Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
RAMBLINCS.
BY Dr.. ?. B. Robinson.l

Paris. One is by way Of the
boisterous passage of the Straits
between the cities Of Dovor and
Calais. This is generally very
rough but some two hundred
thousand people make it annually.
1t lasts about an hour and half
but on account of its stormy sea
is widely known to travellers.
The one chosen for the trip was
by way of NeWhaven, DiepPe and
Rouen. 1t is the most picturesque
and interesting journey from Lon
don to Paris. About one hundred
thousand pass it annually. New
haven is 50 miles from London.
1t is quaint appearing town on
The shores Of the sea, inhabited by
hosts Of fishermen. The traveller
spends some time observing the
curosities until the tide rises.
Here one first gets a glimpse Of
real fishermen. They are a mot
ley set, uneducated and uncouth
with just enough clothing on TO
prevent society from prosecuting
them for going naked, for society
demands that even paupers shall
wear a specified amount Of cloth
though it be scant in polite pat
terms. The amount of clothing
they wear is a standard measure
of their morals. They roam
around with fish in their hands,
fish in their pockets when they
have such a luNary, fish in their
baskets and fish to sell. 1t would
require a good many years to
grow into a native appearing fish
ermen. Soon the tide has risen
sufficiently and the little steamer
of 300 tons is ready for the jour
ney Of Is miles between Newhaven
and Dieppe which requires about
7 hours. The sea is rough and
choppy and the wind is blowing
furiously. 1t has a very sad moan
as it sweeps over the great plane
of white capped waves giving no
soothing message to the ear
bound for a perilous voyage. The
dark blue sea rolls and surges its
uncomfortable elements with fe-
verish excitement and its danger
Gus symptoms present but few
70 +hn hroYznCt Tho
quick gentle rocking Of the cradle
lulls a baby into quiet sleep but
the slower and longer pendulous
swing of the vessel soon makes
almost ever passenger sick. The
roar of the sea, the dashing of the
breakers against the ship, the
flying of spray and foam over the
deck and the severe vomiting of
dozens Of people with beseeching
PROSTATE looks makes one wish
for the end of the short voyage.
Nature seems very hayward on
this little sea with more hysterical
spasms and violent commissions
than appears absolutely necessary
TO show that it has fits. But the
passengers like tie sailors with
Columbus are over-joyed to see
land ahead. What a quick change.
The vomiting suddenly stops and
vigor assumes itself among the
weak. Something has frightened
the countenances and flushed the
pale checks. Can the sight of
land FIVE miles off stop a man from
vomiting? 1t does and most of the
passengers are almost we'll with
ship tossing worse than before.
Surely there are medicines and
medicines, some in the form of
hopes and some in the form of
fluid in bottles. In the gray dawn
of the morning, foggy and damp,
appears the first French town
Dieppe.-situated on a small har-
Dor formed by the river Argues.
It's the chief fishing port of France
and contains some 10000 souls.
Amid very much noise and hustle
the steamer lands and the triple
jargon Of languages begin. Loud
orders begin in French but this is
mostly an English crew and do
not move or pay attention. Com
mands in English soon follow to
which most responds but a few
stolid Germans remain unaffected
by those two languages and
another interpreter shouts in Ger
man and the ship is empty of its
human freight. All are strictly
sent to the custom house and
carefully guarded until the bag
gage is examined especially for
cig.rs and liquors. The doors
open into a monstrous French
restaurant where the walters speak
at least 5 different languages.
The chief thing found in travel is
the elastic uncertain price. The
waiter charges for a cup of coffee
25 cents, a mark, a shilling, or a
little more than franc and he can
be seen shutting the coins of four
different nations in his side pocket.
The pandemonium OF tongues and
confusion of coins is a practical
demonstration of the wonderful