Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1919-06-26
Nevers France. May, 1919.

in France. and is written essentially
for nv own information as a matter
of record, and / have endeavored to
make it concise and express my opin-
ions or impressions candidly.
AS related in my previous nara
ton, / have visited last January
Paris. Cette, Toulouse, Luchan, the
Pyrenees mountains on both the
French and Spanish sides of the from
tier. Lourdes, Tarbes, Bayonne and
several other places in Southern
France. While in Paris at THAI time
/ visited the following places, among
others, but not mentioned herein:
The Trocadero, which is beauti-
full building of comparatively recent
construction, having been built after
the Pru3sian war tor an exposition,
is surrounded by fountains and gar
dens, with aquarium and statues.
The Invalides, a large edifice of
the Renaissance style, founded by a
king Of France for wounded soldiers,
containing Napoleon's tomb, whose
body was brought here from st. He
lena where he was exiled. Two of
his friends are buried near him, and
on the tomb are words from the for
mer emperor's will requesting that
he lie at rest among the French peo-
pie whom he loved so much. There
is also a large exhibit, consisting
mainly of war-scarrec artillery, arms
and trophies of the recent war.
Grand and Petit Palais (palaces)
at the Champs Elysees (Eylsian
Fieldsl, and Palais des Glaces.
The Boulevards.
The Ferris Wheel.
Place de la Concorde and Egyp-
tian Obelisk with its wierd hero
glyphics, which is present from
Egypt to France.
My previous furlough was taken
in the midst of winter and the places
of high altitude were covered with a
thick mantle of snow. This trip was
different, it being the best part of
spring and the aspect formed strik-
ing contrast with my previous trip.
In January everything was practi-
cally lifeless, even nature itself, al
though there was charm peculiar to
winter. Now everything is clothed in
green, all fresh and blooming, and
instead of cold there is pleasant
warmth.
This furlough comprised six days,
from May 18th to May 21st, inclu-
sive, during the course of which time
the places hereunder were visited in
the following sequence: First day,
Paris; second and third days. Paris
and Versailles; fourth day, Chateau
Thierry and Rheims; fifth day, Yer
dun; sixth day, Troyes, Montargis
and return to Neyers.
Paris
| arrived in Paris early in the
morning and, after having registered
with the Military Police, went down
to the Seine river and walked along
its right bank towards the Hotel de
Vile, which has much history in con-
nection with the French Revolution
attached to 1t, and it is really a very
beautiful building, occupying whole
square. This is the City Hall of
Paris.
At this point I crossed the River
Seine at the Point Neuf (new bridge)
which is, curiously enough, the oldest
bridge in Paris. The Seine was
crowded with small boats and barges,
and it seems as if things were re-
turning to their ante-belIum status.
The next stop was the Notre Dame
Cathedral, which / had seen, but not
previously entered. It is said that
this is one Of the finest pieces of
Gothic architecture, there being a
profusion of gargoyles, quaint carv-
ings, colored glasses, etc. The in
terror is very sombre, there being
profusion of beautiful affairs and col
umns. Before the Christian era this
was the site of the Temple Of Jupi-
ter. From Notre Dame strolled
through the students section, passing
the famous Sorbonne University,
where there are many American Off
GERS and enlisted men studying adj
vanced courses of science or law,
through the generosity of the French.
Only such applicants who had a good
college education or several degrees
were given preference for eligibility
to Paris university, preferably those
having knowledge of French and q
working knowledge of the subject he
wished to further study.
In this section there is also the
Pantheon, which was closed at the
time. 1t looks very much like our
capitol at Washington and some of
the French say the White House was
modelled after it. However, the
French copied this style from the
Roms9s, who goa it from the Greeks.
The Pantheon contains tombs of IA
nous men, among which are the re-
mains of Victor Hugo, Rousseau, Boil
taire and others.
The Grand Pantheon de la Guerre
is not far from here. 1t is a most
impressive picture, being a painting
of all the famous personages of the
Allied and associated powers. Each |
country which took part in the war
against Germany and Austria Hun
gary has a section of the canvas. The
portion representing the United |
States shows the flag, President VIII
son, ex-President Roosevelt, General
Pershing, Admiral Sims, the West |
Point cadet, the civilian, the cowboy
and Indian coming to rally around