PARIS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1348, 13 June 1872, Page 3

PARIS.

fraOM OTTB OWN OOEBESPOXDENT.] (Concluded). April 2.0, 1672.. The exhumation of the body of Alexandre Dumas jpere near Dieppe, to be buried in the family fault at VillersCotterets, was like "the last night" of a theatre. Those who were invited were asked to assist at a fete. not a funeral. This was classical, as the Thracians made merry at a death, and put on mourning at a birth. On arriving at the village, the first sorrow experienced by the guests was that no breakfast was to be had—the only hotel had been engaged for a bridal dejeuner in advance. The deceased wrote a story called "The Wedding and the Burial"—singular coincidence. There was a rush made for the provision shops —Edmond About secured half a ham, Giavdin a loaf, and other celebrities what they could. One distinguished author philosophically took his seat beside an old woman who held a gingerbread stall, and feasted on her " nuts." Quite a fair had been improvised, and the theatre gave a representation in "honor of the arrival of the great man." Prices everywhere ruled high ; it was not every day a Dumas was interred, and the question was asked when would the son's remains—he who was "chief mourner"' —arrive. The town council held aloof from the whole proceeding*, and as the local band would not play, one was hired else where. There was as much fun as at an Irish funeral or wake. An artist found a passage through the crowd by demanding "100 m for Marshal Macinahon !" Dumas was born in VillersCotterets, but though he made vast sums by his writings, he could never save from his extravagance sufficient to purchase the humble cottage where he was born in 1802. Events hitherto prevented his funeral where he wished, "to enter into the night of the future in the same neighborhood where I left the night of the past." After the religious ceremony came the speechifying. One orator praised Gambetta and Garibaldi, complimented M. Th ers, had ♦aith in radicalism, and pointed out the necessity of a new post office for the village. Anticipating such a scene was perhaps the reason which led Victor Hugo to remain away, promising to visit at a future day and solitary the tomb of his friend. However, lie wrote a letter quite in harmony with the proceedings. The editor of Charivari was observed in the vicinity of the grave removing some dust blown in'o his eye. He begged his friends " not to conclude he was cryiug, as such a proceeding would be quite out of place." M. Thiers has been so occupied in dining out, and giving dinners and receptions at tjie Elysce, that he has not had time to/<#e the anniversary of his 76th birth day. The last thought he has is of dying; when free for an hour, he drives to the horse show to buy some of the noble animals for his stable—he wishes no longer to be dependent on ihe ex-lmp?.rial stud. The four dinners, followed by reception-', which he has just given in Paris, has afforded much satisfaction to the citizens, who -view in the matter an earnest of the return of the Assembly to the city. The receptions were well attended by every shade of home politicians and by strangers from every country. The Persian Ambassador's wife—a lady not more than 18 years of age—turned the head* of the gentlemen and forced admiration even from the ladies, by her remarkable beauty and the strange " sweet costume " of her native country. She is the talk of Paris at present, and must cut herself up into little pieces to be present at only half the balls she is invited to. One drawback, she only talks Persian—there ought to be a run on Hafiz's poetry. At one of the dinners in question, the President's cook, forgetting the close season,"had served up some partridges. The President of (he Anti-Poacher's Society has asked M. Thiers if such a violation of the game laws took place, and was auswered in the negative The republic has thus e-eaped a great danger. The Oorporatian is leaving nothing undone to restore to Paris all her former attractions. The strangers are commeufiing to display all the fast life

peculiar fco the Second Empire. Everywhere can be met with the evidence of returning luxury, wealth, and amusement. Paris is determined not to abdicate as Queen of Europe ; her public promenades are gay with flowers; the streets are a model of cleanliness and care ; the shops are brightening up, and confidence U becoming an institution. Order reigns, and would be as efficiently upheld even without martial law. This luxury of protection appears to be maintained the better to strike extreme journals; but such are daily more and more falling into disfavor. Poor Trochu would be forgotten, and his enemy the Figaro also, were it not that his photograph is placed in the shop windows at the side of the pamphlet account of the trial. He has to pay the penalty of greatness, as his photograph has for companions the cartes of the new executioner and Mdlle. Diblanc. Since it has become known that this latter individual was " given to prayer," Parisians have no doubt of her having murdered Mdlle. B-iel, and are desirous of knowing, when she will be hanged, as she has confessed her crime before the French judge. Rochefort's Utile, collection of bibelots has been sold by public auction, just like the effects of his arch-enemy, the ex-Emperor. A few paintings were knocked down at a fair figure. The principal purchaser was Madame Ratazzi, who, although a Napoleon, had a fantasy for Rochefort's writings. Ollivier, of light-hearted fame, is to auction off his household gods also. The Bonapartist establishment seems to be completely broken up. Even at "Vichy, where a poulterer fattened chickens by thrusting meal balls clown their throats by machinery, calling them "Empress's chickens," -names of such are now " national." The celebrated astronomer, Le Terrier, has satisfactorily tested his system of military sun-signals. With two mirrors, size no great object, rays of light can be thrown on a corresponding mirror at a distance of several miles, and by reflecting these rays in dliferent positions, with intervening eclipses, they can correspond to a special alphabet. Magnesium, <fcc , can al.-o be effectively employed, and with a mirror having a surface less large than the human hand. Among the curiosities of robbery is the stealing of six pieces of artillery from one of the city forts; and what is curious, the discovery was only made when the coiners were detected melting down the bronze. Henceforth, the Column of July ought to be guarded. In the gingerbread fair on the exterior Boulevards, among other great attractions is a waxwork show : an additional fee of two souk is required to enter the room to vie*- "The Chastity of Joseph." Mine. Tassaud must look to her laurels. The watch dog attached to the Montmarte ceme'.erv is called "Be Profundis." Among the Communists en route for New Caledonia is an old man aged 74. He is required to inaugurate ihe cemetery. Dumas pere was constantly worried for charity by a beggar, who cried when soliciting. Fo finish with him, Dumas sent him one day a gold Napoleon in an envelope, addressed " From Job to Jeremiah."