Our Paris Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 19 February 1895, Page 3

Our Paris Letter.

Paris, 2nd Jan., 1895. The Boulevards have assumed their characteristic Christmas aspect during a fortnight. The little stalls have been completed. This year, the proverbial ingenuity of these extempore shopkeepers seems to have failed to produce any very striking novelties, but if the weather continues as mild as it has been recently, and the rain will leave Paris alone for this fortnight, the crowds that promenade on the boulevards may be more inclined to loiter, and have greater temptation to spend their money, than when what is known a 9 seasonable weather makes continuous movement a necessity. Quite recently Christmas was hardly observed in Fiance, all idea of a holiday being centred, in New Year's Day. Each season however, the wish to imitate everything English, which originated with the upper ten, spreads more and more through all ranks of society, and the word Christmas is already almost acclimatised and seems likely ere long to render the French term Noel quite an out of date expression. From statistics compiled at the central markets, it is estimated that during the night preceding Christmas (Reveillon), 55,000 dozen oysters, 22£ tons of fish, and 100 tons of poultry were consumed in the gay capital. Considering the cost of these articles, this is a very creditable performance. New Year's Day was feted this year as usual, the boulevards were, of course densely crowded by a goodnatured throng, many of whom rarely have the time to saunter about for pleasure ; but the feature of this New Year's Day was the large number of foreigners especially English, who seemed thoroughly interested in the proceedings and quite at home. General Tcher-koff, the special envoy sent by the Russian Government to formally notifiy the accession of Nicholas 11, to the throne, was received at the Elyse6 the other afternoon by the President of the French Republic. A guard of honour was provided by a battalion of Infantry, with their flags and band, the men being disposed in a double line round tho courtyard. The Russian General precisely arrived at 2 o'clock, by which time a large crowd had collected in the neighbourhood of the Elysee. He was in one of the Presidential landaus and was accompanied by Count de Bourguency, director of ceremonies. General Tcher - koff was, of course, in full uniform of the Imperial Guard, bearing ornaments in red and silver. In a second i carriage were Count Schouruloff, Captain de H. Maurel, and M. ! Mollard, sub-director of ceremonies. As the General entered the courtyard, the drums and trumpets sounded, and the band played the Russian National Anthem, the French officers Baluting with their swords. ! When introduced to the President, General Tcher-koff presented an autograph letter from bis sovereign, and ftflattJ thai h« had b«en w

strutted by the tsar to again express fais sense of tie unanimous expression of" sympathy profferred by France on the occasion oti the death of his august father. The Tsar Nicholas also sent his thanks to M. Casimlr Perier personally for his sympathy in the misfortune which overtook the Russian people. After the President's reply* a private interview took place between the Chief of the State General Tcher-koff and the President of the Council of Ministers*