The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-17

AlOI VIC uWNo Hu lHteAtluH VI AcuNlHB
him into tho slums Of poverty, nor in
search OF those low places, so numerous
in this wicked city, where vice holds
nightly carnival, Mother have we in
view an investigation OF that marvellous
system OF sewerage OF which Paris ia 80
Justly proud. We could not think Of
taking our friends beneath the surface
of this city in the literal sense-not in
Imagination even-while the dread OF
choerastill impens, Besides, our quest
at this time is for different things alto.
gether, and for far better things. What
we propose is a glance at some OF tho
agencies which are working quietly for
the social and moral improvement OF
Paris, and our reason for looking be-
meath the surface for agencies OF this
description is that, unfortunately, un-
less we did so we might fail to find
some OF them; for the aspect of Paris
to the transient visitor, who has an
eye only for that which is moat appar-
ent, is one OF decided frivolity aud
worldliness. 10 find the better things
one must investigate and inquire. This
ia true in regard to almost every city,
but it will be no exaggeration to say
that as applied to Paris this discourag.
ing axiom is more fully and more sadly
true than OF any other city In the world.
We should hesitate to affirm that
Paris has any more downright wicked.
ness in it than London. We question
II, from tho moral point Of view, she
would be found to DO any worse than
London even when due allowance had
been made for the enormous dispro.
portion in the size OF the cities. But
London, spite OF all its sins and
shortcomings, Is known everywhere as
great centre OF religious and reforma.
tory work. She is as mnch distin.
guished by the effort she makes to i'm
prove her condition as by tho things in
her life which render such efforts neces-
sary, That the city on the Thames is
far superior to this gay city on the
Seine in the latter respect, would be
admitted, We should think, by French.
men themselves. Yet even Paris has
her bright side, and as our glance be-
meath the surface will mako abundant
ly clear, she ia blessed with not q few
heroic souls who are doing all they can
for her social and moral elevation.
YOUNG MEMS WELFARE.
It will be admitted by all that the
hope Of a city. equally with that of a
nation, is in its young men, and after
seeing that tho Bouleyards and Cafes
swarm with this class, and that on every
hand they arc surrounded by the most
attractive indictments to lie Of vice,
we have naturally been led to inquire
whether anything is being done for tho
young men OF Paris along moral and re.
ligious lines. We have conversed with
French pastors on this subject, and the
information We have been able to elicit
while it is not entirely satisfactory, is
ut least encouraging BY ono Of tho
best authorities in Paris wc have been
assured that in Protestant circles tho
interest manifested in the welfare Of
young men Ia one OF the most striking
features OF present day evangelism. To
put the matter in the very words in
which our informantclothod it-"There
has been moro work done in be.
half OF young men in the ten years last
past than in the fortyyears preceding"
This was decidedly good, and it whotted
our appetite for further particulars.
Inquiring next as to tho forms fol-
lowed by this new movement we were
Gratifed to learn that in individual
churches 1t is the fashion to band young
men together into prayer leagues, and
that in many cases Christian Endeavor
Societies were in operation. This re-
minded US OF the great influence OK.
erted upon France by that which Ia
good in American life. French Prot
estantism, which is heartily committed
to the republic, has naturally sympa.
thetic eye for the latest advances In our
own republic, and ono OF the practical
results OF this sympathy IS the i'm
portation from our side OF the Atlantic
Of this grand Christian Endeavor idea.
Which reminds US, too, that besides
drawing moral inspiration from Amer
leu, these French reiormers are fire..
quontly favored from the same source
with substantial pecuniary help. OF
this one is Afforded the strongest DOS.
sible proof just at this time in the new
and commodious premises in which the
Young Mems Christian Association il
about to move. We are speaking now
OF the French branch OF this associa.
ton. There is also, ii should be said,
an Anglo-American branch, which con.
ducts its meetings in English, and this
branch. in the work II does for visitors,
and for those who, though intending to
reside here, are still imperfect in the
language, cannot DO too highly praised.
But tho French branch Is tho one most
needed, rs 1t is also, happily, much the
stronger OF the two.
PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT.
This enterprise has progressed in q
manner which augurS great things for
the future. Its present quarters has
long since been too clrcumacribed for
tho hundreds Of young men who flock
to them, and 90 apparent was this to a
philanthropic American, when ho 70.
Gently visited tho place, that no offered
u large sum toward tho purchase OF
suitable property on ono Of tho boule..
wards. This oller was made condition.
ally upon like sum being raised in
Paris d condition which was promptly
met, for among the Proteslants In this
city arc several leading bankers, and
those. with others not so wealthy,
cnmo forward, In response to tho gonor.
OILS challenge from our fellow country.
man, with promptneSs and liborality
which, bosldUs boing highly credible TO
tho individuals themselves, are ospec.
tally gratifying because Of the practical
illustration thoy afford OF the new In.
teroSt shown by Parlsians In the we'll
being OF young mon.