Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-03-27
ArRrp 10 PARrs.


the enjoyable excursion to Paris. be-
cause of imaginary lions in the way
of expense or lack Of linguistic ac-
quirement. Travelling family-wise a
mans purse must needs be deep, but
any single person of economical pro-
clivities and knack ofgetting around
may make the journey at small ex-
pense. Five hundred dollars ought
to be ample for an absence OF ten
weeks and allow ofthe purchase Of a
few souvenirs besides, while there are
many who could do it for 500 less.
And as for "parley vooing," Josh
Billings himself, with little prelim-
mary coaching and few pocket-maps
could go from Liverpool to Rome,
take in all. the sights and order the
victuals he wanted, with nearly as
much ease as any walking polyglot.
Except in the by-ways, English is
very generally understood, and II the
traveller tries to furnish up for use his
limited knowledge Of Continental
languages he is quite apt to be mis-
understood or smiled at for his mis-
takes, whereas, if now and then his
question in broad English is not COM
pretended, the onus of ignorrnce is
on the other side. Nevertheless,
little French would occasionally be of
use, for. however imperfect, 1t might
assist in getting needed information
when the mother tongue totally
failed.
Once in Paris, the question of food
and lodgings is paramount import
ance to the excursionist. If we have
unlimited Napoleons in our pocket, it
is only . matter of registering at any
one of half-dozen luxurious hotels,
but if the economies are to be consid-
cred, there is wide range for investi-
CATION and choice. Mindful Of how
the Vienna hotel keepers killed their
goose by charging cxhorbitant prices
during the exhibition season in that
city, the Paris bonifaces have agreed
that their rates shall not be raised,
save trifle for lodgings where meals
are not taken. The spectators, how
ever, are said to be engaging hotel
rooms ahead, and if there should be
great crowd of visitors many of them
will doubtless be bled for the benefit
these sharks. Nor docs there seem to
be in Paris that elasticity in hotel &C.
commodations display ed in Philadel-
phia-none of those vast lumber sheds
labeled hotels, which sprang up like
mushrooms in the latter city-snd,
indeed, save the new fine Continental
Hotel on the Rue de Rivoli, no hotels
of particular account have been built
since the Exposition of 1867.
Characteristically enough, most
Americans, regardless of means, flock
to the most expensive hotels. The
Grand Hotel and the Louvre are to
Paris what the Fifth Avenue and St.
Nicholas are to New York, and are
much affected by both English and
Americans. while smaller and more
select favorites are the Hotel Chatham
with a reputation for unexcelled
wines the Splendide, Hotel Bristol,
where the Prince of Wales always
stops: Westminster, and the de Z
Athenee. One may live luxuriously
at the Louvre for about 1925 day,
and that and the numerous smaller
hotels in it's immediate vicinity on the
Rue do Rivoli and Rue st. Honore, at
rates averaging little less than this,
| will, perhaps, be found the most salts
factory to people ignorant of French,
or who must economist time. The
situation is in the midst of many of
the most interesting things of Paris,
while by omnibus, tramway, or little
Seine steamer, close at hand, the ex-
hibition grounds can be expeditiously
!, and cheaply reached. But the single
man, intent on living, had better avoid
the quarters long monopolized by the
! English and Americans. Crossing to
. the south side Of the Seine, fairly
comfortable hotels are to be found on
the Boulevards St. German and st.
Michael and Rue de Seine, where
rooms may be had for from 80 to 40
cents day, without any of the exas-
perating little extras which are usual
ly tackled on to the tourists bill in the
quarters more frequented by him.
Breakfast may be had for 80 cents,
and q simple dinner, including half
pint of wine, for 40 cents, while cheap
, cafes and music-halls abound to en-
liven the evenings.
Il Sleeping outside of the hotels en-
tirely, there are the alternatcs Of pen.
sions or boarding house, and lodgings
with meals at restaurants anywhere
i one happens to be. The last arrange
, ment is, perhaps, as satisfactory al
any to the young bachelor spending
month or two in the city. By plung-
ing into the Luxembourg quarter
where there is still a fragment Of old
Paris remaining, and the students and
artists do most abound, rooms and
restaurant fare may be ehesply OBJ
tanned. Families of moderate meant
and q romantic feeling for the antique
, will find in some of the old streets
near the Pantheon furnished apart.
ments in ancient and once princely
. mansions for fraction Of the sum
charged in the West-end avenues
which radiate toward the Bots de
, Bologne. The same class Of people
may also accommodate Themselves
respectfully on the Avenues de Vim.
cennes, st. Maude and st. Maur. A
set of four or five furnished rooms
on these avenues may be had for IS q
week, and complete board at the pen.
sions for 81 day. The East-end Of
Paris is comparatively little intruded
upon by foreigners. 1t is the home
of retired officers, Government of.
flcials, and small tradesmen. 1t il
clean and pleasant, and near by is tbs
Bots dc Vincennes, one of the mos
picturesque parks about the city. AL.
together, it is good place to pick uI
little French an get q glimpse Of the
better and wholesomer middle-clasi
home life of the city capital.