The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-09-27
Considers Paris an Eearthly
Paradise,
And Doesn't Wonder That Many
an American Makes That
His Home.
Palais Roynl--Buttes Chanmout-The
Cemetery Of Pere Ia Chaise--JOan
Of Arc-The Art Galleries.
PARIS, June 14th, 1883.

around the streets and boulevards for
day at time and never hears a word
uttered in his native tongue, this state.
ment seems almost incredulous. How.
ever, Paris is favorite place for wealthy
English and Americans to come to live,
but as French is the universally spoken
language, it becomes necessary for one
living here to also learn to speak the
language, and doubtless the stranger
meets many French-speaking English
and Americans whom he does not recog-
nize as such. It is said an apt scholar
can, by living in Paris, learn to speak
the native tongue very well in a years
time. / believe this is true, for by the
aid OF my guide and knowledge OF a
few words in French, I can now, after
only four days here, make myself
understood comfortable well. can
order anything on the usual bill of fare,
inquire for places and get along much
better than I ever imagined l could at
first. I am not surprised at Americans
coming to Paris to live il they can afford
it. have never seen city in which /
would rather live than in Paris. 1t is
veritable earthly paradise, and existence
here is indeed luxury. The atmos.
phere is as clear and pure as on June
day in the country. No factories OF any
kind are allowed in the city limits. The
inhabitants are required to burn either
wood, coke or hard coal SO there is no
smoke.
From the top OF one OF the towers one
can have fine birds-eye view of the
whole of the prettiest city in the world.
The picture is Il magnificent one. For
miles and miles the eye is met by green
parks, playing fountains, long shady
avenues and handsome public and pri-
vate buildings. The whole city is with
in tb. vision, and even the green hills
10y which it is surrounded can be plainly
seen in the distance so clear is the at.
mospberc. The city proper is surround.
ed by wall twenty one miles long On
the outside OF this wall is moat about
ten feet deep. a circular railway also
girts the city, and visitors are carried
entirely around from any given point for
one fcanc, equal to twenty cents. Every
article Of merchandise or produce that
comes in Paris from elsewhere is subject
to duty. In some instances the duty
is over hundred per cent. Even at
Versailles, only fourteen miles from
Paris, some articles can be bought for
less than half the same articles would
cost in Paris. This is because the duty
to Paris is about one hundred per cent.
on the original cost. To live comforta-
bly, here requires about $1,000 annually
for each individual. The Queen of
Spain resides here in a very substantial
and comfortable but not gorgeous house.
She is middle aged and think fine
looking woman. Her husband has been
dead some time, and l suppose ere long
she will be in the matrimonial market.
She is much beloved by her subjects, and
indeed seems to be an extraordinary
lady and a kind and just ruler. The
French, as the reader remembers, were
very much hurt in the last war with
Germany. They lost strasburg besides
suffering much destruction OF valuable
property in the interior. In the Place
de la Concorde are statues representing
the chief towns, one representing Stras
burg. When this place was taken by
the Germany the statue was draped in
mourning, and many of the French
swore that the drapery should never be
removed till Strasburg was redeemed.
The statue is still in mourning and many
disinterested persons believe it is only
question OF time when France will again
declare war against Germany. She hates
the Germans from the bottom OF her
heart, and were sue able would sweep
every vestage OF the race from the face
OF the earth. But France is not war.
like nation. 'Tis true she has had her
Napoleon, Charlemaigne and other brave
warriors, but her soldiers to-day have an
effeminate and unreliable appearance.
They are, not the well-drilled and robust
looking men that are the English SOL
diers. I have not seen a well.drilled
and substantial company of soldiers in
Paris. Many think that II France and
Germany 60 to war again the result will
be the annihilation Of the French.
After visiting number OF palaces and
public buildings, we concluded our fore
noon's drive by alighting in front Of the
old Palais Royal for lunch. In former
years, Cooks excursionists would hard
ly stop here to lunch unless they were
on intimate terms with some OF the
Kings, who formerly resided here, but
now the old place is contaminated with
ordinary hotels, shops and restaurants
1t has, however, seen better days, and
much OF French history clusters around
this old palace. It is built in quadran.