San Francisco vindicator., 1889-02-09
IN TIE SEWERS Ce PARIS.

Palace du Cbavelet. Quarter 10 l. I
Just in front Of The fcuntaiu, 3 trim (.
little tent over raised trap-door, a !
in wni5e. This must De il. ''Vos (
cartesP' demanded an official in
white coat, with several gold bands
on his cap, emerging from the trap
door. We descend about forty steps.
How very strange. a world of It's own:
electric lights. oil lamps, 0olorcd lam
terms; host Of employees clad all in
white, a host of officials in frock coats,
with gold bands on their caps; line
of open ears with brightly polished
nickel-plated fittings. Ahead. behind.
to the right, a. far As the eve can
reach. endless tunnels. The officials
are bowing one to another and TO the
ladies As they assist the latter on to the
car. Our ear is the last but one.
"Ouand vOus vOudrez" Four men in
white seize the poles; they push and
pull: We are off beneath the Boulevard
Sebastopol. Suddenly 4 revolving
movement gives us rather shake on
turn-table. Now We follow the
Rue de Rivoli at good speed, more
smoothly than in any drawing-room
car. Everything is so clean, that were
it not Cor tire miniature canal imme-
dateIy beneath the car, we should
fsAcy ourselves anywhere hut in q
sewer. The atmosphere is soft and
fresh not the slightest unpleasant
smell. Our conductor-one of the
/ othcials-is doing the houors in true
| French style, explaining everything as
we wheel Ou:-"The stream is about q
meter and a half deep just now. but
when freShets occur it rises consider
ably, and circulation is often inter-
rupted. You may have noticed on
your invitation cards that visits are
liable to be postponed. Those big
pipes along the ceiling are fresh water
conduts. Here we have Geographic
wires, and here telephone and pneu-
matte tubes for working office clocks
and for sending messages ''Can
YOU tell me what is in them?" inquiries
one of our fair travellers, with laugh,
Can you tell me whether my dress
makers message, informing me that
nv light pink dress is ready for to-
nights ball. is on its way to my house?'
A smile is the only reply.
Look out for your heads!" com
pacentiy shouted some one from 4
front car Weduck in time To avoiC
the lantern, but receive slight shower
from leak. What is the total length
Of these subterranean arteriesp"
venture to ask. ''At the present time
there are about $50 kilometers, three
fOurthS Of which were made during tn
past thirty years. Thank you, sir,
, prefer cigarette TO cigar" A nOis
like that of thunder is heard overhead
a.stone cart is passing. Plates bear
ing the numbers of corresponding
buildings in the street tell us on
whereabouts. A pretty little parasc
points out very familiar number
''224." A few moments more and on
ride is over, Now for a cruise unde
the Rue Rovale. A fleet Of long, fiat
bottom boats are moOred. We ell
bark. The horn is blown, and TN
men in white tow us-Yery slowly
that our pleasure may be prolonged
Even here, though we are on tn
: water itself, there Is total absence
9 unpleasant smell. Ten minutes, an
{ our cruise is all over. Another stall
r ease, another iron trap-doOr. an en-
e ploye clad all in white, under a ten
z to bow ns out 10 the Boulevard Mail
sherbes, on the right side of the Mad
0 leine. We had passed uuder reg
e ment of cavalry. Who would suppo;
o the cleanest city in the world 10 he .
y clean and attractive underneath? w
$ cannot but advise our friends, who al
t fond OF novelty and would like
''change OF air" without going too II
! and without spending any more than
u sheet Of letter-paper, an envelope,
three-sou~ stamp--We caunC; hut o.
T. wise them So Whjie ava, an houT
a the sewers. Admission is to be obtai
;. ed 10 the same way rs for the cal
"a combs, by merely writing to the r.
% lecture. 49, GAigd7lTS Messenger