Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-11-18
OPEN LETTER.
LIE CIDRE a CoUR, LAUSANNE, SwITzER-
LAND, Oct. 80, 1897.

LIE CIDRE a COUR, LAUSANNE, SWITZER-
LAND, Oct. 80, 1897.
Dear Fri ends at Home: | suppose
you want to know what [ have been
doing since l left you. What frightful
experiences we had on the sea. and
what unique monsters we met on the
land. | fear we must dispel those
illusions for we have had such fine
time all around
On the morning Of September 18th
we rose early and had breakfast on the
little boat on which we sailed down the
Hudson river, and then went over to
the wharf where all was hustle and
hurry. There was a large crowd of
people, all kinds and classes, some run
ming oyerjoyous in anticipation of great
pleasure, others sad at parting of
friends. But at half-past nine the bell
was rung for all to be on board, and all
who were not going to get off At ten
the gang plank was raised, the last
ropes were hauled in, and we were off.
AS we moved out of the harbor we saw
the crowd of friends assembled on the
dock waving the last adieu; soon the
statue of liberty was out of sight and
we were out on the wide, wide main.
The first day about all we did was to
SIT out on deck and watch the people,
study their personal, conjecture who
they were and for what they were 60
ing. This one has the air of an artist:
there is young doctor so interested in
studying surgery that he has no time
for his young wife; also the dashing
young man lately come into his inherit
ance with nothing before him but the
fulfillment Of his own pleasure; busi-
ness men coming to find richer stores
of wealth on the other side.
Yes, 1 said all classes, didn't I, and
we have them, for in the stern of the
boat are the em1grants, and what poor,
dirty, god-forsaken class they seem to
be, with SO few comforts. The second
day we began to becomeT acquainted to
promenade back and forth with our
newly-made acquaintanees, and then
the real pleasure begins. Evenings we
gather in the saloon for music and
pleasant games, and so it continues.
Such delightful days and such superb
moonlight evenings! The wide ex-
panse of smooth but rolling sea, the sky
spotted with myriads of bright stars,
and the moon, not to be outdone, shin
ing forth in all its glory. Oh, it was
delightful. We were sorry to think of
our journeys ending, for all was so
pleasant there, but what was before us
we knew not; but, of course, we must
learn soon. Friday the cry we heard
was ''land." England was sighted, spy
glasses were gotten out and all was eX-
element. We gradually lost sight of
England but scarcely before land was
discovered on the other side, and the
wiser ones informed us we were in
sight of Alderney and the coast of
France; now we began to meet boats
flying past us in different directions; at
S O'Clock in the evening we see the
lights of Havre. The anchor is cast
and by next morning when the tide
comes up we will be harbored; yes, the
next morning we were in Havre. We
took a train right at the wharf, and
about 8 o'clock started for Paris. We
passed through Normandy, the most
fertile portion of France; past beautiful
farms with the commodious, vine-cov-
cred, stone houses; the smaller thatched
houses of the peasants in the distance;
followed along the Seine, which, in its
size, was rather disappointing, but its
banks are most charming with heavy
ve1dure. We stopped for few mo-
ments at Rouen where we saw The
tower of the famous cathedral, and at
twelve arrived in La Belle Paris.
Justly is it called LA Belle Paris for
never have [ seen city more beautiful.
It appeared to me like an immense
ing and sculpture! Almost every build
ing that you see has some historical in
terest; has had some connection with
the kings; has had something to do
with Napoleon. And also numerous are
the reminders of the bloody revolution,
as in the Place de la Concorde, now
handsome park with its eight stone fig
ures representing the chief towns Of
France, and it's handsome fountains,
the Egytian Obelisk covers the place
where once stood the merciless guillo-
tine, where Louis NVI and Mary An
toinette met so unjust an end
But we cannot tarry, and now on to
Notre Dame. This is the first great
cathedral [ have seen. | felt ove1awed
upon approaching it. [ sat down some
distance away that [ might get a good
general idea of its appearance; then,
approaching, observed it more in detail
The facade is most wonderful, consist
ing of exquisite carving and sculpture,
specimens of early Gothic workman
ship. The portal on the right is dedi-
Gated to st. Anne; that on the left to
the Virgin, on which is the famous
relief of her burial. The reliefs on the
central pillar are of the last judgment;
above are the statues of saints and
kings, the supposed ancestors of the
Virgin. We entered. At first The
darkness seemed oppressive, but as we
became more accustomed to it it seemed
to lend q feeling of awe. We felt almost