Our Paris Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 3 August 1893, Page 2

Our Paris Letter.

♦ -i ■ •■:_.... We beg to announce that we have entered into arrangementg-to- receive a regular fornigiitly, fetter irom gay city of Parl^,, tbe capital /of jtte word as far as regards life and new sensations.' . So fcfc tomake room in our far too confined space, we shall unfortunately have ; ib }^tfe^£lif^rtSt in consecutive issues^ but " dvenwJtn this disadvantage, we bej^y« our readers will appreciate the' departure, as our correspondent (j will .lwi'R /to throw light On : many . of, \%?> , movements so briefly referred to foe cablegrams. It yijl be ren>ein^!ai^a to that on the action of ' ihi Trenen RepresfentatWeg hangapthe issue of peace or war to the world; and therefore what they do or say and how politics are drifting are maters of more than local interest. < ; '^> a.In addition to the actual letter we shall be furnished with interesting paragraphs on scientific subjects theatricals, men of the day, and i varieties, which will also be printed

for the perusal of our readers. Paris, June 24th, 1893. The crowd at Longchamps on the 11th inst. in honour of the Grand Prix de Paris was a big one. There was a large and distinguished company in the pessage. The President o£ the. Republic and Mdme. Carnofc arrived in time to witness the Grand Prix, and after two attempts the flag fell to an excellent start. A splendid racs ensued between the leaders, Rogotky a French horse "Belonging to the Baron Bchickler .getting the judge's verdict by a short head. Many persons have complained that, owing to the crowd, they were ■. unable to get near the boxes (boxes. „ —-similar to our totalisator), and ■ to were deprived of an opportunity of losing their money. '."■ ' The^e were however, 67 stands in • tht weighing paddock, 12 of which only did business on the Graiid Prix, tne other races. There were also- 26 offioea at the grand ' * stand, and 205 in the public part of • ihe course, making a total of 285 ;. offices* employing 2,000 clerks. The total amount taken was 8$ million 'francs and the expenses amounted to 40,000 franca, The 7 per cent taken by the Government on the stakes and devoted to charitable purposes amounted to 270,000 francs. ','. Speaking of charity, the " Victims of Duty " profit to a lar;e extent by ;'ft : f6te which is arranged annually by ihe Press of Paris, and which is j,n imitation,.. of. the "Battles of Flowers," which take place every - year at Nice and Cannes. Unfortunately, flowers are not bo plentiful aa they are in th> South,'; ami it ia difficult, even when tha weather - was as bright as it was last Saturday to secure the necessary animaticto, • without which a battle- of; fltfWers^is shot n ' of touch of its attraction. Nevertheless," ' some 8,000 carriages appeared on the scene of aotion, and though tha majority were only deob-' rated. in a perfunctionary manner; there were a few which wer? really elegant. There were, of course, many elegant scenes and pretty faces, and even if there was a trifle LißtlessH . ness in the matter of flower throwIng, the spectacle was one which : it would be difficult to surpass many other city in the world, Therecdip.ts: were very satisfactory^ a net profit oi 62,000 francs, for the families of many- a poor policeman,- fireman, or ' engine-driver, all victims of 'thier • -dutyand who will profit considerably by the f^te. ■•■-= '■■-■ -.h'.' '.iA . In my last babblings I mentioned M. George Berry's campaign for the suppression of mendicity in the capital. A writerin the Bapide treats fif.J^erry's observation in a jocula'jkw&y. I ask you," he sayis; "whether M. Berry would not dp better to go and mind sheep on hisj native heath than to manifest such ridiculous intentions in a communal assjepibly. Mendicity is a profession lite many .others, and ought to be considered with a certain i^esfcb'y'all fathers mindful of the ftfrajr^Weuarej ;6f their children. M. Bfeflgt&fißrnlß -that he has often been taken in by false beggars, and that his mite has found its way into unworthy bands. Well, what of it ! Why, ibis happens to everybody, my: dear sir, and you must indeed be profoundly Municipal Councillor to be in^the least put out about it. As far as I am concerned, I have but little appreciation for the really maimed, the really amputated beggar to whom I give alms, for he has not the least merit in exercising his profession. What I admifeis a man who, having jjs'^any legs and arms as you and I, gwei the passer-by the illusion that he is mutilated all over. That man is a veritable artist who thoroughly earns $htf *obney which flows mto his bowU-- '■•»'''■-••