The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22
HINTS FOR PARIS VISITORS.
REVELATIONS BETWEEN THE LINES
or NUMEROUS GUIDE BOOKS.

'NOur Man IN pnrS whose VEttuk - III
falIible and the story Of Personal Misery
That II Unconsciously Unfolds-Useful Sug-
gestions to the Visitor In the French Cap.
ital-A List OF Don't for. visitors.
The number Of guide books prepared for
the ediacation OF American visitors to the
Paris Exposition Is depressing. All Of the
well-seasoned publishers of guide books have
come 10 the front with special editions, and
every tourists agency. camera company and
travelling outfit establishment in the country
has It's pocket guide to the Exposition.
A collection Of these small pamphlets affords
very good reading. Not that there r. any
information in them that isn't given better
In the regulation guide books. The way 10 eh-
Joy them is to regard them "a autobiographies.
human documents. recording tho personal
experience Of the firms Paris representative.
One establishment publishes a booklet which
modestly disclaims all pretence of being a guide
book. II Is. SO says its preface. merely a col.
lection of useful suggestions to intending
travellers, and its unique claim to consideration
il the fact that IL must be true and accur ate
In all details, since II has been compiled BY
the oompany's own representative In Paris.
This touching confidence in the infallibility
OF the man in Paris Is a beautiful tribute to
commercial integrity and inspires personal
interest in the author OF the booklet.
Evidently the author has had troubles OF his
own. that noble and trustworthy man. One
can read between the lines OF his valuable
hints, records of seasons OF storm and strife.
He holds out no optimistic theories as to ex.
emption from seasickncss. To be sure. he
admits that 1t isn't a bad thing to take .
Turkish bath before sailing. but he throws
out this hint without any air of conviction.
and he follows It up by the statement that
Il isn't nice to carry many books for there 10
little chance that one will take any interest
in reading matter. Later. among sixteen
French phrases which are supposed to be OF
vital Importance in making rough paths
smooth, one finds tucked in between Q beef
steak and a beer the sad query: Have you
ever been seasick?" There is something posi-
lively Maeterlinckian about the simple sug.
gestiveness Of this question dropped down
among burning matters Of cabs and beef.
steaks and beers. When. with only sixteen
French phrases at command. a man unhesi-
tatingly accords one Of them to Have you
ever been seasicki" he gives a proof beyond
protestation Of the importance which sea sick
ness assumes on his mental horizon. Vol
umes Of description Of his throes and anguish
could not convey the picture Of his misery
tldt Is suSRtSteu III uldt dig UdlVt Que~tIOu'
On the subject OF tipping. too. the Paris repre-
sentative is pessimistic. Americans have tipped.
not wisely but too well. for so long a time that
foreigners have learned to expect muni1cence,
and the only thing the American eagle can do
If he wants 10 sustain life Is TO hold out a tat
tered wing and allow It to be plucked bare.
The Paris representative doesn put II eI.
actly that way, but that Is the gist OF bis con-
olnuglna and thara L. N and cort ipty about hia
verdict that leads one to suppose he has g aimed
his knowledge through painful experiment.
When It comes to an enumeration Of the
principal sights of Paris one loses sight OF the
Paris representative for n time. He disappears
behind Napoleon S Tomb and the Arc de Triomps
and the Concie rgerie. but when it comes to
Pere la Chaise, the writer's broad eclectic tastes
fash into momentary prominence. He strongly
advises a visit to the famous burying ground
and ~Justifes his advice by the information that
pilgrims to the sacred spot may view the graves
of Abelard and Heloise. Casimir Perier and
Molere, lovers. politicians and playwrights. A
less astute chronicler would have stuck TO the
names Of the men whose work has made litera-
names Of the men whose work has made French
knows his public and Casimir Perer goes hand
in hand with lovers and playwrights;
At the ,Morgpe one again has a glimpse OF
in nS Apparent Failure, from which fact.
logical mind deduces the inference that he
Knows and loves Browning, pe e II sS Was
board-with apparent failure.
In the list Of available theatres the note Of
personal suffering FRI y again sounded .. The
sns tn beTs' Shades I 'l OF fre S,ss''f im@ nTs~fs.
what heresy is herel Still there are undoubt-
writer up in his verdict. ,Apropos Of variety
theatres, the oracle speaks more cheerfully.
With fine disregard for narrow conventions,
Americans starting tor the Exposition. he
names the four variety theatres most notorious
for ,their, fragrant vulganty. 9pd assures his
In all human probability he will lead no one
from the straight and marrow path. for az
AmerieanS who visit Paris 90 e. TO These these, sfms
the shows subsist upon American money and
haven't enough Of q French PATRONAGE 70 keep
them them gso os4Iy Should 10,d ,b american hGt nss dollar, sud 40
tonishins thing that respectable American
mothers and fathers and modest young women
60 in With evident relish for uncleanness which
would shun at home as they would shup
the plague. Paris isn't 30 much worse thnn
travelling. public toward Paris is unique. and
II Ia doubtful whether some American girls
leave Paris as clean Of mind and Imagination
Ones faith in the Paris representative suffers
considerable strain In the matters Of cabarets
as well as Of variety theatres. Still one has the
word that lie Is absolutely trustworthy.
and he has undoubtedly given earnest study
to Partisan cabarets before offer Ing the Cabaret
du Ciel. the Cabaret de FEnfer and the Cabaret
du Meant "a the specimens best worthy OF the
attention Of American visitors. The Selection
offers a fine variety. II one may judge by the
As a matter OF fact. the three oabarets
are, like certain OF the variety shows,
designed merely to cater to the morbid taste
Of visitors who go &c, Paris, expecting q series
Of shocks, and would be bitterly disappointed
by the truly Partisan type OF wickednees. There
Is nothing distinctively Partisan about these
spectacular show places. beloved Of travelling
and your true Partisan scorns them
a choice variety OF Gallo scorn.
But Paris Is not all France" We have The
guide books word for it; and. as noted before,
the Paris representative cannot err. He menp
tlons various e~nvirons in support Of his stats.
at least a short trip through the provinces.
he says, with deep feeling that restores
q confidence in his aesthetic tastes, rudely shaker
by his common upon the classic drama. There
one may study the type immortalized by Mark.
poem. The Man With the Hoe" til
TO be feared that with the best intentions ima9.
Unable the Paris representative has queered the
provinces for the travelling American, but In
reality rural France IS attractive enough to
merit study and live down It's fatal association
with M~arkhamlsm. No one should allow the
prejudice him hopelessly against the provinces.
The useful and highly edifying booklet closes
with a list of terse "don'ts" for Exposition visit.
Hero the autobiographical nature OF the
Ia once more strongly In evidence.
Don't go shopping alone unless you speak