The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-10-04
IN FOREIGN LANDS.


and Places of Note in,the French Mstrop-
olis-A Glance at vsrsailles-Home-
ward Bound-Au Revoir.
From our own Correspondent.
The observing Tourist will find much to
admire in the French people. In spite of
their faults and follies, in spite Of their
fickleness and frivollty, they are indus
trious and frugal, clean and neat in their
personal habits, courteous and obliging to
one another and to strangers, as we'll as
patriotic to the last degree and possessing
unbounded faith in I" la belle France"
We left Geneva in the evening and going
by way of Lausanne and Pontarlier we
passed over the Jura range and before day
light were far on our way to Paris, which
we reached at about 8, O'Clock in the morn
ing. The region through which we pass be-
fore reaching the city is evidently one of
the most fertile and best cultivated sections
of country which can be found in any land.
The neat farm houses, the well trimmed
hedges, the fine growing crops, the thriv-
ing villages, all give evidence Of thrifty,
prosperous and happy people.
"Paris is France" says the proverb,
but although this may be true to certain
extent, it is also true that the Frenchman
of the provinces possesses the national
virtues in far greater degree than does
the Partisan, while the national vices crop
out far more prominently in the dwellers
in the national metropolis. The contrast
between the cities Of London and Paris is
very great, and in not one point, not even
on the score Of visible wickedness, is the
comparison unfavorable to the continental
city.
The French Metropolis is located on both
sides of the river Seine and on the islands
of the City and st. Louis, by far the larger
portion.being upon the northern bank. Its
population is about two and quarter mill
ions and its walls are twenty-five miles in
extent, and have Is gates. The annual
receipts of the municipal government are
about $25, ,0C0, 600. The central point of the
city is the Place Royal, along which passes
the great thoroughfare of the city, from
southeast to northwest. This grand avenue,
from the Place de la Nation on the south.
east margin of the city to the Place de la
| Bastile, is known as the Rue de Fauboure
st. Antoine; from the Place de Ia Bastile to
the Hotel de Vile, it is called Rue st. An.
| tome; from the Hotel de Vile past the
Louvre to Place de la Ooncorde it is the
Rue de Rivoli; from the Place de la Con.
corde to the Arc de Triomphe, the Avenue
des Champs Elysees, and beyond the arch
tho Avenue de la Grande Arm6e; all nortt
of the Seine. To the north es well as OF
the south beyond the river, the Original
boulevards, broad avenues constructed OF
the old Notifications, approximate to {
semicircle in form.
| Among the numerous points Of interest IL
the city, it is somewhat difficult to decid,
what should be seen first; but the Place d.
la Concorde, on the north bank of th.
Seine, is not surpassed in interest by any
thing either within or beyond the walls. I
is one of the most historic localities j,
France and is the most magnificent Place
or public square in the world. In tn
center stands the obelsk of Luxor, one o
the most perfect and beautiful monolith
ever designed. It was presented to Loui
Philippe by Mehemet Ali and was brough
from Egypt in 1886. It's inscriptions refe
| to the time Of Sesostris, nearly 3400 year
ago. On either side of the obelisk is fin
bronze fountain and surrounding the Plac,
are statues representing eight Of the prin
cipal cities of France. To the east are th
gardens and palace of the Tuileries, will
the Louvre beyond; to the west the Champ
Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe in th
distance; on the south is the Seine with th
Pont de Ia Concorde connecting with th
buildings of the Corps Legisiatif on tn
other bank, and ON the north are the Office
of the Marine Department and at the en-
of Rue Royal, the Madelaine. This squar
has had bloody history. Here at th
marriage of Louis XVI and Marie An
toinette in ITO panic resulted in th
death of more than one thousand person.
| Here in 1898 the guillotine was set up an
numbered among its thousands of victim
the King Louis XVI, Charlotte Corda,
Marie Antionette, Danton, Robespierre an
others. Here also occurred one of th
| kEoT