Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-02
WAITS FROM THE WAYSIDE.
PARIS, FRANCE, july 16, 1876

Gus. Here l am, once more, after an inter-
val Of seventeen years, in the gay capital Of
France. "Hope / don't intrude," says the
| facetious Mr.. Paul Pry; but thought |
would give you few "Waifs from the Way
side," and tell your readers something about
the most beautiful city on earth.
/ sailed from New York, June 8, on the
steamship "City of Rome," the largest,
finest and one of the sWiftest passenger
steamers that ever crossed the Atlantic
ocean being within a few feet as long as
the world famed steamer "Great Eastern"
The trip was the most pleasant l ever en-
perienced, while the sailing qualities of
the monster vessel are unequalled. AL
| though we experienced some rough wealth
er, at no time was the motion of the ship in
the least inconvenient, or the rocking or
rolling incidental to a sea voyage from the
effect of the monster waves, perceptible to
any great degree. After a voyage of seven
days and six hours, we sighted Queenstown,
Ireland, when the vessel stopped for a few
hours to land portion of her passengersand
the mails for London. Sixteen hours later
we arrived at the mouth of the Mersey, off
Liverpool, and after a short delay, waiting
for high tide, the great mastOdon of ships
smoothly glided over the sand-bar formed
by the conjunction of the watersof the ocean
and the river, and quietly dropped anchor
in the harbor of verpool-England great
est seaport. The excitement of disembarka-
tion followed, and after thorough over
hauling of passengers baggage at the GUS
tom-house, was permitted, after paying
$1.3O pound duty on some chewing tobac-
co, which I had in my trunk for person.
al use, to go my way rejoicing, men
tally thanking my stars and the custom
house officials for allowing me the privilege
of retaining the "weed." Leaving the ship
in handsome cab, l was speedily driven to
the Grand Hotel, where / remained during
the night. l arose early for this country
next morning, and started in search of old
acquaintance, whom l had known in the
days of "Old Lang Syne." Finding my
friends, we had brief dialogues in regard to
acquaintance across the sea, and at II A.
M, boarded train of the London and
( North Western Railroad, and proceeded to
London-a distance of POP! miles, making
the entire distance in four hours and ten
minutes-averaging fifty miles an hour.
Having previously telegraphed my old
friend, William Foote, proprietor of the
American Hotel, Leicester square, to reserve
room for me, was soon made to feel at
home. I remained in London eight or nine
days; but owing to the continued rainy
weather, / concluded to seek a more congo
nial climate. packed my valise, and after
procuring tourists ticket started for the
Continent, ria New Haven, England, at
BRITTANY" and after five hours sail across
the English Channel, l landed at Dieppe,
France. A few hours passed in this quaint
old French town satisfied me. did not de-
sire to be permanently located there, and [
took seat in q first-class compartment of
one of the coaches Of the Western Railway
of France, and two hours later stepped down
in the depot Of Rouen, French city of
about 100000 inhabitants. There is much
of historical interest connected with Rouen,
but have not time, in this letter, to tellyou
of it. Eight hours in Rouen and my busi-
ness was completed, and departed for Par
is. Having business in Austria, l left Paris
the same day, and after thirty-siX hours
ride, stopped at Vienna, the capital of Aus
tria. Having arranged my business salts
factorily in Vienna, / started on my return
to this city, breaking the journey at Dresden
(Saxony), Munich, Bavaria, Brussels, (Bel-
gium), and arrived in Paris on the 18th in
slant, for the purpose Of witnessing the cere-
monies of the great French fete, in honor of
the formation of the French Republic, which
occurs on the l4th of July each year, and is
to the French what the Fourth of July is to
the American nation. l am free to say
that although 1 expected rare treat, was
surprised beyond my power of description:
The celebration was on such a grand scale |
almost fear to tell you of it; for, like the
''other fellow" of whom you have heard, |
am unable to do '.*justice to the subject"
All business was suspended, every house
aye, almost every window, was crowded
with fags-forcibly reminding one Of the
display of bunting at the Philadelphia. Cen
tennial exhibition. Everybody had on their
'Sunday- 60 -to-meetin' clothes, the streets
crowded, bands playing and general mirth
and gladness prevailing in every direction.
The great event of the day was the review
Of the French troops stationed in Paris,
which occurred on the race course of the
Bois Boulougne, in the presence of Presi-
dent Grevy and staff, and something like
100000 sightseers. In company with nine
review, and from the seats of the open
"drag" (barouche) had fine view of the
entire proceedings. 1t was a grand militia
ry display, some $4,000 soldiers being in
line-infantry, cavalry and artillery-each
division in different colored uniforms, and
each regiment moving like vast machines.
The sight is one l shall never forget, and
one well worth crossing the Atlantic ocean
to witness.
In the evening occurred the illumination
and fireworks. The cost of the illumina-
tion and fireworks must have exceeded $500,
600 for you should remember the French
never do anything by halves-everything
is done for effect, and to use cant phrase,
when it comes todisplay they never "lose
trick" The entire city was one blaze ofgas
light, Chinese lanterns and tizzing fire.
works particular attention having been
paid to the illumination of the principal
boulevards, Place de la ConcOrde, the Tuil-
| leries Garden. Champs ElySeeS, and all the
public squares. Night was turned into day,
and one could easily see to pick up a pin.
The fete was kept all night, and the streets
crowded with Il yelling, singing, surging
mass of men, women and children lumber
ing not less than two millions of =, ople ; for
in addition to the residents of Paris, there
were thousands Of strangers from the inte
riOr, the Continent and America.
The splendid line of streets known as the
Great Boulevards, which, extend on the
north side of the river Seine from the
Church Madeline at one end and to the Bas
tile at the other, and the Champs Elysees
form a large part of the fashionable prone
nades, and from P. NJ, to A. NJ, is
literally thronged with people during the
hours named, and to the visitor presents the
appearance of a continued holiday fete.
The beautiful promenade Of the Champs
Elysees is laid out and planted with elms
and lines, forming grand arbor Of green
foliage. and extends from the Arc de Tri-
omphe to the Place de la Concorde. The low
er end is filled with cafes, chantants, jugg-
lers, maronettes, flying horses, and innocent
amusements for children. Between and 6
p. NJ, the scene in the Champs Elysees is
one of great animation and gaiety. The
road (or avenue) is crowded with carriages
and euuestrians, going to or from the BOiS