A SCENE IN PARIS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 268, 15 November 1870, Page 4

A SCENE IN PARIS.

A correspondent of the Daily Neivs writes from Paris: — "BeiDg anxious to discover what really were the views of the citizens of Belleville, I wentyesterday evening to a public meeting which I saw was advertised to take place there. I put on a very ancient pea-jacket and an exceeding bad. wide-awake, aud I flatter myself that the local Curtiuses and Brutuses recognised iv me a brother. The meeting was held iv a large room, where in quieter times citizens and citizenesses were in the habit of danciDg. A platform was arranged on one side for the speakers, and opposite the platform there was a large gallery. The room was full, but not inconveniently crowded, and at least one-half of the audience consisted of women. When I entered, the citizen chairman, a working man, was explaining that the Mayor of Paris had informed the Mayor of the arrondissemeut that he might draw upon him for 2000 f., iv order to buy food for those who were in want of it. This announcement was received with some applause and cries of ' Not enough.' Then followed a very fair speech from a working man, who complained that there were a large number of men out of work. He ended by saying that the people must have powder and bread; that this was all they asked from the rich. {Loud cries of 'We will have them.') A woman then mounted on the platform, and said that the womeu of Paris asked to be allowed to made cartridges and balls. Up rose half tho women in the room, aud shouted, 'We want guvs to fight.' A very stout virago, who evidently was a lady of much local influence, was now hoisted upon a chair. She said that the women of Paris not only wanted guvs, but petroleum to pour ou the 'savages.' 'Let us swear to go to the ramparts, and die there ; if wo are driven from them, let us swear to burn' down street after street as they advance.' Tremendous applause followed this Irish perforation, in the midst of which the ■amazon subsided into her chair. Au orator from the other side of the room now denounced all the valets of Bonaparte, more particularly the sergents-de-ville. ' Virtuous citizens,' obseryed this gentleman, 'require no police.' Froni the observations round me, I found that, .although there was a general concurrence

in this sentiment, there was a somewhat strong feeling that the orator could hardly be included in the rank of virtuous citizens. His speech was a decided failure, his sentimeuts being considered good, but his character bad. The president now called order for a citizen who wished to deliver an oration upon the best means of defending France. The citizen stepped forward, in person a well-to-do tradesman. He was lengthy, ornate, and unpractical ; aod I, and many others, left before he had finished. The whole proceedings were orderly, and, from what I witnessed, Ido not think there is any intention on the part of the patriots of Belleville to give at present any practical effect to the views which they may have respecting a general division of property. If the Government can manage to feed them, there is no danger of an outbreak ; bnt if during the siege they fiud themselves starving, there will be bread riots led by tbe women."

San Francisco Mail Route. — The North Pacific Transportation Company, which at present runs the line to Honolulu, has amalgamated with Webb, and now propose to run his fine steamers right through to New Zealaud and Australia. They will obtain the American subsidy. It is understood tlint important proposals in relation to the line are being conveyed by the outgoing mail to the Colonial Governments. A convention of leading railway men of America has been held at Chicago, at which important action has beeu taken iv reference to the Australian through traffic. A special reduced passenger rale has been adopted ; each passenger is to be allowed 2501b5. luggage free, and tbe time-table is so altered that the whole distance from San Francisco to New York is to be accomplished in five days. The passenger tickets issued by the North Pacific Transportation Company will alone be recognised by the railways. The Cunard and Inman steam Hues offer to bave a steamer ready at New York upon receviug a telegram from San Francisco. They also offer the North Pacific Transportation Company to take their passengers at reduced rates. It is thought and hoped here tbat amicable and satisfactory arrangements will be made by the company with all existing interests in the colonies. If not, it is understood that tbey will cease to make connection with the present line at Honolulu. " Mr. Gladstone," says the Spectator, u has delivered a speech upon the ballot, which, but for the war, would have been an immense event. He declared for manhood suffrage. He thought that household suffrage involved in principle unlimited suffrage. ' When we have adopted household suffrage, we bave, I think, practically adopted the principle that every man who is not disabled in point of age, of crime, of poverty, or through some other positive disqualification, is politically competent to exercise the suffrage; and it is a simple question of time aud convenience when this suffrage shall be placed in his hands. To draw a distinction between household suffrage aud 4 lodger suffrage, provided the lodger be a peison who has a certain permanence in his residential tenure, would be, in my opinion, almost impossible. Every man, in fact, of full age, not a criminal or a pauper, ought to have a vote. It will come to that at last, no doubt, though we hope first to educate the people ; but ouly two months ago that speech would have acted like a shell thrown into the Liberal party.' " In Solano county, California, a sharp wheat-buyer, seeing quotations slightly advanced, telegraphed to the Bay to know if be should buy at quotations. lhe answer came — "No price too high!" On receipt of this message he "wired in" and bought 200 tons, which he was obliged recently to sell, pocketing a loss of one dollar a ton. By a comma after "No" all this loss would h .ye been saved. So much for punctuation.' Two twin brothers iv New York are so much alike tbat they frequently borrow money of each other without knowing it.