190 WINTER SUNSHINE 



more fluent and graceful tree than the American spe 

 cies, resembling, in its branchings and general form, 

 our elm, though never developing such an immense 

 green dome as our elm when standing alone, and I 

 saw no European tree that does. The European elm 

 is not unlike our beech in form and outline. 



Going from London to Paris is, in some respects, 

 like getting out of the chimney on to the housetop, 

 the latter city is, by contrast, so light and airy, 

 and so American in its roominess. I had come to 

 Paris for my dessert after my feast of London 

 joints, and I suspect I was a little dainty in that 

 most dainty of cities. In fact, I had become quite 

 sated with sight-seeing, and the prospect of having 

 to go on and " do " the rest of Europe after the usual 

 manner of tourists, and as my companions did, would 

 have been quite appalling. Said companions steered 

 off like a pack of foxhounds in full blast. The 

 game they were in quest of led them a wild chase 

 up the Rhine, off through Germany and Italy, tak 

 ing a turn back through Switzerland, giving them 

 no rest, and apparently eluding them at last. I had 

 felt obliged to cut loose from them at the outset, my 

 capacity to digest kingdoms and empires at short 

 notice being far below that of the average of my 

 countrymen. My interest and delight had been too 

 intense at the outset; I had partaken too heartily of 

 the first courses; and now, where other travelers be 

 gin to warm to the subject, and to have the keenest 

 relish, I began to wish the whole thing well through 

 with. So that Paris was no paradise to one Ameri- 



