I. Language. Money. Passports. Douane.
For those who are desirous of deriving instruction as well as
pleasure from a visit to Paris, the most attractive treasury of art
and industry in the world, some acquaintance with the French
language is indispensable. The metropolis of France, it is true,
possesses English hotels, English professional men, English "valets
de place", English shops etc.; but the visitor who is dependent
upon such extraneous aid cannot expect to realize to
the fullest extent the enjoyment of which Paris is the fruitful
source.
The decimal Monetary System of France is extremely convenient
in keeping accounts. French Banknotes of 5000, 1000,
500, 200 and 100 francs are everywhere received at their full
value. Gold coins are of the value of 100, 50, 40, 20, 10 and
5 francs; Silver coins of 5, 2, 1, ½ and ⅕ (20 centimes)
franc; Copper of 10, 5, 2 and 1 centime (100 centimes =
1 franc). "Sou" is the old name, still in common use, for
5 centimes; thus, a 5-franc piece is sometimes termed "une
pièce de cent sous", 2 fr. = 40 sous, 1 fr. = 20 sous, ½ fr.
= 10 sous.
English banknotes, gold and even silver are generally received
at the full value, except at the shops of the money-changers,
where a trifling deduction is made. The table at the beginning of
the book shows the comparative value of the French and English
currencies, when (as is usual in ordinary traffic) at par; the addition
of a list of the coins in circulation in Germany will not be unacceptable
to travellers en route for the Rhine; the currency of Switzerland
is the same as that of France.
Foreign bills of exchange on Paris must be furnished with
a stamp of 5 c. per 100 fr., to be procured at the Timbre Impérial,
Rue de la Banque 13, before they are presented to the
banker.
With regard to the cost of a visit to Paris, it is impossible
to offer any remarks with precision. Supposing a traveller to frequent
a hotel of either first or second-rate pretensions, to dine
at a table d'hôte, or perhaps the "Dîner de Paris", to partake of
wine of a good though not extravagant quality, to visit the theatres,
to indulge in a supper à la carte etc. etc., a pound a day would probably
be the lowest estimate at which all this could be accomplished.
The thrifty and experienced traveller, who visits Paris for its
monuments, its galleries, its collections, and not for its pleasures,
will know how to control his expenditure in accordance with
the extent of his resources; but where all that can gratify the
eye and the palate are so temptingly displayed, where luxury is
raised to a science and where the provocatives to extravagance meet
one at every step, each traveller must be his own mentor.
Passports are now superfluous in France, as well as in Belgium,
Holland, Germany (Austrian dominions excepted) and Switzerland.
Considering, however, the facility with which these documents
are procured, it is always a wise precaution to be provided
with one. Application may be made to W. J. Adams, 59
Fleet Street, Lee and Carter, 440 Strand, E. Stanford, 6 Charing
Cross, or Letts and Co., 8 Royal Exchange.
In order to avoid any unpleasant detention at the Customhouse
(douane), travellers are strongly recommended to eschew
all articles not absolutely necessary. Books and newspapers are
occasionally regarded with suspicion. Cigars (6 only free of duty)
pay 10 c. each.
