Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-07-15
NUMBER Al.
LETTER FROM PARIS.
La GRANGE HOTEL,
Rue de Chalons, 46,
Paris, France, June 23rd.

La GRANGE HOTEL,
Rue de Chalons, 46,
Paris, France, June 23rd.
Dear Spectator
Thinking it might not be amiss
to write you briefly from ia grande city," as
L leave IL Tomorrow, for some weeks, for Vien-
ma before return, l take an hour to- night be-
lore retiring to tell you "multum in parvo" of
my movements here for the past week. Paris
Is ike London In the matter of public and pri-
Vate onveyances-omnibuses by the hundreds
and cabs by the thousands-so that by stran-
ger securing guide book and availing himself
OF the cheap transportation within the city
limits and for ten miles beyond it, he can see
great deal In short time Such, at least,
has been my experience. / had some difficulty
the first day or SO with the language, the pro-
nunciation being totally at variance with the
reading and writing of the language. The first
day after my arrival, | walked down to the
Seine and took bath, aud after this, while
strolling along the Rue de Rivoli, looking in
the fine store windows and at the people who
were patronizing the elegant cafes and restau-
rants, | thought would make my debut in
| French, so walked in and seated myself at
one of the little tables, when very polite wait
| er Immediately stepped up and enquired my
wants, so doube-shotted my best gun and
gave him broadside: Bring me cup of good
coffee, some bread and butter, and a nice beef
steak. OF the fellow shot like rocket, while
| l lnwardly thought how easy it was to speak
French fuently and well. In about three min
utes he returned smiling as pleasantly and COM
placently as if he were relation of President
Grant and sure of an Office He placed
snowy white cloth on the table and with the
grace OF a courtier proceeded to arrange has
rerslon OF my order, thus first, bottle of
wine. then plate of soup, some potatoes and
dish OF preserves l did not say anything,
tor felt hurt and crest-falen, and the idea oc-
Cured to me that there was a mistake some
achere so L disposed of the lunch paid the bill
and left: Walked into the magnificent garden
OF the Tuileries. seated myself and drew out
my French book, and after duly examining it,
drew some consolation from the fact that my
gramma only was erroneous, aud that after
all the Frenchman's skull was the thiekest. /
merely cite this instance to show you my first
effort and at the same time illustrate to you
what progress the human mind can make In a
short time under Emergencies. Thus, at night,
felt like trying some good wine-so into a
wine store | sauntered, looking perfectly know
ing and composed. Having selected the bottle
wanted in the window, pointed it out with
my cane. paid the shopman the one franc (l9
cents) demanded, and with the faultless style
and elegance of French cabman" or men,
Der of the Corps de Legisatif," passed in
to the street, hailed an omnibus and rcde with
In a short distance of my hotel. That night
invited an American friend to my room to
take glass of good aoine, So | drew my
cork screw and then the cork, and poured my
friend out glass of superb syrup, such as is
used In ice-cream, jellies, &c. So you will
see that this second effort was not so bad, since
| did not miss it by a jug fuH but only bottle
fuM But, my dear Spectator, after these two
small mistakes, have been getting along very
well and can handle the language in surprising
manner-can only be surpassed now by those
who can speak French ever so little.
l cannot begin to tell you all [ have seen in
the week | have been here-will only mention
the names of some of the principal places. /
have walked and rode through and along all
the Boulevards, and ate and slipped wine in the
"Champe Elyssus," bathed in the Seine, spent
day In the Louvre among all the grand works
OF art-paintlngs, sculptures, and everything
modern and ancient-passed day at the 'Ho-
tel des Invalides' and beneath its splendid
glittering dome stood with uncovered head at
the tomb of the Great Napoleon. One even
ing devoted to the grim old Aisles, among the
chanting Of priests and monks within the an
cient walls of More dame de Paris" Yes
terday morning attended service, or something
else, at LA Madeleine = cannot say that was
in full sympathy with or fully appreciated the
proceedings, SO left before they we're over. This
morning took the train and went to Versailles,
and remained until two o'clock p. NJ. Most
of the time | spent at the Palace, where the
Corps de Legislatiff are in session. Saw
most of the principal members and prominent
men of the Republic. This evening rode to
the Palace at st. Cloud. the favorite residence
of Napoleon 1st, most magnificent beautiful
place, commanding a splendid view of Paris
and the surrounding country. While here l
saw Marshall Mcmahon aud lady. The Mar
shall has camp here of about GO, 900 men. He
also has several other camps around Paris, so
that if they should kick up" in the city, he
could soon knock them. And | can tell you
the old soldier has the nerve and vim to do it.
if necessary.
| have not enumerated half have seen and
nothing that / have heard. Cannot do so in
letter or dozen letters. | expect to spend
another week here after | return from Vienna;
and from here will travel in Italy for couple
Of weeks-stopping at Naples, Venice, Flor
ence and Rome. This hurried, imperfect and
and disconnected scrawl send you will not be
as unsatisfactory to you as to myself. 1t is only
written to let you hear from me and a little
about my movements. while writing this,
| am sitting In railroad Office, waiting for the
train that leaves for Strasburg (not ID. d. in
one hour and forty minutes) Did not intend
writing until | reached Vienna. | am in good
health, and, of course, enjoying myself l
know of no special news to write you just now.
Hope they will not turn out or oust Marshall
McMahon before | return home, as have an
idea to petition ia commune" to get up a
small revolution while am here, just for vari-
ETY. sake. may write you from the Exposition
if take the notion to do so.
Hope the ''old Spectator" is still prospering
and advocating all the great interests of the
VALLEY of Virginia F" / am.
Truly yours, &c.,
G. A. r.
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN THE UNION PACT