The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-08-16
LETTER FROM PARIS.
A Henderson Boy in the Gay French
Center of Fashion-Writes of His
observations and Impressions
Abroad-The People, the Exposition
and Other Things.
LETTER NO. TWO.


PARIS, France, August 2, 1900.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-We are now at
famous church Notre Dame. 1t is upon
little island in the center of the Seine
river. The situation of this cathedral
marks the cradle of the present city. Two
thousand years ago both sides of the
river were lined with forests, and on this
island We're primitive dwellings, OF the
warlike tribe which was vanQushed with
difficulty by Caesar in his conquest OF
Gaul. The name OF these brave warriors,
the "Parishii,' is still repeated daily in
the words Paris" and ''Parisian." Yet
Frenchmen need not blush at such a
derivation, for the Parishi displayed the
utmost courage in their conflict with the
Romans. and the testimony OF their con-
queror is that not Gaul abandoned his
post. but that all OF them were sur
rounded slain. together with their old
chief.
The cross of Christ has replaced both
the altar of those barbarianS and the
temple built here by the Romans. For
more than 7OOyears prayers have ascend
ed from this shrine to God. Above the
pointed dome ways, filled with sculp-
tured forms, stands long line of statues
representing old French kings. When in
the French Revolution religion was ban
ished from France the women of doubt
full character impersOnated here the God
dess of Reason.
From the towers of NOtre Dame the
tourist can get Il magnificent view OF
Paris Invent to the top for II cents and
rang the bell which weighs $500 French
pounds. This old cathedral is a noble
specimen of Gothic architecture. The
long drawn aisles, the fluted columns, the
l,1,a +o11r +ol he, 1,ft inf,
sections of the vase and transepts, the
splendid windows of stained glass.
through which the sunlight falls ap-
appeals to us with a mysterious charm.
But it is the marriages, the baptisms, the
burial services and the splendid pageantry
of royal weddings and of corOnations,
the voices that have echoed here, the men
and women who have trod this pave
ment, and whom these walls have seen
come and go like insects tuttering for a
moment in the incense laden air. From
| here we see the Eifel Tower with its
splendid arches, prodgeious yet beauti-
| full, the tallest structure ever reared by
| the hand of man. In one hour 2.3OO
people can be lifted by the elevators to
| the first and second galleries and $50 to
| the top. 1t costs 40 cents to go to the
| top.
One Saturday night we went to a fair.
! 1t was the most brilliant affair | have
ever seen Gayly dressed women walked
| along the bOulevards-all the men had
| dress suits on 1t was like one grand
| ball. 1t was as light as day. We heard
| selections from bands and 6 Orchestras.
| Hundreds OF people were around the
| electricity building watching the lights
and fountains. The most beautiful place
| in the Exposition grounds Is the Iroca-
| derO gardens-every one Is put out by
| the soldiers at II o'clock. On our way
| home We saw about 30 women stopping
| men and Were ourselves stopped 10y I.
This is the curse OF Paris 1--WE We're more
| disgusted than attracted1. Here we
visited the Baptist church and the Met ell
| Mission and attended some services con
Quoted by Christian Endeavorers from
| America At the Mccall meeting we heard
| Miss Shepard the heroine of Sheldon S
| book. sing. The entire service was in
| French and the speaker was fine one.
| 1t did me good even if could only under
| stand about Z words Here is encourage
ment for ministers who often get dis
couraged because their auditors do not
get all they have to say.
We have some amusing appearances be-
cause of our inability to speak French.
| When in a tower OF Notre Dame the guide
| wanted me to understand the thickness
OF the clapper and pointed to my foot,
| thought she meant fer me to kick II
and | did so in foot ball style. What
fools we mortals be In this way
rang the bell When we rented Oul
| lodgings we understood they would cost
the two OF us 60 francs a month, but
when a few days later we went to pay a
month in advance we found the cost sc
francs each-not S12 but S24. But is
not this reasonable for lodgings in Paris
at the time OF the Exposition? You car
get a good dinner for % cents.
Passing the famous Church Madeleine
heard grand burst OF music and went
in They had a band of about so piece
and played we'll Good as the Eas1
Orange or Bloomfield band, think you?
They had a choir OF 80 girls all dressed il
white with white wells, also about u
boys They Were having a grand parad'
when | got in Men all dressed in sill
and gold braid boys carrying flower
and incense, the bishop under "a canopy
people pushing out their children for tn
bishop to bless. There were nearly 50t
different people taking part in the ser
vice. The house and square We're jam
med and people kept coming and going
There must have been 1000 people there
| Enough for this time y.