The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1878-06-08

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excuse. nothing compared with the
Hall in which our Congress meets
in Washington. We were unable
to visit the House Of Lords as
visitors with cards were admitted
only on Saturdays
We then drove to Cleopatra's
needle now laying in a wrought
iron cylindrical pontoon vessel in
the river Thames, in which it was
conveyed to London from Egypt.
This immense granite stone weighs
1870 tons 69A #. high, 7 #. 10 in.
wide at its base and gradually
tapers upwards to a width of
about four # 5 in. This needle is
one of the original six gigantic
obelisks which more than 5000
years ago stood in front of the en-
trance of the Temple Of the Sun,
in the City Of On in ancient Egypt.
1t is filled with hlcroglyphic in.
scriptions relating to the history
Of ancient kings Of that interest
ing country.
Lastly we visited the aquarium
where the display Of fish is end
less, but could not find the object
of my search. that is, a whale. l
had originally anticipated remain.
ing several days in London, but
being compelled to return to Eng
land, having purchased a return
ticket to America from Liverpool.
| concluded to proceed Immediate
ly to Paris being exceedingly anx-
ious to be present at the opening
festivities of the Exhibition.
Early in the morning Of the Oath
I started for Paris via Dover and
Calais, among the three hundred
passengers who crossed the Eng
lish channel with US, l hardly think
twenty escaped the oh mics (sea
sicknesss), your correspondent was
quietly basking in the sunshine
somewhat disagreeably entertain.
ed by the spectacle before him but
whose appetite was so sharpened
by the sea breeze that he was an
ticipating with pleasure the time
when shore would be reached in
order to satisfy his ravenous appe'
lite.
After a journey often hours we
reached our destination. AT the de
pot l was welcomed by my init
mate friend MI. Edmond Caen
formerly from Vermilionville, now
doing business in this city, my
friend having previously engaged
a suitable room for me we had
nothing more to do than to drive
to the hotel and take possession.
1t was not indeed until | haC
reached the city that I ever enter
tanned any fair conception of thu
beauties and grandeur Of the civi
lization of the Old World. Gu
cousins, the English people, lik'
ourselves are too fond of thu
mighty dollar to employ time
means and labor in the embellish
ment of their cities and in the pur
!, suit of such means as would bring
amusement, happiness and prosper
ity to their people, the personi6
cation of politeness and the qu,nt
} essence of the outward display the!
are ever ready to take the lead il
what may be styled society ant
: civilization. When a Partisan
wishes you to be seated he vii
) say "voulez.vous avoir la bont6 d.
prendre la peine de vous assoir.
When a stranger is addressed il
the streets one must first raise hi
} hand to bis hat and say "nrdon
nez-moi, mons.," the stranger thel
. returns the salute and then thu
question desired may be PROFOUND
; ed. 4 stranger receives every
attention imaginable at the hand
] of the French people, they ar
, ever ready to sacrifice their ow'
time, if need be, to be instrnmen
, , tai in promoting his comfort. TIL
| energy. activity and perseverance
of the French people is really wor
derful. Just emerging from the cor
sequences of a disastrous war an
; its we'll known terrible seque
France, after having resumed spe
Gle payment, to day proudly raise
e her head among the nations of Ell
rope and invites them all to he
Universal Exhibition. Histor,
e does not attribute to the Frenc
people the qualification Of bein
patient, they have never the leg:
for the last six years, been under
going one of the most terrible o.
Ioo1o which coc hofoU a not;o,