Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-04-05
ACROSS THE CONTINENT !
Dover to Paris and the SOuth Of France.
Amiena Progress and stupidity - RelIcs OF
FeudaIisw-FrenchA Agriculture Vines
snd Vineyards-Peasant Life-FruIts
BuPr-stones - Ruins Paris.

20 Calais, where those ticketed Tor
Paris arc TO delay till seven in the
morning Of January fifth. at the
station there are cushioned lounges
provided for passengers awaiting de-
parturc Of trains, and lilo down at
full length and sleep till morning.
At seven enter tho coach for Paris
those car compartments arc called
coaches, not appropriately, as they
resemble the old fashioned stage
coach. Soon light dawns, and the
sun rises from beyond the heights Of
France, that same ruling light Of
Gay which, four hours later, is to
shine upon America. My Portuguese
friend and q gentecl stranger, with
myself, monopolize the compartment,
and an hour passes in silent reaec-
ton. A trifing occurrence initiates
acquaintance, and the stranger
proves to DO an English clergyman
on his way to ell consular chap
laincy at Bagueres, in the South OF
France. Intimacy ripens and time
passed most agreeably in quiet con-
versation, and in the constant graft
fcation of our curiosity in the novel
objects presented till we reach
Amiens, about seventy miles from
Paris, whore by some cause or other
we separated, but meet again at the
Paris custom house, after which we
kept company to the end of his jour
ney.
In England strsngeness only inter
ests tho eyes, but over the way, so
TO speak, tho ears are sensible to
sounds aud language strange and in
describable. French sights and
noises differ from English even moro
widely than English from American.
Indeed there is studied effort to pro-
duce the widest differences between
the two countries, differences in par
ticulars and generals. The dumb
steam whistle has its French accent.
The details Of costumes, the manners,
way Of doing things, and design of
the finishing Of whatever is seen, all
indicate studied variations from
what is seen in England. And when
a British sovereign or shilling is of
ferod the Frenchman affects ignorance
as to It's value or where it belongs,
but always consents to receive it on
trial, ct triaing discount. 1t is
ssid the English are equally alert and
skilled in expressing their contempt
for whatever is French, and the mu-
tual discount is doubtless laid deep
in national jealousy, and in the ira
ditions running back through contu-
rios OF strife and wGr between the
Two countries.
At Calais our baggage is oxamin-
81, but tho custom officer, upon
LEARNING that I an from America,
politely stops tho overhauling and
orders my trunks closed and the
straps fastened. My English friend's
baggage is searched to the bottom
md il gives him additional cause fol-
Jealous ill-wilL A file Of soldiers ar,
drawn in line, and hanked by q par
~ of women in neat costumes who
abber French and proceed TO carry
our baggage to tho train for Paris
The articles are weighed and regis.
tered. All above fifty pounds must
10 paid for SO freight and the Ger
tifcato Of weight and registry will
ontitle one TO draw his baggage al
Paris. Tho American method OF
checking baggage through to any
point you ticket TO has not yet been
introduced into any part Of Europe
but there is much talk Of adopting
ID.
Amiens, where we stop two hours,
Is fine city, and formerly neutral
ground for treaty making, for which
it il distinguished lin the histories OF
nations. Many railroads meet here,
and there is the usual hurry and bust
ness display of railroad centers
The buildings are tall, ancient and
mado to last forever. The archi-
lecture, order and grandeur OF style
OF the public and private structures
are more ancient than any / have
yet aeen some Of the buildings were
certainly constructed o thousand
years ago, being of Roman style and
30 i'll adapted for modern use as u
be unteuanted and abandoned u
moss aud ivy. An ancient bridge
near the railroad has port holes, un.
questionably adapted for other de-
tense than modern arms, doubtless
Che arrow and pike. 4 castle near
by is more modern, but dates ante
rior to glass windows. This antiqui
" is partly in ruin, but is being pre-,
served from human depravity by
means of tall picket inclosuro OF
iron. A very ancient aqueduct still
brings water into the city from a
distant mountain. The bells OF
Amiens, in tone and power, are the
richest have heard their vibrating
sound is protracted think minute
to each stroke, Mt times the sound
failing, then swelling up anew, and
with q melody grand, solemn and
musical.
The country from Calais to
Amiens and to Paris is not so finely
improved as in England. There are
many shabby looking farms, and oft.
en- neglect and decay are visible
The roads are not 80 fine eEor fac
tories, not so much stock except
plenty Of sheep and donkeys. In-
deed no signs are TO be seen of prog
Yess or improvement for hundred
years. The people do not live upon
fhoir farms so generally as in Eng
land, bat in old villages which APP
pear, five TO eight miles apart
Speaking Of farms, must explain
the country through France and
Spain is su6dividod into lots, usually
much longer than wide, each one to
i've acres, averaging perhaps two
acres, but sometimes 6 farm may
contain eight or even ten acres.
The boundaries appear never to
have boon changed tor centuries, as
indicated by each farm being raised
ar fattenod By transfer Of high
nlaoos 70 low and the lower edge
a.S 49, v~olta ~ sod and al