The gold leaf., 1900-08-30
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. THREE.
PARIS. France. August 10. |

PARIS. France. August 10, 1900.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-The buildings of
the Exposition grounds are very fine.
Fountains play in front OF them and
statuary is every where. | will not at
tempt descriptions. The United States
building is fine but rather hard to locate.
In it is Il post office. On the ground floor
are reception rOOmS-arOund the ratings
of the other floors are hung shields with
the Stars and Stripes, one for each State,
also for the Philippines and Cuba. The
building is on the left hand side OF the
river and is shaped like the capitol.
Crossing the river | found myself among
the theatres. They We're almost count
less. ltwas almost time for the show to
begin and all those who took part We're
on exhibition on little porch that is in
front of each theatre.
While seeing the sights my friend went
into the Palace of Aztecs. A crowd of
them were taken about by guide He
came to one room and after putting them
all in it. closed the door. The room was
perfectly bare and we We're wondering
what game they We're up against when
the room became dark. At one end it
was little darker than at the other and
at that end appeared three women cover
ed with phosphorus paint. Two only
had their drapery on and one did not
have anything on. This is Paris. The
door was locked and my friend had to
wait until the door was unlocked. Such
are the ways OF the French.
They have no Sabbath in Paris. Sun
day is like any other day, with the eXcep-
ceptiOn that you hear the church bells
ringing. Stores are all open and work
men are at work every where. as on other
days. Stores all close early here and after
that are all dark. Business begins about
10 O'Clock and closes at about or )
o'clock
The different boulevards going through
the Exposition have flowers, trees, seats,
sta atuary and fountains 1t is Just as if
you Were in one grand palace. In one of
the Exposition buildings you can walk
straight ahead for ) minutes before get
ting out.
We spent part OF one Sunday at YER
seilles. which is almost as much u part of
Paris as the Champs Elyses, at all events
no one thinks OF leaving Paris until he
has paid a visit to the place where Louis
XIV and his successors lived in splendor
until the crash and choas of the revolu-
ton. The town of Versailles is, in itself.
dull and unpretentious, but the magni-
ticent park and palaces OF the BOurbOns
now freely open to the public, abund-
antly repay repeated visits. | saw a
splendid military parade, the soldiers and
officers all in full uniform. They We're
fixing for grand display of fireworks at
night, but | did not care to wait to see
that. At least one day at Versailles
should be devoted to the palace, another
to the park and it's dependent villas-the
grand Petit Trianons | saw the foun-
tan which cost $4,000 every time it is
started. The Petit Tranons recall the
joyous, youthful Marie Antionette. This
was her rural home. whittier she loved to
retire when wearied of the tedious cere-
monial OF the court. In the neighboring
palace OF Versailles she was a queen,
weighed down with grave responsible
ties and fettered by the numberless an
noyances incident Questionable life But
here she was Il happy woman, wife and
mother discarding all fOrmality. even
ridiculing (unwisely as it proveD the
rigid etiquette OF old French royalty. 1t
IS said that on these lawns she played
blind mans buff and fox and geese
and Joined in all fun and frolc The i'm
mense park of Versailles, with its world
famous fountains and shaded avenues
groves ana lawns, purple with multi
tudes of statues, is still as beautiful
naturally as when its picturesque allies
saw, like a company of actors on a
splendid stage. the brilliant court OF
Louis XIV, One needs many days to
look through the splendid palace But
even one day there will be a Joy for ever
The clothes of the French people all
seem too big for them. We have had
delightful sails up the Seine river for l 0
cents. The people all spot us as Ameri-
cans the moment they see U.s.
But am again reminded that this let
ter is getting long. One sees so much
when travelling i'll foreign lands he knows
not when to begin or where to end his
account of his observations and exper-
fences.
In September | start on tour through
cities of Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
When have seen Naples, Venice, Florence
and Rome | shall be ready to return to
no tod Stotn T.,