OUR PARIS LETTER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 512, 10 June 1881, Page 3

OUR PARIS LETTER.

("from our own correspondent.]

Paris, April 20. The Monetary Congress, whatever solution it may arrive at, will do good by discussing whether the currency of j » civilised nations ought to have a gold, or a gold and silver standard. England is not in favor of the bi-metal scheme, but those countries which have a large silver and metal currency' naturally are. Thus, the United States cannot desire anything better than to have an easy market for the disposal of their silver, and the bringing of gold back in exchange. England's non-adhesion to a bi-metal standard would not exactly prevent the measure from being really or platonically sanctioned, but she is too important a factor in the world's commerce to be ignored, or remain without influence. Modern wars have this advantage, » they extend the knowledge of geography. Every book shop is full of maps of Tunis, and no journal which respects itself, leaves its constant readers without a plan of the Regency. There are even toys suggestive —in name at least—of the seat of war. During the 1878 exhibition, our acquaintance with Tunis, was confined to some bazaars in charge of " Mussulman Jews," selling wood from the Mount of Olives, perfumes from

t Constantiople, and dates from Morocco. The Hey sent a collection of photos and l cameos ; there were also exhibited some r precious stones—carved —leathers, and j silks. The Casino was patronised by i amateurs of tam-tam music, and male > almees. ! The racing season, which now continues all the year round, has formally opened at the Bois, and so induces much display of toilettes and liveries. The ( running of the horses has been excellent on the whole, and the turf in good condi--1 tion ; it is too early for the horses to become fagged. The betting has taken enormous proportions ; all that is necessary is, to strike a pole into the ground, . affix a tablet thereon, mark quotations and odds ; shout vociferously—as if on 'Change—the winning horses ; purchase a ticket on every kind of system imaginable ; have a protected female to act as clerk or cashier, and then wait—till the race be over for settling. Occasionally some of these gentry "fold up their tents like the Arabs, and as silently steal away;" others appear to realise the Irishman's standard of being honest— " when well watched," as in the case of sweepstakes, a few of the holders of tickets remain alongside the nomadic cashier till the race be finished. Quite a rage has set in for five o'clock teas, and which bid fair to supersede matinees\ they often commence at two o'clock ; several are devoted to conversation on chiffons and gossip in general; others deal seriously with literature, flanked by sandwiches, caviar, sweet biscuits, chocolate, and Malaga. The I only thing difficult to obtain as a rule, is a cup ot tea. Good Friday had even some pleasantries ; the extreme politicians and Communists seized the occasion to protest against religion in general and fasting in particular, hence, their banquets, where tripe, veal and sausages—from Munich too, which was not patriotic— figured. On terminating, the guests as usual came to blows, and when it was proposed to toast reconciliation and the i next merry meeting, the chartered quantity of wine was found to have been ■ all consumed. Each guest wore a red , favor at buttonhole of coat; the women . were less numerous than usual, and the . children next to absent, so there were . some redeeming features. Outside these eccentricities, the day was observed with befitting solemnity, the churches were ' crowded with worshippers and visitors to ( see the " tombs," beautifully prepared in 1 imitation of the Holy Sepulchre ; on * Easter Sunday morning, Notre Dame t was crowded by men, to partake of the ( Sacrament; on this occasion the nave of ( the cathedral is wholly set apart for male communicants. i Easter presents itself joyously ; tbe ( sugar bakers' shops are full of eggs, in- c deed nearly every tradesman seems for f the. occasion to be more or less an egg ■. liter mant. -Tierc are a great many things in an egg, from a collection of toys to a lace toilette ; a river of diamonds, bracelets, rings, and collars. It is occasionally Pandora's box, full of f the unknown, a present from dawning, \ and a farewell from setting love. The j favorite Easter flower is the large ox-eye -, dais) ;it attains in the South of France , an enormous circumference, and resembles a cherry or apple tree when in full blossom, so enormous are the flowers, and ; which actually hide the leaves. The flower became fashionable from the reign x of Louis XV. ; the Due dc Noailles, the monarch's favorite, gave a supper at 1 the Trianon in honor of his Majesty ; j the latter on entering the ballroom was agreeably surprised to perceive, " Long t live King Louis the Well-beloved!" r worked in large daisies. fc

The gingerbread fair offers a series of attractions to young folks, not alone in the sale of that special cake —and aperient—but also in all the glories of the penny gaff class of amusements ; the " Kroumir," a hideous looking blackfaced Arab, cuts out all other celebrities ; he is to be met with not only in gingerbread, but in sugar preparations, pipe heads, etc.; he takes the place of the ordinary Ttnk's head game, so indignant patriots can strike him to their heart's content. The shows have nothing positively new to induce the youngest man from the country to " walk up," but the visitor not the less enters. The " temptatbn of St. Anthony " is always popular ; it contains two striking characters—the famous pig and the devil; the latter when off the stage covers his red dress in a Venetian velvet cape, in the folds of which the tail is concealed. There is a new play—the " captive balloon ;" the latter cannot escape, it is first of all in sheet iron, and attached by bars to a turning table ; the spectator does not ascend, but is whirled round in an imitation car. Of course, the spectator has to provide himself with the illusion of being in space.

Those interested in the ever-interest-ing subject of the Bonaparte family, will find much tnat is now in Col. Jung's " Momoires of Lucien Bonaparte." The work is much sought after, not only on account of its merits, but owing to the author being the separated husband of the famous Baroness Kaula, who has figured so largely in the misfortunes of General de Cissey.

A cook upbraided by her mistress for having a lover in the kitchen, replied, she was a partisan of the right of asylum. A husband explained his absence from home one night, by the fact that he went into an arcade to purchase a tic, and when he left the shop, he found the gates closed. The daughter of an Arab complained her bus-band beat her ; the father also administered stripes, and told her to say her lather avenged the insult on the wife.