OUR PARIS LETTER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1195, 23 January 1885, Page 3

OUR PARIS LETTER.

Paris, November 18, 1884. COMMERCIAL. Deputations from the agricultural districts coniinue to wait daily on the Minister of Agriculture, and meetings a>e benighted in the departments to agitate for protective duties on corn and cattle. Farmers have a right to do so, as they place their personal and commercial interests above those of the nation. Manufacturers take advantage of the opportunity to join in the cry in order to obtain further protection in their particular trades. That lh°y should do so is natural, hut they should at least pay some regard to truth in the argument they employ. M. Pouyer Qucrter, in a speech at Dourdan last week, pretended that competition was impossih c, as French productions paid 33 per cmt. duties abroad, while foreign goods entered Franco free of duty. A more flagrant misrepresentation than the latter part of his assertion could not be imagined. The returns just issued of the exports from the Lyons Consular district to tho United States gives a total of 3,501,471fr. for the month of October. This represents a falling-off of more than one million over the previous month's exports. Tho decrease applies to nearly every kin I of silk staffs, leather, and hides, dye stuffs, wines and spirits, spoiled cocoons, and Italian paste. Tho exports of raw silk, gilt articles, and church ornaments have remained about tho same as September. Metal manufactures, waste, combs, aud floss silks show a slight increase in export. Tlie total amount of exports for the ton months of tho present year is 46.157.174fr., repress't ng a falling off of 5,000,000 and 13,030,0 jO as compa.-ed with tho corresponding periods in 1883 and 1882 respectively.

The Bulletin Municipal, in its issue of the 6th of November, gives the official valuation of the price of bread in Paris during the secoud fortnight of the month of October. The average price of the metric quintal (220 46!bs) of flour from the 16th to the 31st October was 28fr 700. The cost of working this quantity into bread was reckoned according to the decision of the 14th November, 1874, at lOfr. Iflc., which brings the price of a quintal of kneaded flour to 38fr. 89c. The quantity of bread produced from a metric quintal of flour being 130 kilogrammes (2861ba ), a kilo (about 2.7 lbs of bread of the best quality should cost about the third of a franc. Consequently bread of the first quality should have been sold in Paris during the period stated at 30 centimes the kilogramme. The trade price should evidently be fixed at these figures, the market price for flour tending rather to fall than rise. The coalesced bakers should begin to comprehend, says the Soir, the fault they

have committed in refusing to accept the maximum price of SI centimes. In consideration of which the Prefect of the .Seine was disposed to employ all his influences to maintain the statu quo. This year’s vintage in the champagne districts is satisfactory, both as regards quantity and quality, the very flue weather in the autumn resulting in the crop being housed in splendid condition. One of the leading houses at Epernay have, it is said, made from their qwn vineyards (about 2000 acres of the best- crues) over 4,000 hogsheads, to which must be added the very commendable purchases made by them under contracts with the proprietors _of neighbouring vineyards, the grapes being pressed by them in their own pressirs,

FASHIONS FOR GENTLEMEN, Gentlemen’s garments, says a Paris journal, are to undergo some changes this winter. Men will continue to button their coats up to the chin, and display nothing of their shirts, so cravats will have to bo adopted to this ultra quaker-like mode. JThe scarf pin will be fixed in a bow placed Very high in the throat, or a sailor’e knot will be worn with the - pin. Stuffs of sombre hue will be the fashion even for young men. Overcoats will, however, form an exception, these being of brigh’er colours and short. Light drabs will be a favourite tint; but light trousers are now rarely seen. For evening dress the coat tails are made shorter, the col ar facings narrower, aid the sleeves small at the wrists. The vest has undergone no change, and the gold watcliguard, which was already prescribed for soirees, bos been also banished for walking dress. Some clubmen have sub. stiiutoil for it a black moire riband, with narrow gold buckles, but even this is destined to soon disappear also. As the shirt is not seen in outward dress, it is frequently unstarched.- Wide wristbands are quite absoleto. Little jewellery is to be worn, and for soirees small white pearls are the only shirt studs adhdtted.

TRIBUNALS. On the 14'h of July last the National Pete, one Metz, a compositor, who had then recently lost ids wife, met a woman named Burtey, with whom he had cohabited a short lime the year before. The acquaintance was renewed, and both brough wreaths on that day to place on the graves of the wdfe in the one case, and a former lover in the other. After this the couple went to St. Owen, where a dispute over money matters spoiled their day’s enjoyment. They returned to the lodgings of v-etz, where they had supper, ami the wrangle was renewed. The woman flew into a great passion, and rose from the table as if to strike Metz. The latter se zxl a pointed table knife and hold it for the purpose of defence, just as Burtey fell upon him. The knife entered her breast with great force, and she fell at bii feet a corpse. Metz ran from mane and threw himself into the Seine, whence he was at ones rescued, but lie renewed his attempt at suicide. This time he was' again fished out of the water. After this he went to Ive somewhere else for a few days. In the meantime the decomposition of the ho ly of his mistress called the attention of the concierge in the house, and the police were informed of the mat ter. The remains were taken to the morgue for an inquest, and a wirraot issued for the apprehension of Me‘z. Remorse still pursuing him, he once more tried to drown himself, and this time the poTco rescued and detained him bn the charge of murder. While in prison he cut the veins of his wrist, but was again frustrated of bis design. Since that time he has remained in custody. He was, brought before the Tribunal of the Seine a"d arraigned for murder. Several witnesses testified to the good conduct of the prisoner previous to bis meeting with the woman Burtey, who, besides drinking, was of a rao.st violent temper. The doctor ex amined in the case gave an' opinion in favour of the statements made by Metz that the woman had thrown herself on the weapon. Taking all the circumstances into consideration the Court passed a sentence of a fortnight’s imprisonment upon him. The divorce suit of Mine. Adelina Patti, Marchioness de Caun, v the Marquis de Caun, and counter suit by the Marquis, camo on for hearing on the 12th November. The Court drew out the petition of Mme. Patti, and after bearing the ease of the Marquis de Caun v. the Marchioness de Caun, found that the respondent had perpetuated the scandal which gave rise to the judicial separation, and cousequeiiely, rend ied judgment for divorce iu favor of the plaintiff.

THEATRICALS. The cause of Mile, van Zandt’s indisposition was as described by several reporters, drunkenness, but tbe truth is that she had been suffering for many weeks from nerirons prostration, and she came to tbe op -ia in a condition of great nervous excitement. The public, now informed of the re d indisposition of the fauvelte like Mile, van Zandt is generally name-1, are glad to hear that she will resume her duties at the Opera Comique in the course of next week. Mdir.c. Sarah Bernhardt has recovered sufficiently to resume her duties at the Parse Saint Martin Tlreatre, and went already through a rehearsal. The late director of the opera, M. Vanconheil, has not been replaced as yet, several gentleman are named for this important post, but nothing is known as yet.

THE C HOLE It A IN PARIS. Cholera has made its appearance iu this city. The epidemic broke ontin the lowest hovels, amongst the rag-pickers, and it has hitherto boon oonlined to the poverty stricken and half-fed classes of the population. Since the appearance of the cholera atTotdou on Jane 20:dr, IfiO chn’craie oasts, followed by 60 deaths, have been reported in Paris These tigures were scarcely higher than in previous years, and it was not until (he 6th or the 7tli of November that the disease got a foothold in the worst quarters in the city, Strong preventive regulations have been prescribed by the authorities, and the work of disinfection is being vigorously earned out.

Latest reports are exceedingly satisfactory, although Hie disease has now made its appearance in all tho arrondissemeots of tho French capital. The cold weather which we endure now is certainly the chief reason of the decrease of the malady, and the following bulletin was issued early this morning (!5Mi November) by the Prefecture of Police: —Up to midnight yesterday there were 103 now cases of cholera in Paris, 10 in the suburbs, and 17 deaths. Not a single death was recorded yesterday in seven arrondissements out of the 20 M. Alfred Koeohlin, President of tho Society for the Advancement of Cremation, has requested authority from tho Prefect of Police for the creation of one or more cremations in Paris to be used during tho present epidemic.. A few days ago Dr Dnj arili n«T?amnel z read an interesting paper at the meeting of tho Academy of Medicine respecting the choleraic epidemic which had broken out at Aubemillior, near Paris. Without speculating upon the origin or causes of the malady. Dr Dujardin deduced the following facts from the inquiries he had made . The non-contagious character of cholera in a salubrious district was established, and

the peculiar comma-shaped microbe that cuaracterises the Asiatic form of complaint, wag found in a post mortem examination on the bodies of the victims, and also exists in cholera “nostras.” It was further proved that the common belief that workers in eopper enjoyed a special immunity from choleraic attacks was a perfect fallacy, as several individuals thus employed had been seized by the la the Aubervilliers outbreak it was remarked that the complaint bad raged in one part of the locality that bordered the traffic route, whilst the opposite side.of the road was completely.free from the epidemic, and yet on both sides of the way the residents used the same potable water, and the hygienic conditions were equally baa. Dr Dujardia : n conclusion observed that these details did not permit of a positive opinion, and medical science must still continue its researches.

A Cabinet Council was held on the 11th inst. at the Elysee, under the Presidency of M. dales Grevy. In regard to the dispute with China, M. Jules Ferry stated that in agreement with the Ministers of War and Marine, it had been decided that an imme« diate despatch of reinforcements should be made to the Far East. The reinforcements to leave Toulon at once amounted to about 6000 men. Respecting the Electoral Reform of the Senate, the Committee engaged in examining the measuie had decided that the Minister of the Interior should present the Bili to the Chamber the same afternoon, and it was asserted that th s Government would support the measure iu the form submitted by the Committee. The Minister for Agriculture then detailed the general features of the prospects he intended to 'ay before the Mouse* relating to the augmentation of the import duties upon farming pioduee, Tne Council approved of the principle of taxing foreign corn. The scale of duties being held over for after consideration in order to adjust the basis of the protection afforded to agriculture at the approximate limit of duties affecting other industries.

11l the Chamber oE Deputies yesterday a measure affecting the railway between Moskocgaman to Tiaren (Algeria), was a j inrne.l until next wedt, and the House' p 0 o'. ded to a first reading of a Bill on- the extension ami completon of a tailway viaduct at the Poiute des-Guleta (Rumon [aland). It appeared that two contractors had engaged to construct a harbour and railway in Reunion against a sum of 34 millions and a subsidy disguised under the form of advance of four millions. According to M. Genges Perrin, who opened the donate, the concessionaire Company, after receiving every financial advantage in the shape of 5 per ent interest on the dormant estimate, now wished to withdraw from the contract unless a further interest was guaranteed. M. Palin had at first stated that the Island would risk nothing in the schema which, should it prove unsuccessful, would only involve the shareholders ; but since that time he had found means to throw the current expenditure on the State, and had retired from the under taking with an indemnity of CDO.OOOfr. This debate Condemned by M. Eavnl Durrl, who blamed the Government for bin ily rushing into engagements from whose cost or adverse results they could not extricate themselves will he presumed next week. The Committee on the Customs Tariff at the Pa'ais Bourbon yesterday, in conse quance of the absence of one member, had a majority iu favour of free trade, and by 5 to 4 votes rejected the proposals of the Germans to increase the duties on foreign cittle.

The Chamber is now in possession of all the papers necessary for the discussion of the Budget ; the General Report, as well as the reports of the various Ministerial Repayments, having been distributed to the Deputies. On the motion of the Budget Committee the Chamber has fixed the dis. cussion for Thursday, the 18th inst. This will necessarily be interrupted next week, the exarainnation of the Tonquin supplies being set down for the 17th. The President of the Republic gave a few davs aro audiences to Baron de Conrcal, french Ambassador to Berlin, and to M. Tirman, Governor-General of Alge ia. The latter has left Paris to resume his duties

The Duchess of Edinburgh was last week at Chantiliey, where a dinner party was given iu her honour..

POLITICAL REVIEW. According to a recent telegram from A'lnitial Com hot, the landing parties after proceeding ashore directly they arrived at Roiling, suffered serious losses. There were 11 deaths, one after the other, notably that of Capt dn Marty, whose decease could not he attributed to the climate, bn - according to the opinion of his men, to the infected state of the quarters which they provisionally occupied, and which the Chinese noon learning had rendered infectious by spreading noxious substances about the place. In any case Admiral Courbet, impressed by tbe mortality au I listening to the representations of his men, ordered the instant evacuation of their quarters, which were subsequently burnt. The landing parties are now encamped in tents around Keluug, suit are enjoying better health. The blockade of Formosa is strictly maintained, and as much as possible until the arrival of reinforcements, although t'ie state of the sea ami weather, especially on the North Coast, has rendered the work of cruise s exceptionally arduous. Their position have nevertbe'ess been maintained. Admiral Comber further intimates that the boilers of all the gunboats are in a defective condition, and he has been authorised by the Homo Government to semi them m turn to Saigan to be repaired. The gunboa's will be dismantle I and their crows will be at the service of the Admiral to make up the c implement of his other vessels. A despatch from Shanghai announces that the Tseng Li Yam-n is still sitting, anil is awaiting the debates on the estimates in the chambers, to present ths basis of a treaty of peace to the French Government.

The German Socialists who had obtained only nine seats at the elections of the 2Sth nit., have carried nine more in the second ballot that is now going on. They are in a fair way of obtaining the 20 or 25 seats which they declared they would hold in the next Parliament. The number of Socialist deputies since 1871, when only one sat in Parliament was In 187*1, 9 ; 1877, 12 ; 1878 (owing to tho attempt against >he life of the Emperor) only 9; in 1881, 13; whilst this year the party has obtained 238,000 more votes than in 1831. It is announced that Prince William of Wurtemberg, in reference to tbe wish of his future subjects, who would unwillingly sec the Royal Crown piss to the collateral branch of the reigning House, is about to wed Princess Hilda of Massan, daughter of Duke Adolph who was dethroned after the events of 1868. Prince William, nephew and h* ir apparent to K'ng Charles, is 33 years of ate and a widower, without male issue. The noble bride is cousin to his first wife, a Princess of Waldoct Pyrmont, and sister of Queen Emma of Holland, and of the Duchess of Albany.