Letters of a Russian Traveler, 1789-1790 by N. M. Karamzin Florence Jonas

Author:N. M. Karamzin, Florence Jonas [N. M. Karamzin, Florence Jonas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780837187259
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Published: 1976-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Paris, April 2, 1790

“I am in Paris!” This thought produces in my soul a kind of peculiar, agitated, inexplicable, delightful sensation. “I am in Paris!” I tell myself as I dash from street to street, from the Tuileries to the Champs-Elysées. Suddenly I stop, I regard everything with heightened curiosity—the houses, carriages, people. That which was known to me from descriptions I am now seeing with my own eyes. I am rejoiced and gladdened by the living picture of the greatest, most famous city in the world, wonderful, unique for the diversity of its scenes.

Five days have passed like five hours, amid the tumult and crowds, at the theater, and in the enchanting Palais-Royal. My soul is filled with lively impressions, but I cannot explain them even to myself, and I am in no condition to tell you anything coherent about Paris. Let my curiosity be satisfied, and then there will be time to consider, describe, praise, criticize. Now let me only note what seems to be Paris’ primary trait—the remarkable swiftness of the people’s movements, the astonishing rapidity of their speech and actions. Descartes’ vortex theory could have been conceived only by a Frenchman, a Parisian. Here everyone is hurrying somewhere; seemingly they are all trying to outstrip each other; they hunt out and snatch at ideas. They guess at what you want, so as to be rid of you as quickly as possible. How different they are from the solemn Swiss, for example, who always walk with measured steps and listen with an attentiveness that makes a shy and reserved person blush. Even when you have ceased speaking, they continue to listen and to weigh your words. How deliberately, how cautiously they reply, fearful that they have not understood you! The Parisian, on the other hand, is always trying to anticipate your wish. Before you have finished a question, he has answered you, bowed, and taken his leave!

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.