PARIS.

Southland Times, Issue 1571, 30 April 1872, Page 3

PARIS.

(from our own correspondent.) A more consoling spectacle is the heterogeneous efforts to chase the Germans out of France by a three milliard franc power. If the enthusiasm is a shade less explosive to accomplish the end by means of voluntary subscriptions, it is to be hoped it is not the less real. It is not a good sign, however, to hear of persons promising to contribute so much, in caße the total figure be realized. It is more patriotic to give and ask no questions. In 1789 matters went better. Champfort sent a deputation of its ladies to the Assembly, "who presented, like the Roman matrons to the Senate, their jewels, which they blushed to wear when patriotism called for the sacrifice. They were admitted — eleven in all, dressed in white — to the Assembly ; stated the liberation of the country was the work for citizens, its regeneration, that for the representatives j on the casket being accepted, the president assured the ladies, henceforth their virtues would be their ornaments. Up to the present there has been only one similar sacrifice — an editor — who gives his small stock of plate, his watch, shirtstuds aDd links, along with the silver spoon and goblet of his only child, If

' all would go and do likewise, possibly enthusiasm might effect what reason declares to be impossible. What is most touching in this movement is, that its first impulse came from Strasbourg and Mulhouse. The amputated part has led the way — in the raising the required sum —^thirty times one-hundred millions! The ladies of these towns recall Musset's elegy on the pelican, " for food, it gives its heart." The government will not officially identify itself with the national effort, but indirectly supports its proper direction. The archbishop df Paris recommends the good work — the aristocratic ladies of the Faubourg St. Germain have their fairy fingers working up elegant trifles for baziars ; at every dinner party the hostess makes a collection ; at soirees the same, while brides present you with cake while extending a salver on behalf of France. Some shopkeepers hand over establishments to lady patronesses for < the busiest portion of a day, requesting them to keep the proceeds of all sales. Sursum pecunia ! Financiers have not yet elaborated their business plan, but some solution will be found to satisfy the yearnings of the nation to be delivered from Prussian occupancy ; foreigners can then at. all events remember France. During the last twenty years, it has been calculated this country loaned to foreign nations twenty-five milliards of money — eight times the amount due to Germany. It has been suggested to sell off foreign stock, despite the inevitable crashes that must occur, till the required three milliards be realized. Meantime, the Assembly has not yet found the new sources of taxation to meet the required annual expenses of the state. The " divine "Williams" is now regarded as a prophet in France ; he knew the French character profoundly, and has painted its phases and misfortunes. Coriolanus is quoted to show the French " like not peace nor war " — it is difficult to satisfy a people who dethroned a monarch because he too much loved peace, and his successor, because he made too much war. The same play depicts French inconstancy — " with every minute you do 'so change a mind." This does not justify tbe explanation that the English have adopted a " weather-cock," as a compliment to Gaulish fickleness. Her chivalrous " wars for ideas" recall King John's — " France, whom zeal and charity brought to the field." Henry Fourth, third part, may excuse happy usurpers — " for a kingdom, any oath may be broken." Henry VI. hits off ephemeral infatuations — "the Commonwealth is sick of their own choice *," King John describes the last campaign — " the French fight coldly, and retire themselves." Henry VI. describes the cry of the victors after the caudine forks at Sedan — " and now to Paris, in this conquering vein ;" with the investment and its issue — " till Paris was besieged, famish'd, and lost ;" the same play may explain the psychological moment of Metz and tbe capital — " lam vanquished by famine, not by valor." Troilus and Cressida thought of military indiscipline — "The generals disdained By him one step below ; he by the next ; That next by him beneath." Henry VI. supplies the observation — " ' Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt," and anticipates the Socialists in the remark — '* and henceforward all things shall be in common." Richard 11. photographs the Commune — " rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap," and Henry VI. descried petroleum-week in last May — " Away, burn all the records of the realm." Hamlet supplies consolation to the sympathetic who can say — "My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France." The Emperor of Brazil and his companions, after creating a most favorable impression, left as they arrived — without show or noise : they folded " ■ their tents like the Arabs, And as silently steal away." Sardou is unanimously condemned for his comedy Mabagas, where he has stirred up quite unnecessarily political passions by endeavoring to agreeably rail at the, republic, in representing it by advocates without talent and conscience, and giving an air of resuscitation to monarchy, under tbe character of a prince of Monaco, who does not add to his reputation by taking as ministers, i the very vilest " gentlemen of the pavement." The Bonapartists have adopted the piece as a manifesto and a revenge — and point"out Gambetta, Jules Favre, Rochefort, &c, not omitting OUivier and the Communists, as " represented to the life." It was Sardou who I on the fourth of September, led the revolutionists to the Tuileries ; his change in politics would be condemned elsewhere, but here every man seems to alter his opinions as often as he changes a chemise. The author wished to be Aristophanes, but we are not in the time of Socrates, and our manners are not Athenian. The Greek comic poet introduced into his plays, chorusses by frogs and pigs, the ' audience supplied the croaks and grunts which Sardou omitted in Mabagas. The abbe Michaud, vieaire of the Madeleine, and a theological professor, refuses to subscribe to the doctrine of Infallibility, but " will remain catholic and priest ;" the pere Hyacinthe has at last a companion — but neither have followers. Tbe fact of the Germans rebelling against the Pope will make the French love his Holiness the more. Two curious suicides — one, " a well-to-do dustman," who took a header into a cess-pool ; the other, a handsome young girl, a discarded mistress, who, finding her lover got married, entered his apartment, suffocated herself with charcoal fumes, and when the happy couple entered after being united, they found the nuptial bed occupied by a corpse. At the public auction mart, there is quite a plethora of curiosities sold every day, many of which come from the manufacturers of antiquities at Birmingham. Two old books were sold, bound in tiger, and human skins, the first enveloped " Paul and , Virginia '* — the second a " Bible "—a i

beautifully illuminated edition, with the royal arras. The skin was extremely white, and superior to parchment — a_hint for the leather interest, and persons who complain of being skinned. Lebeau, a law student, was for four days editor of the Journal Officiel under the Commune. He was twice arrested, and liberated, the government not having evidence of his complicity. This time testimony was produced, and the prisoner has received a Rochefort sentence. During the trial he had to be removed, having called the Public Prosecutor an " impudent liar." Ho admitted his desire to found a " League of Regicides " — with whom killing was no murder., "When he was superseded in the editorial chair, he and his successor had a terrible boxing match ; the celebrated article on "* regicide " that the Commune astonished the world by, was the amplification of an article taken from a " dictionary of conversation." To the credit of the accused he refused a large bribe in money, from a " humpbacked tailor," to insert -a pro clamation from the Orleanist princes. Artaxerxes owes us an explanation. The military tribunal unanimously acquitted a pork-butcher, with the significant name of Broche — roasting-spit. This man was forced to fall into the Communist ranks, and having been once a corporal in the line, was immediately made captain — against his will. On every occasion he endeavored to escape, and was three times condemned to death by the Communist and Regular Court Martials, the first sentenced him to be hanged, which was carried out, and he was left dangling from a window, the rope round his neck, and feet clinging to the wall, till a new battalion of Federals cut him down and ordered him to shoulder arms ; endeavoring again to skedaddle, he was judged to be drowned, and while in the water, was honored with a Bhower of balls ; on reaching the other bank of the river, the line troops discredited his story, and nearly knocked out his brains ; they then sent him before a court-martial ; he was ordered to be shot, was placed against the wall, received three balls, was left for dead, and now lives to fight another day. Truth is stranger than fiction. There is a good deal of marching of troops in the city — merely as an exercise. The men have a most serious, steady air, and their tettue is excellent. Nearly all the officers are young, almost lads, which gives an idea of the ravages made during the campaign. The city however is very tranquil. The authors of the " practical joking" — limited to scattering small bombs in tbe public thoroughfares, and under the wheels of the 'busses, have been arrested. In this season of anniversaries for the heroic dead, and capitulations without dishonor, there is one worth recording. It was this time last year that Paris renewed its acquaintance with white bread, after living so long upon a compound made up of a thousand ingredients that defied all chemical analysis ; it was then that citizens clasped with joy the golden crust, and crumbled the soft so as to pick up the delicate morsels with prolonged pleasure. Had Lazarus returned a second time from his tomb, he would not find — twelve months ago — a crumb of such bread under the table of any Dives in the city. How people did put the two breads side by side, and with tears looked on this picture and on this ! Some people keep splinters of bombs as souvenirs of the siege, but not a family but has preserved a crust of misery itself. Jaundice, which a few months ago was so prevalent in Paris, has re-appeared with increased severity. On the present occasion it only attacks females, and principally those living in the Belleville districts, where the fighting was hottest. You have only to walk in that neighborhood to meet with women as colored as Celestials. The doctors are puzzled at their inability to master the malady, which they attribute to the excitement of late events. It is reported that some soldiers are affected, at least the authorities have weeded-out all men exhibiting " yellow " features. Tbe Municipal Council is about aiding hospitals for hooping cough. The experiment made has been so successful that young patients have henceforth nothing to fear. . One of those philosophical creatures who sit throughout a day in the river wall, fishing, happy if their toil be only rewarded with a " bite," was asked a few days ago, had he " caught anything." " No," was the reply. " Here is a chance," said the questioner, throwing himself into the river. His body was found some hours later, and as usual, nothing to identify the remains. A second " Farmer's Club " has been founded, and very luxuriously fitted up. It is called the " turnip," to distinguish it from its senior, the " potato" club. Over tbe portraits of Trochu, Jules Favre, and Victor Hugo, a photographist has the label " the ruins of Paris." A sausage maker announces the change of name of his production from " imperial" to " national ;" and a barber, taking into consideration the hardship of the times, consents to sell wigs at halfprice, and hire them out by the week, instead of tbe month.