them, a thousand years, the great Julius came and invaded England; before him, a hundred savage nations worked their rude boats in these turbulent seas.  When the light of civilization well-nigh went out in the land where it was first kindled, it was re-lighted on these shores, and though it burned slowly for a long time it never quite went out; rather, it grew brighter and brighter until its sheen began to fill the world.  Bright souls have peopled both sides of this channel; both are lands of fair women and brave men; their literature has made the world gentler and higher; their laws dominate mankind; their power is a controlling force among the nations; they make the center of the world’s wealth; they are each examples of how much men may accomplish on small areas of land, provided they possess sovereign hearts and brains and souls.”

The ship scraped against the pier while Sedgwick was talking, and the travelers hurried on their way.  At Paris they were detained several hours, and Jordan hiring a carriage, they took in as much of the beautiful city as possible.

Jordan all the time exerted himself to talk, and by asking questions to compel Sedgwick to think of something besides the sad-browed bride whom he had left in London.

“What war the special charm ’bout Paris, Jim?  I feel it, but blamed ef I can splain it even ter myself,” said he.

“I do not know,” replied his friend, “but I suspect, Tom, it is the culmination of something which has for a thousand years been maturing.  Long ago, a full thousand years, there was an Emperor here who was in advance of his generation.  He believed that a perfect education meant the full enlightenment of the mortal, that his hands and eyes as well as his mind must be disciplined, that every useful attribute must be trained.  So he built cathedrals to improve the taste of the people, established free drawing schools, had the people taught the secret of fusing worthless material with acute brains and making something valuable—­something which the rich are glad to give their gold in exchange for.  That emperor died, but his work continued to live and increase until France became a nation of artisans and artists, and that art has now become second nature, and therein lies the charm.  See how yonder lady picks up her drapery to cross the street; not ten women in England could do that little thing as she does.  Do you know the reason why?  She caught the art originally from old Charlemagne.  That is, thirty generations ago, the old Emperor established the schools which made possible the perfection of the present, and the graceful art of that lady is in truth a graceful compliment to the old soldier-Emperor who more than a thousand years ago fell back to dust.”