Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-08-18
Sunday in Paris.

sunday In faflS
This is Sunday, a bright and beautiful. dav
just such weather as Il Partisan prays that
all his Sundays may be- Sunday is their
day of recreation, amusement and family
gatherings. From daylight in the morning
until noon Sunday lasts and everyone ex-
poets to get through with his or her devo
tions by that time The churches are better
attended on Sundays than upon week days,
but not much except by the very poor people.
who bring their children, kneel and cross
themselves, and then 60 home The stran-
gers in the city visit Notre Dame and the
Madeline and other prominent churches on
Sunday i'll considerable numbers, but the
Frenchman is evidently not great church
goer 10
AT an early hour this morning the rail
roads, street cars and omnibuses were pack
ed with family parties starting out fora day
in the country, conveying with them bas-
ketS of provisions for luncheon. The chill
dren especially were all in great glee at the
prospect OF q day on the green grass. 1t was
a pleasant sight and there seemed to be both
heart and piety in it. sBut this is the usual
Sunday morning experience in Paris-wca-
ther permitting. 1t is the only day that
most men can spare from business or labor,
and they make it day ofrejoicing and glad
ness. Those who can devote any other dav
in the week to such purposes have no righ,
to condemn those who must either 90 on
Sunday or forego recreation altogether. The
pastor, when he can leaves both church and
congregation for summer recreation and
travels. and remains away for week of
Sundays. How is it possible then for any
one 10 consistently condemn the poor man
for seeking healthy pleasure for himself and
family, when Sunday is the only day that he
can possibly give tothem?
The church duties of the dav are, how
ever, regarded as over at noon, and the
balance of the day is devoted to recreation
and pleasure by event piously inclined.
Every Partisan who can afford five francs
for couple of hours drive on Champs
Elysees and the Bois de Bologne is sure to
be there with his family, though it often
happens that Paris, with its tens of thous
ands OF vehicles, cannot supply the demand,
particularly OH race Sundays 1t is the
special day for important races. The then
tres all provide extraordinary attractions
for Sunday; the Punch and Judy shows
and the "merry-go-roundS on the Camps
Elysees are thronged with customers, and
everything that is bright on other days and
nights has an extra polish given to it on
Sunday. The Tuillerie Gardens, the gar
dcns of the Palais Royal, and the numerous
open squares in the city, are extra crowded
with mothers and their children, all in Sun
day attire. All appear t. be joyful and
happy, and if u committee from the city
council of some other sphere were to take a
comprehensive glance over this world of
ours on a Sunday afternoon they would be
compelled to report that the people of Paris
We're the happest people on The face of the
earth. They look happy, seem happy, and
undoubtedly are, especially on Sundays,
intent on the pursuits of happiness, ac-
cording to their various tastes and inClina-
tons
We dropped in ut al early hour this
morning at the Madeline, and the pastor
WAS about finishing what seemed to be
very earnest and practical sermon. There
WAS an unusually large congregation pres
cnt-that is TO say, the immense church
was about half full. In about twenty min
utes the services ut the large altar were fin
niShed, when mass was commenced at one
of the six side altars, which was soon sur
rounded by Il crowd of worshippers, whilst
those who had been present at the earlier
service commenced TO retire. There had,
of course, been still earlier services, com
mencing at six O'clock, aud the early masses
AT the side allars. The great Sunday SER
vice takes places ut i o'clock in the after
noon, when the music, both vocal and in
strumental, is very grand, and is attended
largely by \ better class of people than the
morning service. The worshippers were
principally females, and all classes were
represented. There were also great many
strangers present, principally Americans
and English. The interior Of the Madeline
is very grand, but any attempt to give a
clear description of it would be futile
Partisan ludies who follow the fashion in
dress are not often seen on the streets
though they can be met in the stores and at
church. In the matter of head gear, there
is every variety Of bonnet and hat worn,
though the bonnets are principally modi-
tcation of the buttercup, large and open in
front, but brought down close to the ears
The trimmings are principally of ribbon
with an occasional feather or two, though
the winter fashions are not in vogue yet
In the matter Of dress, the trailing dress
seems to be entirely abandoned, especially
for street wear. In fact, they never were
generally worn on the streets by Partisan
ladies, but reserved entirely for the drawing
room At the present time the most prom
inent and striking innovation on recent
fashions are the immense bustles that are
worn. They gradually extend out to a
point, and they appear to !protrude more
prominently than they have at any previous
time. When wrap or mantilla is worn
over them the effect is startling to- the un-
accustomed vision. In shoes, the high heel
in the middle of the foot is still the fashion,
and the toes are principally pointed quite
sharply. Large flaming collars are also
worn. open quite low to show the neck
ought to have mentioned that the ladies,
skirts are principally plated with drapery
across the front. IH t. XII r'-d
We took two-hour drive this afternoon
on the Champs Elysees and to the Cascades