The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-02-05

w are pleasantly situated at the
ssH otel de Petersb0ar9,D in the beautl-
full city of Paris, the capital of lovely,
sunny aiice. Too much cannot be said
of the beauty and magnilicenee Of this
wonderful city, / viii not attempt, at
present, to describe all that we have
seen of its glory and grandeur. have
! Just returned from promenading some
OF its principal streets, viewing 1t IN
its evening splendor. lit up with thirty
htwo thousand gas burners
Yesterday we visited Versailles,
some twelve miles from Paris We
passed through the forest of Boulogne,
fadInfrill@ the delightful picturesque
scenery bordering on thesriveF Seine,
passing thfoug b asvaFiega ated country
| until we reached St. Cloud, where we
alighFed from our carriages and walk
ed over the ground where the Prns-
SLAMS planted tl5eiF artillery 60 bonn
bard the city OF Pafis,and where many
thousands wers slain during She late
bloody contest Every building ex-
leebt the cathedral, had been demolish-
ed MS was preserved by D body of
Prussians, who had been stationed
there tlaF0ugh the re EeFential Ieeling,
perhaps; Of the Trussiana ESbp bper6r.
e II At Versailles We enjOk kea lnaghifl-
cent views; comprising objeets of AZ
most. Infinite variety. 10 Ane, how
eyer, our visitsto the NatiOnaf ASSEM-
bly,, then in sessions was the most in-
teresting, with the exception Of our
liiitervieW with Monsienr. Thiers, The
Presf. cot the French Republic, which
FIewin describe ptesentlys. The Ma
tional Assembly comprises 75Ss depu-
ties elected by their respective dis
tricts iua 1871 constituting culy a pro-
yisiola Al government. How long they
may lfeeI disposed to hold office, or
the vaseilatiilg minds OF the people to
sustain them, the future will reveal.
The political prospects of. france are
shronded in Fearful nysterg--at any
moment che most terrible scenes may
burst upon the country The Nation
al Assembly oonvenes in that portion
of the palace formerly occupied as q
theatre, when Versailles was reveliRg
In regal pride and splendor. We ow-
ed the privilege of admission TO the
President of the Assembly through
the request of Monsieur. Barthelemy
st. Hiliare, private secretary to NJ.
Thiers, to whom we had been intro
duced BY Maj. Lorin. We were ac-
corded seats appropriated TO foreign
diplomats and ambassadors, an honor
we appreciated and duly acknoWledg dg
ed. The grave, sedate dignihed, bald
beaded appearance ofthis great body
of French deputies was rather pfepos-
sessings We spent about an hour in
listening TO their eloquent and ami
mated speeches. i have alluded to
MAJ. LoFin-this gentleman distingu-
-ished himself as French officer in the
battles fought against Austria aud It
ally, also in many bloody conflicts be-
tween the French and Prusssians. In
the late war he commanded about
three thousand men. On the estab-
lishment of peace only forty seven re-
mained ;the others were either Killed
or disabled. The Major was covered
with French gl0ry--scafs and bruises.
We had formed an acquaintance with
this gentleman, and while visiting at
Versailles he proposed to present our
cards to Prest. Thiers and procure us
an audience. We accepted the pro-
position and drove up to the palace OF
M. Thiers. In few minutes the Maj
or returned. accompanied by the Presi-.
dents private secretary, who politely
stated that M. Thiers would be happy
to receive Prest. Smith and party at Is
past ps m. g419a
3 Werepaifed TO. the palace at the
hour designated, M. BartheIemy st.
IIiliare conducted as TO the reception
hall and introduced us itoathe Presi-
dent ThieRs. He was attended by a
nnInber OF distinguished French gem
tleInen, principally his cabinet minis
ters, anxious aud curious to witness
the interview w betwee thee President
of the FfenclI Republic and the dele
CATION from the Latter day Saints in
Utah, en- route TO Palestine Mr. Thiers
personal .appearence impressed us
faH0fablg- lg-iiis dignifi ed bearing. plaiIl
and sunassnlning niahners, with
countenance glowing with zbenovo-
iencs and patri0tisfa.f He possesses
the reputation Of beiuga good English
scholar, but i IpresIlIae the vast crowd
of business ofiate years has allowed
him no time TO practice the English
language, therefore the conversation
was carried ON III Ffenchy Major Lor-
in Acting as Interpreter. o3 bHA
LA ffeE the heintr6duGfion, PPest. Smith
acknowledged our appreciation OF the
honor accorded to himself and party,
in granting this intervieW-that we
were from q tab, en- route TO Palestine.
to olstudvs the 1Bi Bile in the land where
its accorded events had chief y trans
pired, that we sympatbized with the
Otafhe French Republic in
the great cause he is Iaboring 10 estab-
lish, Republic in France, and had
sought this occasions of expressing our
sentiments personally. 5I
Upon this being interpreted, Prest.
ThieFs replied that he was gratified
with such assurances from Americans,
and pleased TO meet this delegation
from Utah, and that he was familiar
with the history of our people. Presi-
dent Smith remarked that we had
been twenty-five years laboring under |
every possible disadvantage to colonize
that portion OF our American desert, |
In order TO make destitute people |
great aud prosperous that in connec- |
ton with other objects relating to our
tour, we wished TO gather informa- |
ton and statistics of the progress of
older nations, that through their ex-
perience we might more successfully /
benefit and improve the people we
PEest. TIMERS replied that while we
remained in France, he should take |
pleasure in rendering any assistance
We might require in the promotion OF
this object.
We acknowledged our appreciation
of this courtesy. Prest, Smith thank
ed him tor favors extended to Ameri-
can citizens since the establishment of /
the French Republic. @
Prest. Thiers replied that he hoped
the peaceful relations now existing be-
tween the two governments would 4
never be interrupted.
The interview closed in the follow
ing words by President Smith-"Presi-
dent Theirs, God bless you."
These words inspired M. Theirs
with renewed interest--he requested
the Major to give q literal translation /
of that expression. The honesty, sim
plicity and earnestness fin which this
sentiment was delivered by President
Smith, not only excited pleasurahle