Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-22

little villa we enjoyed wonderfully fine
view OF the silver-winding Seine, OF the
noble aqueduct OF Marty, and of the
distant palace and famous terrace OF ST.
German. That was magnificent royal
site, hut Louis XIV. failed to enjoy IL,
because plainly in sight from there was
the solemn old Cathedral OF St. Denis,
in the crypt Of which the princes of his
race were buried. SO he built YER
sailes-that stupcndous monument OF
royal pride and luxury-built it with
money wrung from his already
overiaxcd and desperate subjects
built that beautiful aqueduct through
which the Seine paid loval tribute,
spouting water TO please people of noble
blood in the fountains of Versailles, and
later, and by n mysterious double &C
ton, spouting noble blood TO please the
people at Paris All these costly works
did tho great king because be did not
like ~ "view the spot where he must
shortly Io but he got there all the
Same and so did Louis XIV. travelling
swiftly sans cercmonie by night, pes
tiferous "body Of death !; and so did
Louis XVI, or rather few bones,
buckles. and buttons OF him, left after
the cruel quickllmo burial and 80 did
LOuis XVIII, that monster OF obstinacy
and obesity and thus ended the Bour-
bon Louises OF the direct line, 10y the
grace OF God.
The summer .fctcs or fairs OF the su-
burban towns are very amusing affairs.
N.,w Dorto;.no franuapt than TAKING
the children, for whom many OF the
shows and treats arc especially provided.
The country people in holiday garb and
spirits are seen at these fairs in great
numbers, an interesting sight to such
Americans as are still lin a state of
grace" as good republicans. and intelli-
gent enough to contrast these smiling,
wcll-dreHed, and evidently well-fcd peo-
pie with the miserable peasants OF mon
archial times.
For us the most enjoyable was the
fctc at Bougival, a village on the Seine
just below us. It's chief feature was
sort of aquatic tournament, carried
through with immense spirit and Rayety
by clubs OF bostingmen. or c0nOtierS.
4 double line OF slender boats are Iowed
up and down the river. At the stern OF
each cdnot is q narrow platform on
which stands gayly costumea c0noficr
welding a sort of lance with a very
blunt cud. As the boats pass each other
the antagonists engage, and he is the
hest fellow who can maintain his own
footing and topple the other fellow into
the Seine. 1t IS very exciting contest
and great fun. The weather was so
warm that We were more inclined to
envy the vanquished than the victor.
DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT.
shall never forget dramatic enter
tainment we witnessed at that Bouginal
Fair in one of the show tents. 1t was
condensed but not exactly an expurgated
version Of one Of Moliere's comedies
gwen by company OF mdrionnettes,
very small but wonderfully well man.
aged Anything funuier ] never saw.
The admittance was not dear one sou.
As We found it thus reasonable, we filled
all the seats left vacant by our party with
pleasant children, and when we witness
ed their grateful pleasure We had little
taste Of the pure benevolent Joy with
which that self-indulgent philanthropist
George ". Childs so often gorges him
self. How those children applauded q!
How we all applauded till the little
marjonaC'fcs came out to bow their
thanks, proud and elated-so much
eleted that in some cases their feet
failed TO touch the stage by an inch or
two.
am asked about the cost of summer
living IN Paris. About the same, fancy,
as in winter, though less by leaving out
the item of fuel Still that saving may
be more than balanced by indulgence in
ices and excursions. Paris is without
doubt the Gree of cities. dangerously
fascinating to such as through defective
moral training are ripe and ready
TO submit to her wicked wiles; but
| believe true virtue and integrity are
as safe there rs here. On the whole
Paris, even in summer, is not bad place
for "gOod Americans 10 go when they
die 10 ride on the tops of those grand
three horse omnibuscs in tho cool of the
evening and stroll amid the gay crowds
of the boulevards, especially as, being
invisible, they need not be left when
" Compict :" is the word, and being in
tangible they cannot be thrown down
and run over by those same omnibuses
on the silent asphalt.
Paris has no Morgue for spooks.
GPACF (iRFFNWOOD