INSIDE PARIS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2567, 10 May 1871, Page 3

INSIDE PARIS.

The first Englishman to enter Pans after the cessation of hostilities was Mr Forhes the enterprising correspondent of the JJady News, whose account of the surrender of Metz excited so much interest. Mingling with the crowd upon the neutral ground to the north, and “looking straight between his horse’s ears,” he contrived to pass one of the gates unchallenged. “I put my trust, he says, “ in the aspect of a preternatural stolidity with which nature has gifted me. Once inside, there was a cry of Down with the Prussians,” hut he succeeded m proclaiming his nationality, and diverting attention. His first impressions most vividly represent the appearance of the city. , “ ‘ Paris is utterly cowed; fairly beaten so said the first Englishman 1 met; and his opinion is mine. Act Pans is orderly and decent, and with a certain solemn morose self-restraint mastering the tendency to demonstrate. The streets were crowded, almost wholly, with men in uniform. Civilians were few and far between. Many shops wore open, but many also were closed. There is no want of hardware in Pans. lon may buy enough and to spare of anything except edibles. Drink is plentiful enough, but except near the gate I saw not a soul (Inn.c, The food sh ops had nothing to show i here were comfiturcs and preserves, jellies, ivc., but solid comestibles were conspicuous by their absence. In one shop I saw several large shapes of stuff that looked like lard. When I was asked what it was, 1 found it was horse fat. The bakers’ shops were closed the crating down before the butchers. Ana oh, the number of funerals ! One, two three ; 1 met six altogether in the course of mv ride. Sad with an exceeding great Badness : such was what 1 found as regards Paris long before I reached the American Legation, self-respecting, too, in her misery —not blatant, not disposed to collect in jabbering crowds. Each man went his way with chastened face and listless gait. 1 Bp >ke with a soldier of the line. \ es, he had enough of it. Sacrd. They had nearly killed him, those terrible Prussians, and he was very hungry. When would the gates open for food ? Food began to be with me a personal question. __