PARIS.

Southland Times, Issue 1151, 22 October 1869, Page 3

PARIS.

(fbomoub ovrs cobbespondent.) August 14, 1869. There is more anxiety about the expected amnesty that the Emperor is said willas there can be no doubt he oughtgrant to those perse ns now undergoing imprisonment for political offences, than the measures for amending the Constitution. The continuation of the inconsistency of his position, proclaiming liberal concessions, while his government practised rather severe prosecutions against the press, the speakers at public meetings, &c, was a state of things that could not endure. A few days will show what are the Emperor's intentions in this respect, and if he but reflects on the history of all the repressions carried on during his reign against free speech, and unfettered writing, he cannot congratulate himself on having strengthened his dynasty , thereby. When his uncle was criticised j sans merci by the journalist Freron, what did he do ? Sent for him, named him prefet of Saint Domingo, and paid his debts — some 30,000fr. Journalists now-a-days do not desire either a prefecture or the payment of their debts — they demand simply a life without shackles. His Majesty is no stranger to this aspiration ; he knows that the prison does not convert political opponents, and to escape from it, the greatest and the proudest have not hesitated to don a mason's blouse, and manoeuvre a plank on their shoulders. The reception extended to the reforms inaugurated by Napoleon is not very remarkable. The newspapers devote more attention to the matter than their readers, and the great delay in considering the project by the committees of the Senate would indicate impracticableness in the working of the measures proposed. Furthermore, the two principal clauses are so faulty, that if left unchanged, evil rather than good will result. One of these is, reserving to the Senate the right to veto the measures of the Corps Legislatif — the House of Commons of France — and secondly, investing the responsibility of Ministers, not in the House of Representatives, but in the Senate, and finally in the Emperor. It will be time enough to chant the hosannas when the people's deputies arethoroughly free to act for their constituents. A few days ago, M. Buesfc, the Chancellor of the Austrian Empire, was asked why he did not seek a change, by patronising some of the watering places where kings and diplomatists find a Pool of Bethesda. He replied that he and Bismarck were doomed to hard labor till either died. This is just the situation happily described of the relations between Austria and Prussia. One nation is watching the other, like a pair of cats, ready to spring on the first mistake committed. Up to the present, Austria has won, and continues to place the cabinet of Berlin in very undignified positions. In addition, Austria is outdoing her rival in liberality, and having secured the support of France, against the evil day, can afford to be bold. The Czar Nicholas observed once, that the .Emperor Francis- Joseph was a scabbard without a sword ; except in family matters the Crown of Austria no longer deserves this character. Spain is still in a ferment. Don Carlos has opened the ball, but he is now " played out." Isabella would have long since set her friends to work, did Napoleon not counsel her to play a " waiting game." The solution of the difficulties of the Peninsula has not yet been found, no more than the king. Not many were inclined to risk the garrotte on behalf of charity, except the clergy, who have led many of their flock in open arms against the Regency, promising Paradise as certain to all who gloriously died. They themselves are likely to have the earliest opportunity of tasting the bliss. The Empress will attend, along with the Prince Imperial, the festivities at Corsica in honor of the anniversary of the birth of Napoleon the Firßt, one hundred years ago. The visit will be but a flying one, as she has to reserve herself for her Eastern tour in September. Sunday will be the national holiday for France, and will be observed with all due splendor and honor. The Emperor will pass the fete in company with his son, at the Camp of Chalons, returning in the course of a few days to his quiet residence at Saint Cloud. He suffers a little from his old enemy, sciatica, which, though painful, is not a sign of enfeebled health. He has stated that it is more than ever incumbent on him to live long ; now that he has restored France her liberties, he naturally desires to witness his beloved subjects enjoying them. Paris never was so full of strangers as at the present moment, English and Americans particularly. No gold could bribe a hotel-keeper to give you a bed. The programme of the rejoicings in the city will be the same as in former years. The illuminations will be magnificent — the fireworks splendid — charity unbounded, and amusements everywhere. It is the only day in the year when Parisians show themselves in deshabille — when Asmodeous takes the roofs of the houses, and enables the " intelligent foreigner " to satisfy his curiosity. The spectacle is worth seeing once in a lifetime — and having witnessed it, you will be inclined to abandon the city during the celebration of all subsequent fetes. However, there is much fun to be met with. The .Emperor as usual at such a period — the observance of his dynastic birthday — has distributed decorations with no parsimonious hand, and the promotions in the army and navy must not leave a single regret behind. The Chinese Embassy drags its slow length along. In fact, months ago, sensation about the celestials ceased. Now not a gamin in the city, would stop to look at their quaint turn-out — and if they remain much longer, they will be regarded as settlers. Lately they visited the paper-factory of one of the first publishers in the city, and during their stay saw some filthy rags turned into excellent paper, oik winch was printed, in their

presence, and in Chinese characters, a fulsome welcome to France. The Captain Cuttle of the Embassy, who has ever his pocket-book out, and his red 1 pencil between his brilliant white teeth, will not forget to " make a note " of this phenomenon. The weather continues to be warm and heavy, and the grain crops having been saved, preparations are going forward for the vintage. The theatres are closed in a great many cases, and amusements must be sought for in the open-a?r concerts. " All Paris" has made for the seaside, but a great many persons have returned to pass the " dead season" in the back part of ■■'■ their mansions — the proprietors of apartments beside the wild waves having been- smitten with the plague for mercilessly plucking strangers. They will soon find they are only killing the bird that lays the golden egg. . Count d' Alton Sbee was one of the un- | successful candidates at the late general elections for Paris, his rival being Thiers. The Count expended all the ready money he possessed in the struggle, and to replenish his purse he has given a series j of popular lectures. The first was on ] " Calumny," and he struck the backbites and sneerwells of the hour unsparingly. Anotner electoral innovation occurred in i the provinces, where a Deputy, having stripped himself naked, drove to thank his electors, and the unfortunate gentleman alleged that this was the best state to make himself known to them. Iv France, when a death occurs, the family and relatives to the fortieth remove, invite, by means of a large letter, friends to "assist " at the '* ceremony " — politeness exacts, you should at least attend the funereal mass, but to follow the remains to the grave is a , matter of affectionate inclination. On ; one occasion, a widow, in issuing tile"'"- death circular," and announcing her inconsolable loss, added that she would carry on her late husband's business as usual. Much talk has recently taken place about the scandal of a large firm, seizing the opportunity in th.c usual despatch of the mortuary notice of the death of the chief partner, Sue., to detail the alterations in the deed of partnership. After .this, no one can accuse the French of not being a business people— with a vengeance. Queen Isabella and her family have gone to Trouville— the to-be Brighton of France— on the coast of Normandy, for a few weeks to bathe. Each member has a caretaker while in the water," and by a curious coincidence, the woman who " dips " the Prince of Asturias, is named Prime — pronounced as the Spanish Marshal's — Prim. Her Majesty caused some amusement a few mornings ago, by calling on Prime to "save the Prince," who had -boldly plunged, taking a " header" on his own account into a big wave. Talking of bathing, naturally leads to how Parisians get on in this respect.^One of the principal advantages the French have derived from their intercourse with the Saxon race, is the free use of water. The river is now covered with floating bathing establishments, through which a current of water flows. For a few sous an excellent cold plunge can be obtained. "When taking a private bath, it is customary to bring your own towels, soap, brushes, &c. ; if supplied on the spot, the et ceteras will inflame the "little bill" very considerably. Louis the Fourteenth took one bath, which apparently did him for his lifetime, as he was never known to take a second. During the reign of Louis XI., the bath in fashion was either one of heated air or vapor. The establishments were the centres of great profligacy, and females on entering were reminded by the doorkeeper "to take care of their^virtue," as one is now advised to look after their trinkets. „ Among the many extraordinary suicides that occur in this city, the most whimsical take place among the weaker sex. They destroy themselves if :. poor, and also if rich, apparently for t\x4 novelty of the thing. A girl aged 18, in the best of health and spirits, retires to her room, suffocates herself by charcoal fumes, and leaves a note for the first policeman, that she has killed herself without any cause. Another turns all her property into cash, j buys the most costly jewels, dresses her. i self out with them, and hangs herself from the bed- post. Another kind of insanity, and daily on the increase, is that of duelling. The demi-monde is not a more fruitful source of duels than the political world. Phrynne and Aspasia do not consider themselves comme il faut, unless they can boast of some half-dozen fools having fought about them. Then political feeling runsas high. Only last week, M. Paul de Cassagnac, after half-an-hour's hacking at his antagonist, pierces his lungs, and sends him home to his death-bed. M. de Cassagnac is a very violent Buonapartiste writer, whose wish is to have, like the Roman Emperor, the heads of the enemies of the Second Empire so arranged, that Napoleon the Third could sweep them away by one blow. This gentleman has received a challenge from a M. Gail lard, now undergoing political imprisonment ; the conditions of the " satisfaction" to be, that each places a hand on the other's breast, and the pistols to their heads, and so fire. Two editors hare fought at Marseilles, and exchanged fire, without effect. It appears the duel was not according to rule, and must be fought over again. The Minister of War, Marshal Niel, is dying from an affection of stone, and after undergoing the tortures of an operation, at the hands of seven of the most celebrated surgeons, his last state is worse than the first. He is an able administrator, and it is to his energetic organization that the present efficiency of the peace-army of France — 900,000 men— is due. The Empress has called several times to see the brave old soldier, who receives his intimate friends, while supporting his great agony with the heroism of a Spartan. Like all gre.it families in France, it is the nuns that take charge of the invalid. They receive no remuneration for their anxious care, but it is usual to present a donation to

the convent to which they belong. The Emperor has visited his faithful servant, and such is generally regarded as certain evidence that the patient's dissolution is near. When His Majesty came to see his Foreign Minister, Moustier, the latter's wife prayed that the Emperor would forego the interview. When old Baron Dupin was on his death-bed, the arrival of the Emperor was announced to him ; he . turned to his friends, and laughingly observed, " I now know that you were joking about my recovery." , i From time immemorial authors have dedicated their works to patrons and friends. A writer has been found, who, disgusted with the rage for dedicating works to " imbecile* " — inscribed his to an " executioner " named Saint Aubiu. He addresses this public functionary as the buttress of human justice — who indicates to many men their road to safety, by assisting them to heaven. His profession is noble, because there are j Asian and African kings who regard the | personally putting to death of criminals | as the most glorious appanage of their crowns — he ranks with Attila, Saladin, and other kings, in the glorious mission of executing Divine justice, and when on duty, he never marches without guards, and is followed by a numerous cortege. If he ever spoils mankind, it is only when they are dead — whereas judges, pharisees, &c, fleece them to the bones when alive. The " Free-thinkers " give some trouble to the authorities of the cemetery of Pere Lachaise by their insisting on erecting tombstones with very curious epitaphs, and not complimentary to religion in general. Occasionally the speeches over the grave of a defunct member of this body, are painful to bystanders, and sometimes to themselves. Judge of the horror and excitement produced during a recent interment, by a friend so far forgetting himself as to say the deceased had been married by a priest ! The Sunday .closing movement of shops in the city, not only makes progress, but maintains what has been gamed — which is the most creditable of all. There is an immense establishment — an outfitting house — that still holds out, and which does an enormous business with the country classes. The clergy have given notice to the proprietors to " denounce their firm" unless they adhere to the Dominical movement.