Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-15

SOM METHING ABOUT OUR TWO WEEKS
IN PARIS.
We only propose to tell you in this
article some of the truthful events and
occurrences that naturally befell US as
quiet, honest fellows during the too
brief snjOurn of q fortnight in Paris,
while the exhibition was in progress
You will not expect anything very
startling. strange, or ouire, certainly
nothing sufficiently romantic to make a
couple of plain men shine as heroes or
knight Grants When we were both
younger-s'the Judge and myself'-we
might have been rash and sensational
enough to attempt to entertain your
fancy, but ia these, our more sober and
serious years, we appeal rather to your
reason. 1t may be that simple state
nent of few facts and incidents, a plain
unvarnished tale of the exhibition days
in that city of cities, will prove interest
ing and amusing to you. And should
you be at all eIified with such a recital,
the writer will feel both gratified and
flattered, as we'll as amply rewarded for
his trouble in preparing this paper for
your attention and perusal.
1.-THE Judge and myself" met for the
first time on board of the ocean steam
ship California, lying at her pier in
North River, New York City. Wemet
July 9Th and parted from each other
September 5th. Thus we were together
almost constantly for two months-ever
memorable months to both-three and
a half weeks on the ocean and five weeks
on land living on the Atlantic togeth-
er, living in London and Paris together.
Most of the time we had our ears aDide
OPEN SO we must have seen and heard
a great deal, not easily forgotten. Why.
If we did not, our best friends, would
pronounce us remarkably stupid; and
we would not be regarded as at ali clev-
er, if we did not tell something about
what we saw and heard, by night and
dav, on land and sea- But we will on
to Paris.
Paris, the gay. festive, charming,
beautiful; Paris, the thoughtless, ,extrav-
agant, wicked, even SO sinful as Sodom,
with scarcely one righteous soul. The
first incident in order will be
OUR ARRIVAL AT PARIS,
that city, about which you have heard
SO much from pen and tongue; that city
of pleasure, pandering so much to hui
man taste. As old Rome, with all its
hallowed associations is denominated the
City of the Soul, even so should Paris.
with its manifold charms, be designated
the City of the Heart; that city, with its
countless attractions, fascinating alike
the heart of youth and age, appealing
alike to the pleasurable emotions of rich
and poor, of peasant and snv0nt. Itwas
this city we reached at midnight of Oath
of July, 1878, having come from London
via New Haven and Dieppe. The Judge
did not speak any French, and my sup
ply of the language was quite limited,
SO much so had it been a stock of mer-
chandise the quantity would have justi'
fed me in temporarily suspending busl,
ness operations and sending bankrupt
notices to my creditors. However, aftel
a few moments delay in the depot, we
| soon secured a cab, and gave the neces
sary directions regarding the location O.
our hotel saw our luggage all right anc
then started. Our cabman assured III
he knew the hotel well, and only aftel
rapid drive of an hour, through street'
and bOulevards. did he admit that III
could not find 1t. We had given hin
the directions quite plainly, only nv
minutes drive from the PLACE DU BIAS
TILE to No. 46 Rue de Chalons, opposite
CHEMIN DE FER DE LYON. JOOS: my
old landlord of 1873, called his hotel TN
Grand Hotel de L'Univers. | left tn
Judge in the cab and got up with the drl
yer told him I had been to Paris befor'
and remembered we'll enough the local
ity we were in quest of. In few min
utes we came in sight of the column e
Liberty, marking the sight of the olt
Bastile, when the cabman's wits ap
peared to return to him and he begal
laughing at his own stupidity, and at TN