Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-05
NO. 157.
Dailu kennetrl journal.
Continued.
MY TRIP 70 EUROPE.


with the charming weather we have enjoyed
while there, can leave the beautiful city
without reluctance and regret. Picturesque
Edinburgh, quiet and aristocratic Hague,
rich and splendid Baden Baden. lovely Inter-
lsken, Chamouni with its sublime surround
ings, and many other places We have seen.
have their peculiar charms. But Paris COM
bines more beauties and attractions than any
of them. 4 few only of its wonderful pal
aces, churches and museums, its monuments
and works OF art, have spoken of but there
are many others, not to mention its splendid
private residences, which are almost innum-
erable. In parks and gardens, ornamented,
beautifed and cared for at great expense,
Paris is probably unrivalled. The envrons
of Paris add greatly to its attractions. Yer
ssilles with its magnificent palaces, parks
and gardens, Montmartre overlooking the
city, and Fort Nalerien, on its still more
commanding eminence, constitute but a
small part of the beautiful suburbs of Paris.
| 4 stranger unable to speak the language
| is necessarily subjected to some inconven-
| fence and annoyance. But the French have
| a native politepess and assiduity to please,
that one does not always meet with at home
| If you enter shop TO buy, they spend time
to ascertain your wants, and IL they do not
understand YOU, they will find some one who
does. Many of our party made purchases ut
the shops, without any serious obstacle from
the difference of language.
| 1t is true that large part of the French
people appear to spend their evenings in the
cafes and gardens, and to prefer this gay and
social revelry to their own homes. Gold
smith, in his day, found France
Gay, sprightly land of mir,h and social ease"
and after describing some of their sports he
adds,
$50 blest a life these thoughtlcss realms dsplay,
Thus idly busy rolls their world away
| Their national levity and gayety are still
amongst their prominent characteristics, rs
well as their suavity and politeness.
We left Paris by rail yesterday morning,
with the sky over cast, and not without oc-
casional rain. But as We were comfortably
seated in the cars the weather did not ma
terialy afiectus II was surprising how soon
after quitting Paris for the north, we reached
an open, fiat country, partly agricultural and
partly wild. We crossed the Seine May
times in its turnings and windings. on the
road to Rouen. As we approached that an
| cient city, we passed two or three large man
ufacturing villages. At Rouen, notw ithstand-
| ing several long tunnels the road goes through,
We snatched brief views of the city, and of the
| fine old cathedral with its two towers of un-
equal height and dissimilar shape. Be
tween Rouen and the coast, the country 10
broken into hills aud valleys, and the seen
cry somewhat resembles parts of New Eng
| land. This is the section Of France called
| Normandy, once overrun aud mastered by
/ tho Narthmpp and franl ,Sh Nor ar,ls
William the Conquercr with his armies
crossed the channel ands INVADED England.
| Our Journey was in the midst Of grain har-
vest, and laborers were at work in some Of
the fields, despite the rain. We arrived in
Dieppe, fashionable watering place Of about
20 600 inhabitants, n little before one O'Clock,
and at two were settled on board the channel
steamer for six hours passage to the coast
of England.
The voyage shall not attempt to describe.
| At first we were gay and cheerful, and very
brave. But in short time. nearly all the
passengers were attacked by the same malady
which others have experienced on like occa-
sions. The sea was not rough, but rather
what sailors call ''chopping. Our bravery
soon evaporated and our gayety with il.
| However, we all survived, and reached
New Haven between = and . in the evening.
We saw at distance across the harbor. the
brilliant lights of Brighton, the famous sea-
side resort of English fashionables. In due
time our luggage passed the custom house,
and we took train for London, and landed
at the Victoria station, near the Grosvenor
Hotel where are TO spend a few DAYS. II
is about four miles from our hotel near Lon
don Bridge. Here We are not far from West
minister Abbey and the Houses of ParIia-
ment 1t is first class house, with every
convenience usually found in an English ho-
tel One thing we miss in all the geDteel
hotels in Great Britain and on the continent.
There are no elevators for the use Of guests
At the Royal Hotel in Edinburgh. there was
one tor trunks and luggage. At the London
Terminus Hotel there was another, hut II was
out Of order, and could not be used. These
are the only ones we have seen in Europe
whilst every city hotel in America has an elc-
vator in constant use. In Europe, guests
must travel up and down almost innumerable
and intermnable flights of stairs. 1t il to
he hoped that some time in the far future,
these great labor-saving inventions may reach
leven European hotels.
| THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.
| If they have no elevators (the British call
Them asIifts'') in London. they have under
ground railways. These extend to many of
the principal points in different
I sections ana are u great convenience.
The railway is built from 20 TO 30 feet be-
meath the surface, and is walled mp and
arched like tunnel. There are stations at
different places, one being near our hotel.
Each station has two entrances with stairways
one to descend by, and the other to come out
of. You buy your ticket as you go down.
The fare is very low, only q few pennies,
more or less, according to the distance you
intend to go. You should know beforehand
what station is nearest your destination, OBJ
tain your ticket accordingly. then keep watch
for that station and get out there.
You give up your ticket as you
ascend the stairway. The railway ID
lighted by gas. and the names Of the stations
are posted on each side in large letters
There is always some daylight let down al
the stations, and often at other points where
it is practicable. Some parts Of the track
are open TO the upper air for number ol
roads, where no buildings prevent. But
most ofthe road is deep under the buildings
and streets Of the city. The cars run every
few minutes, the trains are long, and tIironel
Of passengers get in and out At each station
The underground railway is open fortrave