Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-20
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Pans, Julyl, 1878.

There is an unusual hustle among
Americans here today, and there is
something Of a celebration Of our natal
day of independence out in the Bots de
Bologne. Tickets are for sale at the
triaing price Of twenty francs each-in
our money four dollars--to say nothing
Of transportation. refreshments, and
other unavoidable expenses. The French
have an idea that all foreigners, and
especially Americans, have an abund.
anee of money as long as they choose to
remain in France and are anxious to
spend it. There is good ground for this
popular belief, and Americans of expen.
sive habits are mostly to blame for it,
and the rest of US have 70 suffer. Not
having as many twenty franc pieces
about me as | think l could spend 10 q
month / have concluded to stias my
patriotic impulses so far as to forego the
pleasure Of joining in the pleasant and
elegant affair of to-day. An account Of
the proceedings in Memphis, read three
weeks hence, will afford as much pleas
ure aud not cost half as much.
The Memphis papers come in bun.
dies, containing several days news. l
have received three installmeRts. TIE
last came yesterday, including the
morning papers Of the 18th ult., With &C.
counts OF an adjourned but unfinished
county convention. New York papers
cannot be had except at the Herald bu.
reau, aud the demand there by Amer.
cans far exceeds the supply. The
French papers contain little or no news
comparatively, even for those who can
read them; and the English papers,
which a be bought on the streets some.
times,aFe so dry and drawing that nobody
but an E~nglishman ever cares to read one
for news. They are devoted almost
entirely 10 local news. The London pa
pers rarely have more than a paragraph
or two Of cable news from the United
States, and then it is not likely 10 ba of
any Importance. The news from Aus
tralia will usually be as readable, and
perhaps in a more conspicuous place
Having looked at the maps and knowing
that Australia is an English dependency
or colony, many people OF Britain regard
it as the equal Of the United States in
every respect.
When in England | saw much to ad.
mire and impress me with the solidity
and power Of the English people, but
some how they regard Americans and
America with a sort Of indifference OF
tolerance which amounts almost to con.
tempt. Hotel keepers, shop keepers
merchants and others who profit largely
by the patronage of our people, either
have no such preiudices or know how tc
conceal them better.
Captain Bogardus, the renowned
pigeon and glass ball shooter, who ha.
been the champion Of America for sever
years, came to London last week to havI
an international pigeon-match with Eng
lard's crack shot. He had challenge,
the world and this man took il up. ThI
English rules we're strictly enforced, AM
an English crowd was present. Whel
the Englishman brought down his bird
they cheered him Justify; when Bogar
dus made the same shots not a cheer wa
heard except from a few stray Amer
cans present who showed their national
ity and sympathy every time. 1t was
, close ana exciting contest. When oil
seven birds remained in the traps it wa
a tie, but Bogardus won by the sma
majority OF two birds. The crowd wa
D evidently disappointed and disguised
The prize won by Captain Bogardus we
equivalent to three thousand dollars /
English guiness. 1t was one Of the col
s ditions that the winner was to be presen
d ed With the surplus gate fees 10 a substal
r tial shape after paying all expense
e They took in $500 dollars at the ga
r and gave Bogsrdus . cup worth S25
d So, according to this kind of arithmeti
J the expenses we're very heavy. Boga
d dus has been giving exhibitions in Lo
don and has come over here and vi
give a free exhibition, using Englil
guns aud American glass balls, provide
d there is not too strong a net work
"parley vous' and red tape to z
through. He lately broke 993 out
1000 glass balls in &C minutes, and b
just challenged any ten men in 4
le world for $40, 900. each one to shoot o
time to his ten. Such a test Of physic
ID endurance is very risky, and if the AM
Of can champion keeps on he is sure to me
E. his match.
- The new conner in Paris is almost G.
Il tain to feel that the city is not only ms
n%ificent in proportion, 10 ancient a
modern architectural wonders, 10 wi
- streets and avenues adorned with e
NJ trees, in works Of art, genius and beau
&c but is almost as sure to suppose Ii
some unusual event or occasion
II brought out more people and drawn
nd gether more strangers than usu
re When / arrived FIRST there we're /
IS greater crowds on the streets than us
for this summer, yet it was a diAic
he matter for a cab to get along or a str
lat ger to secure lodgings. In a day or T.