The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1900-09-01
IN PARIS THE GAY.
Some First Impressions OF the City
OF MeSSIeufs, MesdameS and
Madam0lSelleS.
PARIS.

but | have ample evidence that many
very many good Americans visit
Paris while yet living, | crossed the
English Channel last night in comp
any with several hundred of them,
and then journeyed with them to this
gay city. and when | arrived at my
hotel was compelled to wait n few
minutes until party of 70 good
Americans could be lacked out with
their luggage. land they had a lot
ofit,-and sent off to that big Lon
don over there, which | was 10th to
leave; and which | hope to visit
again one of these days. Today, |
find good Americans everywhere |
go. And can tell them wherever
see them, and as far as | can see
them. The women wear soft felt
hats and short skirts, as rule, and
almost invariably carry both a guide
book and a note book, which they
employ industuously. Wherever
you see woman thus accoutred,
and often you will find them in
squads, you will find a few male
Yanks, all Americans are called
Yankees over here, 0verin London,
as well as in the other cities in the
British Isles, the hats and skirts OF
the travelling American women at
tra.ted attention and comment.
Several times have fingered in the
vicinity of a squad of indefatigable
sightseers from my side of the ocean
for the porpose of noting the effect
upon the native Always there was
attention; frequently a httul smile
played over the face of Monieur as
he hurried BY to his business; almost
invariably, if the native were wo-
man, there would be a critical ex-
animation from top to toe, and a
hurried consultation with her neigh
Dor, if she had one, and then would
ensue nodding of heads and good
natured smiles. indicating that they
had arrived at a satisfactory con
clusion concerning the nativity OF
the visitors. In Hyde Park | verify
believe a small group of American
women were taken for members of
some Wild West aggregation, so
astonishing was the effect their at
tire had upon the feminine habitues
of that famous pleasure ground.
But they don't mind that sort OF
thing Fact is, believe they rather
enjoy it. They came over here to see
and to learn, and they are putting
in full time in that behalf. But |
must tell you something of my first
impressions of France and Paris,
We landed at Dieppe at A O'Clock in
the morning, and after having our
baggage chalked at the Custom
House, took train for Paris, via
Rouen. The sun rose on u beautiful
day, but the warmest | have felt
since | arrived on this side, and our
train passed through a billy country,
something like the region around
Nashville, Tenn. barring the differ
ence in the architectural fetures of
the landscape. The French peasant
is industrious, thrifty, and, am
persuaded dominated by the artistic
temperament. This is indicated by
the manner in which he arranges his
belongings,-that is to his cottage,
his orchards, his fields of grain, his
meadows. These seemed to my fan
cy to have been planned with refer
ence to requirements OF the artists
brush, and harmonized with the
perspective in a way that stirred my
poetic soul. | felt, therefore, before |
had been on French soil two hours
that the inspiration tor artistic en-
deavor which has put France in the
front ranks as an art center, has its
foundation in hereditary instinct, or
in fundamental love for and devo-
ton to the picturesque and heauti-
full betrayed by the whole people.
Perhaps this conclusion is merely a
fancy of mine, but often during
those first few hours in the north of
France, rapidly drew with my UNI
brellaan imaginary frame, inclosing
an ideal landscape, and pronounced
them all beautiful and inspiring |
am deficient in knowledge of French
artists, and cannot say if many, or
any Of them came from the common
people, but if they did not they
have certainly studied with wonder
rul benefit the beauties of their own