From the archives: French fair
Paris has resolved to have a genuine regatta, and neither trouble nor expense have been spared to produce it. Splendid prizes, the most exalted patronage and reduced fares for the oarsmen have been the baits held out to tempt competitors from every country. When to these are added the inducements which Paris itself at this, its carnival, offers to every visitor, we cannot be surprised that the entries for the races have been larger, perhaps, than have hitherto been anywhere known.
The course is some few miles below Paris, between the bridges of St Cloud and Surennes. The Seine, here of immense breadth, at first slightly curving runs for the last mile above Surennes in one long straight reach, with a bank rising on one side and a long line of trees and willows on the other. The grand stand is half way between the two bridges, the starting post half a mile below the St Cloud bridge; a quarter of a mile above that of Surennes are three buoys which form a triangle in mid stream. Round these the boats turn, rowing up stream again to the winning post at the grand stand, or else back to the starting point, and down stream a second time to the stand.
Sunday opened fine, with a gentle breeze, and a light curtain of clouds shading the heat of the July sun. All Paris is holiday-making, yet the attendance was but scanty. A thin line of people was scattered along the further bank, and a few hundreds were collected at the stand. Here are plenty of excited officials, and plenty of impassable sergeants de ville ; and here are boating men in strange costume, with high boots, long flannel coats, and peaked hats, but of genuine spectators there are almost none.