Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-29

zen of Staunton, but now resldent OF
Danville. His letter was not written
for publication, but will be of interest to
many of our readers, as giving faith
full portrait of few days spent in Paris
by several of our fellow citizens among
whom was Mr.. F. T. Stribling of our
city.
September 18th, 1878.
We got up at 8 o'clock, walked to the
Bank, got our letters and then event to
the Herald Reading Rooms, where
we registered and paid j Francs for use
of room for one week. ] have only look
ed at one paper since leaving America
and in fact, going at the rate we do we
have no time and almost less inclination
to read papers. You get SO thoroughly
tired and worn out, that you just long
for some place to creep in where you
cannot hear the sound of voice or hum.
of wheels-aud here find it q difficult
matter to get beyond The reach of them.
They are going all night without cessa-
ton.
After settling our bill at the hotel, be-
ing charged as usual for things we did
not get, we had long tramp around
some of the principal streets. along the
Seine, Pont neuf, Notre Dame, Tuil-
leries. Stopped to see the big balloon go
up, it is about as large as the Arlington
and they charge each person 20 Francs
for ascending. 1t ascends about of
mile, being held in check by an i'm
mense wire rope. was anxious to go
upin it. but the price checked my ardor.
After tramping around awhile we got
I, nd 1aI n lott ~
various places of interest a description
of which would be impossible.
We had our baggage shipped from
Geneva for which we had to pay Is francs
and go centimes and then we drove to NJ
Rue de la Renaissance to see Stribling
and found him not in. We had very
pleasant drive through the Bots du
Boilonge, under the Are de Triomph,
de-, all of which was enjoyed very much.
The numerous fine turnOuts, beautiful,
women, fast horses, well-dressed men,
&C., were we'll calculated to attract the
attention of an American.
On returning to 81 Rue de Rivoli:: we
found that Stribling had called on us.
After getting dinner, which was cheap
soup, bottle of wine (sour,) and pou-
lette fowl for which I paid 2 Francs,
we decided to go to Stribling's boarding
found him in, and also Mr.. w. A. And.
erson, of Lexington, who is the Virgin
ia State Commissioner to the Paris Ex-
position and Mr.. Archer, of Richmond.
It was pleasant to thus meet with citi-
zens of our own State, and we all con-
Guided to take a tramp through the
Champs Elysees, which we did visiting
a circus, where they had ponies with lit
tie boys and girls acting. After leaving
the circus we visited the Gypsey OF
Bohemian show in the Champs Elysees,
general dancing saloon-the perform
ance being entirely by Bohemians, who
strongly resemble light colored mulat-
toes.
In these places there are long tables
with the end facing the stage, and wire
screens five inches high running length
wise of the tables. You take a chair
looking towards the stage and after pay.
ing Il Francs you are entitled to drink
which is brought you without additional
charge. If you go near the stage, the
charge is five Francs. The place is lit
up in the most brilliant manner, with
thousands of gas gets and electric lights
making it as bright as day.
am now writing in Madame McKin-
mons sitting room, on my right is Strib-
ling, next Madame NICK. next her sister
next an Englishman, his wife and
brother and Pace and StOvall are on my
left. Stovall and I are busy writing but
it is almost impossible to do so as all the
rest are talking, chatting, and exchang-
ing opinions in regard to what they have
seen and how they have seen it. The
table is oval, in rather assmall room in
the 5th story. It is in what is called a
French flat and our room opens out on a
portico 20 inches wide, hanging just over
the Rue de Rivoli, with an Avenue of
gas-lights extending for miles either
way and never ending throng of Pc
destrians and vehicles passing. I have
passed around the photographs of the
boys. The subject was brought up by
Stribling's asking our landlady how old
she thought he was, whereupon she said
she supposed he was about ten years
older than myself. This disguised him
very much as he is really two years
younger than and he told her that I
had been married twice and had chill
dren nearly as large as he, and added
their photographs and they were much
admired.
The next morning 1 arose early and
took stroll through the Vegetable and
Butter markets, returning in time to
eat a hearty breakfast. BY the way this
cold bread business is beginning to get
the better of me. The vast amount of
crust and its fearful toughness keeps the
roof of my mouth sore all the time
On Sept. 18th, we met Stribling ac-
cording to appointment and securing a
two horses vehicle e Francs per hour
went to the Champ Elysees to see the
vast Panorama of the seige of Paris. It
is very real, in fact life like. You stand
in nr nd
immense circular picture covering,
seemingly, the entire inside wall of the
building. The picture is so well execut-
ed and so real that you feel as if you
were right in the midst of the events
portrayed.
We then went to the Madeleine
Church, built by Napoleon as a Item
pie of Glory to the soldiers of the grand
army" but was in 1916 changed to q
church. 1t is in imitation of Roman
Temple, surrounded with massive fluted
corinthian pillars, and the walls and
floors are OF marble. 1t was in this
church that about 300 communists Q871)
made their last stand, when the soldiers
were driving them from Paris. They
thought the sacredness of the place
would save them, but all of them were
sho5 down through the windows by the
CAOOPo ttuO hOu q ping OhC CSCdPCus
We afterwards saw Russian Droscha,
belonging to some member of the I'M
perial family. The attendant was dress
ed in red cap, long black velvet blouse
and cavalry boots.
We then drove across the Seine to the
"Tomb of Mar oleon," the golden dome
of which can be seen for miles distant.
The tomb is under the dome in an open
crypt, 40 feet deep and SO feet in diane
ter, enclosed in an immense sarcopha-
gus weighing go tons, made of polished
granite brought from Finland. In the
chapel adjoining you are shown the
sword worn by him at Austerlitz.
golden sword, &c.
The Tomb or rotunda is 80 feet high.
In the same buildings you are shown
the tombs of Joseph and Jerome Bona
parte, that of Joseph being superb
black marble sarcophagus. Vauban and
Turenne, his favorite Marshals, are also
J,