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Our Contributors.

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(J*>o.M our..Ovp Correspondent.)

.Paris, December. 30. The French Legislature, like a wellcbriducted household, ought to have its washing day ; it would be better could the washing be given out. Imagine the Deputies debating and dividing on a letter written by an eccentric political lady, Mnie Grraux,' who accused Emile de Girardin of being the chief of the Prussian spies. This is only an outcome of the horribly personal school of politics inaugurated by Roche fort to keep his journal afloat with his Commun'Bt friends. He does nothing but abuse Gambetta. Delenda cut Carthago . But Cato ought to look nearer home ; the pu! lie reunions organised to bring out Rochefort no longer draw, and when some unfortunates put in an appearance, they do not applaud the ex-Lantevnier. A few days ago, Rochefort presided at a quasi public meeting ; he was concealed in a neighboring cafe for two hours beyond the time fixed for com tnencing proceedings, in order to give the room an opportunity to fill, but which, however, remained a beggarly account of empty benches. His new note was, that Gambetta was scheming to run up the price of gas and water on the citizens. Rochefort will end by charging Gambetta with filling the butchers' shops with large blue flies. In a very short time Rochefort will be elbowed into forgetfulness, as much as Felix Pyat, Louise Michel, and other returned ab&entees, who have not sufficient judgment to perceive that during their compulsory absence France has marched, and that they are in presence of a new generation, as weJl as of a form of government differing not a little from the Empire, that wind-bagism is tabooed, barricades declared to be a mistake, and that though tho would-be leaders are blind, the working classes with their bulletin of vote are not. That unfortunate adventuress Mine de Kaulla, has disappeared. She was the impersonation of audacity, in seeking from justice a verdict to whitewash her notorious immorality, it is bad enough to have vice pushing virtue aside in the streets and public places of resort, but its demand for a certificate of chastity from a tribunal is thecomble of coolness. The Court irave her one farthing damages to heal her outraged character, with the right to have the judgment inserted in several journals, and which siverly castigates her frail virtue. The Municipal schools of Pans number 383 ; their new organisation comprises many humane and delicate features. Some are opened at half-past six in the morning and remain so till seven in tho evening, so that an artiznn on going to his work in the morning, can leave his child at the school an I call for it on returninglwme, Superannuated teachers are employed to superintend the pupils in the schoolroom, before and after the usual hours of study ; the rooms are generally airy, heated, and cheerful. Another amelioration ; over 200 of these schools are provided with canteens, where the pupil, on presenting a ticket for two sous, can obtain an excellent bowl of warm soup, with bread and vegetables. The parents can buy these tickets, or they are given in charity, but no distinction is made to mark their origin. In connection with this innovation, is the plan of selling second hand clothing to the children at a nominal charge. Thus France . supplies the solution of the two great difficulties urged against her new authorised system of compulsory public instruction—empty stomachs and bare backs. At JBesangon, a slab- has been inserted in the. fagade of the house; where Victor Hugo was accidentally born. The ceremony ' was the usual amount of mutual admiration. , Hugo has never concealed his chagrin at riot having been born in Paris, " as was arranged." Let him find consolation in the circumstance that the most popular of all the titbleaux vivans now being represented, of the death of the little child— two balls in its head,. rpesiyed. during the 1851 coup d'etat arid which be has celebrated in song and story.'As a post- - script, the sturdy old poet is rapidly breaking up, as is the case with aged oaks once dissolution has set in. Respecting the rage for dying hair. the ladies are still far behind their Roman sisters, who, jealous of the blond locks of Germany and Gaul, employed red lead to produce the desired color. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centures dyeing the hair blond was but the obsequiousness paid to royalty—imitation being tho most perfect form of flattery. Mmc de Montespan made haste to be no longer brown, and the Countess Chastillon, black, concealed this original sin under golden powder. Blond signified beautiful ; it was the color n i Venus's locks, and that given by a! painters to Eve. Men took to blond wigs, but the price of these became so excessive, that a decree of Louis XIV.. their price following color, and subjecting them to n tax at

the same time. As the-wigs had , to bo dried in ovens, bakers were charged-with that task, and hence they were responsible for the collection of the impost.

The French Foreign Office is throwing open its archives to historians. A document has appeared describing the reception of the French Ambassador in 1597-98, by Queen Elizabeth. She was in an arm chair when he arrived. She rose, advanced a score of paces; he kissed the hem of her dress, and she did the same to both of his hands ; then she upbraided her ministers for the manner she was dressed, a kind of night gown in silver gauze, with open worked sleeves, very tastefully made; she wore a diadem of pearls and rubies, and indulged in a chat on dress, rather than on politics.

M. Taine's new volume on the French Revolution, the " Conquest of the Jacobins," has been handed over to the printer; the author deals very severely svith the Republic. ;

The Jockey Club has to decide a delicate point. One of its members, a dashing cavalry officer, has resigned serving Mars and taken to theology, previous to entering holy orders ; but he declines ceasing membership of the club, and as he has committed no misconduct he cannot be struck off, while clergymen are inadmissible.

The Princess de Sagan has received her usual Christmas-box from her two brothers — a cheque from each for 100,000fr.

The witty Tillaneourt, who has just died, was urged by his friends, an hour before expiring, to receive a priest. "No," said he, "but, my dear compnnions, talk to me with extreme uncion."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AMBPA18810325.2.9

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 490, 25 March 1881, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,084

Our Contributors. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 490, 25 March 1881, Page 2

Our Contributors. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 490, 25 March 1881, Page 2

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