Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-12
For the SPECTATOR.
THE JUDGE AND MYSELF.
SOMETHING ABOUT OUR TWO WEEKS
IN PARIS.
Continued.

| " ~~~~@H
IN PARIS.
Continued.
THE CHAMPS ELYsEEs-
was one of our favorite and frequent re
sorts. The Judge was extremely par
tial to it: The glare of its numerou
lamps, and the softer lights from vari
ously and cOuntiessly colored globes; tn,
clash and the melody from differen
cafe orchestras ths thousands of pc
destrians, promenading and sittin1
about; the hundreds of vehicles of ev-
cry description whirling along with
their well dressed occupants; the cafe
concerts all in full blast; the jingline
of beer glasses; the singing and dane
ing Of favorites, the encore Of appreoia
tive audiences all of this combined tc
make most lively scene, almost be-
wildering in its variety. My friend
adapted himself to all of it in the most
natural manner possible, exhibiting the
cOQlness of veteran, with the easy,
graceful bearing of Q Partisan hg5itwe
and the quiet self possession Of an Amer
ican Judge. This is but brief, hur-
ried, tame, and lame word picture Of the
appearance of the Champs Elysees at
night, as we saw and enjoyed it during
''oaw t,Oo a0eeks in Paris" The cafe
concerts is one of the prominent feat
ures of this popular locality. There is
no admission fee charged. but you are
! expected to spend one or more francs
the enclosure listening to the singing
and looking at the dancing of men and
women whose moral and social status is
never questioned, if their ACCOMPLISH
ments are sufficient to give satisfaction
to the managers and the audiences. We
rather believe the latter Is not disposed
to be critical in the matter of the per-
formances, when the personal pulchri-
tude, the shapely limbs, and the SYM
metrical figures of the performers are
attractive and pleasing to the eye. We
have been witnesses of some of the veri-
est croaking in lieu of singing that ever
came from human thrQsts, when the
owners of said thr0ats were fair TO look
upon as they stood in their artistic ar
ray before the foot lights, receiving the
encores and plaudits of enraptured hear
ers. The character of the human taste
| becomes very vitiated at times, sadly
out of joint, and most formidably ar
rayed against all the Amer. noblsr traits
in our better natures. 1t is then we
prefer tinsel to gold. paste to diamonds,
beauty to virtue, art to nature, ideal to
real.
When we are not in the mood to in
vestigate or look very deeply into any
thing, we often compromise with fair
exterior, and tacitly accept the existence
of better things as implied facts, which,
Champs Elysees at night, in the height
nf +h N nm
rivalled and unparalleled scene of gay.
ETY. and brilliancy. The consumption
of gas is enormous, but not very expen-
sive, as this article of civilization aud
luxury is much cheaper in Paris than
in Staunton. We have often thought
it was quite step down from the heroic
(although natural and human enough)
when old Homer makes two such clas-
sic heroes as Achilles and Agamemnon
quarrel desperately about the possession
Of a beautiful slave; yet was there not
a world of heroism displayed between
Greeks and Trojans, all about the own
ership of fair woman, who only occu-
pied higher social plane? Do the
wrongs of Queen cry louder for re
venge than do the expressions Of the
slave?
Paris generally, and the Champs Ely
sees particularly, is fine field for su-
perficial reflections and observations
We have no recollection of ever indulg
ing any very deep or thoughtful moods
while strolling about the gay aud fiashy
place.
That old poet, Hesiod, either in his
"Works and Days" or "Theogony," we
do not remember which now, wrote
some kindly advice for tie benefit of
his neighbors in those early days of al
most primitive agriculture, in which he
tells them not to subsoil too deep with
their rustic p!oughs. This quaint old
veteran and pioneer in poesy was dis
posed to be facetious, as he knew full
well that these people could only break
up the surface of the virgin soil with
the implements they used at that period.
There ia not much 5elow the surface
at the Champs Elysees, and there is
even less above save of a purely thought
less, superficial nature. But "the Judge
and myself' were much pleased with it
when we wished to kill an hour OF so
before retiring for the night when we
had nothing special on our programme.
The Place de la Concord and the
Champs Elysees. being near neighbors,
form most attractive resort for respec
table idlers and strangers; and here also
la MOndaine is seen in full force, and all
her fascinating array, waiting to catch
the eye of the visitors and the suscepti-
bic, and even those who knoweth all
her wiies. Another noted locality in
Paris at night that we attended, and
which during the Exposition received
the most extensive patronage, was
THE HIPPoDROME.
a purely Partisan institution. decidedly
French in all its features. / ciceroned
the Judge to this festive place one night
that remember more distinctly than
any other; it had been raining all the
evening. and we had kept to our room.
writing letters, reading, &c.
After tea, 1 proposed to nv friend
to attend the Hippodrome. He re-
piled that he would like to do so. but
feared it was rather late, as it was then
8 o'clock, the hour the performance be-
gan. remarked on the style of the
weather, and stated the crowd would
not be large and we could secure good
seats and be amused for a couple of
hours, or longer if we wished to remain.
Without further ado we rung for a SER
want and ordered cab. In few mo-
ments we were en- route to this grand
combination of circus, theatres, concert,
&C., &C., all under one roof, in one huge
arena.
On arriving, we found the immense
place filed and the sale of tickets oyer.
The Judge suggested that we return to
our hotel. insisted upon getting in
Ny friend yielded. but expressed his
doubts about the success of my efforts.
| was equally sanguine that extra
francs, backed with energy and determi-
nation, would admit us at one of the sew
eral entrances.
We finally succeeded in getting in by
paying five francs each for the privilege
of standing until the old woman who
hired out small red cushions spied US
and made an extra franc out of u.s.
Once seated, we looked aroand at the
ten thousand people assembled-men,
women and children-all seated in the
huge amphitheatre. looking down on
the arena and enjoying the perform.
ance then in progress. We were too
late to see the GRAND ENTRANCE. We,
however, saw some fine riding, trapeze
performance, juggling tricks, &C., and
some parts of the exhihition roollv hOr