The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-11

tracts for marriage are made by the
parents, and the consideration of gen.
tleman is not the beauty or accomplish
ments of the lady, but the dowry that
is settled upon her as a part of the
agreement. Having seen no other gen.
tleman the lady is naturally not hard to
please, and accepts the choice of her
parents; but after marriage she is free
to go into society, and then, as is often
the case here, meets some one she likes
better; and hence the family life is not
generally one of uninterrupted happi-
ness. Pleasure, display, the near things
seem uppermost with these effervescent
souls; and they will live in little upper
rooms, or any way they can, if only
they can appear well upon the streets
and once out in the sunshine all their
poverty and misery seem to be forgot
ten. And as for religion, in any seri-
GUS sense Of character and conduct, it
seems like matter of form in which
the few take part and the masses have
little concern. There are some forty or
more little Protestant missions in the
city-honest, earnest, no doubt; but
they meet in small rooms and make
hardly perceptible preston upon the
public life.
The feeling between France and Ger
many is anything but friendly, and both
countries seem to expect another war.
In the Place de la Concord large open
square lying between the Tuileries and
the great avenue Champs Elysees-
there are fine statuary representations
OF the larger cities of France, and among
these one represents Strausbourg, which
was taken from the French in the late
war. This is kept draped in mourning
and stands as sad ard sorrowful memo
rial Of part of the land now held in
bondage. The soldiers, when passing
by, pause and uncover; and it is safe
to say that, if war should come, the
Provinces of Alsace and Lorraine would
be on the side of their native land.
France has now in time of peace 1 ,000,-
900 men in the field, or ready to be
called into active service at an hours
notice. Every young man is required
to enter the army and serve for five
years, unless he can pass satisfactory
examination in shorter time, which
he may do in two or three years.
Drs. Horne and Marsh, who had left
the company and FASTENED on to South
ern Italy, visiting Venice, Rome, and
Naples, met us again in Paris; and so
the Hanson Thomas combination are
all here together again. And here we
met again Mr.. and Mrs. Swan, and at
the American Exchange met Mr.. and
Mrs. Featherstone, Mr.. and Mrs.
Holmes, Mr.. and Mrs. King, Mr.. Har-
vey, and Mr.. and Mrs. Martyr, of Chi
cago-all but four of these being of
the Peoples Church and 50 it seems
almost like being at home, though so
far away. The American Exchange in
England and Paris is a great help to
travellers; the rooms are large and sup
piled with every convenience and a
large number of American papers. Here
ins Paris, Mr.. Hobson, the obliging Su-
perintendent, is ready to give any in
formation or advice that may be needed
in great city where only French is
spoken. One meets dozens of Ameri.
cans any day in these rooms, the num-
Der of whom now travelling in Europe
is estimated at not less than 20 900, and
nearly all of these move along the great
highways, and hence cone often to-
gether. If each of these American
tourists should spend ST. 000-and it is
careful traveller that gets along with a
less amount $40 900, 900 of our money
will in this way be left in Europe this
year.
Accepting the invitation of Gen.
Draper, of Boston, to breakfast
which means from II to o'clock-with
ex- Gov. Cheney, of New Hampshire,
Mr.. Hobson of the Exchange, and DR..
Wilkie, my old friend at Aurora, had
an inside view of Partisan style and
Injuries in the most fashionable restau-
rant of the city. At the pleasant home
of DR.. Wilkie, we met the same com
pany, with others at a dinner, which
means from 8 P. NJ. to II; and after
this music and conversation till A. NJ.
Meeting our old friends, DR.. and Mrs.
Wilkie, who, whilst they have adopted
the French language and customs, are
none the less warm in their friendships
and their love of America, was not only
a very great pleasure, but great help
in our study of this ever-wonderful
City of Paris. Having tarried longer
than we had expected here, we now
hasten on by way of London to Scot
land, and down through Ireland to meet
our steamer at Queenstown the first Of
September. All are well.
III. W. THOMAS.
A UNIQUE BOOK.
The most beautiful volume among
the half-million in the congressional