OUR PARIS LETTER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1440, 24 December 1886, Page 3

OUR PARIS LETTER

(i'ROU OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.)

Paris, October 16. The Chamber opened the day before yesterday. In the Chamber of Deputies it was decided to place the Prhmry Instruction Bill first on the order of the day for Monday next (18th Inst), though not without considerable wrangling, the Clericals urging that the House ought first of all to discuss the financial situation before venturing upon an outlay that would leave a considerable deficit to be covered In some happy-go-lucky manner. The proceedings in the Senate were of a purely formal character.

A council of Ministers was held on the same day at the Elysee, under the Presidency of M. Jules Gpjvy, only just returned from his country seat at Mont-Sous-Yaudry. M. Sadi Cainot, Minister of Finance, gave an account of his interview with the Budget Oemmlttoo on the previous day, which had rejected the whole Bill of the Minister. At the request of the Minister of Was the President of the Republic signed several decrees piomotiog officers in the Army to the rank of General. M Gravy also signed tbe decree appointing tbe Commission of Control and Finance for the Universal Exhibition. It comprises 17 representatives of the State, 8 of the Municipal Connell, acd 18 of the Guarantee Association.

The petition to the Chamber to institute a tax on bachelors is no new thing. The French co ventton adopted it. H.o did the old Pepubiics. In Sparta the woman were allowed to drag bachei rs into the temple of Hercules and give them a sound tbrashi g. Plato condemned them to a fine. made them pay a round sum. Camillas went farther, and forced them to marry the widows of clt'zeca killed in defending the count'y. The petitioners say the tax ought to be doubly welcome, first, bee-use it will in crease the declining population by inducing bachelors to marry; and, secondly, because it wilt help to make up the growing deficit In the Bndget. The first suggestion, however, would have more weight if it were not for the artificial restriction on families which is the chief cause of the decrease In the population. The King and Que»n of Greece have arrived in Paris, accompanied by tbair six children and are travelling under the name of Connt and Conntess d’ Acharnou. As by their incognito they are freed from the neoesriry of receiving or paying official vls’ts, tbey are able to enjoy themselves untrame’led, like ordinary tonrists. The first thing of all on their arrival, they went to ihe Hotel des Invalides, with the intention of seeing the tomb of Napoleon, but they arrived before the time at which the public are admitted, and tbey found the doors clrsed They walked along the boulevards, and entered the Musee Groin, with which they appeared greatly amused. Their Royal Highnesses arc now doing the Theatrt s conscientiously, and have not missed a single evening since their arrival

Speaking of opera, balls, and theatres, one of the most palpable evidences that the Paris winter season will soon be in full swing was afforded the other night by the animated appearance of the Hue St Honore at the hour announced for the opening of the Nourean Cirque The entrance to the Cirque was more thronged than in the palmy days of the Ball Valentin on a fete night. Inside the spacious and commodious edifice the scene was gay in the extreme. The brilliantlylighted construction was thronged, and many of the toilettes were remarkably tasteful. The performance, divided for convenience into three sections, contained none of the swimming performances, which were so attractive last year. The programme was, however, well arranged, so as to afford an excellent variety, and the public interest never flagged from the entry of the clever clowns in the opening scene to the close.