Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-07
AMONG THE PARISIANS.
fHE PARIS OF TO-DAY AND THE
PARIS OF THE EMPIRE.
The Restless Atmosphere of the French
Capitalize Problem of Repubuospism
in Franee-Freneh and English Art-Ths
Intangible Influences of Paris.



Especial CorrespondsucsI
PARIS, Oct. l5.-Oncs again | have seen
Paris, where all good Americans 60 after
death and take in all its joys and delights.
But alas! and alas! know one American
who doesn't want to 60 thsre, and who would
rather spend an eternity amid the smoke and
dirt and fog and mud Of London than a very
little span under the electric glare and tinsal
and tawdry show Of the gay capital All day
long you hear the steady clang of the sound
ing brass" and the monotonous chime of the
thinking cymbal, but you listen in vain for
a genuine deep souled tone. There seems to
be restless expectancy pervading the very
air. That colossal chrysalis, the people, is
still struggling for a new phase Of existance,
but is not at all sure of its future evolution
Hence this high wrought, nervous, almost
fitful eagerness for the next move
The very public buildings are affected The
antique repose that once permeated and lin
gered around the Louvre, the Tuileries, the
Luxemburg and the other old haunts has
vanished with the paSt-and republicanism
has turned everything tOpsy turvy.
The Paris Of to-day is separated from the
Paris Of the empire by gulf so wide that
no bridge can span it. Everything is done
with a view to amusing and astonishing and
overawing the blessed people The bars
headed women and the Ouvriers in the blouse
who swarm the streets and monopolize
almost everything public must be considered
by the government or they might prove dan
gerous. So the lovely old Gothic Hotel de
Vile, torn down by many of these same people,
is replaced by a white staring mongrel edifice
calculated TO astOnish the mob and warn off
the sacriegious.
Do you remember the lovely gardens OF
the Tuileries, with their shady walks, foun-
tains, flower beds and velvety turf IchabOd!
lchabod! There is no glory left, even the
nurse girls and babies have been Obliged to
seek other and more congenial quarters.
Some kind of a fair is in progress, and where
the flowers once grew and the turf reigned
queen are peanut stands, booths for the sale
Of eatables, trinkets, nick-nackS Of all sorts,
from altar of roses from Persia TO wooden
toothpicks from America, and tents to ex-
hibit fat women, lean men, electric women,
boa constructors and other curiosities and
mOnstrosities from natures cabinet. This
ohaste show is wound up by truly magnif-
cent display of fi.e works in the evening
About two years ago the government in
stituted the Fete des Fleurs, which comes off
variously, according to the weather in the
gardens of the TGileries. The demi- i-monde
and the masculine elegants, laden with
flowers, i'll flower trimmed equipages, drive
around the gardens and shower the people
with these floral offerings. The blessed people
laugh and scream and make q rush for the
flowers, get, perhaps, a single rosebud, go
away to atsinthe and sausage, fancy soms-
thing wonderful has happened, and that they
are the happiest people on earth Vive Ia
republiqUe! You can see that the republican
government of France is wise in its day and
generation in dealing with the masses. espe-
cially the inflammable material Of Paris
Entertain them, keep them in good humor
With shows, blind their eyes with glare and
show, blot out all traces Of the Bourbon and
the Bonaparte. LO! it has been done Ths
palace of the Tuileries has been turned into
government offices. The pictures ars moved
from the stately old rooms of the Luxembourg
into new gallery typical of the Paris Of to-
day, and republican officers tramp whers
once the stately Medici swept in regal splendor
The problem of republicanis,n in France is
far from its solution. The equipoiss REQUESTS
to self government seems lacking in the ma
ton, and, wanting this foundation, the fair
est republican fabric may be demolished in
an hour.
To turn from this royal refuse to the liv-
ing present is a relief. l went to the Sa-
Ion to compare French art with that
had seen in London. Well, there isn't much
of a comparison. French art leads the world
to-day and foreshsdows future greater than
any past.
After the wilderness OF mediocrity sdorning
the walls of the London academy it seemed q
veritable fairy land as we stood at the head Of
the great staircase in the Salon. Exquisite
technique, ideality, thought, life, soul, every
thing that can make a perfect art, were there
l had glimpse of this art in the Grosvenor,
in London, but in Paris alone does one realize
what great art should be. 1t is nature, but
nature idealized. EMMA w. HIGLEY.