The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-06
A PARIS TOUR.
Hints for Those Who Expect TO Visit
the fXposition.

| MINIS LOT inose W no 1IHpcct 10 flSi
the Exposition.
The Paris Exposition to man,
! people the present summer means tn,
opportunity for their first view of life
! on the Continent and they are looking for.
ward to their experience with the mos
! delightful anticipations. There is a GER
| tain glamour about Paris that is possess.
! ed by no other city in the world Ever
| the confirmed globe-trotter and the ha-
| bitual tourist are never entirely obiiVious
! 10 the sentimental influence that the city
| eXerts, while TO the novice in touring, the
first visit to the French capital, the first
sight of French life and he French people
are fraught with Intoxicating anticipa-
lions.
While it is true that many Of these an
ticpations will probably be realized by
those who visit Paris in the proper way
and with the proper spirit, there are GER
tain hints that may be given that may aid
the novice in the labor OF avoiding pit
falls, or assist them to take full advantage
of the countless opportunities for sight
seeing that this visit will present to him.
OF course the first sight to be seen is the
Exposition; but so far as that is con-
cerned every man may be his own guide.
IN the Exposition grounds each man can
seek out the features that particularly in
terest him. If it is art, there are the
galleries. II it is machinery, automobiles,
flying machines, or flowers he will have
ample opportunity to satisfy his appetite
for information and instruction. To
attempt to lay down rules for the visit
or to the fair grounds. therefore. would
be worse than senseless. 1t is after he has
seen these sights of the Exposition that
wise suggestions will come IN handy.
For instance. the best preparation for
such journey is a moderate course of
reading. This does not imply that one
needs to take a prolonged course III tech
meal French history, but just enough of
the outlines to give a genuine conception
OF the growth and progress of the city
since that time when It was a fortified
camp and a tiny Seine Island. Then one
should give more than glance at the
history of France during the reign of the
later Bourbons and the Napoleons.
To read history IS a very simple mat
ter and is at the same time one OF the
most ENJOYABLE pursuits in the world If
it is faithfully done, moreover, the Louvre,
the Tuileries, the Petit-Trianon. and all
so glibly by the guide books, will mean
something that they never can mean if
the SightSeer depends upon the guide
books for his information.
If he approaches them with the story
OF their life in mind the whole thing
becomes Very real to him. He hears the
echo Of the timbrels in the Palace de la
Bastile and the guillotine casts a very
real shadow IN the Palace de Ia Repub-
ilque. BY closing his eyes he may imagine
that the old days have returned. the DAYS
when great passions were let loose in these
streets. Great kings and queens look
down from the windows and then stink
away beneath the stern unrelenting gaze
of great patriots, great leaders who car
ried the people TO the riots of death
To the ordinary observer there may be
~thing but plain stone walls in sight
but II one knows the stories OF the great
that have Redeemed these stones
with blood. the plain stone walls" assume
an Infinite charm; an intoxicating inter
est pervades everything
such sights are not for the gaze of the
traveller TO whom every great
city means nothing more than a bus lot
Of building and a Baediker but the Amer
lean who Is TO visit Paris for the first
time this summer Will make the mistake
OF his life II he follows in the footsteps of
this same ordinary traveller 1t is lust as
easy TO see well as to see little
A little knowledge will make the visit
10 the French capital many-fold more
than II the visitor went unpre- !
pared for the sights that he will have an |
opportunity TO witness, and the best guide |
BOOK ever written is a poor substitute for |
he personal knowledge that enables one !
o connect impressions with facts
1t may be possible that this advice is |
but. if 50. there is one point |
hat the tourist should bear in mind and
his hint may be expressed in the words: !
Don't come to Paris unless YOU have
'lenty of money!