We reached Paris , Tuesday night 4.28.03,

7.20 Geneva time, 6.20 Paris time, 1.20 US time.

Wed April 29 03

My 52 Birth Day- arose 7.30 and the first thing upon bended knees, was to thank God, for his many blessings and the pleasure of this trip-

Breakfast 8.30, and after leaving our room 9 a.m. found Rev Joseph A Wirt, D.D. Des Moines, Iowa awaiting us in the smoking room. After a little conference we walked leisurely down the ave., stopping at the Magdelaine Church (Roman Catholic) then went in search of Thos Cook, trying to navigate our way in the city in which we could neither understand the French language, nor be understood. After leaving Thos Cook we took a carriage for a drive of two hours to various places of interest- ret'd for lunch at Madame Thayer No. 11 Ave Mac Mehon Paris and then moved our baggage to Madame Slatz 45 Rue de Clinchy. Dr Wirt and I took a drive, while Dr. S slept- upon my return wrote letters, had our dinner 7p.m. and read during the eve- went to bed 9.30

Glatz Hotel, Paris Thursday April 30. 03

Arose 7.30 breakfast 8 a.m., and we Drs Stall, Wirt and Reddig were soon ready for a drive with Cooks party and his guide through the city.

At 10 a.m. we left Cooks office in two large Coaches each drawn by three white horses and seats for 25 people each. The day was bright, and we took a couple Photos from the Buss in front of Cooks office, showing he crowds viewing the decorations made to welcome Kind Edward, King of England, who will arrive here tomorrow aft. We had an excellent guide who was well posted and had a good strong voice. We had a fine view of the city- surroundings country and the grounds, where the Exposition (1900) was held three years ago, from one of the towers of the palace of Trocadiero .

Perhaps nothing impressed us more than the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the arc of Triumph, at the head of Champs Elysees .

We had a good dinner at 1-2 p.m., and continued our drive and sightseeing until 6 p.m. It rained some about 5 o'clock as we were returning to Cooks office- we were much impressed by the artistic beauty and ecclesiastical character of the entire city. Paris is perhaps the most beautiful city in the world- In our drive, we visited one of the cemeteries, which was of great interest- The graves are dug 24 ft deep and walled so that the coffins can be places one upon the other, until the grave is full.

Reach Glatz in time for 7 p.m. dinner which we enjoyed- Rec'd letter from Walter and News 4/10, and enjoyed reading it, as we want to go to bed early- Dr S on one side of the table, Dr. W on the other side, and I in the middle- all writing letters and postcards- drove about 20 miles today seeing the sights of Paris.

Paris , Friday May 1. 03

Drive to Versailles

After a good nights rest and a coffee rolls and butter breakfast, with oatmeal, we started for Thos Cooks, where we rec'd letters and Dr. S rec'd a cable with bad news about his wife from back home.

He had intended to devote himself to business, but decided to accompany us instead- we went with Cooks party to the old and new Palace at Versailles . We did not have so good a guide, as on Thursday, but with our two priests again, we enjoyed the ride of 16 Miles through the beautiful Ave and Park which contains 2250 acres, was very lovely.

Our Coach was drawn by five splendid grey horses, and the drive occupied two hours in going down- It was a chilly April day and we occupied the front Seat with the driver and had a splendid view. We first visited the old Palace, associated with the life of Napoleon and Josephine- it was very interesting because of its historical associations and the beautiful chariots used on great occasions, some of which had never been used but once. The newer and larger palace visited after dinner is beautiful- situated in the midst of several thousand acres formerly used by the King as hunting grounds.

The Palaces have several thousand rooms and have miles of beautiful oil paintings- We drove back to Paris , by another route (about 40 miles for the day's trip) and returning into the city saw the crowds which had been attractive by the visit of King Edward of England.

In the evening we went to the Grand Opera House, to listen to Wagner's opera “Tannhauser.” It was in French, about 125 persons on the stage at times- full house. This opera house is said to be the nicest opera house in the world- Reached home 12 midnight.

Paris Saturday May 2 1903

Up at 8 a.m. breakfast 8.30 and by 9 a.m., Dr. Wirt and I were ready for Cook's trip arund the city. Sr. Stall remaining in Paris to attend to his publishing business. We had the same guide – Mr. Mac Neil - as we had on Thursday.

Our first was at the Institute of France , where we saw miles of paintings, sculpture, etc. We ere very much impressed with Sainte Chappelle, the oldest church in Paris , erected in 1245, the old stained glass windows are handsome- we then passed the prison where prisoners are awaiting their trial.

Many think he most important public building in Paris , the Palace and Museum of Louvre . From one of the windows here we saw King Edward of England and the French soldiers marching past. The paintings are numbered by the thousands and the sculptures and engravings very fine- When we stopped at church of St. Sulpice , and saw the fine frescoes and the fine organ, 7,000 pipes. We were much pleased with “Pantheon” temple –-see back ten pages-

Or “Pantheon” church. The dome is high, and many of the great men are buried here- next we come to the Palace and Gardens of the Luxembourg, the collection of painting and sculpture, containing a number of works of art, of a very high character- We were interested in “The Morgue,” where there were about 10 bodies, laying there awaiting recognition. But the best of all was our visit to “Notre Dame” – This cathedral was founded in 1163, and the stain glass windows handsome. Wood carving fine- when full it holds 20,000 persons. On our way back we noticed the decorations in honor of King Edward.

When we reached Thos Cooks office we bade goodbye to our two Priest friends, wnet over to “The Grand Hotel” had a shave and a haircut, and went up to our Hotel for 7 o'clock dinner- After dinner Dr. S and I walked down town, to see the crowd, and came back to the Hotel. Wrote Postcards and went to bed early.

Paris Sunday May 3. 03

Awoke at 6 a.m., up at 7, had my walk, and was ready for 8 o'clock breakfast. Wrote a letter to Nellie- then Dr. Stall, Wirt and Reddig went to Catholic Church to hear music, then over to the great “Madeleine” Catholic Church to see the great crowd and hear fine music.

From here we took a carriage and drove to an (English) Episcopal Church. When the services were over, we returned to Hotel for 12.45 Lunch- wrote letters home, as it was raining, had a two hour nap and then took a walk- back in time for Diner 7 p.m., and after packing my grip, wrote letter, made the notes and then went ot Bed.

I forgot to add that in front of the Cathedral men were distributing business circulars and selling Birds. Many stores were open and various kinds of traffic were uninterrupted. After our talk this eve, we decided to change out route, after leaving Brussels, and got Cologne, so that Rev. Wirt might see a little of Germany, and that we all could visit Deaconess Houses, near Dusseldorf.

Paris Monday May 4. 03

Up ready for another day's tramp- Dr. Wirt and I ascended the great Eiffel Tower , 984 Ft high, while Dr. S went downtown on his book business. It occupied 1 ½ hours going up and coming down. The view was magnificent- From the tower we saw King Edward's train (10 cars) as he started for England .

About noon we visited the Au Bon Marche large Dry Goods Store. While here we had a heavy hail storm, then took a carriage for Glatz Hotel and lunch at 1.30 p.m. Then went with Dr. S in a carriage on business trip visiting several publishing houses- dinner at 5 p.m. and left Paris 6.10 Monday evening, on the first class Express train for Brussels, Belgium., reaching there 11.15 p.m., and by a Buss came to Hotel De France for the night.

Tuesday May 5, 1903

Hotel De France , Brussels

Arose 6 a.m., and after our breakfast, started at 7.45 a.m. by rail for the battlefield of Waterloo . Met a Belgian woman in the car who spoke good English, and gave us much historical and valuable information- arriving at the battlefield, we stopped at the Wellington Hotel, wrote post cards etc.

The character of the soil and many conditions were like the battlefield of Gettysburg '63.
The great international issues involved upon this field made it one of intense interest to us.

It was very interesting to study the positions of the armies and line of battle of 1815. It was easy to see the couple of Napoleon's mistakes and understand how the tremendous rain preceding the night of the final struggle, helped determine the result which destroyed in a few hours all that Napoleon had gained in twenty years - The Lady guide was very kind. Returning, we reached Brussels 11 a.m., took a drive of two hours, lunched at the Hotel, visited the stores, purchased lace, spoons, etc.

Had two heavy showers after 12 noon, neither interfering with our comfort- took the 5:10 train for Cologne , so that Dr. Wirt could see Germany, reaching there 11.15 p.m. Stopping at Hotel Disch, Cologne- see new book.

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