OUR PARIS LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 4120, 11 May 1876, Page 4

OUR PARIS LETTER.

By the new law every able-bodied Frenchman, on reaching the age of twenty, is bound to submit himself to the ballot, to be drawn for military service. If he reside abroad he must come and appear, or forfeit his rights to the protection of his Government, and he is liable to arrest, six months' imprisonment, and compulsory service in the army, if he enters the country. Now as the most royal of princes, counts before the law just the same as the most humble of workmen, the demand is preferred that now, on attaining his 20th year, the ex-Prince Imperial be summoned to comply with the law or forfeit his rights as a Frenchman. It is said "hear the voice of the Church." The Cure of Stavelot proposes a sumptuary law against dancing, its supporters, and its admirers. Dancing, it appears, is not an amusement, but a dangerous pleasure, a fatal school for the passions, leading to sensuality ; young women would be better adoring during the night the Holy Sacrament than whirling at a ball. It is not ap innocent a play as billiards or skittles; ofl.ecan invoke a blessing for the first, before' commencing, and for the second, claJHi the

benediction of your grandfather ; less conSoling is the assertion that balls. arc dishonest, and young persons before whirling to the latest waltz of Strauss are asked to pop themselves the question, '-'How many damned are now burning" in a certain place for having tripp'd it on the light fantastic toe? Saint Francis dc "ales is quoted as an authority on this subject; but one has only to recall the expression of that anchorite's statue to conclude, he was prepared to re gard a simple "how do you do" between the sexes, as one of the capital sins. The spectators at a dance arc also to be censured: the cyo that can tranquilly look upon th<i " Lancers " or " Sir Roger dc Co'veiley " is described as obse'eue.

In principle, the French International Exhibition ia decided upon ; the dato is not yet settled—some people say 1878, and Others the following year. The official com. mission after hearing all the pros, and the cons, will pronounce judgment It is content I plated to have the proposed expimitie. entirely new_ hi point of marvels. Fra'ace will feel as it were, that it is a point of honor with her to eclipse all previous t i{ B . plays, and to afford practical proct to the world that neither her misfortunes nor her age can affect the richness of the country or the perennial youthfulness of its talents. A clergyman lately was interrupted in his sermon by an unexpected addition to his congregation, caused by midden rain. He cautioned hia real hearers to despiue those who only made "a mantle of religion" and ,! an umbrella of the Church."