The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-12-15
9estriptiue Srtitles.



Sights and Scenes in Paris.
A lady writes to the N. Y. Observer -
You will have heard Of our arrival in Paris
and Of our health and comfort 10 this good
hotel de Hollande In the Rue de Ia Paix,
and now we are in the full tide of success.
fal experiment, getting all the good aud
pleasure of the days that we can. Yes
terday we visited the Madeleine aud walk.
ed through the booths Of flowers on either
side Of it. In the afternoon we drove
through the Park Monceaux aud the
Boulyevards, and around the gardens of
the Tuilleries. In the evening we walked
to the Graud Hotel and among some Of
the cafes and brilliant shops When /
first came here, and went out in the fresh,
clear air, into the broad, clean streets,
with their high buildings Of light colored
stone, and saw the gay shops, and went
through the Passages" stopping for some
thing new or beautiful at every step, and
into the courts ornamented with flowers
and vines, / thought had never seen any
thing so pretty in my life before And
when We drove through the parks aud the
Champs Elysee at the "children's hour"
while they we're enjoying their toys and
games with their maids aud one another,
looking like angels in muslin and lace,
aud their mammas looking more 80, l
thought | had never seen anything 80
pretty in my life before And when l
went out in the evening, and saw the long
boulevsrds and squares brighter than day
light can make them, and each interior
picture, the crowds of people walking and
sitting about, music here and flowers there,
and good things everywhere, | thought l
had never seen anything so pretty in my
life before And thus am having va
riety of sensations all of pleasant sort,
and seeing Paris in an everyday fashion,
without much thought as to what we shall
do from day to day.
On Sunday | went to the American
chapel, and it was good to be there, for
the hymn book is the one we use at home;
and the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Hitchcock, prayed
in sweet and tender way about 'the faces
within the door Of the home across the
sea-" and Dr. Robinson preached the best
sermon that | have heard since leaving
America; and coming out it was like a
family meeting, everybody shaking hands
and so glad to be there. 1t is pleasanter
to meet our own countrymen in such
scenes than anywhere else. In cities we
meet many Of them, and it is not in gen.
eral very improving or agreeable to spend
much time in social pleasure with Ameri
cans, for they seem inclined to criticisC
and compare rather than 10 enjoy and
learn. In Paris they all talk of who il
here, and how long they are going to stay
and spend their time in going about to see
one another, and to the shops. There il
nothing cheap in the shops, and whert
there are such stacks of robes, and milel
of ornaments, and heaps of lingerie, onC
loses the desire to have any Of it. But i
is pleasure to see the artistic arrange
ment of the shop windows, which are
study, and the blaze of the jewels is won
derfnl.
We went across the river this mornin,
and made our first visit to the palace ant
gardens Of the Luxembourg. The weathe
is charming, and the bright sunshine, will
fresh breeze, made our walk in the gar
den, among lovely fountains and flower
and under the fair trees, delightful. 1t i
pleasure to watch the mothers with thei
little ones here; they have sparkle an,
intensity of life and interest that is lik
our own character at home. As we reste,
before a pretty cascade, mother cam
and sat beside us with two little girls
"Now, my little ones, she said, "run abou
and amuse yourselves" and in a minut,
she had her knitting in her hands and tn,
babes were rolling their hoops in the patl
beyond, while her loving eyes followed
them tenderly.
From the garden we went to the toni
of Napoleon, cold, grand structure, nobl,
and severe, but not at all in the style anC
temper of the French. The air withou
was so balmy that the change into IN,
building was chilling one, and scarcely
waited to drop sigh, much less tear, OIL
the tomb of greatness, before l went ou
into the air and sunshine with the bird
aud flowers.
Our next visit was to the Church of st
Sulpice, and as we approached we hearc
the organ, and hurried in to catch the fin,
tones Of this great instrument. A wed
ding was being celebrated in the mair
part Of the church, and the lighted can
dies and decorated altar, with the gay
dresses Of the bridal party and charming
bride, the fairest of all, made lovely
picture. We studied it for a few minutes
but as they said the ceremony would las
for an hour, we moved on, leaving brid,
and groom comfortably seated ia velve
chairs, while the priest read from a hugt
volume, and the bride admired her prett,
hands, from which she drew the glovei
and played with her earrings. Passing
around the chnreh, We looked 10 at thl
various chapels, where many knelt in 81
lent prayer and candles were often burning
In one funeral was being held, aud sor
rowing friends were bowing beside tn,
bier, while the priests read the service fol
the dead. As | stood at the foot Of this
wonderful company, and looked over the
black pail on which was laid the wreaths
Of immortelles, | could see the wedding
company in the church beyond. The
bride was kneeling at the altar, and the
soft folds of her veil were pure as the
flowers she wore, and as the wreaths that
covered the bier One a scene of love
and new life, the other Of love aud sorrow
and deafh--it NAV be of now life foo. tbs