A GLIMPSE OF FRANCE, 



189 



Thoreau would have found his instep even fairer, for 

 the beech on this side of the Atlantic is a more fluent 

 and graceful tree than the American species, 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 house-top — 

 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 sus- 

 pect 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, would 

 have been quite appalling. My interest and delight 

 had been too intense at the outset ; I had partaken too 

 heartily of the first courses ; and now, where other 

 travellers begin 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 American at least. Yet, the mere change of air 

 and sky, and the escape from that sooty, all-pervasive, 

 chimney-flue smell of London, was so sudden and com- 

 plete, that the first hour of Paris was like a refreshing 

 bath, and gave rise to a satisfaction in which every 

 pore of the skin participated. My room at the hotel 



