Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21
Of The EVENING STAR.

AND HIS NIECE LIVING IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL.
Staf Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR
PARIS, November 80.
Paris even without her wonderful exposition
is much hvelier place than any other city in
the world. The boulevards are once more
given up to the Parisians and they evidently
enjoy them thoroughly. To be sure they are
not blocked by the myriads Of visitors and sight
seers that invaded them a month ago, but the
sprightly Frenchmen keep things moving in a
lively manner, notwithstanding the drain
caused by the season on the Rivera and the
close OF the exposition. To be sure the rows Of
little round white-topped tables which stand
on the sidewalks in front of the innumerable
cafes look bare and desolate under the electric
light in the evenings, but that is due
more to the chilly November weather than
to the lack Of beer. coffee and absinthe drink
ers. glance into the well-lighted interiors
| shows that the cafe habitues are doing business
at the old stand Then, too, the many places
OF amusement for which the gay French capital
Is particularly noted are in full blast nightly,
and are well patronized. OF course many
ephemeral amusements which grew up with the
exposition are no more, but no one need feel
lonesome in Paris for the lack Of some place to
go. 1t ls said, indeed, that the immense and
unprecedented attendance at the exposition
was due largely to the fact that there were so
many places of interest outside the exposition.
As an American who has lived many years in
Paris and has kept his eyes open said the other
day. visitors to an exposition must be amused
II they are expected to make more than q flying
trip and then home again.
HOW THE CROWDS WERE ACCOMMODATED.
As it was here thousands of people came and
remained weeks at time, visiting the EXPOSE
ton two or three times week. They saw the
exposition and Paris too This would not have
been the case either had not the facilities for
accommodating crowd been exceptional. The
immense number of hotels could not have ac-
complished 1t in themselves. But having
learned by experience the landlord of every
small hotel and pension constituted himself
committee on public comfort, and being well
posted about his immediate neighborhood
leased IN advance every room that was to let,
SO that during the exposition he had dodgers as
1ar up and down the streets as his baiiwick ex-
tended. In this way Paris was q veritable net
work OF hotels and their annexes."
There are still goodly number of American
visitors in Paris as is shown by the registers
ana by visit to the reading rooms where one
can md files OF the newspapers from home.
FROM WYOMING TO THE LOUVRE.
Wherever one goes he is sure to hear an
American voice a little louder and a little more
self-asserting than the others in the crowd. In
the Louvre the other day tall, smooth-faced
man, In d long ulster and with SLOUGH hat on
the back OF his head, approached some ladies
whom he heard conversing in English and
blurted out: You are from America, amt you?
80 am l. am pretty far from home. 1 come
from wyoming, right from the Indians and the
COW boys. Where do you come from? Plenty
of pictures here, amt they? and a good MANY
that amt worth looking at, too" Then seeing
that his advances were not very welcome he
said "GoOd-day" and wandered down the gall
lery, passing cacelessy the priceless Raphaels
and Correglos and Titians
ONE YOUNG AMERICANS EXPERIENCE.
Speaking OF amusements, though, 1 ran
across a young American the other day who
had been doing the town by himself. The
night before he had wandered into one of the
We!l-knoWn gardens where there is music
drinking and dancing. He was spectator for
some time and then his enthusiasm got the
better of his discretion and he made I'D his
mind to have whirl. He couldn't speak a
word OF French, but he thought he could dance
1t. He picked out good-looking partner and
was soon Waiting around for dear life. He
hadn't noticed that the French walters never
reverse. but circle round and round like buzz
saw. HIS partner was thoroughbred. dane
ing was her stronghold and she didn't give
young America a chance 20 reverse or slacken
When she finally consented to stop the young
slghtseer didn't know what part of the room
he was in or whether he stood on his head or
his heels. he was so dizzy. When his partner
left HIM he attempted to make his way into the
crowd that surrounded the dancing space. but
the floor seemed to rise up to meet the ceiling
and then, in backing off to get out of the way
OF the collision, he fell fiat on his back. When
he got up he attempted to pick up his hat and
fell on his face. Then the officials appeared
and, from their actions, were clearly under the
impression that the young man was intoxicated
something that Is seldom seen here), and he
was quietly but effectually hustled out into the
street.
THE PARIS CAB SERVICE
Washington might learn a valuable lesson
from Paris and London about the matter of
cab service. Cabs will never become popular
in Washington until lady can engage one and
not be overcharged and even insulted if she re-
fuses to be imposed upon. The cab service of
these two cities is something wonderful How
many hansoms there are in London would be a
difficult thing to ascertain, but / saw one num-
bered IA, 9SS. The London cabby will over
charge If he thinks he can succeed but all the
stranger has to do is to post himself in ad-
vance on the tariff and show that he is posted
and that generally settles it. A demand to be
driven to the nearest police station is seldom
necessary but invariably effective. shilling
for one or two passengers for mile or less
with little copper gratuity for the driver
cannot be considered excessive. Some of the
drivers own the cab and horse, some own sew
eral, and some drive for companies owning
several hundred cabs. In the latter case Mr.
Cabby has to deposit 10 shillings in the
morning when he takes his cab out, and
his first ten fares go to balancing the account,
He makes what he gets over the amount de-
posted. Hansoms are very popular vehicles in
London, and many men OF means have their own
private hansoms for night work. 1t is said
too. that quite number of these wealthy men
who are out of town a good part of the time
take out cab licenses, and when they go away
put their coachman at work collecting fares on
the public roads.
The license number is hung on the axle and
does not disfgure the cab. good looking
cab with well-groomed horse is always pre-
ferred, and it is said that these men make
quite little extra money when they have COM
petent and honest coachmen.
THE LONDON OMNIBUS DRIVERS
are without doubt the best drivers in the world
saw but one collision in London, notwithstand-
ing the continuous streams of vehicles on the
streets This was on q street that was very
greasy" as the English call it. and the omui-
bus went at an angle OF about As degrees like a
Washing on herdic on the sleety asphalt In
Its sidelong career the omuibus knocked off the
lamp OF q cab which was standing by the curb
The driver, instead Of whipping up his horses
to escape, drew up as soon as possible to ascer-
tain the damage and offer explanations.
THE LONDON AND PARIS POLICE.
The absolute authority Of the English police
man is something refreshing to behold. The
practice OF assisting foot passengers over dam
gerous street crossings is even more extensive
than i'll New York. A Bobby" ia ALWAYS sta