NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 278, 3 May 1875, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

AFFAIRS IN FRANCE. {From a correspondent of the Press.) Paris, March 9. Parliamentary Government, as understood nere, seems to be, that the minority shall govern the majority. This baa been illustrated in the marching up the hill and marching down again negotiations for the formation of a cabinet. Now that the Republic is a reality on the statute book, the Monarchists seem to claim the right to administer it. The Republicans concede much to their rivals; they are playing the waiting game, and will take their revenge at the general elections — a consummation now more than ever devoutly to be wished, and in which the new Government should hold impartially aloof. Martial law ought to be at once abolished, and the Communes restored the right to appoint their Mayors—secured their independence. France suffers from over-administration, and self-government is only in its infancy. The attempt may be given up by the Orleanists to make France royalist: that legend is as dead as the others ; as Bonapartism, as Legitimacy, as ideal Republicanism represented by Louis Blanc, as ihe mountain tribe of 1848, that commenced to overthrow the Republic as soon as it was established, and to declare war against its friends the moment they inherited office. The men of the period for new France must be sagacious, liberal, practical, and conciliating. It has been remarked that reason, truth, and wisdom were the divinities whose feet the nation kissed, only when they were taking their departure ; these gods are now to be embraced from their arrival. The proclamation of the Republic is the first instance in French history of a Government being inaugurated without sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music. Not a Te Deum, not a review ; no illuminations ; no free theatres; no mats de cocagne. There was no defile of soldiers on the Boulevards ; no flags from windows ; no groups of young girls dressed in white; no altar erected on the Champ-de-Mara. Verily, France is degenerating into common sense, order, patience, and respect for the law. She is so content as to resume work with confidence. Pending the opening of the annual exhibition of paintings, people flock to Versailles to have a look and a laugh at the collection of photographs, daubs, and woodcuts, seized by the police, and forming part of the stock in trade of the Bonapartist "propaganda." The collection recalls the lumber room of a theatre, or the public auction mart where the wardrobe glories of an actress or a demi-mondian are exposed for view before being knocked down to the old clo' fraternity. There are fortyone photographs of the ex-Imperial family in various postures. Nothing can be more gloomy, more full of ennui, than these groups, apparently preparing for a whist party of three ; not a dash of heroism in the figures; all have mostly books in their hands. What a studious family! The photo of the Emperor in an arm-chair, dandling under difficulties the Prince Imperial, aged about thirteen, is about as attractive as an orphan of forty years' standing, or an epitaph recording that the defunct, aged sixty, ia now an angel. There is a bouquet of violets, and from between the petals of each flower, starts up Jack-in-the-box fashion, the head of some historical member of the Bonapartist family. Nothing can be more droll yet it is intended for an artistic success. The portrait of Napoleon 111 is surrounded with a scroll work of texts of Scripture; beneath is a reflection : " How consoling to think, that in the midst of dangers, Providence reserves to one being to be the instrument of safety for all." This allusion to the coup a" etat could not be more delicate. Imperialists trade even in the finger of God theory. The Prince Imperial is in endless attitude, waving a tricolor flag, and uttering some of the shibboleths of Ca3*arian democracy. These photos of the Prince Imperial are anything but prepossessing; able as are his partisans, they could not force the sun to lie. There is no portrait of the ex-Emperor od horseback leading his troops in a charge against myriads of Prussians, that would be to crown his memory with supreme ridicule, but he is on horseback in fsome battlefield, covered with dead and wounded, looking as insensible as bis uncle in the famous picture of galloping on Bucephalus over the Alps. There is nothing to explain if the battle-field be that of Sedan or Solferino. You pays your money and you takes your choice. There are gushing visiting cards from young milliners, some with dog Latin mottoes suggesting fidelity to the eagles. " Ridicule," which is said to kill in France. u . is a cold weapon that destroys more effectively than firearms." Laughter, and not hate, will be produced by these clandestine photos of Imperialism. Fot the moment there is nothing more fashionable in Paris than influenza; no person has escaped; each has had to pay his tribute. But life has not the less kept on the even tenor of its way; in a dancing party there are duets of coughing between partners, which if not harmonious, are at least novel. Men afflicted with the endemic, take up a position beside a corner of the fire, and in old coat or gown and slippers impatiently await the happy change of weather, that Duruof in his balloon ascents—without his wife—at Pau, signals from an altitude of 6000 feet to be coming. The fair sex take lovingly to the malady—provided it be neither too long nor too severe; they keep not their bedroom, but their boudoir, and bestow all their attention to make a toilette for the occasion, and une figivre de circonstance. The robe is in matelasse, form princesse, trimmed with satin and old lace, with a cascade of bows; the head is enveloped in a cloud of material resembling woollen foam; the feet are encased in slippers in harmony with the robe; then with an air a little suffering, and a display of amiability—that sickness increases, the dear invalid manages to overcome the ill? of the season, and to receive the visits of sympathising friends. Mid-Lent came like a relief, a joyous halt pn the road to Easter; the twenty-four hours' carnival passed off merrily; the masks reappeared and folly held sway. Not indeed that Lent is very austere in Paris. The sovereign people of to-day present no penitents like those of the Middle Ages, who prostrated themselves in the dust, and had for change of linen only a hair shirt. In Ireland it is said, there is a place for expiation called Purgatory, where one pays to enter and to do penance; there is no Buch " Home Rule" in Paris; citizens pay generally to escape every kind of purgatory. The capital is what Mercier wittily called " the dancing garden of Europe." Paris consumes more pleasures than any city in the world; the clergy too

are tolerant for Babylon—a generic name for large capitals, fearing perhaps, as Nestor Kogueplan said, Paris would rise in insurrection the day when deprived of fresh strawberries. All infractions of the laws of abstinence may be set down as involuntary. Tallyrand was very particular on the subject of fasting; and one day it was discovered the pate of "tunny" he had been eating, contained the leg of a rabbit; his admirers ran at once to the Archbishop to demand absolution for this involuntary sin. By means of salmon, and sauces that would make Brillat-Savarin rub his hands, one is enabled to pass the most trying days. Other tiny kickshaws are not forgotten. Mid-Lent is also the fete of the laundresses, and when the guild select their queen; the ceremon 1 - generally takes place with closed laundry doors, where healths are toasted, preparatory to the annual ball in the evening. The royal procession along the Boulevards is now a thing of the past, like vhe Bcevf (rras; besides, such would not be in keeping with republican institutions: it is further wellknown, that the 15,000 washerwomen, and washermen in Paris, are as divided on the election of a queen—the Salic law is not recognised—as the Monarchists in the Assembly are respecting a King, and the parties resolutely decline to fuse. The annual laundry bill of Paris is estimated at sixty mil'ions of francs, of which ten represent the starching and getting up. The washerwomen earn from 2Jf per day, and are exposed to all weather in the public washing establishments, of which there are 100 in the city, and 330 on the river. There are 114,000 cats in Paris, the statistics having been made with the view of taxing them like dogs. The police budget is about twenty millions of francs, the State contributing one-third of this sum. There is no special body of police constituting a detective force, the most intelligent members take part in turn in this duty. The force numbers about 8,000 men, not including the Republican guard or mounted police j the average annual salary, including outfit and lodging money, is 1700 fr, less gratuities for capturing noted criminals. Every week a list of the article! found by the police is published; these generally comprise umbrellas and canes, purses and jewellery, coats and muffs. There is always a notable number of railway shares and coupons. It is a punishable offence for a person to retain anything found ; such is at once to be handed over to the police. The first roses of the season have arrived in Paris. They are pale ; have not a grand vitality—the life of the rose only, and which is said to be but the space of a morning—and they cost two francs each. An evening paity, where bouquets of roses are obligatory, thus amounts to a pretty sum, but far behind Nero's bouquet at Baice, where he expended ten million of sesterces on roses. As Lent advances there seems to be a greater rush to hear the celebrated preachers. At the Madeleine on Sunday last the Pere Matignon selected for subject the sin of working on the seventh day, when a workman exclaimed," It is necessary, as the children are hungry every day." He was at once removed. The sermon was very excellent, but too full of metaphors and overloaded with Latin quotations. The music was first-class, but the faithful must have some difficulty in fixing their attention, owing to the moving of chairs and the perpetual walking about of worshippers and collectors, Among the latter is the woman who collects the two sous for the hired chair. She performs what ia called " a copper symphony." Then the charming queteuses, always in the very latest fashion, shake their velvet collecting bags, till being too heavy, the contents are emptied into a common purse carried by Judas Iscariot—as the beadle is called. It is said that it is not lucky for a gentleman to waylay his love in church, hence, why so many members of the Jeunesse doree are certain to attend, as they belong to the perverse and stiff necked generation. There is an advantage, too, in seeing the ladies leaving the Madeleine when the grand doors are thrown open, and anything but a dim religious light falls. There is a good deal of pushing—it is remarked that it is only in a religious crowd that the French push or disperse disorderly—and many toilettes are deranged and tempers ruffled. The ladies who indulge in rouge and powder appear to have features covered with s .sales, and cracked like an old Japan plate ; others present a cadaverous aspect. Ladies are quite right in selecting when they can never to face a full light. Some cabmen have tried with success a new idea ; they are proverbially known to be as good politicians as the shoemakers : and it is only necessary to glance at them seated on their vehicle to conclude they are " constant readers" of the newspapers. The idea consists in cabby investing in two or three different journals, and lending one to whoever hires him, at the rate of one sous per perusal. He may unconsciously produce sudden deaths, if be commits the error of handing a Republican journal to a Right Divine Monarchist or vice versa. The edict of the prefet of police against public billiard playing is considered to be too sweeping; two ball pool is all that he believes depends on the ability of the players; more, is but a game of chance, in fact gambling. It would be better for the police to suppress notorious billiard gaming tables, where, in addition, a political club is disguised. The celebrated chestnut tree in the Tuileries Gardens, venerated by the Imperialists aB a thing of beauty and a joy for ever, because it came specially into leaf before its companions, on the 21st March, as the homage of spring vegetation to the Napoleon dynasty, bids fair this year to arrive some days earlier in bloom. Is this a triumph for the Republic, or an honor, as some insinuate, for the Prince Imperial having creditably passed his examination ? However, as the rain falls on the just and unjust alike, there are chestnuts at Belleville more advanced still. Another verdantis the Comte de Waldeck, who has just celebrated the anniversary of his 109th year. He married his second wife at eighty, and has a son by that union twenty-three years old. The Comte ought to hold hiß second series of silver wedding. He is an artist of some notoriety, and his studio is a very pleasant lounge, the old gentleman being very chatty and full of anecdotes. He has in his lifetime witnessed France endowed with fifteen different constitutions, and if, as Philosopher Flourens maintained, man is but on the threshold of youth when a century old, he may live to see fifteen more. A new journal has appeared called the "Orphan;" a prospectus of the "Widow" may be counted upon. The inhabitants of Saintes complained of the bad bread supplied by the bakers; the authorities seized samples of flour, analysed them, and found they were adulterated to the extent of 40 per cent with bean meal and

other substances. The bakers said they baked the flour as it was supplied to them; the jolly miller was then arrested, tried, and sentenced to a fine of 3000 f. He appealed againat this severity, and the Court has not only confirmed the fine, but ordered his imprisonment in addition for three mouths, Visitors of French race courses may recall a very bo'.d looking female generally dressed a la catini'ere, and like Joseph's coat of many colours. She is known as"lsabelle, the flower girl," out of compliment to her forty summers. She has the exclusive right of selling bouquets to the occupants of the grand stand, and is privileged to indulge in impertinent replies, which are accepted as witticisms. She has IO.OOOf r a year for supplying flowers to the Jockey Club, and 6,( OOfr for doing the same for Baron Rothschild. She has two country houses, a little palace in Paris, possesses diamonds and jewellery, and railway scrip. She only allowed her poor mother 2 fiancs a week to keep body and soul together. The tribunal has ordered her to pay a pension of fiOOOfr a year to her abandoned mother. " 0 wise and upright judge 1" That popular actress, Aimee Desclee, has at last her suitable tomb. The gi eater part of its expense has been defrayed by Alexandre Dumas, whose plays she interpreted with something more than talent. The monument is within a stone's throwof Frederic Soulie's, in Pere Lachaise. Her girlish struggles, her sorrowful life.her early death,and her longand agonising malady, have surrounded her name with much sympathy. These may be remembered when her " Frou-frou" will be forgotten. The revocation of the trust created by James Lick, of San Francisco, some months ago has been the current topic of conversation. It is not understood that Mr Lick has contracted his philanthropy in any essential degree, or repented of his benevolence. He believes that he can revise the trust, make it more effectual, and administer some part of it during his lifetime. The man by whose shrewdness, foresight, and energy a property of the value of five millions has been accumulated may yet have the ability to give a more practical effect to his donations than if the whole direction of these gifts were left to trustees. A quarrel between the donor and his trustees now would be a misfortune. The public would be the principal sufferer. Mr Lick, confirms all the sales that have been made, so that no actual purchaser will be injured by the revocation of the trust. Here is a property valued at 5,000,000 dollars, and as it consists mostly of real estate, will soon reach 10,000,000 dollars. If Mr Lick should live a few years it would be quite possible for him to manage so that nearly all of the last-mentioned sum would be given for various public uses. Mr Lick, among other purposes, desires to make an amicable settlement with his heirs and to obtain during his life time their assent and full satisfaction with the course which he pursues. It was well understood that if the present trust had remained unexecuted until after the death of the donor, the heirs would have made an effort to set it aside with some prospect of success. Some severe fighting has taken place between the Carlists and Alfonsists, but as usual without leading to any prospect of the termination of the war. The Russian Government has answered Lord Derby's despatch on the subject of reopening the discussions of the Brussels Conference. The Imperial Gazette of the 27fch ultimo also says " that the wish to alleviate the sufferings caused by war did not exclusively originate with Russia, and, moreover, was not of a nature to iurther the particular aims of that country. The article proceeds to remind the public of similar efforts previously made by private parties which the Emperor of Russia had earned the right of promoting by the pacific attitude and humanitarian principles manifested during his twenty years' reign. Russia was only desirous of a calm and well-intentioned examination of the subject, would willingly adhere to every proposal responding to the well-being of mankind, and would pay attention to any conscientious opinion and every loyal objection that might be raised " In conclusion, the article says. '< It is only to be regretted that a great nation will not take part in the proceedings, since her abstention will deprive her of the possibility of raising her voice during the discussion." The right of the Roumanian Government to conclude conventions without the sanction of the Porte, and also to receive a notification of the accession of the new King of Spain is the subject of some diplomatic controversy. The subject has created considerable irritation at Constantinople. The Emperor William, who has been suffering from a cold, is recovering. A declaration has been published by several Catholic Deputies against the Papal encyclical letter of the sth of January last. The Deputies therein most positively contest the statement of his Holiness that the ecclesiastical laws overthrow the constitution of the Church and destroy the privileges of the Bishops. They protest against the authority claimed and the principles dangerous to the State expressed by the Papal bull. A protest is also made against the right of the Pope to declare void the State laws to which obedience is prescribed by Catholic doctrine. The signataries, in conclusion, call upon all patriotic Catholics who share their views to adhere to the present declaration. Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the editor of the Ultramontane Qermania, for having published in its columns the late Encyclical letter of the Pope to the Prnssian bishops, condemning the Ecclesiastical Laws and pronouncing excommunication against the clergy who accept benefices by appointment of the State, on the ground that the letter of his Holiness incites disobedience to State laws. At the demand of the Publio Prosecutor the Council Chamber also passed a resolution, ordering the seizure of the issue of the Germania containing the letter in question. The various Ministerial departments are engaged in making enquiries in order to remove as much as possible the causes leading to emigration, although the latter occurs less frequently than heretofore. The object is to enable the peasants to become landed proprietors by the division into small allotments of certain State domains, thereby preventing emigration from the agricultural districts, and thus to counteract the inducements held forth by agents in the pay of Transatlantic Governments. The Suffragan Bishop of Posen has been released from custody, but expelled from the Province. King Alfonso has officially received the French and the Ministers of Russia, Austria, and Portugal.