Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-23
THE MISSIONARY FIELDS
Missionaries Visit the Fair.
Rotterdam. May 30, 1900

Rotterdam. May 30, 1900
A party OF missionaries laborlng here
Including Elders Hinckley, Roelofs,
Nibley Eardley and myself, having OBJ
talned leave OF absence 20 enable us 10
visit the great Exposition In Paris, set
out on May 9TH,
our ride through Holland Belgium
and the north OF France was most de-
lghtful one so different from riding
on the train across the country az home
Here the scenery, Instead OF being
mountainous or dry plains, Is an rolf
ing hills, aud what added to its beauty
was the fact that hardly a square foot
Of ground f. uncultivated, but Is simply
q mass Of flower gardens, or green hay
fields. Beautiful green hedges lined
each side OF the track during the entire
distance,
We arrived in Paris at $50 pm, and
quickly found a bus. that took us TO our
hotel where we had previously made
arrangements FOR stopping, and which,
BY the way, Is an American one
throughout run by a Mr.. Griffin, for
ynerly OF Detroit. Michigan. II Is situ-
ated IN the Rue Dupont des Loges Ave
Rapp). within two minutes walk Of
one Of the main entrances Of he EXhibl.
ton. tell you this for the benefit OF
anyone who may need such Information,
After enjoying a hearty meal, we
stroled around Paris. taking In the
many sights, and ending up the day by
going 20 one Of the numerous theaters
II would be impossible for me 10 des-
cribe beautiful Paris as she really 49, so
/ will have 70 content myself with tell
ing you OF those things that particular
ly attracted my attention.
First. then, the cleanliness OF the
streets, and buildings. Everything in
deed, looked as II II had on It's holiday
attire The broad streets and avenues
next took my eye void as they were OF
everything that would mar their beauty
on one OF the main thoroughfares, you
can look for a distance OF six miles IN a
direct line; and this Is one of the things
! noticed about all the streets, Instead
Of twisting and turning In every con-
ceiyabe shape. as is generally the case
In most OF the large cities, they run In
straight lines
Nearly all the streets are lined on
both sides with trees, different from
any that ] have ever seen. They are
Kept wen trimmed. and In appearance
look like huge rose bushes IN full bloom
Another thing that adds beauty TO the
streets Is the striking conformity OF the
buildings the numerous parks statues.
monuments. fountains. etc, seen on
every side lend an air OF bewildering
beauty 10 the city.
The following two days we set aside
for seeing Paris before going 10 the
Fair. and accordingly secured places
with a Cooks Excursion company,
thinking that this would be the easiest
and quickest way OF seeing the principal
places OF interest.
The first place that we visited was the
Grand Opera House EXTERIOR, the larg-
est theater In the world. covering a
space OF nearly three acres. Between
four and five hundred houses We're de-
molshed to provide the site Nearly
every country OF Europe has contribut-
ed materials for this magnificent struc-
ture which cost nearly a million and
half pounds sterling We had the
pleasure OF hearing a grand opera. about
which win speak later on. The Church
Of St Mary Magdalene must also be
mentioned as one or the principal points
Of interest. II IL built on the order OF
the early Greek architecture The
foundation was laid IN 1874, but owing
TO divers causes IL was not completed
until 1872, at total cost Of R5200o0.
Near here is the Place de la Conc0rde,
the largest and finest square IN Europe.
In the center Of It stands the Obelisk ~
Luxor, sister monolith 20 CleOpatra's
needle. Il Is a solid piece OF stone. IS
feet In height and weighs $40 tons.
There are also eight large statues 10
this square, representing the chief
towns OF France. / mention this square
on account OF II having such q tragic
history. II was here that over 1000 per-
sons were crushed 20 death and 1900
seriously injured, In panic which arose
during a large celebration held there.
During the reign of terror IN 1898, the
guillotlne was erected on this spot. and
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette with
over 1000 persons were decapitated.
The "Hotel des Iuvslids," founded In
1870 for decayed veterans. covers an
area OF q acres Il is here that the
body OF Napoleon lies, his tomb being
a large Dit 80 feet IN diameter. ana 20
feet deep made OF solid granite and
marble. We visited the spot where for
merly stood the castle OF the Bastile.
which was destroyed at the outbreak OF
the French Revolution. Dickens "Tale
OF Two Cities was brought forcibly 90
my mind as ! gazed on the spot where
the old prison stood. We also hsd the
pleasure Of going through the historic
cathedral Notre Dame. founded IN 1853
This when full Is said 10 hold 20 900 peo-
Pile There Were hundreds " pilgrims
present. who had come from different
parts of France 20 be "absolved." I'm
the treasury are many ola relies they
Include fragments Of the crown Of
thorns, and Of the true cross a nail
from the cross. etc. {? y
We also visited the morgua wherein
are exposed the bodies of an unknown
persons found dead in the city OF Paris
The bodies are exposed FOR three days
after which they are sold 90 medical I'M
sututlons. unless previously claimed
and carried away by friends.
From here we went 90 a "Child's IN
cpbator institution where we saw
about a dozen babies being brought up
on the chicken plan.
Our second days trip was TO Yer
aailles 20 see the palace OF by-gone
ROYALTY.
pere we saw the apartments ~ Ma
noleon and Josephine. besides many Old
relies belonging to them The gardens
surrounding the palaces are exception
IS fine and are hlled with numerous
statues and fountains
There rs one large fountain here that
costs 5000 every time % plays. which
u does once a month. but FOR only
twenty minutes.
in one OF the wings OF the palace Of
Versailles Is a fine collection OF historic
pictures that are said 20 be unrivaled
BY any IN the world and 90 have cos,
100000 II Is estimated that " an these
pictures were placed side by side they
would reach distance Of FIVE miles,