The Russellville Democrat., 1881-08-25
TIE GUIDES STORY.


 Two or three years ago, in the spring of 7S, or whereabouts, l was called to London on business. After this had been transacted I found myself with few days to spare before the departure of the steamer on which was to return. l decided to make nasty trip to Paris, and forty. eight hours later, after the long ride by rail and the dismal passage of the English channel, was occupying rooms at the hotel Magain, in the Fau- bourg St. Honoie.
 My steps were first directed toward the Lonvre, the great palace of paintings and after some difficulty, occasioned by my ignorance of the laneuage, atlen9th reached the place l sought. My inabil- ity to make myself understood rendered me only too ready to engage one of the guides who hastened forward to solicit my patronage as l turned from the Palace du Carrousel toward one of the en- frances. l selected au elderly, intelli- gent looking man, and during the two days of sightseeing that I retained him had no cause to regret my choice.
 After we came out from the Louvre, it was decided that we should visit in the Arc de Triomphe; and as the route lay for the larger part through the Champs Eysees, 1 decided to walk.
 My guide had proved to be very in- terestlng person. and had entertained me with q great variety of information, As we crossed the Rue Castiglione we were i'll full view of the Column Ven- dome, which we were to visit the next day, and the guide had remarked that the moment reminded him of an incl dent in his life which he would tell me if wished to hear it. 1 signifed my willingness, and he began.
 "I have been guide here in Paris for long time. My father was a guide be- fore me, and when l was hardly half through my teens I took charge of my first party. From that time l did very we'll, and, if 1 could judge from the fees I received, was as satisfactory tO my patrons as an older guide would have been.
 "One day was in charge of party, and was showing them about the 'Palais Royal, when my first accident happened. There was a gentleman, his wife and three children in the party, and they were bent on seeing everything. The lady looked one way, the gentleman another, and l managed the children much as swineherder would drlve his pigs:
 The lady was one of those slow, dull women, who can attend to only one sub- ject at time, and who, when they do change the direction of their attention, change it with start and stir that gives warning of their movements.
 Well, we-were moving slowly along, and after going through the Galerie d'Orleans-the one with the glass roof we passed behind the Theatre Francais and were intending to visit the Grande Magazine de Louvre. 1 was in front with the children, trying to keep them from taking possession of some canes that were at a shop door. and the father and mother were stopping to look at a live turtle in the show window of res. taurant.
 Suddenly I heard scream behind me, and turning round, saw by the con- fusion and by the brief view caught of a man running, that a theft had been committed.
 q hastened back and found my lady and gentleman in great confusion, and both calling out in English, which of course, nobody understood, to Stop thief? Without momen's delay, ran 10 the corner where the thief had dis appeared, and again was just ill time to see him glide around the front of the theatre into Rue Richelieu. l ran quick ly after, at 90 high rate of speed that nearly went under the wheels of an omnibus"
 Here my companion pointed out one of these vehicles drawn by three horses, which, just at this moment, came thun- dering past, saying, Tt was one of those, and it was moving slowly at the time, or ! should not be here to tell of it. 1 could see nothing Of the thief though looked carefully up and down the street, and even inquired at several stores near by.
 "So I was compelled to give up the chase, and l returned tony party breath less and excited.
 "As I had judged, it was the lady who was the sufferer, and presently gather ed from her incoherent rawlings that 1t was her watch that had been stolen. She was thoroughly reused now, and poured forth the most sweeping and violent in- vectives against France and the French. Nation of rascals' 'thieving dancing masters 'obsequious villains and a dozen other explosives that might or not, have irritated the crowd that had gathered, if the remarks had been under stood.
 "But all her rage and violence were in vain. The thief had gone, and with him inc watch; the only thing that seemed feasible in the way of it's recovery was 10 notify the Perfect of Police, and this we haaeued to do.
 We conducted madame and the chil- fred to the hotel and went immediately 10 the office of the Perfect. I acted as interpreter, and the gentleman entered his complaint. The watch and chain had both been stolen. the chain having been broken in inc effort. The loss was more annoying because both objects had been gifts to .he lady from her mother. long since dead, and her husband stated his willingness to pay literally for their recovery. Eut afler hearing the detailp inc perfect shook bis head and expressed hjs belief that the gentleman had seen N Inc watch for the last time. However. he would do what he could.
 As we were going out, an idea seemed