The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-27

! that few religions have commanded. Wo-
men who have yawned through Italy and
| the East have. when one meets them here
! the intense manner, the air of separation
| from tIings mundane, that is obServa; able
in pilgrims approaching the ehrines Of
their dieties. Mohammedans at Mecca
must have some such look. For here al
last women find themselves in the pres
ence of those high priests whom they
have long worsaapped from a distance
| 1t is useless TO mention other subjects
to the devotee. for they will not fix hel
attention. Her thoughts are with hel
heart, and that is far away
/ When visiting other cities one feels
, that they are like honest married women
living quiet family lives, surrounded by
their children. The French Apasia, or
| the contrary, has never been true to any
vow, but has. at the dictate of her pas
/ sions, has changed from royal and i'm
/ periaI TO republican lovers, ana back
again, ruled by no laws but ier caprices,
! and discarding each lover in turn with
! insults and blows when she has wearied
OF him. Yet sovereigns are her slaves,
and leave their lands TO linger in her
presence; and rich strangers from all The
corners of che earth. come to throw their
fortunes at her feet and bask a moment
in her smiles. Like her classic <proto-
| type, Paris Is also the companion Of The
philosophers and leads an tho arts in
her train. Her palaces are the meeting
places Of the potes, the sculptors, the
dramat1sts, and the painters, who, in their
different ways. are never weary of ceie-
brating her perfections, nor of working
for her adornment and amusement.
Those who live in the circle of her in
fiuence are caught up in a whfrlwind Of
artistic production, and consume their
brains and bodies in the vain hope of
pleasing her and attracting attention.
/ To be loved by Paris is an ordel that few
natures can stand, for she wrings the
hfe-blood from her devotees, and then
casts them aside into Oblivion. Paris said
to one of her greatet writer's: "Aime a
/ briser ses idoles"! AS Hercules and his
/ companions fell, in other days, a prey to
the ailurements of Gree, so our powerful
young nation has fallen more than any
other people under the influence of the
French Siren. and brings her yearly tri-
butes of gold which she receives with
avidfty, although in her heart there is
little fondness for the giver.
The Americans who have been in Paris
during the last few weeks have had an
excellent opportunity of judging the sin
certy of Partisan affection, and of sound
Ing the depth and unselfshness of the
love that this tickle city gives US in re-
turn for all our homage. Not for one
moment did she hesitate, but threw the
whole weight of her influence and wit into
the scale for Spain. If there is not at
this moment an European a9liapce against
America. it is not from any lack Of effort
on her part towards that end.
The stand taken by La Willie Lumiere
in this crisis has caused many naive
Americans (who believed that their weak
ness for the French capital was returned)
a painful surprise. They imagined in the
simplicity of their innocent hearts that
she loved them for themselves" and
have awakened. like many other rich low
ers. to the humiEating knowledge that
penniless neighbor was receiving the
caresses that Croesus paid for. Not only
does the entire press TEEN at this moment
with covert insults directed towards our
position in the present setruggle, but in
society, at the clubs and tables Of the
ariStocracy it is impossible for an Ameri-
can 10 appear with self-respect, so persis-
tently are our actions and our reasons
in undertaking this war misunderstood
and misrepresented. In the conversation
of the salons and in the daily papers it is
assumed that the Spanish are a noble race
Of patriots fighting in the defense of a
loved and loyal colony, while we are a
horde of blatant towards. who have long
fermented a revolution in Cuba in order
to appropriate that coveted island.
When last week the Spanish authorities
allowed an American ship Surprised in
one of her ports by the declaration of war;
TO depart untouched. the fact was mag
nifed into an act Of almost ideal gener-
osity; when on the other hand, we de-
cided not 10 permit privateering. that
announcement was received with derisive
laughter as a pretentious pose to cover
hidden interests. 1 have good reason to
believe. however. that this feeling in
favor OF Spain goes little further than the
press and the aristoc-atfc circles 50 dear
to the American Climber" the real heart
Of the French nation IS as true to US as
when a century ago she spent blood and
treasure in our case. 1t is the inconstant
capital alone that. false 70 her role of
IberatCr. has SIDED with the tyranc
Yet as I wander through her shady
parks o. lean over her monumental quays,
drinking in al the beauty Of the beauti-
ful spring days. Intoxicated by the per-
fume OF the showers that the night
showers have Kissed into bloom: when
ljnger OF an evening over nv coffee. with
all the brilliant life Of the bouleverds
passing Ike a carnival procession before
ny eyes: when I sit in her theate-s. en-
;hraaIei by the genius Of her actors ard
p,2ywI'igl,ts. or stand bewsideTed before
the ten thousand paintings and statues
Of the salon. I fee inclined. Ike a be-
trayed lover. % pardon rny faithiess mis-
tress; she IS too lovely for one 20 remain
long angry wt,h her. You realize she Is
false, and Will besray you again. ard
laugh a you. and Insult your weakness.
but when she smiles her fats are for
gotten; the ar5or Of her kisses Blinds yoa
70 her 5aconstsncy; she pou-s out
drauc1t thai no. other hands can brew.
and Clasps you IN arms 50 fair e1at he
outside those fragile barriers seems STALE
and Improbable