The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17

Some dozen years ago on special
occasion I loft this good old Garth for
tho space of half a1l hour. DUR
Ing this time, which ] noted by my
watch. my soul and body were intact.
and In no wise either materially or
im,naterinlly separated, both continued
to enjoy their old time close and friend
~ relationship.
Part Of this timc OF my hnlf hours
absence from terra flrma spent in
looking down from an altitude OF IL
500 feet on the beautiful capital city OF
Frances; and within the appreciative
range OF my mortal vision supplement-
ed with pair OF good glasses II be-
Ing still In the flcsh), also enjoyed the.
lovely country surrounding Paris;
Paris, the incomparable; Paris OF tho
heart; tho ~ne Paris Of the world and
earth, all so far below the car Of my,
great balloon How did I feel so far
above the grand city? really cannot
tell you with any degree OF exactness;
/ perhaps INDUCED some clever and
tffar-rcachinE thoughts, they may have
been less practical than imaginntivc;
not Of the earth. earthly. but on n high
or plane at any rate, there l was,
greatly elevated above matters ter
| rcstrial, and far above the most SAN
| gninc and ambitious dreams OF my
! youth and early manhood. / fancy the
percentage Is email oven among my
inquisitive countrymen OF those who
have seen the gay French capital from
such high and unique points Of van
| tage. / well remember that my travel
\ ing companion who had assured ME
| tho morning Of my trip how glad he
| would be to accompany me heavenward
/ when the crucial moment arrived very
| politely declined to add to his varied
! }experience, remarking that the earth
! suited him. He .solemnly tolc me good
| bye and promised to inform my friends
/ and relatives in America how grace
! fully had left the earth, with no
fear or 1nisgiving about results.
Tar beneath me l saw the numerous
1 elegant boulevards where delighted
Ito stroll when on carth,i catered about
! were many grand palaces, imposing
/ churches, cathedrals and stately public
i edi1ces, through which / had otter
/ roamed during my earthly days. Ane
4 there, winding Its sinuous way through
the heart of the beautiful city was the
!! River Seine ever SO near to the Frencf
4 heart alike in the piping days Of peace
and plenty, as well as the fierce. bloodS
u times OF revolution. when all reason
4 was thrown to the winds in the mos
reckless abandonment And then W.
looked down on the Eiffel Tower. Will
all tho seeming of great back spide
! trying to reach its lengthening tentac
les to the score of human flies quietl!
lhovering thousand feet above It
4 And then again we gazed where tn
sunlight seemed to lovingly rest on tn
gilded dome OF Des 1nvalides. where sc
quietly reposed the mortal remains
the great soldier who had known NJ
. rival since Hannibal. A dozen mile
away to the southwest my eyes briefl
rested on the old capital city OF Yer
sailles. once brilliant Versailles. whc
France was great and powerful tina
city that carries and contains 50 muc
J, French history. and where SO ofte
centered the most important poutlG q
events of Europe. There we saw tn
; grand old palace and the artist
grounds, the one still containing man