The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-14
ESPOND NOE.
Letter from France.
HAvRE, FRANCE, Aug. 9.

HAVRE, FRANCE, Aug. ~.
Messrs. Editors
Nous avons une Literature, une phil
osophie, une religion.-Joa1nal DeS De-
bats"
Thank God said yesterday morn
ing when | read the article from which
the above sentence is taken-thank God
that with the establishment of the Repub-
lie Religion has once more been restored
to France. The evidences of such restora-
tion will be unmistakable, in the thronged
churches. the press, the literature, and
particularly in the observance of those
sacred institutions which religion claims
as her own. The Sabbath is one of those
institutions, and the index of the religion
of nation. 1t will be .scrupulously OBJ
served by people who with their phil
osophy and literature possess a religion
| will walk abroad, continued I. at
is pleasant Sabbath morning. I wish
to contemplate one impressive proof ot
the moral as well as political regenera-
tion of Francer' I shall wander through
the streets, not of Paris but of Havre, an
average French city, and witness for my
self if serious population may be seen
bending its course piously toward the
sanctuaries, and if indeed the city, agita-
ted with commerce for six days, has found
much desired Sabbath of rest. I had
hardly moved twenty PAGES from my ho-
tel when my ears were saluted by the
music of martial band. Two thousand
young men from 1876 different colleges oi
France were following these sounds to the
Green of st. Adresse. A
Gymnastique Review
was to take place. 1t was indeed beau
tiful sight to see the different clubs Of
gaily dressed, finely formed youths pass
by and we have no doubt their physical
feats gave great amusement to the i'm
mense crowd, but that which panied us
so much was the day selected. We have
witnessed similar reviews but never be-
fore on Sabbath. well, said I, CSC
far as the young men are concerned
France does not, according to my notion
reverence the Son of Man"
Pursuing the Street De Paris little
further we happen upon the
Notre Dame Cathedral,
one of the most ancient edifces of the
city-built in the 10Th century in the
transition STYLE 1t is the hour of SER
vice, and we join the worshippers 1t is
crowded, but not to worship God, merely
to witness a military pageantry withir
the Cathedral. The regimental banc
chants the church music. The officert
loud order of command to the soldiers tc
ground and carry arms is heard amid the
recitation of the service. Everything in
dicates that there is no heart in the ser
vlce-only gaping crowd-only a spec
tacular performance. Even the taking
of the collection is conducted with an eve
to brave effect. Two gentlemen in full
evening dress, and each with beautiful
and brilliantly apparelled lady on hi
arm, descend the cathedral aisle. The
gentleman merely supports the NADIA
moiselle, and she hands the collection
plate. The donor receives a polite
Mercl CThank you y from both, anc
1s almost overwhelmed with the sense O
his benevolence, though can hardly Sc,
how he could avoid dropping his sous il
the plate, approached as he is with such
immense politeness. We have heard O
Partisan women leaving their cards Al
the cathedral door in the effort to square
the accounts Of both worlds. We car
almost believe the story after witnessing
this collection performance with our owl
eyes.
Leaving the cathedral and its spectac
ular, worship, we directed our steps to
ward
The City Musee-
a gallery of sculpture and painting a.
well as museum Of ancient and modern
curiosities. We perceived its huge doors
flung widely open while numbers of peo.
pie were passing through them, and great
numbers were wandering within among
lts works Of art in marble and on canvas