The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-14

"This is the public day par excellence. ="
On week days it is opened to those who
obtain special permission, but all the city
are free to enjoy it on Sabbath We took
a turn through the saloons filled with
statues, engravings, paintings, and arch
geological curiosities. Some paintings
there were of merit, but we did not linger
to analyse the art-merely the people.
The museum was Glled with the middle
and lower classes-with respectable gen.
tlemen in the Parisienne mode, with coun-
trymen in wooden shoes and g7isetteS in
clean white caps. Sympathy with art, "
thought l, is indeed wide in France. 1t
thrives under dirty jacket as beneath
an embroidered mantle. But France ar
tistical is any thing but France evangelical
Moving up the principal business street
It's Shops Open.
The milliners were sewing and ogling at
the windows-the shoemakers were beat
ing their lasts-the legs of the tailors
were crossed-the glove-makers were at
work-the riband woman was selling her
ribands-the patissier sold his pate de
foie gro, sand as on any profane day, at
" Aux Palmiers' we saw its black eyed
divinity shrined within her customary
pyramids all transparent, her pastilles
and her bonbons The streets resounded
with the noise of tramways, swift moving
carriages, and the tramps of the laugh
ing, giddy throng. Women of station
seemed to enter the shops for purchasing
to greater degree than on any week
day. On every side were the tokens
that religion has not yet penetrated the
commerce of France. Along the Grand
Quai, with its picturesque and unequal
houses pressed one against the other, its
peculiar cafes, its taverns for English and
American tourists-its bird-shops flash
ing with thousand various plumages, its
quarrellng parrots answering to the chat
tering, jabbering crowd-and fringing
all the forest OF spars-tt ere is presented
on the Sabbath day scene of activity
greater even than on week day. The
Custom-house is open-boats are loading
and unloading, packets are taking on
crowds of excursionists for Trouville,
Honfeur, Caen, &C., and the great steam
ships of the Trans-atlantique line are may
haps departing for America amid dou-
BILE discharge of cannon!
Quitting the quays and streets we
walked to the
City Gardens.
They are miniature affairs compared with
our great ungainly parks, but with their
beautiful trees, pretty little lakes, and
parterres of fowers-are more exquisite
ly beautiful than anything seen in Amer
ica The profusion of flowers in actual
bloom is extraordinary. A band is dis
coursing quiet music, embowered amid
shade, and playing fountains and bloom
ing plants. The scene is undoubtedly
brilliant and stirring. Some are reading
the morning papers. Others are loung-
ing listlessly on the seats; hundreds Of
young bucks are sporting their canes and
an elegant gait through the promenades;
ladies in very bright attire wander about
the fountains, children play in every di-
rection-while their nurses-those cele-
brated French nurses with hale red cheeks
but doubtful morals, laugh and chat and
respond with exuberant Joy to all the
laughter of the creatures under their
charge. This is certainly delightful,
gala scene" said I, "but it seems to be
distinguished from its brethren on week
days only by more resolved enjoyment,
more loud and impetuous sport. By a
Presbyterian who has been accustomed to
prepare on Saturday night for the OBJ
servance of Sabbath, and who moreover
in boyhood has been taught that even an
idle whistle upon the Lords day was a
PROCLAMATION of its holiness, such a scene
could hardly be deemed in harmony with
the fourth commandment. True, it may
be narrow prejudice which applauds
and condemns the habits of others accord
ing as they correspond with or deviate
from the standard which one is accus-
toned to in ones own country. Notwith-
standing all l am sketching the French
may have as much religion as any people
on the face Of the earth. If they have
they are certainly a little peculiar IN their
forms Of keeping holy the Lords day.
From the Gardens we make our way to
The Hotel De Vile,
or City Hall, as we would call 1.-THE
centre for the transaction of public busi-
ness. A scene of extraordinary activity
here presents ITSELF The national cleo
ton is transpiring. The fate Of the pre-
sent government Of France turns upon
the events of to-day. The conduct of the
voters is admirable. No rowdyism-no
drunkennessl Only chatter Methinks
the wonderful facility Of the French in
fo1lz 80 - e,,ook 80 III L