Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-02

my enemies-and l never give quar-
ter to my enemies!"
As he spoke his prognathous jaw
snapped to with click-lilAe sound, and
in his eyes now coalblack were glints
of fire. At the same instant there was
binding flash, accompanied by ter
rifle crash, and the splinters of the flag
pole on the building opposite, which
had been struck by bolt, fell at their
feet.
"a good or a bad omen?" asked the
senator with nervous laugh. He was
secretly afraid of lightning but was
ashamed to admit 1t.
"a bad omen for Judge Rossmore!"
rejoined Ryder cody, as he slammed
to the door Of the cab, and the two
men drove rapidly off in the direction
of Fifth Avenue.
CHAPTER III.
INF all the spots on this fair, broad
~ earth where the jaded globe wan
derer, surfeited with hackneyed sight
seeing, may sit in perfect peace and
watch The world go by, there is none
more fascinating nor one presenting a
more brilliant panorama of cosmopoli-
tan life than that famous corner on the
Paris boulevards formed by the angle
of the Boulevard des Capucines and the
Place de POpera. Here, on the "ter-
race" of the Cafe de la Paix, with it's
white and gold facade and long French
windows, and it's innumerable little
handicapped tables and rattan chairs,
one may sit for hours at the trifing
expense of few sous, undisturbed
even by the tip seeking garcon, and,
II one happens to be student of hui
man nature, find keen enjoyment in
observing the world-types, representing
every race and nationality under the
sun. that pass and re-pass in steady,
never ceasing, exhaustless stream.
The crowd surges to and fro. past the
little tables, occasionally topping over
chair or two in the rush,
moving up or down the great
boulevards, one proce ssion going to
the right. in the direction of the
Church OF the Madeline, the other to
the left heading toward the historic
Bastile, both really going nowhere in
particular, but ambling gently and good
humoredly along enjoying the sights
and life.
Paris, queen Of cities! Light-hearted,
joyous, radiant Parasitic playground
of the nations the Mecca of the pleas
ure-seekers, the city beautiful! Paris
the siren, frankly immoral, always
seductive, ever caressing! City of a
thousand political commissions, city of
million crimes-her streets have run
with human blood, horrors unspeakable
have stained her history, civil strife
has SCARED her monuments. the Ger
m nc t11y hoc
aced within her walls Yet, like
virgin indebted, she shows no sign of
storm and stress, she offers her dim
pied cheek to the rising sun, and when
fall The shadows of night and a billion
electric bulbs flash in the SIRENS crown
her 'esplendent, matcnless beauty daz-
zles the world!
AS the supreme reward of virtue, the
| good American is promised visit to
Paris when he dies. Those, however,
of our sagacious fellow countrymen
who can afford to make the trip, usual
ly manage to see Lutetia before cross
ing the river Styx Most Americans
like Paris-some like it So well that
they have made it their permanent
although it must be added that
in their admiration they rarely include
the Frenchman. For that matter, we
are not as nation particularly fond
of any foreigner, largely because we
do not understand him, while the for
eigner for his part is quite willing to
return the compliment. He gives the
Yankee credit for commercial smart
ness, which has built up Americas
great material prosperity; but he has
the utmost contempt for our acquain-
lance with art, and no profound respect
| for us as scientists.
Is it not indeed fortunate that every
nation finds itself superior to it's neigh
Dor? II this were not SO each would
be jealous of the other and would cry
with envy like spoiled child who can
not nave the moon to play with. Hap
| PLY, therefore, for the harmony of the
world each nation cordially detests
the other and the much exploited
brotherhood of man" is only figure
of speech. The Englishman, confident
that he is the last word of creation,
despises the Frenchman, who, in turn,
laughs at the German, who shows open
contempt for the Italian, while the
American, conscious of his superiority
to the whole family or nations, secret
| ly pities them all
The most serious fault which the
American-whose one god is Mammon
and chief characteristic hustle-has to
find with his French brother is that he
enjoys life too much, Is never in a
hurry and, what to the Yankee mind
| is hardly respectable, has habit of
| playing dominoes during business
hours. The Frenchman retorts that his
American brother, clever person
though ne be, has one or two things
still to learn. He has, he declares, no
philosophy of life. 1t is true that he
has learned the trick of making money,
but in the things which go to satisfy
the soul he is strangely lacking. He
thinks he is enjoying life, when really
he is ignorant of what life is. He ad-
mits it is not the Americans fault, for
he has never been taught how to en-
JOY life One must be educated to that
as everything else. All the American
is taught is to be in a perpetual hurry
and TO make money no matter how In