The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-14
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spGeid! Correspondence ofLie IHtet'tJehcer.
PARIS, Nov. 23.-In comparing Paris
with London the opinion grows upon
us that the capital OF the British en-
pire ia far in the lead of the French cap
ital in tho things which tendto security
and national greatness. To speak gen
orally London is the business city and
Paris the pleasure city of the world.
To spend money one should certainly
come tothe city on the Seine, but If a
centre for safe Investments were de-
sired, preference would surely be given
to thecity on the Thames. There is moth
ing in Paris that inspires such confidence
as one feels in looking at the Bank OF
England, and no doubt the Parisians
are thankful not to have in their midst
q pile 20 unsightly. They would hardly
accept it for the money it contains. Far
more to Partisan taste is the Arc de
Triomphe, with its vast circular
Place de l'Etoile, and the round
dozen OF magnificent avenues
which slope therefrom into all parts
of this wonderful city. The English
capital has nothing to compare to this,
and, on tho other hand. Paris has moth
ing so grand in the way Of churches
nothing that Is so large or that invites
80 much reverence-as either st. Pauls
or Westminster Abbey. Tho Palais
Bourbon, in which the French laws are
made, is insignificant when you recall
the British houses Of Parliament. In
this city the biggest tides of traffic are
found, not, as in London, where the re.
representatives. OF a mighty commerce
congregate, but on avenues where fash
ion disports itself, like the avenue do
Champs Elysees, and that still wider
and grander thoroughfare leading to the
Bots dc BouIogne. And all these things
are in keeping with the proverbial no.
ton of the two places-London for COM
merce, Paris for gaiety; London as the
capital OF nation with euro future,
Paris as the city which, regardless OF
what the future may bring, is bent on
having a good time right now.
ALIKE IN SOME THINGS.
In many things, of course, tho two
biggest cities in tho world are alike.
Paris. though it is SO gay, has darker
aide, and if one had time to hunt up its
miseries, we should probably find that
the struggle of life is Just as real and
quite as hard for the masses, notwith-
standing their bright surroundings, as
that which goes on under the gloomy
skies and amid the sombre buildings OF
the big city across the channel. Know
ing of our purpose to write, an intelli-
gent Partisan lady said to US: "What-
ever you do, don't say we are all
happy" No, the people are not all
happy There is pinching want here
as elsewhere, and it would perhaps be
difficult to find any city in which the
lower classes are SO little contented. 1t
is the knowledge OF this that makes
thoughtful Frenchmen shrug their
shoulders with such manifest spasm
of apprehension when you ask as to the
likelihood of another rising in the Com
mune. 1t is this which makes Paris so
paniCky after an explosion Of dynamite
and which renders it almost certain
that two such explosions in quick Sue
cession would shake out of their seats,
SO to speak, any existing ministry.
But whether they are better of, or
not, and spite OF the mischief they may
again cause, the lower classes of Paris
certainly present more tidy appear
ance than the same classes in London,
and in their outdoor life they seem to
be more civil and better behaved. 1t is
seldom you see rags and tatters, and to
find here such besotted and brutal
looking creatures as you can see all the
time on the streets OF London, you
would surely have to search the slums
with that special object in view, and
even then you might look in vain.
There is more general drinking than in
London, but far less drunkenness. The
cafes are numerous enough and suttici-
emily obtrusive, as every visitor well
knows. But they are hardly so vicious
looking rs the public houses in the
worlds metropolis. Perhaps this very
openness is means of restraint; GER
tainly they turn out inebriates at less
rapid rate, and their victims, moreover,
are OF type much less repulsive.
OLD BUILDINGS.
After a month or so amid the unvary-
ing stretches of high stone dwellings,
all built upon the same general plan.
and nearly all seeming to be adorned
still with the dew and brightness OF
their youth, the visitor grows weary OF
this architectural monotony. One can
not help wondering why, in this city of
art, this particular department OF art
should have 80 little variety infused in
to it. London is much blacker than
Paris, and some OF its buildings are
hideous monstrosities, but in the charm
which diversity gives it far excels its
French rival. No one would suspect
London OF being city without past,
for its hoary history is proclaimed
wherever you goby frowning, time-worn
editices which speak unmistakably Of
ages longgone and OF thegradual progress
through those ages Of the arts andforces
bywhichg great centres of life are built up.
Paris has some such memorials as these,
but the impression upon the casual
visitor must be that it Is city OF to-day,
quite too new to be venerable, and built
on quite too uniform plan tochallenge
unqualified admiration. 1t is beautiful,
but ono grows tired OF seeing so much
beauty cast in the Same pattern. The
American visitor will hardly sympathize
with that Londoner whose chief COM
plant about Paris was that its high
buildings were unfavorable for such a
display OF chimney tops as he had been
used to at home. But he will surely
wish that the houses about him were
not all so high, and after a little expert
ence in getting to fifth and sixth floors,
with elevators as few and far between as
angels visits, his feelings on this sub
ject will become quite too full Tor utter
ance,
For long vistas, with trees of uniform
height and stately buildings whose