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WegoodAmericans-Isayitwithoutpresumption-aretooapttothinkthatFranceisParis,justasweareaccusedofbeingtooapttothinkthatParisisthecelestialcity.Thisisbynomeansthecase,fortun-atelyforthosepersonswhotakeaninterestinmodernGaul,andyetarestillleftvaguelyunsatisfiedbythatepitomeofcivilizationwhichstretchesfromtheArcdeTriomphetotheGymnasetheatre.Ithadalreadybeenintimatedtotheauthoroftheselightpagesthattherearemanygoodthingsinthe_douxpaysdeFrance_ofwhichyougetnohintinawalkbetweenthoseornamentsofthecapital;butthetruthhadbeenre-vealedonlyinquick-flashingglimpses,andhewasconsciousofadesiretolookitwellintheface.Tothisendhestarted,onerainymorninginmid-Septem-ber,forthecharminglittlecityofTours,fromwhichpointitseemedpossibletomakeavarietyoffruitfulexcursions.Hisexcursionsresolvedthemselvesulti-matelyintoajourneythroughseveralprovinces,-ajourneywhichhaditsdullmoments(asonemaydefyanyjourneynottohave),butwhichenabledhimtofeelthathispropositionwasdemonstrated.FrancemaybeParis,butParisisnotFrance;thatwasperfectlyevidentonthereturntothecapital.
Imustnotspeak,however,asifIhaddiscoveredtheprovinces.Theywerediscovered,oratleastre-vealedbyBaIzac,ifbyanyone,andarenoweasilyaccessibletovisitors.Itistrue,Imetnovisitors,oronlyoneortwo,whomitwaspleasanttomeet.ThroughoutmylittletourIwasalmosttheonlytourist.Thatisperhapsonereasonwhyitwassosuccessful. |
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