VIEWS IN PARIS, 
all counting currency, one gentleman re¬ 
marked :—“ There’s no chance for idleness 
here. They earn every dollar they get.” 
And so day after day they sit counting 
money, until I should think their heads 
would swim with weariness worse than 
that of “stitch, stitch, stitch” that Hoop 
sung about so dolefully. Another gentle¬ 
man, in charge of one of the departments, 
said he wished I could see the place where a 
large number were at work, it was a low 
room right under the slate roof, crowded, 
unvcntilatcd, and, as ho expressed it, “a 
place in which mm would not work.” 
“ But they would do 
it, sooner than starve, 
walk up and down the 
fivrauc, lounge around 
street corners, button- [ _ 
hole members of Con- ) ( 
gress, and have half the -r--; 
members down here to V 
demand better quar- 
ters and Higher pay 
for them. Women *); 
work more faithfully 
than men, and make ^ 
less fuss about it.— 
There’s but one ob- ^ Ag 
jeetion in employing #$$$ 
them. If I don’t like 
a man employee I say . 
so, and lie is dismissed; t — 1 f 
but, if a woman proves 
to be incompetent, I 
can’t dispose of her thus summarily. She 
cries a little, and I can’t stand it, no how. 1 
11 1 wore rich I would continue to them their 
salary all the same as if employed.” 
I could understand that feeling in the man, 
and asked why the women employed were 
not salaried the same as the men, when they 
did work equal in quality as well as quantity. 
He said t here was vie reason why Llu y should 
not be equally compensated, but the fact re¬ 
mained that they were not. This is not a 
pleasant topic to write about, as I am re¬ 
minded with every stroke of my pen Unit 
I’m far from being a saint, and, like a man 
who sat behind me in the Senate one 
day, who wished he “had been a 
Senator for about fifteen minutes, 
when that nigger Revels was ad 
milted,” 1 wished 1 were an M. C. 
whciHihis compensation matter was 
discussed in the House, and the sub- •' : 
ject of women employes handled with = 
insult. I had a head and heart full f' 
of arguments and convincing para¬ 
graphs, any one of which would have 
convinced the House of its wicked 5- 
and unjust course, providing it had 
cars and heart and honor, and thought ' _ 
as I did! It seems really easier for - 1 
Congress to legislate twenty-five or 
fifty thousand dollars into some wid- r-, 
ow’s hand to support her in idleness J| 
than to legislate just compensation 
for work weil and faithfully done. 
The number of miserable wretches, jBajjSj 
existing in miserable quarters, that in- 
fest Washington is appalling. Indeed 
the entire city is the most thriftless, 
stupid, “one-horse affair,” for a town 
of its size, that I know of. Tho peo¬ 
ple, for variety, are clamoring in a 
mild way for self-government, and promise 
to do better, if Congress will only give them 
a chance. Aside from the Capitol, which is 
magnificent, and comprehends eating sa¬ 
loons, toy and fancy shops, a regiment of 
spittoons—the prominent American feature 
—and the experiments of a number of 
“struggling American artists,” there is very 
little aside, to excite one’s enthusiasm, unless 
it he the picturesque architecture of the 
Smithsonian Institution, which is deemed 
too esthetic for utility. Viewing it from my 
window, in all sorts of weather, and ul vari¬ 
ous hours in day and night time, it has been 
to me a realization of _ 
fairy -tnictmvs, s i;j ; T 
gesting all sorts of ro- raL . 
mantle situations, of 
knights and princesses, 
of lords antl^ ladies in ir 
illuminated sky, its 
towers, and minarets, gwjijlb hi f'Traivcl 
and castellated heights Hrlp fcjsL«u)j 
have outlined a stately 1 * " 
city on the sky, while || t1P M 
fancy peopled it with 
inhabitants who know 0 til 1 , 
nothing of polities or fijj | 
Washington. ’Tismore If] 
Oriental in design and I 
than any MTiffi Wi/kM ti 
titvAtixt anir Stsffnl 
BY FRANCES E. KINGSLEY 
The capital of France is, as all the world 
knows, a most magnificent city. In beauti¬ 
ful parks, promenades and public buildings 
it is probably unequaled. Almost fabulous 
sums of money have been expended on its 
general improvement, and Parisians may 
well feel proud of tho splendid results at¬ 
tained. 
We present herewith views of three note¬ 
worthy places in Paris. The Hotel da Yillo 
is the municipal palace, an imposing struc¬ 
ture devoted to the city’s use. It was re- 
1 N snowy white tho earth was clad 
A pitying mantle spread 
O'er nil this world's unsightliness. 
O’er its sweet flowers dead. 
MICROSCOPIC STUDIES, 
AT WASHINGTON, 
’Twas warm within thn cheerful room, 
Within two hearts was peace— 
Two hearts that were together knit 
in love—Joy's sweet increase. 
Two pairs of eyes wore looking out 
Upon tho quiet scene; 
No word was heard ; upon their lips 
Thorc fell a pause serene. 
Darling, this snow is like our love," 
He, timid, said at last; 
With its own heaven-sent purity 
It covers all life's past." 
BY MINTWOOD. 
Gossip iu the Senate. 
The Senate has been making a show of 
industry of late, and held a few evening ses¬ 
sions. The gas burners are arranged just 
above the glass ceiling or roof, so that the 
light is softened and rendered agreeable to 
the eyes, although lighting the chamber as 
perfectly as would sunlight. The panels of 
the walls are finished in pale yellow and 
gray. The carpet and upholstery of softs 
and chairs are red in effect. Most of the 
Senators were in their seats, and many of 
them spoke during the evening sessions. I 
was particularly gratified ill hearing Senator 
Sprague, as I had come to the conclusion 
that he ever held his peace, and contented 
himself with being the richest man in the 
Senate, and having a beauty of a wife. It 
has been remarked of Mrs. Sprague, that 
she lacked but, one thing to render her a per¬ 
fectly accomplished society woman, and that 
she obtained even that during lier last visit 
to Europe. She is rarely seen in society this 
winter, finding happiness in her two little 
children. She was present at a late recep¬ 
tion of Mrs. Grant’s, and was attired in a 
royal purple suit, trimmed with bands of 
Russia sable. The Senator has a quiet, self- 
possessed manner, but capable of evincing 
enthusiasm, and even passion in speech¬ 
making. 
Senator Morton, a powerfully built man, 
and supposed to be tho best logician in the 
Senate, travels about with tho aid of two 
canes. He speaks somewhat forcibly, and 
usually to the point. Next to him sits 
Fowler of Tennessee, with burly locks, of 
the shade a friend calls “solferine,” and a 
face not worth writing about. Norton, a 
flippant young chap from Minnesota, always 
speaks bn tho top of a giggle. If men are 
scarce in Minnesota, she had belter send a 
woman next time. Hannibal Hamlin has 
a Von Humboldt cast of face, full of benevo¬ 
lence and kindness. Yates of Illinois, 
ruined by intemperance, with bloated face, 
thickened voice and unsteady gestures, still 
evinces something of his old time brilliancy 
and power. His dark hair tumbles over his 
bead and brow in shining rings, one vestige 
retaining its early glory. Saulsbury of 
Delaware, another victim to tho blighting 
foe, is a rather handsome man, and Is said, 
by those who know, to bo ouc of the kind¬ 
est and best of husbands and fathers. 
Everybody knows a kinder, nobler heart 
never throbbed in a human form t han Dick 
Yates’. So all the more the pity. I shall 
vole for total abstinence when 1 vote. I’ve 
come to the conclusion that there is no 
safety in “ temperate " indulgence. So long 
as men are so weak, so easily tempted, 
A flork of *nnw-t)lr<l» iluttoroil by 
With twir.'rlnu notes of cheer.— 
Those birds nre like our hopes that rise, 
Forgetting overy four." 
~ ~ • bottles, w ith water, 
r t . : } and let them stand 
eomposiiiun olthcveg- 
• _ et.able matter—suck as 
-— — required. A drop of 
the infusion, placed 
upon this, and brought 
in the focus of a good achromat ic microscope, 
will reveal a sight truly wonderful to be- 
hold—gbonlsof living creatures in rapid mo¬ 
tion scudding through each Other, as if each 
was actively engaged on some special mis¬ 
sion, never jostling each other; whether 
darting straight forward, obliquely, or mak¬ 
ing a circuit, they dexterously avoid each 
other or any obstacles; they roll and tum¬ 
ble themselves over or wheel round with 
surprising swiftness. Y\ hen tho drop of 
water has grown smaller by evaporation, 
they flock together, and their activity is 
not diminished until tho water is dried up 
so much, as to no longer afford them 
“ sea room.” When finally dried up, 
----- -\vc observe but faint outlines in a 
!g|| sediment-like deposit. 
if It i3 found that bark, having the 
\g character of cinchona or quinine, is 
t. death; and, if in the infusion, will 
Y frustrate their development. Mul- 
Ancl limy our love be like tho snow, 
Is the reply sho brings. 
To sliiolfl from orory chilling frost 
Tho germs of bettor things. 
From heaven to earth It silent fell; 
To lift us, may wo think. 
Our lovo from love’s own fountain camo- 
Heaven’s lovo with earth to link.” 
fonts for 
OLD NICK HAWKER 
A. I! AJJ N A M IE 
“ I called about the place, to drive a car¬ 
riage and odd jobs. I am Nicholas Hawker. 
Mebbe, if you’ve heard of me, you’ve heard 
me called Old Nick.” 
And the man stood hack, fumbling with 
his ragged cap, as tho clergyman’s fair- 
haired wife turned her benignant face upon 
him. 
“ Have you references?” she asked. 
“ No, ’m.” 
“But I especially stated that applicants 
must bring them.” 
“ Eh ?” 
“ I said I must have references.” 
“ I can’t read. 1 heard of it by month. If 
you must, ma’am, I can’t get the place. I’d 
like to.” 
“ Why ? Are you a stranger here ? Do you 
know no one ?” 
“ I wish I was. Too many knows me, 
not knowing any good of me. That’s the 
worst.” 
lie fumbled with his old cap again, look¬ 
ing into it as though he hoped to find refer¬ 
enced there. It was one, in a certain way— 
the kind of cap no steady man ever wears. 
It spoke of the tipsy slumbers on cellar doors 
and in the gutters. It was jammed, and 
masked, and greasy, and torn. Yet even 
understanding that as she did, and marking 
the incomplete washing of the unaccustomed 
face, and the untidy combing of long neg¬ 
lected hair, the strange, pitiful attempts to 
spruce and look respectable, Mrs. Harrow 
road a wistful something in the fellow’s face 
that attracted her. 
“ I don’t quite understand you,” she said 
“ Why, if you knew that, did you come at 
all ? ” 
“ I thought, mebbe—being a clergyman’s 
lady, you know—mebbe ’ tworn’t all talk 
about helpin’ sinners to repent—” 
There he paused. Some thought of the 
tallying of Christian precept and p.notice 
was plainly in his mind; but lie did not 
know how to utter it without giving offense. 
He spoke the next moment very, very 
humbly. 
“ You see, ma’am, I’ve been drinking for a 
good many years. I’ve bad trouble. Wife— 
but she is dead and gone now; I hope she’s 
forgiven for her share of it. All you’d care 
for is, I’ve had trouble enough to kill a man, 
and 1 haven’t cared to ho respectable. But 
the other day I saw my girl, my only child, 
Li/./.ie. She’s grown up good and smart and 
pretty, and she’s promised to keep a little 
room for me, somewhere, if I’d try to be de¬ 
cent again; and I want to try. I’d work 
low, and work hard, and— God hears me — 
I’ll keep sober; but reference — bless ye, 
THE HOTEL DE VILLE, PARIS. 
paired and much enlarged in 1837, and con¬ 
tains elegantly appointed apartments for the 
accommodation of civic and other public 
functionaries. An immense library, number¬ 
ing some 46,000 volumes, is one of its chief 
features. 
The Place de la Bastille is historic ground. 
Its graceful monument marks where the re¬ 
nowned Bastilc formerly stood, — a prison 
whose ill-repute will descend in memory to 
remote generations. Though small, it was 
great in infamy. Built in 1370-1383 as the 
Castle pf Paris, it came to be used as a stale 
prison some time inter, and was destroyed 
by a mob in 1789. The names of six hun¬ 
dred and fifty-four persons who, it is said, 
compassed its destruction, appear on the 
column. 
The Boulevard St. Michel is one of the 
many numerous fine thorough Hires of the 
great city, and gives a very fair idea of the 
appearance of the boulevards in general, of 
which so much has been written. 
A Magnificent Aquarium— Berlin is 
soon to boast the finest aquarium in the 
world. It. is now iu preparation, and will 
make a large three-story structure. The 
execution _____ 
other edifice I now re- f— P 
member, and is a hap- : - 
py relief amid the gen 
eml massiveness which 
so much prevails here¬ 
abouts. One gets tired of nothing but white 
marble in straight lines and perpendicular 
uprightness, lacking all real grace of outline 
and beauty of form. 
THE BOULEVARD SAINT MICHEL 
aquarium proper will be lighted, while the 
galleries where the visitors stand will he 
dark. Caves and grottoes abound, and art 
is exhausted to mimic nature. 
