Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-26
ILEYA. GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER,
PARIS In 1872.

his last letter from Paris, writes:
The work Of restoring all the palaces and
buildings destroyed by the Commune, and re-
pairing all damage inflicted by the war, is
steadily progressing. The walls Of the palaces
all stood firm, and even the Hotel de Vile will
soon show no traces of the destroyer. Thous-
ands of workmen are everywhere engaged in
the work Of reconstruction, and the Column
Eendome will soon commence to rise again,
the base of which is carefully rallied in again
and made ready for sustaining the restored
column.
Public buildings are also being erected in
various parts of the CITY, The Column Of
July, which was damaged by the mob is
scafoded and thronged with workmen from
base to statue, and the damage done to the
Triumphal Arch by German shells has already
been repaired. New statuary is being erected
in the Place de la Concorde, the Bois de Bou-
logne is resuming its former attractions, and
the Champs ElysecS was never more bright
and gay than at the present time. The
theatres are all open and crowded with visitors,
directions are throDged with people, and the
stores and cafes brilliant with gas jets reflected
from the countless mirrors which cover their
interior walls.
1t is difficult at night to cross any of the bOule-
wards of Paris without danger OF being run over
by the stream of carriages that are rapidly NOV
ing in every direction. They radiate to all points
of the city to the extent probably of fifteen miles,
and everywhere are thronged with people, e,whilst
the broad pavcmepts in front of the innumer-
able cafes are filled with chairs and tables, at
which the promcnadcrS stop tor rest and to
take refreshments 1t would seem that two
thirds of the population are on the streets or in
the Champs ElySees at night, while more than
u dozen theatres two clrcuses. numerous con-
cert halls and five dancing gardens are filled to
.overAowing.
On Sunday evening a great many of the large
stores have their windows lit up Tor the display
Of goods, but their doors are closed, and there
appear to be no statesmen in attendance The
cafes are all in full blast however, and doing
an extra heavy business. The best of order is
everywhere maintained, and everybody appears
cheerful and in high spirits Notwithstanding the
recent national reverses. There are DO baggers
on the streets, as in London, and an almost en-
tire absence of street venders Of all kinds ex-
cept women and girls with fruit TOR sale. In
London crowds Of ragged boys and girls inter-
rupt you every moment with matches or some
thing for sale, and whine and whimper until
you are compelled to give them something to
gecrid of them. In Paris we have not met one
Of this class, who seem to be altogether exclud-
ed from the street traffic.
We spent several hours to-day at Au Bon
March, the greatest of three large dry goods
establishments of Paris. A more stirring scene
of business activity it would be impossible to
find anywhere AT all times during the day
the whole building is surrounded with carriages
waiting for parties inside making purchases,
and the interior was so thronged that it was at
times difficult to move about. The number OF
cashiers and book keepers at their desks was
thirty-three, and the clerks and salesmen, male
and female, will probably exceed three hun
dred The most active and probably the most
important Of these is a colored man, who
speaks fuently French, Italian, German and
English He is called hither and thither to sell
to ali nationalities, or to interpret for the other
statesmen, who understand nothing but French.
In this establishment there are departments.
for everything that can be called for, from the
richest and rarest to the most ordinary goods.
The price is marked upon every article, and no
amount of purchase can induce the striking OF
of a franc in the BILL The department for
coarse goods was equally thronged by the
poorer classes with those for finer and more
costly goods. There was large representa-
ton of American ladies, but very few English.
There is refreshment saloon for lady custom
ers where wine and cake and ice water is
spread for them, and retiring rooms lifted up
in most magnificent style. At one end OF the
building, on the third floor, is the dressmakIng
establishment, where about two hundred ladies
are employed in cutting, fitting and making
dresses to order, whilst thousands OF ready
made dresses OF every material are ready tor
sale even to those made of the richest velvets,
satins and silks The throng OF purchasers
were passing in and out all day, and the cash
iers were kept busy n settling accounts. Ihe
stables of this establishment have over forty
horses, and twenty elegant carriages Tor the
delivery of goods, which can be seen flying
through the city all hours during the day,
Some idea of the purchases made by Amerl-
cans NAV be Judged from the fact that Madame
Francois one of the principal dressmakers, STA
ted to-day that she had just completed twenty
seven silk dresses for one lady from Chicago,
the CITY. she added that was burnt up last
year. An American gentleman at Drexel
banking establishment this morning rellafAeu c
that his wife had just called upon Nun lot
twenty thousand francs to pay tor the purcnaS-
es she had made yesterday. ;,
"Yon must not drink water, is the constant
crv Of the hotel keepers in Paris, apd the ad
dition of ice to it we are assured makes u RANK
poison. 1t is pretty much the same all over
the Continent, water being regarded as OF no
manner of importance except Tor t0untalins' Ic
cascades and to drive water wheels, II at oi9-
ner you tell the waiter that you do not Wlsn s.l
any wine he looks at you aghast, and repeats
the question two or three times to Pc sure snas
he has properly understood you; he aSaas reP1let
the fact to the head-water, and he,! eonnoens
the stupid fellow has mlsuneer;rsou e ,sns Monsieur
himself to inquire what KIND OF WINE nlonSteu'
will have ,,;so 90
Then the wine furnished at the hotels IS Sc 50
horrible in quality that it is not fit to be drank
They evidently export all their good wines
and Leen the common kinds for home. con,
sumntiop sun np IT The prices are also ezorbitapt and
it is the large profit that the hotel lSt keeper pl
makes that occasions so much anxlety M saat that OF
his guests shall have large wine bills aoaa and thas hs
rank ih heresy esy for or any one to call for wine
When % water Is called tor it is brought so warm