Smyrna times., 1877-10-03
A Paris Sunday.
DIR. L. SHELTON MACKENZIE.

Americans, as well as English, are very
much surprised, not very agreeably-
during their first Sunday in Paris, at the
manner in which that day, which the,
have been accustomed to regard anC
observe as "holy," is generally disposed 0
there. With the exception that early il
! the day great many persons 90 to church
there. is a general disregard of the com
mandment, in the twentieth chapter o.
kXodos, as to keeping the seventh day
holy
Nor is this peculiar to Paris, or France
! IL Is much the same in Germany, where
after the midday meal, Sunday is regarded
as regular holiday, on which no secular
work is done, and the inhabitants make
merry in many ways.
When | first visited Paris, a great MANY
years ago, before the second empire was
established, what most astonished me
was that the shops and markets were open
! on sunday just as upon any other dav
that the theatres were more crowded than
on any other day and that the ordinary
artisans, tradesmcn and laborers, went on
with their various labors lust as usual.
LOUIS Napoleon who had been educated
IN Switzerland, and had lived several wears
IN England, both being Sabbath-observing
countries, did q great deal, after he became
ruler OF France, to change the system
there. lie had 70 work quietly, and the
hrst great move was to prohibit Sunday
labor upon any Of the public works. This
he did by paying seven days wages for six
days work.
on these terms, public labor was sus.
pended ON the seventh day, the men being
paid for being idle The example was
good. however, and was followed much
more than might have been expected
Atyer the fall Of the Empire, the old
system was revived and there is n very
limited show Of th-kceping in Franco
low different from the tight-Iaced prac-
tcc in Scotland In Mr.. CraJb Robinson's
amusing diary is an account of his taking a
walk IN q Scotch town, before church
hours on Sunday. and ''whstlinc as he
went tor want Of thought 4 man. in a
white cravat. reproyed him for violating
one oi the Lords commandments Robin
son dld not exactly 81, this. and politely
inquired what commandment, divine or
human, authorized the ohicctor to meddle
with other peoples business?
On fine sunday, Parisans OF every
degree certainly enjoy themselves. They
have large public gardens in their own fine
city, whereas the London parks are more
remote; but the parisian's prevailing idea
Is that ne must 60 into the country when
ms weekly holiday comes around.
Museums and picture galleries are then
lett to cousins from the country. who las
have often Observed carry their wooden
shoes rovcrently in their hands. as thew
pass through the grand rooms in the
Louvre, where Henry VI. and his queen,
Marguerite dc Nalois, held their court.
termlt me TO give a succnct account of
the manner in which the middle.class
P"nsians generally pass their Sundays.
After an early and good visit to church,
the lady OF the house proceeds to market
where large basket is literally filed with
choice provisions, including grapes, apples
ana pears, always uneXccptionably good.
fresh and lowpriccd. This catering is for
the friends who are to be Hospitality en-.
tertained, in pretty little house in one of
the many pleasant suburbs Of princelv
Paris. f'
The mere workman rarely quits the city
on the sunday. His day Of rest and enjoy
mcnt Is the Monday, for by an extortion
ana oVercharge which would never be
tolerated in America or in England. rail.
way fares are doubled on the Sunday.
which, IN many cases, keeps him at work
on that day. When he does take holiday.
the Bonitaces in the semirural places
charge enormously for the sour wine and
tough chickens which remain unconsumed
after the Sunday
Madam, who has filed her basket.
believes in the Sundays outing. From
to maternity, it has been part
md parcel of her life, and, if possible, she
vii spend her weekly holiday in the
where she can hear the birds
"itter and see the branches rustic, and
cast all thoughts and troubles of business to
he winds.