The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-26
ESPON ENC E.
Letter from France.
RoUEN, FRANCE, Sept. 25th, 81

1eOOEN, N<hNOiH, h00Po' -cehj O1'
Messrs. Editors, Regretfully we left
the pleasant region of Yortol, with its
undulating landscapes, green, WILDWOOD
ed, well-watered, and irch enough in deep
verdure and sylvan beauty to remind the
traveller of the prettiest parts of England
rather than of the brown monotony of
the greater part of France. We would
confidently recommend it to those tour
lists who may be frequently heard lament
ing the difficulty of finding spot where
they may live unmolested by the sight
or sound of others of the same species.
1t is strange subject of complaint, this !;
though all who have rambled on the con-
tinent must have heard it. Little COM
plimentary too, one would suppose when
addressed to. an English speaking trav-
eller, yet shall you hear it at Ems, at
Carlsbad, at Sonnet, under the Cedars
of Lebanon, or at Ladmor in the des-
ert Mrs. Smith confding to Mrs. Jones
her distresses that she has been un-
able to discover single spot uninfested
with English or Americans And that
with complacency indicating the con-
viction entertained by Mrs. Smith that
she was hereby clearly manifesting her
own immense superiority over the com
mon herd of her compatriots. One Of
the objections to this solitary system of
travel, is the vast deal of the world now
requisite to furnish isolated lodgings for
the fancies of these dear anti-gregarious
people. There is accommodation, how
ever, we would respectfully hint, for one
or two in the district of Yortol
L
ney to
Rouen, the Most Interesting City in the
North of France.
On the Seine, halfway between Havre
and Paris, and on the high road from
Paris to Dieppe, it has every advantage
of commercial position. 1t is prolific in
historical interest. Deriving its name
from Rotho, an idol which the Veliocassi
adored, it was already village in Caesar s
day, and is definitely mentioned in the
geography of Ptolemy. The capital of
Normandy ald the seat of the ducal
palace, it bears token in the venerable
aspect of many of its buildings to the i'm
portant part it played in the days of
Norman glory and aggression. Here Sir
Walter Scott fixed the scene and drew
the materials for his tale of Ivanhoe.
Richard Coeur De Lilo is forever identi-
fed with the history of Rouen, and has
found memorial in her cathedral. The
city fell into the power of the English in
l4l9, and they kept possession of it for
twenty years In 1431 the prelates, who
were deaf to the voice of patriotism, and
instruments in the hands of foreigners,
in1r,oI o,1 - -1oo+H +Ho L.,
saved her country. A statue of Joan
dare, erected on the market place, as
well as street bearing her name, prove
that her memory is still revered in the
town where she was unjustly condemned.
Rouen is city of contrasts. In the
olden times when Rouen was the capital
of the province of Normandy, it was a
proud, medieval city, legitimate child
OF the feudal system. It's cathedral, its
palace, Its long and intricately tortuous
streets, compelled to twist round many a
sharp corner by the huge town mansions
of the Roueneze noblesse and forced be-
tween long lines of dead walls by their
large gardens, all contributed to impress
upon it the genuine stamp of an old pro-
vincial capital of the first class. Much
of this aspect still remains in very old
streets, narrow and picturesque. The
street called La Rue De La Crosse Hor-
loge, from the clock gate house, is won
derfully interesting illustration, as well
as many others, containing many fine
specimens of medieval domestic archi-
lecture.
And yet in the midst of this antique
city, young commercial upstart has
arisen-the old and the new oft iostline
each other side by side. Wealthy and
industrious burghers, by their thriving
and restless activity, have erected city