Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-02
,LPsA GAZETTE L. VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
Paris by Gaslight.

The boulevardS OF Paris, extending tor miles
through almost all sections Of the city, present
CAV scene at night. The thousands OF cafes
brilliant with gas-jets, have their tables all
out on the broad pavements, and from s to
10 0 clock in the evening it is difficult to OBJ
tain seat at any Of them. lce-cream and
coffee is the extent of the Partisan indulgence,
though few add some cognac to their coffee.
They spend their summer evenings in promeua
ding the boulevards and occasionally stopping
for cup of their tavorite beverage. The side
walks Of the boulevards are not less than thirty
five feet wide, aud in many prominent places
women with chairs to rent are stationed along
the curbstones, on which those who are tired
may for few centimes rest themselves and
view the promenaders as they pass. The broad
streets are also filled with carriages, so that 1t
Is difficult to effect crossing, each being re-
duired by law to have their lamps burning.
Strangers 10 the city, who wish to view these
gas-light scenes, generally engage carriages and
drve slowly through the different boulevards,
and vast numbers Of carriages are constantly
passing to and from the various places OF amuse-
ment Everybody seems happy and ~
tent upon enjoyment. The pople of llenua
are equally fond OF this out-ot door life, but
prcter to assemble in the gardens and listen
TO the music of their unrivallcd bands.
F.ltlDg, anu UcCi diu SOuCC,
seem to employ all the leisure hours OF the
Vieunoise. They seldom care to walk, the
streets of Vienna being comparatively deserted
at uight, and most of the stores closed, whilst
the very reverse is the case in Paris The
stores are not only brilliantly lighted, but near
" all of them have rows Of gas-lights on the
outside, making the streets almost as light as
Gay. The display Of the stores last night on
the Boulevard des Capucines exceeded anything
We have ever before seen even 10 Paris. 1t
seemed as If all all the goods in the grand CEN
ra building Of the vienna Exposition We're
spread along among these magnificent establish
meus. The taste with which the goods are
arranged, the disposition Of the lights, and the
reflection in the slde-glasses with which their
windows are always provided, presented con-
tibuous spectacle OF surprising beauty. Ten
years ago the Palais Royal was the great centre
of attraction of Paris, but the boulevard stores
have so greatly excellcd these small establish
mcuts that it is now comparatively deserted at
night The hundreds of jewellers windows
were sparkling with diamonds and precious
stones and even the fancy and dry goods stores
tried to excel the other in the effort to attract
the attention of the throngs of promenaders.
We walked through some OF these central
boulevards last night for nearly two hours,
AA'SN
that it vas difficult for three to walk abreast
without being continually jostled by. the prom,
enadcrs. This was also the case 10 the ar
cades running through the interior of the
squares where the display was equally attrac-
tive. The best possible order and quiet was
everywhere preserved, and the gendarmes with
their huge cavalry swords stood like statues on
the corners of the streets, having no occasion
todo more than remain quietly at their posts.
There being no cobblestoue pavemeuts in Paris
The carriages and omnibusses made little or no
noise as they glided along on the smooth as
phaltum, nor was there any dust for them to
stir up to vex the eyes aud lungs of the peo-
pie. The sweeping machines are guing all
night and uutil 10 clock in the morning, max
ing the steets as clean as they could be swept
with courtroom by hand, and lest any dust
should be left in the crevices, they are washed
OFT With the hose. In short, Paris is grand
She has passed through her tribulatons, and
has again presented herself to the world more
beautiful aud attractive than ever That the
world is pleased is evident by the many thous-
ands Of strangers now lingering here to enjoy
the brilliant spectacle.-C C. Fulton.