The Washington critic., 1888-02-11
THE CRITIC" ABROAD.
GlimpSeS Of Life in the Gay Capital
Of France.
CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAME.
The Church of the N1adelaine-
An Impressive Funeral Cor
tcge.


tege.
.=----
PARIS, Jan. 30,--Winter is very
unbecoming to Paris, as it robs its
public gardens and parks of their
chief beauty, and the grand old trees
of the Bois de Boulogne look desolate
enough, with their bare gaunt limbs,
stretching upward as if imploring
heaven for help, and the country
around the city, with its pleasant
glades and woods, looks dreary, so we
wend our way to the boulevards,
which are crowded with all kinds and
conditions of men, women aud chill
dren on pleasure bent, lively and good
tempered IN spite of the cold, for this
is the severest winter which has been
experienced in Paris for many years.
So accustomed are the Parisians to
sunshine that they look upon few
dull days as something fearful. The
Frenchman has been obliged to give
up his open-air haunts and lounges
OF fashion and seek comfort and
warmth in cafes. The French people
are like flying fish, finding fun either
in or out of the water. In crowds
they are always gay, brimming full of
good humor, and as lively as 80 many
butterflies in q meadow. Amusement
seems to be the one thought upper
most in their minds. In the morn
ing they ask how shall you amuse
yourselves to-day? and in the even
ing, how hdce y0u amused yourselves?
All are looking forward with delight
TO the carnival of 1888, which will un-
doubtedly be very brilliant. During
the carnival season public masked
balls will be conducted at the Grand
Opera, and it is rumored that noted
beauties and well-known society wo-
men will take part in tripping the
light fantastic toe"-using every
means to disguise themselves.
THE EXHIBITION OF 1880.
People are already talking Of, and
preparing for, the great exhibition of
1889, which will be held on Champ
de Mars, near Trocadero, relic Of
the exhibition of 1878. The Champ
de Mars shows nothing at present
but pile of building materials and
unanished "';,-"t,iisSs nissss bbpt out Of this
beauty, if il resembles in any way the
great show of ten years ago. Close to
the Seine, and facing the Trocadero,
stands the Eiffel Tower, which is to
be higher than the Washington Mon
ument, and will serve as an observj'
atory during the exhibition and tvs
years afterward; then it is to be de-
molished. 1t sadly mars the view
from the house Of NJ. Grevy, the ex-
president, which stands only few
hundred yards away. 1t seems the
tower was not even thought of when
Nj. Grevy selected the site for his
house.
THE WAR SCARE.
Foreigners have had q war scare,
many leaving upon hearing that the
commanders of the army corps had
been ordered off to their headquar-
ters, aud that regiments were being
bivusEt TO the oitv from different
garrisons. This looked TOO much like
revolution, 80 many quietly lett
the metropolis and have not yet ~
turned although the military dave
come back to their old quarters again.
The police intend to understand the
purpose Of strangers visiting the capi-
tai of the world, for they send printed
| forms of questions for visitors to fill
out, requesting your name in full,
age, whence you came and whittier
going, length of stay and what papers
| you have in your possession and To
| l.n or par rtg n t.ly-
ably handsome city, is built on both
crossed by many fine. bridges. On
each side of the Seine there rise
chains Of hills of varying height, encir
cling the city, which lies in valley
or basin. The river flows through the
city from east to west and forms sew.
eral islands, the principal of which
are the isles "St. Louis" and De ID
Cite, which are part of ancient Paris
and are closely built up with old an(
also with many handsome moderi
buildings, among which stands tn,
imposing
CATHEDRAL OF NoTRE DAME,
the finest church in Paris, and Ger
,3:nly one of the most important. TIL,
foundation was laid in 1160 by Alex
ander III, Pope of Rome, who had a
this time taken refuge in France. ant
the church was finished three hun
dred years after its commencement.
1t is built in the form of Latii
cross, with two massive square towers
connected by beautiful open front
The towers are 264 feet high, and il
one of them hangs the great bell
called the Bourbon" weighing sew
teen tons. 1t is only used on yer,
solemn occasions, and then requires
eight strong men TO ring it. The in
terror of the church is magnificent
and holds $1,000 people. The higl
altar is beyond description, but be
hind it stands Couston's celebrated
marble group, the Descent from tn
Cross" This group consists of fou
figures, the Savior, his mother ant
two angels, and is very beautiful
There are thirty-seven chapels, orna
mented by some very remarkabl,
sculptures and paintings. The Sa
criste, a modern Gothic structure o
great elegance, we visited, and wer
shown magnificent sets of priests