Year: 1878

PARIS, June 9th, 1878.


Wereached this place last Monday night,
and found the hotels so full that we called
at several before We succeeded in obtain
ing apartments, but are tolerably well fixed,
considering the rEsh.


On Sunday, before leaving Cologne, |
boarded small steamer and sailed down
the Rhine short distance to a geological
aud Beer Garden, in which are found
large number of beautiful and rare birds,
as well as many strange animals, for exhi-
bition. The garden is a lovely spot, laid
out very handsomely, in fine walks, around
large ponds throwing up strong jets of
water, and deusely shaded About four
o'clock, in the afternoon, large band of
music appeared on stand provided for it,
whilst in front are acres of seats and tables
for the accommodation Of the beer drink
ers A lively air was soon struck up by
the band and the beer served in profusion,
to the satisfaction and delight of every one
present Being thus engaged, as l was
told, in their accustomed manner, with an
expectation of many hours of hilarity be-
fore them, suddenly and Unexpectedly an
officer appeared and directed the proceed
ings and music to cease, because the En-
peror William had been shot. This threw
the entire array into a state of confusion
and disappointment, and the unfortunate
occurrence became the chief topic of con-
versation, many of them expressing a re-
gret at the assault, as they said because
the Emperor was such an old man.


The Germans, believe, are content
with their rulers to certain extent, the
successes of those in authority having in
fiated the masses with sense Of superiori-
ty aud military glory. But they have a
keen scent for money and in every way
appreciate the value of it, and do not with
out great reluctance pay the enormous
taxes to support the military pageantry of
the Empire. Besides this, they dislike to
have their sons forced into the army against
their will, to the edifcation Of the vain
glory of epauletted officers. Thus taking
the situation in its practical sense, Ger
many is full of discomfort, cropping out in
what is termed socialism. However, they
are great and prosperous people, deserv-
ing the respect of mankind. 1t required
twelve hours, by express train, to bring
us from Cologne to Paris. For about fifty
miles the country is beautiful and very
productive, the farmers living in their vii
lagos, cultivating the land in small parcels,
and no fences.


Finally we reached bluffy country, not
so well adapted to farming, which turns
out to be the ceal mines of Belgium
Through this hilly land runs small river,
formed into a canal by dams, and finally
regular canal extending through to Paris,
the railway winding its way along the
stream, very often taking short cuts through
the hills by tunnels.


For at least one and half hours ride
in Belgium we were never out Of sight of
some iron or glass works, or other manu-
featuring establishments, and was amazed
to see the magnitude of these works.
Piles of cinder, resembling huge fortifca-
tions or mounds, in large numbers, being
the refuse of the furnaces, are piled up all
along the line. From the large number of
tracks on the roads, switches and stopping
places, one is led to believe that there is a
depot every half mile All the works
seemed to be in operation.


have travelled in the iron districts of
Pennsylvania and other places, and for
business and industry this line through
Belgium exceeds everything ever beheld,
in Europe or America. Besides the works
mentioned, saw an immense number of
large lime kilns and quarries, yielding the
most superior building stone.


Leaving Belgium we again entered
France, and from that on to Paris is the
most lovely and the most beautiful country
beheld anywhere. It is not surprising, or
ought not to be, to learn that a French
man loves his country Whilst in all other
lands we see In some parts or other, neeli-
gence and Indifference portrayed by the
people, in the management of their homes
and domestic affairs, it is not so in France.
Beautiful and charming France WHY
was it that amid all this scene of natural
and artificial beauty her industrious, frugal
aud domesticated people have so often al
lowed themselves to be made the instru
ments to drench all Europe in the blood
OF their fellow men, and cause millions cf
hearts to bleed at the destruction of human
happiness? There, in this great city, as
well as in other parts of France, no filth
is seen about the premises of any one,
everything being in order and proper deco
rum, in place and in person


Wherever | travelled | saw as much
wheat in the vallies, in proportion to the
average land, as we grow in Washington
county. The southern part of France is
devoted to grapes, but nevertheless they
grow some wheat there too. The whole
northern part of Italy, being a valley, four
times as wide, and just as fertile as that
in which Hagerstown is, produces immense
crops of wheat. All the country. as far
south as Naples, is a wheat country.
Wherever l found the land hilly and not
SO productive, the grape is cultivated.
The valley Of the Rhine grows everything
that we grow, except corn; but | found
great many marshy flats in this section not
susceptible of cultivation. From what l
have been reading and hearing of Europe,
before came here, | was led to believe
that very little wheat was grown in it, and
hence my surprise when found it as good.
if not better, than my own country. 1t is
true they grow these crops in small patch
es, but still the whole country is growing
up in grain and in the aggregate makes a
heavy yield. The entire north and mid
die of France is an excellent wheat grow
ing country. From all saw and learned
from good authority, there viii not be a
heavy demand from the United States for
wheat by Europeans during the coming