New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-03
The american Colony in Paris.

Paris Letter to the New York Tribune.
The American living in the Grand Hotel
is almost on his native heath. More than
half of its inmates are Of his nationality,
some OF whom live permanently II the ho-
tel as in America, the gregaIious feature IN
their character, as usual, drawing them TO-
eether. English papers are strewn over
the tables OF the great sitting-room, and
English is as much the language OF the
house as French Out on the balustrade,
under the glass root, the clatter OF the
horses feet on the asphalte and the slam
ming t-unks furnish him with that Amer
lean hustle to which he is accustomed. IN
der lis hand. at the lett. the interior cate
provides him with those beverages ioc
which the American throat is believed to
th.rs, continually. The glass-covered space
and spacious corridors and sittin g-rOoms
tornI an exchange for the discussion OF
transatlantic topics. II is a proCerb IN
England TIA: when you wish to put your
finger or a Frenchman in London you go
to Leicester square. and it may oe said with
Ike truth that the American must be
sought tor IN the Grand Hotel OR around
the corner in Rue Scribe.
IL this great conservatory with glass on
al! sides OF him. he talks OF Tammany and
Pacific Mail as if he had never LETT Manha--
tan Island. There are lounging youths
from the upper part OF that island, whose
general circulation outside OF the great
Lute. IS restricted TO something within gum
sho. range. Around the corner are the
three principal banking houses. where these
clients are taken charge Of in manner
almost probationary, newspapers and
writing paper. ike the bread in French
restaurant. az discretion. If they wish %
lind a friend who Is unknown in the Ameri-
can Exchange. they seek him IL the pom
derOus registers OF these establishments.
II they have any misyivings as to tie div;-
deuds OF their Erie or Slack Water Naviga-
ton, they get the bankers ear and ask to
be advised. Il their socia! Or financial
status is brought into question. the banker
IS their stanuinS reference. In the same
short row are the agencies of the steamers
plying between Europe and America. Across
the way is an office OF an American news
paper. which contains long lists OF wander
Ing citizens IN every part OF Europe.
There are also American tailors, dress
and glove makers IN the nelghborhood,
which are all civilzing agencies. But what
must be said OF the American bar, whose
front looks out as boldly on the Rue Scribe
as any OF its neig h boring establishments.
where the money goes into the strong box
instead Of down the throat!. Here, on the
tail OF the counter, are the eternal crackers
and cheese, and standing in front of the bar
are the young Ioungers from Columbus
land, living IN the past, and tipping N
home beverages The horse is staple and
the manifestations concerning Belmont's
stock, and the ups and downs of old John
Harper, are endless. An occasional Ganl
enters to get glimpse of Yankees and their
customs; he swallows the c0cketcL and the
sicrris goboioire, and pronounces them
good, with wry face; he even goes go far
as to say. with the politeness which is his
religion. that it is rather pleasant to stand
before the counter and gulp after the man
ner OF the American citizen, and when he
sees one of them drunk he says-aniable |
lia--that the maud!in creature is only gay.
Across the boulevard from the Grand |
Hotel. up two flights of stairs. Americas is
still on American soil in the Washington |
Club, where he may play poker with the |
same freedom as on a Mississippi steamer.
and for as heavy g wager. That familiar |
hout god, the spittoon, is within hit. |
ting distance, and little circular bar fur |
lishes that array of mixtures tor which !
America is famous. and that dexteroUs bar |
keeper who grows Only in the land of !
Columbus. Here are the same handsome,
frolicsome fellows, whom lett month or
two ago, in De'monicos. spinning yarns. and |
talking back and fro in their own quick |
way. with their too thin and other bits !
Of American vernacuar which l missed on
NY wav through England.