Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-09-23
PARIS! /!
FROM NOTES ABROAD

My friends will not deny me the right and
privilege to make few explanatory remarks as
Introductory to the topic that is to follow:
l scarce know how. to begin to write a-news-
paper article of one or more columns upon a
subject SO well known. so prolific as the one
now selected, and not knowing how to begin,
another most embarrassing question in order
presents itself as to how will end. From what
little experience | have bad in general writing
and particularly my contributions to the Press,
my chief difficulty is invariably in the beginning
and ending of all my efforts For instance
my trouble begins at about ten (10) o'clock P.
M, when my day g work is over and after from
three to fiee hours (aod often much longer
time,) of close and unremitting application to
the text Of my article the said trouble ends only
when | have with sigh of relief signed my
Nom de Guerre" at the bottom of the last
line on the last page. Possibly you will smile
at my candor and nsophisticatedness In giving
you this Ii tie peep behind the scenes and you
may also remark that such preface is not 10
good taste, totally out of place and altogether
unnecessary. As yet do not possess the knack
or the gift OF bolting at once into my subject
without certain feeling of timidity and dis
position to offer a general apology for all the
short conings and failog that may occur.
The crude facts and ideas that l present, the
uncultvaed taste that | indulge at times for
scribbiiog is rather to unburden my mind, to
untax my memory Of what | have seen and
heard In my wanderiDgs, than to exhibit with
any degree of elaborateness or carefully consld-
cred ORDER we'll written essays for critical dissec-
tion and carping analysis. So now. dear friends,
dear public 10 political parlance, [ have stated
and while ask DO Quarters, - am always will
lipU n 0; thoro fo bo poodv If Won haUo
read this preface patiently, you have acted CON
sistently and wisely and the best reward the
most complete compensation | can offer you is
the promise not to trouble you again with such
home affsirs.
| will now tell ycu something about my
theme, what saw and heard there; some of
it may be new to you, much of it may be old
If succeed in only briefly interesting and
amusing you, l will be amply rewarded.
Paris, what shall [ say OF thee? Icannot add
one Laurel to thy brow, neither would pluck
one leaf from thy history. [ cannot improve
one of thy virtues and would not increase one
of thy vices In the days of my boyhood the
wonderful story of Aladdin and his lamp did
not charm me more-did not take more COM
plete possession Of my youthful senses than did
all the charms of this wonderful city appeal to
and capture the feelings and faculties of my
l.
her elegant Boulevards, mixing in those gay,
festive throngs beneath all the glare and glitter
of the thousands of lamps felt like [ was only
dreaming some fairy-tale and walking in my
sleep. After sauntering about until became
weary, and found that L was not dreaming, but
amid the tangible realities of life, [ seated
myself, and while looking at the gay scenes
about me, began to muse upon the past and
present, and while that present, in part, was be-
fore and around me, much OF her past came
crowding upon me thick as leaves in Autumn
woods. | drew my notebook and wrote page
In Memoriam. Parisl Ia every sense dear,
charming, delightful, wicked Paris. Birth
place of Ideas that have already shaken the
world and must one day rule 1t; graceful in thy
deformities, decent even in thy vices and intel
lectual In thy associations, the veil OF memo
Iy which recent misfortunes nave cast around
thee is Of the thinnest gauze-the flash OF gems
and the glitter of tinsel is seen through it yet,
What pen can do justice to thy countless fasci-
nations and horrors The beautiful and terri.
bic is grotesouey mixed six and rags, learn
ing and Ignorance, the gentlest feelings, the
largest.hearted charities, the widest passions
thrown together like straws and flowers caught
by the whirlwind Never did people receive
more lofty mission than thy gifted children
or fail in it more sigually. The kDightly sword
the golden spurs, the iron crown Of thy owr
Charlemagne, tells that once thou art great ano
could hold thy own! Wilt thou ever arouse
tbyself again, and toho will feel thy might?
Paris is situated at about 200 feet above the
level of the two banks of the River Seine. I
is surrounded by two low ranges of hills; on the
right bank the heights of Bslleville and Chau
mont rise to $40 feet. Montmartre 320 feet
On the left bank the Mount Sainte-Genevievt
and Mont Valerian attain a height of abou
400 feet. | estimate these attitudes according
to NV idea, without the actual measurement
and | desire to be somewhat particular, SO tha
the natural situation Of Paris will show yo,
how com pletely she was at the mercy of th'
Prussian army during the late war-this arm!
having at different times occupied all thes
heights. The climate of Paris is variable bu
emperate. I remember with delight thos
bright, sunshiny days, when that gay peopl
would tun out by the many Thousand, crowd
ing the magnificent Boulevards and hockiu
about 10 all those elegant gardens and Parks
and again remember, and with no feeling Q
disappointment those wet aud gloomy days
days of sun and rain, when the clouds 70
l 1.ror onlu ta ho diepol1od hv