The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-06-01
Paris Letter.
PARIS, FRANCE, May 10, l.


Once in the English channel, the
passenger, who has been at sea for nine |
Or ten days, has far different sight |
before him than the open sea affords,
without sail in view. Here are many |
steamers passing up and down, and |
here and there and upon ell sides are
the fishing smacks.
The view from the Cimbria's deck |
on. Monday morning, May 1st, was
grand, for on the right hand lay the
Normandy coast with its green hil'-
sides and little villages of stone houses, I
all of which, through an opera glass, |
looked as though they had seen many
winters, and so they have.
The scene soon changed to one far
different. As we cleared Cherbourg a
fortress was seen just at the waters
edge, while at the left was large Ger
man man-of-war, painted white from
the bottom up. Passing these, we came
in sight of the breakwater and the i'm
mense Notifications of the harbor.
These Notifications consist of twenty
four forts and redoubts, with six bat
teries on the mote.
The dockyard was designed by Vau-
ban, whose plan is yet preserved in
the Hotel de Vile. The work was,
only partly begun by Louis XVI. Ma
poleon /. did something toward COM
pletion, Louis Philippe much more,
and Napoleon III. nearly completed
the design of the great military engi-
neer. ..t...t.t ...... '. .......
Having no harbors in which to lay
up their ships in ordinary, the French
have been compelled at an enormous
expense, to excavate out of the rock,
docks and tidal basins, comprising al
| together an area of forty-eight acres of
deep water, accessible by the largest
ships of war, lully armed, at all times
of the tide.
| The breakwater, which forms part
of the harbor, is two miles in length
/ three hundred and ten feet at the base,
and built in a depth of water from
thirty to forty feet. The entrance
to the hsrbor through the breakwater
is guarded by two forts, and the break
water itself is but one big fort, as heavy
guns are placed upon it every two or
three rods.
Cherbourg itself lies at the foot of q
large hill. The population of the city
is about forty thousand, but before
saying any more of the city it may be
best to arrive there.
As soon as the Cimbria had cast au'
chor lighter came up, and the pas
sengers, baggage, mail, and some forty
silver bricks We're soon on their way
to the dock. AS the lighter left tht
vessels side there was long waving
of kerchiefs, lasting until the LITTLE
transfer boat had turned in to the Gus
tom house dock-a dock of itself in
teresting, as it is blasted out of th,
solid rock. Arriving at the dock, al
r yalises were overhauled, and the ques
! ton asked was, have you cigars or to
: bacco? This being answered 10 tn
officers satisfaction, all were allowed
to pass, only to fall into the hands 0
f hotel runners.
Those who have never landed at
= French port can have no idea of wha
: one has to undergo. Seized upon al
sides, you are dragged this way ant
5 that, your satchel is grabbed by som
l five or six, while the air is full g
A French, lauding this Or that hotel, tn
l hotel runners pushing each other al
= directions, and taken all in ali, th
scene looks similar to Fourth of Jul,
E fight. The best way to do is to le
! some one, better the first, take you
e by doing this, you will have circu
8 we'll worth seeing.
' The writer allowed himself to b
slung up into an open gig or cart, from
f which there was good chance to Sc
r the struggle going on below. In thi
s some twelve or fifteen German Amer
/, leans were being drowned in French
r which to them was strange language
e This was finally brought to an end a
L each one at last allowed himself to b
8 carried away by some of the man.
4. runners.
e The streets of Cherbourg are pave
e with stone, and are as clean and fre
:, from dirt as the stone tagging is il
0 front of the stores at Ravenna. Al
g the streets present this appearance
e which is great difference as compare
e to the mud and dirt that is seen on tn
t pavements of American cities; bu
whan our cities have reached the pres
$ ent age of Cherbourg, no doubt NOR
s attention will be paid toward keepin
2 the streets in sanitary condition.
o Running over the curbstones clos
d by the edge of the sidewalk there is
y little stream of water, which carrie
away all the filth that is swept fror
g from the walk and pavement; ye
!. even this water looks pure, and con
y trasts we'll with all the rest.
e There are few buildings here of in
e terest, one being the court house. Th
e market place is of some interest, a
= here are the early vegetables, shown
:. that Spring has done some work. Be
e sides the vegetables are some of tn
most beautiful towering plants tha
grow, many of them new to the writer
s Among those known the geranium
9 were especially of interest, being dit
!. ferent in kind than those grown a
y a.
!, there was new attraction, ,one seldom
seen by American eyes, unless abroad
this was a regiment of marines com
l posed of recruits, young men of abou
1 twenty-one years of age, with officer
in the lead, followed by band whicl
7 played very well; but if one coult
judge from the looks of the marines