The daily gazette., 1878-07-03
OUR PARIS LETTER.
The Frcnchrnan as he Appears
mt HOme-His Vanity-Puris
as IL Grand VILE.

(trom our regular Correspondent
PARIS, June 10th, 1878.
The best place to study any species,
naturalists tell us, is in its habitat; and
for those who want to know what happy
satisfied triunity of the ass, ape and pea
cock, a Frenchman is, the place to see
him is Paris. The Frenchman out of Pa. is
is cresttallen creature, as little like the
species at home rs the cowed peast of the
menagerie, is like the king of the forest,
roaring and gesticulating with his tail
| Although we have read much about the
French, we know them less than some
other European people. They are seen
only on parade, one seldom catches a
glimpse of their inner life. They are less
disposed to emigrate than the Germans,
English, Scandinavians, or, even the
Italians, and hope, SO far as we are con-
cerned, they may long remain satisfied
with their present home. have frequent
ly deplored the conceit and bagadocio
of our people, their fourth of July vaunt-
ing of our institutions and actual sources
it has always seemed a species of egotism
in which Americans should not indulge,
and supposed it was vice peculiar to
ourselves; but | have learned since |
have been in Europe that an Englshman
can outbrag an American and that IA
Frenchman can outbrag an Englshman.
You cannot go into a barber shop with
out having the barber tell you that Paris
is grand vile and this is about all the
English he knows. Paris is, no doubt, a
"grand vile" the treasure, and sweat ,and
blood, and genius, of the world and of
the. ages, have been persuaded, stimu-
lated, compelled, to contribute
to the adornment of this "bloated excres-
cence." For those who can look at its
| splendid palaces and forget that that they
represent the cheated ruined livesof mil
| lions OF peasants; or at the antique collec-
| tions ofthe Louvre, and ignore the fact
that they were mostly stolen by royal or
| imperial brigands; or at its splendid boul-
evards, and not see in them the vanity of
the second empire the eXtravagant ener-
| gy that, otherwise directed, might have
resisted Prussfan conquest-Paris is no
doubt grand vile. The grand Vile
| may be tolerated for little while, it is
good for purposes of dissipation and for
broadening ones horizon; but it is difficult
| to have much respect for those Americans
who have eXpatriated themselves, and
are content to live here. So far as my
observation goes they are rather weak
| sybaritish lot of Americans anyhow. We
can do just as swell without them. The
men and women who can live on roll
and cup of coffee for breakfast, and find
their highest beatitund in sitting out in
front of cafe drinking coffee and cog
nae, and admiring the styles of the prom
enading demi-monde from twilight tillibed
time, will perhaps do their country least
harm by representing it abroad. Let us
be grateful that our exports are greater
than our imports.
| Paris is The resort of many persons and
, personages, no matter how distinguish
ed. A half dozen ex-kings, and queens,
royal claimants, and aspirants, might
have been seen at the BOis de Bologne
| horse race on Sunday, when the grand
prize of 100, 900 francs was contended for
! and won by "Thuris," the horse of Count
Somebody, l have forgotten his name.
! McMahon, the Shah, of Persia, Amedeus,
! eX-king OF Span, Don Carlos and Others
were on the grand stand, as were also a
!
Prince of Wales is in the city, but his
mother will not allo " Inn to attend a
horse race on Sunday. He was not to be
seen in the canopied and upholstered box
| with the President of this republic, and
Shah, but ii is said he was there incog
He was certainly at the Jardin Mabille,
on last Sunday night, one week ago
| Who has not heard Of the Sardin ? it is
the place where the denit monte Of this
modern Babylon assemble, gilt ering with
diamonds, reIolent with perfumes, and
arrayed in those artistic raviShlng Dire se>
that we see few months later copied on
Broadway, Chestnut street, Pennsylva
mia Avenue and finally in every city and
t jwn where the epidemic of fashion
| spreads. The Jartlln Is not large but 1t Is
lined all round with immense mirrors, the
frames OF which are 80 skilfully conceal
ed with flowers aud vines that the little
space of about half an acre, hlled with
fountains, grottos, flowers and settees
appears to be multiplied ten fold.
When lighted by thousands OF jets OF
gas, and flied with the gayest most vola
tile of crowds of both sexes, its appear.
ance is almost celestial or Internal de.
pending much upon how you look at it,
whether with your moral or sensuous
eyes. There is IL dancing pavilion in the
centre of the .jardin, but the dancing is a
very barren show. not worth seeing eX'
cepC IOr ltS alntiSlllB epiSoueS, aS WDeH
one of the girls kicks Off the hat of Il
staring bls ander. The jardin is one OF
the sights of Paris, though it is, on the
whole a poor show and not worth the
entrance fee of five francs, but if you had
been there on Sunday night, you would
have seen two no less distinguished per
sons than Cora Pearl, and the Prince OF
Wales; you would have seen at least one
eX-congressman from the United States,
and, on week day, you night meet the
deacon of your church, who has just
come TO look once, of course, not expect
ing the pleasure of seeing any of his
friends who is del GIFTED to meet you; OF
course, but who would have much pre-
ferred to have you meet him some where,
almost any where else. q. a. 5.
DEATH OF A CHILD FROM A SPI-
DER BITE.
A child, aged two years, of Mr.. Search,
of Norristown, Pa, died on Thursday
night last from the effects of the bite OF
a black spider. The first symptoms were
noticed on Monday, and mort tication