman Emperor. The drive
a either direction from the Triumphal Arch
as full of interest. In the direction of the
lois de Boulogne, there was a great display Of
yeries. The Queen of Spain the Prince
egent, Russians, Turks and Americans glad
ened the scene. Bridal parties were scattered
trough the groves, rejoicing in the national ]
ustom of celebrating their festivities in the
pen air. In the other direction, the Champs !
Elysses leads to the Place dc Ia CoReords,
hich is pronounced by every one as the most I
eautiful spot on earth. Fountains and statues,
nd lovely view in every direction impress q