The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-05
GAY AND GIDDY PARIS
AND HOW INDEPENDENCE DAY
is CELEBRATED BY
ITS PEOPLE.
AS TOLD BYA TAR-HEEL WOMAN

NO lulu VI FHs '
The Anniversary OF the Stormins OF
the Bastille. July 14th. is the Great
midsummer Fete of the French PeO-
nile For the Last Two Years it Had
Passed i'm Silence, and Was, There
fore. This Year Celebrated With
More Than the Usual Fervor.
PARIS, Aug. LIST, 1895.
The anniversary of the storming OF
the Bastille, July 14th, is the ''Inde-
pendence Day. of France. 1t is the
great mid summer fete for which, ten
DAYS before, preparations had been
visible. The Parisians hailed 1t with
unusual fervor this year, because for two
years it had passed in silence. Last
wear the land was in mourning for the
murdered Carnot and in '93, the authorl-
ties thought it wise to forego the cele-
bration on account of the students riot
which had occurred few days previous
Large gatherings were not safe. quite
a party of Tarheels thought themselves
fortunate to be on hand this year.
The shops were bright with many col
ored buntings and with the flags of
France twined lovingly with those OF
America and Russia, the two nations
most dear to day to the French heart.
Booths, band stands, merry go-rounds
sprung up on every squire. Impromptu
cafes, surrounded by shrubbery whose
sharpened ends were stuck IN the gray
elled walks, appeared on the Boulevards.
These magnificent thoroughfares have
two. and some have three of these broad
sand and gravelled walks, besides the
paved sidewalks next to the houses. The
sidewalk cafes in the old, narrow streets
are a nuisance to foot passengers, but
they are a pleasure in the new streets
where one has time and space to stop
and enjoy human nature and good
cooking. One can find every specimen
of both. Faikers offered every concelv-
able ware, not only offered, but pressed
and coolly walked alongside keeping step
as if intending to go the whole journey
till one bought a row of pins or a shoe
string Zone would SUFFICE just to be al
lowed to walk unattended. The licensed
beggars, mounte banks and singers null
tiplied till every court was mimic
theatre or opera One could plainly see
the country element, the people from the
Provinces looking so clean and fresh.
Some of their costumes would be the de-
light of our girls at fancy dress ball.
MANY women wore the daintiest OF lace
caps. Some wore head-dresses OF en-
brOidered ribbons, six or eight lncnes
wide, made in loops over the couture,
and two streamers of the same falling TO
the bottom OF the skirt. Those who had
not these lace or ribbon head ornaments
were adorned only with womanhood's
crown, the hair neatly brushed and
knotted behind. The women OF the
laboring classes rarely wear haas
or bonnets. Air and sunshine must be
hair tones, for these peasants have preti J
hair, soft and abundant.
| noticed that every woman had either
a beau or baby. Where there were
families, / was glad to see that the
father always carried one child and some
had two. In many cases, the mother
was not in evidence and the father was
in sole charge of number OF hatiess
tots. / did not see dozen children
with hats, but they all wear shoes
and stockings. The boy dons his
hat along with his btouye, which
is the toga Of French youth. These re-
marks apply to the laboring people. The
rich and cultured dress alike every
where. With US, the poor initiate III
cheap material the garb of the million
aire. In Europe they do not; appearing
TO be satisfied with the stamp OF labor
upon their dress. think it is, in one
way, better with us. To dress like ones
neighbor stimulates ambition and one is
more apt to rise to the neighbours con-
dition.
Not only the native, but the costume
of every nationality was seen du'
ring the fete. The coal black
negro from South Africa, wrapped in 9
white cloth, which caused some OF us 9
little anxiety lest he might not appreciate
the value of pins or buttons; the Arar
Sheik, in his picturesque garb; the Turk,
in his red ferry, cream colored tunic and
red boomers; "the girl of the period,
looking like the next of kin to the Turk,
III u6T kuichS. UA ucI DihC tHs
well dressed Englishman; and last, but
best of all, the American woman gracec
the festival and left nothing to be wished
for in the scale of humanity.
The crowd was good natured for tht
French love fete and hilarity is con
tagious / may say here that from
seven of the morning till one of th'
night, saw but three cases of intoxica
ton. do not recall during stay O
three months in Paris to have seen mor'
than two other persons under the infiu
ence of liquor. We all know that vim
flows more freely there than water. |
seems to me that our temperance work
ers here would endeavor to substitute
these light wines for the balefu
whiskey which is the ruin of S
many American homes. The four
tenth fell on Sunday this year, bu
Paris does not care for that, and at leas
four Tarheels forgot 1t for few hours
None of these joined in any dance, but
fear that they looked on and may eve
have patted the foot to keep time wit
the merry music. The home folks wi
excuse them, for it was impossible to oil