Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-16
FROM PARIS, MAINE, TO PARIS
FRANCE.
No. IL.
IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS.

| PARIS, FRANCE, Feb. ID, 1897.
Many distinguished foreigners have
been to America and written impress
sion after impression about our country
We make no pretensions to beinga dis
tinguished foreigner, but our impressions
are shared by about every American we
have seen since coming here.
| III we've said ANYTHING "nswsty" about
England and the English in any previ-
Gus letters. we take it all back, for we
think since coming here. that they are
angels, and their country paradise--as
superior to France as our own country
| Is to any other place on the globe. Peo-
pie but need To go abroad TO see the good
points In their own country, and invari-
bly, II they come from the United States
they will become ratid Americans.
MANY times the story has recurred n
us ot Horace Greeley and the Calitor-
nian who was sojourning In some other
state, and blowing about his own state
being so far superior to any other on
earth, and the only place ut to live In,
when Horace ventured TO ask why he LEFT
his own state, and II It was so far above
any other, why he didn't stay In Ii. "Be-
cause | was y id fule," replied the
countrymsn. Well, that's just about the
way we've felt several times In the last
few months, but though the education -
which can be procured in no other way
and the experience-which Is the best
teacher-hss been bought at dear price,
and paid for, yet We do not regret the
venture. Experience Is one thing that
you can't sneak out Of paying for. IL
teaches wisdom, but Il IL sad teach-
er. Daniel Webster says that "Wisdom
inspires fortitude, and from fortitude IL
Is but one step TO stoicism." But to re-
turn 10 our ''impressions.
More and more IL Is borne 10 upon Us.
that the Americans are very desirable
At least the Frenchmen are the least de-
sirable of anything We have discovered
yet. There actually seems TO be nothing
sacred 70 native OF France. Though
we don't belong TO the too prudish ele-
ment who believe In draping the limbs
OF their pianos, yet We might have very
tough sensibilities and still be shocked
In Paris. la fact, we have never yet
found the society part Of any metropolis,
that would tend 10 make our Puritan
fathers and mothers smile In approval ;
but Paris fully sustains her worldwide
reputation for being the most notorious
place In the world, not barring the Sand
wich Islands.
We have heard great deal about the
politeuess OF the people here, but those
who know, tell US that II 1t ever was
hsbitual with the nation, IL Is now a
thing OF the past, and few OF our own
personal experiences bear out that
theory. for We have yet to see any OF the
would-be famous polish. On the occasion
Of our first ride In cab, the cabman,
(and the cabmen are supposed TO be
models Of politeness) fired of volley OF
French swear words, because We did not
give him enough pourboise--which liter.
ally means, "for \ drink" the fee OF
three cents which is always given In ad-
dition TO the fare. As We gave him five
we saw no occasion for so much ''parley
Francais," but coming back with dif-
ferent cabman, We thought TO save our
selves more annoyance by giving more,
so we gave ten, but with the same re-
suit. They evidently saw the verdancy
which doubtless was more or less appsr-
cut, tuu tuoukut W Uuhs us iuso Atne
them double fare, as that Is their little
game, but we were not quite so Paris
green as we looked, that time.
We were told before coming here, that
with all their smiles and suavity, which
greenhorn might think was politeness,
they would turn around and jeer and
make fun of you when your back was
turned, unless you are walking bank
account and lavish money right and left
At all the stores here an American Is
spotted on the instant, and II you want
to buy anything the price Is about double
what it is TO native, especially II you
are dressed in any lavish or otherwise
elegant manner. A friend of ours went
into music store one day, with her
rainy day clothes on, and purchased
concerto, for which they charged heI
three francs go cents). A few days
after she went in again with her big hat
and long feathers and Sunday-go-to'
meeting frock on, to buy the same thing
for pupil. and they charged seven franc:
for il. Wealth Is great institution
With it you are everything-without II
you are 80 Is per cent worse than moth
ing at all. We know people even In