Thoughts on Paris – February 17, 1949

The funeral of Bébé [Bérard] was dreadfully sad & got me down. The huge beautiful church (Saint Sulpice) so full one could hardly get in…

Photography print available at Found View Gallery.

The funeral of Bébé [Bérard] was dreadfully sad & got me down. The huge beautiful church (Saint Sulpice) so full one could hardly get in & everybody I know in Paris, from Jean Cocteau to the little girl who makes my hats. In the cortège all the famous people of France as well as the sweet man who runs the bistro he always went to & such like. I think France is more truly democratic than we are in such ways you know. […]

I was with all buddies [….] I’m sure the French love their friends more than we do, I’ve never in London been to so sad a service as this was. I must say the cross we all gave, shocked as I was at the price (£60) was extraordinary—a huge thing 6 foot high at least, of nothing but Parma violets.

Nancy Mitford, to her sister

Notes:
• From The Letters of Nancy Mitford
• Nancy Mitford was a British writer.

Thoughts on Paris – January 8, 1867

Sunday last I went to Saint Sulpice to hear music, it being a feast day…

Photography print available at Found View Gallery.

Sunday last I went to Saint Sulpice to hear music, it being a feast day. It was the biggest church music I ever heard. Besides the music they had grand processions all around the cathedral. Over a hundred monks helped form the line, and they present a fine appearance with their long cloaks and covered heads.

We see a good many monks here in Paris. The most remarkable thing about them is perhaps their dirtiness. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” So runs the proverb. It’s fortunate for them that is not “Cleanliness only etc.”

[…] They have the head shorn, and their simple cloak is tied around the waist with a rope. They wear sandals instead of shoes even in this cold weather. How beautiful they would be if only they were clean. However it rains here very often & then their feet can’t help being washed.

Thomas Eakins, to his sister

Notes:
• From The Paris Letters of Thomas Eakins
• Thomas Eakins was an American artist.