Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-08
OUR PARIS LETTER.
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF SCENES
IN THE FRENCH METROPOLIS.
The Whirl of It's Social Lite-Its Boule-
Yards and leading Points Of Interest
Street venders-Etc.

Victor Hugo-ls as strange cry as IL Is
brilliant. Hugo is man of genius, but
also man of eccentricity, and his magma
lion is apt to lead him astray. His idea
about Paris, however, if exaggerated, is
not entirely wrong. Paris has long held
the first and leading position amongst the
capitals of the world and though its re-
nown has bsen somewhat obscured by the
events of the latter years, it is still looked
upon as the leading city. London, the
giant city, may be called the money market
and the commercial metropolis of the
world but take off this mercenary cover
ing of pounds and shilling, and what is
there that remains Of interest in the great
CITY? Very little. Even in a commercial
sense, London holds the lead only through
the magnitude of its transactions and the
amount of money involved, without de-
Veloping any great industry of its own.
WRONG IMPRESSION
Is prevalent auoag most people, that Paris
is merely grand resort for gay and fast
living. The reason is that nlne-tenths OF
visitors 90 there for the sake of amuse-
ment and pleasure; and the Parisians,
knowing this, invent all kinds of distrac-
tions, deriving therefrom great source OF
income. The best proof that the light
hearted and frivolous habits of living IN
Paris cannot be imputed solely to French
nature and character is, that the customs
and habits of people all over France, out
side of Paris, are as moderate and sober as
in any other country, and perhaps more so.
The large cities of Lyons, Bordeaux, Mar
settles, Lille and Havre are places of quiet
ness and sobriety. Taking it for granted
that Paris Ia
FOCUS OF PLEASURE AND RECREATION,
And that a great amount of immortality
and vice is developed there, it is also true
that few, if any, cities in the world show
the same amount of industry, activity and
progress. No city favors the ants and sci.
ences. learning and moral advancement, as
much as Paris. Most men of genius have
sought the succor and approval of Paris as
a starting-point for their future greatness.
The attractions and beauties of Paris have
been described so often, that a repetition
here might be out of place, while the IN
nermost features of everyday life OF the
great city are less known, and may prove
more interesting. In another place l shall
give a short description of the chief editices
and monuments. Strangers, as rule, pay
a passing and hurried visit to the main
curiosities, and get more or less accurate
insight into society. 1t requires residence
of several years to get initiated into Paris.
ian life, especially into that Of the middle
and lower classes.
SOCIETY IN PARIS
MAY be subdivided into seven distinct ele.
ments The titled aristocracy, the moneyed
aristocracy, the "petits renters, or we'll
TODD annuitants, the business and trades
men, the professional men, including
"hommes de lettres," ETC., the artisans
and working people, and finally monde
script class who live by their wits, from
the elegant 'chevalier d'irdustrie" down to
the ''canaille. Paris has ,, l40 streets, in
Guiding boulevards, avenues, passages and
galleries. These passages and galleries are
for the most part glass-covered cross
streets, filed with fancy stores. There are
$50 of them. The blulevards and avenues
number l43. Seventy nine public squares
adorn the Capital, and eighteen bridges
cross the river Seine. To get rapid and
pleasant view of the very heart of Paris,
and observe at ease the different quarters,
il to take a circular ride
ALONG THE ISNERMosT BcULEvARDs.
Starting, for instance from the Place de
Ia Concorde through the Rue Royal and
passing the Place de la Madeleine, a con-
tinuous line OF the liveliest boulevards
commences. First the B1ulevards de Ia
Madeleine, des Capucins and des Italiens.
These are the fashionable bOulevards,
crossed by equally fashionable streets
Here are those elegant "cafes," resplend.
emit with luxury. Brilliant equipages
and ale monde elegant" animate these
thoroughfares. The next boulevards in
line are those Of Montmartre, Poissonniere
and Bonne-Nouvele Animation does not
relax here, but the aspect is somewhat
changed. There is less luxury but more
business visible The quarters adjoining
these boulevards contain some of the best
business portions of Paris between them
and the Rue de Rivoh, towards the
Seine. lies the center Of high and middle
commerce, Next in order are the Boule-
wards St. Denis, Saint Martin, and Du
Temple New change of scenery. This
neighborhood resembles an ant.hill and is
a focus of I" lie Petit Commerce. The
adjoining "Qlartier du Temple
Is A REGULAR CURIOSITY SHOP,
Being filed with bric.a-brac stores, old
furniture, old clothes, and a thousand
queer articles. Following the B ulevards
Files du Calvaire and ,aumarchais to the
Place de Ia Bastille, one gets into the heart
of the working quarters of Paris. The ad.
joining Faubourg st. Antoine, of notoriety
in all past revolutions Of Paris, is the nome
of the working classes. On the Place de
Ia Bastille one may ascend the high column
De Juliet and enjoy a magnificent view
over Paris. Taken from here the Boula-
yard Bourbon, and crossing the river Seine
on the POnt d 'Austerlitz, the second hall
of our circular route begins. 1t comprises
the Boalevards de rHospitll, de Marcel,
de Port Royal, du Mont ParLssse, des
Invalides, and terminates near the Point de
Ia Concorde, opposite the square of the
same name, from whence we started. This
circle may be said to inclose
THE HEART AND LIFE OF PARIS,
Although it forms only about one-third Of
the city. On the left bank of the river,
surrounded by the boulevards just named,
are the Jardin des Piantes Geological and
botanical gardens) the Halle aux Wins,
the largest wine.cellars in the world the
QuaTlleT 1ANlns NASES lA6 turbulent "otAu
OF students hold their sway ; the Oieon :;
the Palace and Garden Du Luxembourg
and the Hotel and Esplanades des Inva-
hdes. The islands of Saint Louis and Du
Palais, lying between the livehest banks Of
the river Seine, offer an aspect OF great
animation. TIE latter island is connected
with the right bank by the well-known
bridges Pont d'Arcole, Pont de Notre
Dame, Pont au Change and Pont Neuf.
On this island, also called La Cite, 5"
stands the PAais de Justice, the Hotel
Dieu and Notre Dame. The most interest
ing part of Paris, however, lies on the
right bank OF the river, and holds the
Hotel de Vile. the Palsis du Louvre, TUT
leries, Palais Royal, Place Yendome, Halles
Csntrales, Bourse, etc.
THE RUE DE RIvoLT,
Which is to Paris what the Strand is to
London or Broadway to New York, runs
in straight line through the city, COM
meucing not far from the Place de la Bls-
tile and ending near the Place de Ia Con-
oorde. According to official inquiry, as
many as thirty thousand carriages have