The sun., 1910-02-13
PARIS QUICK TO FORGET
SEVEN ANXIOUS DAYS OVER
THE FLOOD IN THE SEINE.
Then the waters Began to subSIde and
the CIty Was Gay Once MOre-Bad
Form Now TO speak Of the Flood
scenes when tho River Was High.


scenes when tho River was High.
PARIS. Feb. Paris has run the gamut
S,f emotions this week. For months the
Psrisians had been grumbling and jeering
n the state OF their city. Pavements were
born up that new pipes might be laid and
,ouares and roadways were often barred
10 traffic because OF improvements under
say.
The cartoonists and wits expended their
Energies in ridiculing the condition OF
.&he willie Lumiere.' They likened her
streets to the Alps, where chasms and pit
galls abound for the unwary traveller
tLey declared that level roads could never
he hoped for again. the authorities having
Lecided that violent exercise was good
for Parisians. They told all sorts OF
tnecdotes about boulevardiers who walked
Nslong cheerfully, to find themselves sud-
denly deposited down somebody's coal
role, &c. All Paris laughed at these
descriptions and grumbled at the officials
TOR their work.
Now, like the children who jeered at the
propbet's bald head. the Parisians think
they are being punished for their mockery.
Now there are real chasms to fall into,
real barriers erected. real cause for anx-
Iety and distress. Now the streets really
are undermined and the squares closed
10 the public. and Parisians had to pass
through much travail before-they could
see any joke in the situation.
Not for many years has the gay city
experienced such a week as that which
began Just seven days ago to-day. When
the Seine first started to rise mild anxiety
~ss expressed as to-how long It would
continue 20 do so. It became popular as
veil as fashionable to walk to the river
side and watch the water creeping gently
up it's banks.
Then came the morning when Parisians
awoke to the fact that this was a serious
natter. that the Seine was Over-reaching
herself. that she was breaking all her
erevious records. Parisians were aston
ished and agGrieved at her misbehavior
and stared eullenly at her swollen yellow
waters surging and rushing along and
ever stealing nearer to the top OF the
smbankments.
Soon came the collapse Of part of the
river wall, the inundated streets. the
flooded cellars, the subsidence of the
psvements in many places. the closing
Of the underground road. the cessation
OF many Of the trans and bus lines. the
cutting OF Of communication by telephone
and telegraph and the other inconven-
lences.
From an attitude OF sullen astonishment
the Parisian was moved to wrath, then
to fear for his beautiful city. Every one
foresav famine. pestilence and oatss-
trophe after catastrophe. and still the
rain fell and the wind howled.
Friday. January 2s, was, as the papers
called IL. day OF agony. The people
gave up hope and spent the hours in
despair. The Seine was steadily rising,
the storm continued, the authorities held
out small hope for the better. Theatres
closed. boulevard cafes were empty.
Paris mourned.
Mais voilai On Saturday the Seine
began to fall, the rain ceased. the wind
quieted. the sun shone and volatile Paris
took heart again. To be sure the Joy Of
those who had not suffered personally
was dampened by the account Of the
experiences OF those who had lost greatly
in the floods. Still at least hope dawned
for all and Paris smiled again.
Il is safe to say that on Sunday half
the population OF the city went to look
at their misbehaving river, which lay
calm and smiling in the sunshine like a
naughty child who has done all the mis-
chief possible and Is satisfied. Thousands
AID thousands Of people walked mp and
down the river banks, gazed curiously at
the inundated streets. hired boats to take
them to first floor windows OF houses
where friends or relatives were made
semi-prisoners by the food and alto
gether thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
despite lurking thoughts OF the after
math which might come when the falling
water left in it's path pestilence and de-
Itruction
Everywhere droll sights were seen. At
the Invalides to get from one street to
mother was practically impossible with
out wading. and girls revealed slim ankles
and dainty pettiooats to onlookers as
they splashed through the mud and water
u reach a destination. At the Avenue
Montaigne boatmen ferried fashionable
ladies wearing big hats and chic velvet
gowns across from one side Of the road to
the other and men rolled up their trousers
and holding firmly to high hats with ore
''hAN dhu 70 SOlu uc<tucU bLiCkS WIN Lno
other balanced themselves on the shalcy
boards which served as sidewalks In
mid air In short Paris was en- fete again
on Sunday.
Now she has taken up her life again.
IsNidinettes have returned TO work and are
TO he seen in groups at luncheon time
chatting and laughing. not about the
hoods. They are forgotten. The boule-
Yards at night are thronged with people
and cafes are crowded, but though candles
or III smelling lamps replace the electric
lights no one dreams Of complaining.
The street clocks have all stopped at
sminutes TO IL and that. says the Partisan.
good excuse for lingering on streets
or In cafes even later than usual.
Drivers Of motors and cabs are still charR-
ing e1orbitant sums for short rides, and
,hey generally get what they demand.
Every one takes good naturedly delays
on buses and tram lines. TO say nothing
n the telephones and telegraphs.
For the victims OF the disaster the purse
OF Paris is wide open; refuge, food,
money and clothes are theirs for the ask
ing. In fact Paris L. on her beet behav vior