Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07

ROAD IN FRANcE-NEARINa THE BELGIAN
LIxE-As NxxPESsrvE MEAI-
BRUssELs. July 20, 1882
We got into Paris in time to help the French
,slsbrase the one-hundredth anniversary of
the storming OF the Bsstile. The fun began
Saturday evening, the 18th, and was especially
hilarious over in the Latin quarter. Clubs and
miscellaneous crowds of men and boys paraded
about, footing horns and trumpets and singing,
and, the chief object being to, make noise,
there was nothing attractive to a person of
violent musical taste in this feature of the
general uproar. Neighborhoods in portions
of the city combined together, took possession
of the street, which they filed with tables and
chairs, erected stand for musicians and
danced and bad high old time generally with
scarcely an intermission through Saturday
night, Sunday and until Monday morning.
Lights and lanterns Of all kinds furnished
ample illumination at night, showing to The
best advantage the tasteful and sometimes
rather decolette costumes of the fair sex. That
''the day" fell upon Sunday made no difference
to Paris. The celebrating went on even more
furiously than had it been upon a week day.
In the afternoon there was a grand review OF
the troops of the garrison out at Longchamps
ana the city turneu out en- uasse 10 see Inc
show. As we left our mackintoshes at the
hotel Of course il rained and there was a con-
sequent display of French feminine feet and
ankles, shocking to the American eye. Wading
down to the river we returned to the city by
one of the little steamers which ply the Seine,
steered by tiller instead of the usual wheel
AMONG TIE FLAGS
displayed throughout the city American pre-
dominated next to the French. A few English,
Swiss, Dutch and Belgian fags were to be seen,
but no German. France wants nothing Ger
man In hers, and Germany Is not represented
at her exposition. Not only is Germany in dis
repute, but the italian government is not in
very high favor with the French Just at present,
as one shopkeeper who innocently displayed an
Italian nag amidst a lot of miscellaneous deco
rations has good reason to know. Some one
raised an outcry against it which late corners
mistook to be occasioned by the attempted dis
play Of German flag, as with roars Of Down
with Bismarck" they proceeded to paw up the
earth and make everything in the vicinity pre-
sent worn and weary appearance.
THE PEOPLE OUT OF DOORS.
Paris seems to enjoy getting out of doors and
doing its eating and drinking in public. The
sidewalks in front of the cafes are largely taken
up with chairs and small tables, and, judging
from the number Of people usually occupying
them one would suppose that a majority of the
male population had nothing ON earth to oc-
cupy Its time and attention but to sit there and
sip absinthe all day. The bouievards are not
really alive until about midnight, or later
Then they swarm with uniforms and swell
suits, and the demimonde are out with all their
fnery.
GUIDE AND INTERPRETER.
1t is about this hour that the professional
"guide and interpreter" of doubtful character
hes in wait for the blase young man from
abroad to show him the town by gasIight.
These gentry lead precarious existence, liv-
Ing strictly on their wits. They usually have a
string of restaurants and cafes. no viewer which
besides giving them a small commission on
custom they bring in, tide them over with
Tree meals the numerous rainy days they
encounter. We met a good specimen
OF this kind in a parsonage styling himself
.Oid Tom, the Yankee Guide, an sppendage
TO our hotel, who, according to his representa-
fions, was born in New York state, of Irish
parents, served in q New Hampshire regiment
In the war of the rebellion, afterwards in our
navy and In an English lancers regiment and
finally drlfted to Paris, where he had stranded
aud remained ever since. We had some expe-
rience with .'Old Tom''-ho extensive doesn't
matter, but he was soon shipped as too expen-
sive luxury. The nominal charge for his
services was cheap enough, but he had q play
full way OF treating all his numerous friends"
at our expense, which became rather tiresome
after awhile.
THE FRENCH UNIFORM.
For cheap-looking, awkward-ftting uni
form, that Of the French soldier carries off the
gold medal. A pair of red bags, sewed together
Mt the top and the bottoms cut out answer the
purposes OF trousers, while another bag of dark
blue, with supplemental bags for the arms and
q row OF buttons down the front, answers as a
coat; the whole crowned with pair of huge
curtain-cord tasseled epaulets. OF course
there are some variations in the different arms
OF the service, but the general effect ID about
the same. 1t is said that several unsuccessful
attempts have been instituted to divorce the
French soldier and his red bags. The English
soldier, with his ridiculous little round visor
less cap strapped to the side Of his head, his
Of decoration and his prepor-
derance OF scarlet, not always clean as ii
might be and showing tendency to run"
when vet, is positively beauty compared with
his French brother. We did rot discover in
just what the duty Of a French officer consists,
unless it be to loaf around the cafes in dress
uniform, sword and all, and receive the ad-
miration OF the ladies.
AT THE TABLE.
Our'fare for awhile was limited to su> few
dishes as we were able to recognize in their
Frnnch DISCUSSES. Gradually, by experience
and observation, especially the former, we were
able TO extend our diet into broader fields.
menu what we wanted without taking any
chances Of getting only little piece of candy
for dessert as H did one day. Won. on one
OF his independent tours of sightseeing. de-
sired some eggs for his dejeuner. After yainly
endeayoring with q mixture of Spanish and
English and an attempt at French to
make his wishes known he resorted to
the brilliant expedient of making a
drawing OF the fruit, which was
apparently sufficiently exact representation
TO secure recognition Won does not say
whether or not he also drew a hen to help out
the picture, but it is strongly suspected he did.
We gave up trying to have coffee, tea or milk
when we wanted IT. after Witnessing on several
occasions the startled, panied look OF surprise
which followed when our order was fully COM
pretended. We were even somewhat bac kward
a. times about asking for water.
eoAT's MILK DAIRY.
For several mornings at Q certain hour we
heard peculiar whistling in the street, a
melodious strain which sounded high above all
other street noises and attracted our attention
each time we heard II. On looking out we
usually discovered man driving small flock
OF goats along the street, the goats now and
then making a dive at some one Of the numer-
Gus fruit vendors carts passing to and fro.
After connecting the whistling with the man
we learned upon inquiry that what we saw was
none other than a perambulating goats milk
DAIRY. III you wanted goats milk all that was
necessary TO do when you heard the whistle
was 10 run out and get the quantity desired,