Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-12-16
LONDON LETTER.
A PEN PICTURE OF POINTS OF
INTEREST IN FRANCE.
Lord Mayors Day in London.
From our Foreirn corresnondent.

old town of Oman, and was looking
forward to few days pleasant
travel in the northwestern part OF
France. It seems a long time ago,
and as | think Of those few DAYS.
with their varied experiences, many
pleasant scenes are called to mind.
! am again in 4 beautiful country.
So fresh and green, with fields,
groves, and hedges newly cut and
garnished; now dazzling field Of
buckwheat comes in sight, and now
We are cleaving d well kept forest,
We pass ny chateaux Oh pretty hill
sides and quaint little villages in
valley now we are flying past a
lonesome railway station, and out
comes the peasant woman in cap
and sabots; She gives d blast from
her horn, llourishes her club, pre-
sents arms, and we speed on. Early
Oh i Sunday morning | stop at lie
Mans, and rs | trudge through the
deserted streets, | hear the men in a
still open wine shop singing "C'est
e pays de Normandie," although, by
the way, it is not The same Sun
day morning, and | 60 to the
market, a wilderness of blue blouses
and white caps, and thread my way
through the avenues Of barrows
with their burdens Of pretty fruit
and vegetables. We are in the
shadow Of the fine old cathedral,
and step in and by the side of
Queen Berengaria's tomb, adorned
BY her recumbent and noselcss
eiligy, listen 70 the far off music. |
leave Le Mans, and Chartres, and
Versailles, AMI am again i'll
Paris, which seems gayer, brighter
than ever. Dazzling sky, buildings,
streets and people, everything is
dazzling. ! leave it in rain, and
arrive Ut Rouen III a deluge.
i III VII. aux yienles rues
Aus yieilles tours, debris des ruces disparues
Il VILE nnS e"uts cloehers carillonant dams
ram
IS I;aasn dts chateauA
\ city 50 old, and yet 50 modern,
with every corner and narrow street
teeming with historical associationsl
Visions Of Joan Of Are seem contin-
ually to float before ones eyes, for
II llouen was she tried, condemned
and burnt 1T the stake, and in Rouen
does enc Of the uglicst Of fountains
mark the spot where she died.
wander through the magnificent
churches aud city buildings; !
marvel 1t the wealth Of delicate,
original fancy spent on the stone
carvings Of the cathedral, and gaze
with awe 1T the tomb Of Richard
G,rur Nc Lion. Too soon | leave
Rouen, and through smiling Nor
mandy hasten towards IIavre, mod
efn, commercial IIavrc, pretty
French edition Of Liverpool. But
At present ] take no interest in com
mcree, and 1T the first opportunity
IN crossing to Tronville.
II il il bright day, and Tronville
II looking its best The beach is
crowded with well dressed people of
all nations, plenty ofpretty Parisians,
plenty of well dressed fair country
woman Of my own, plenty of Eng
lish and plenty Of Russians. Be
hind arc the casinos and the fine
hotels, and as a background for all
rises the well wooded hill, crowned
With pretty villas. The tide is
nearly 1T its height, and the scene is
amusing and Frcnchy.
The bathers, Of both sexes,
III tile most I'm English Of costumes,
are disporting themselves i'll the
waves, and the people on the beach
arc talking and laughing III groups.
The tide turns, everyone prepares to
s. s. lunch, and the beach is de
serted. LII All hour or So nurse
maids with their charges, old ladies
With their novels, fancy work and
gossip, occupy the chairs on the
sands, and rs the tide goes out
further and further, groups Of boys
and girls. fishermen and woman
with spades. nets and buckets, go
out sand-celing and shrimping.
Soon the beach for half 4 mile
beyond where the hathers were in
the morning, is shaded over in spots.
and the chase Of the silvery sand
ecl proves most interesting.
The tide now turns again, comes
creeping III. the sun begins to sink,
tbs boat is going back to Havre, and
- With ii.
land only To embark again, and
IL ~ hour the Wolf is leaving
the harb,r the electric lights,
which were 50 dazzling, grow dim;
VS. can see the twinkling lights of
Ironvllle 1T the left, its casinos all
ahtaze. and behind us are the
rockets and the illumination of
Hontlcur, doing honor to Gambetta.
We soon pass st. Adresse where
llveS III summer the famous Sara
Bernhardt, then the large light
houses, and then we are out in the
channel, with every prospect for a
nlpqSanf trnnni,;l 80, - Sa,,tb