PARIS.
(FROM OUR OWN COEEESPONDENT). August 22. Captain Cerfbeer during the war voluntarily" surrendered himself prisoner to the Prussians when they were besieg- '''■'* lO § rPhaJsboure^. Returning to France, he was arrested, tried by Court Martial, and condemned to death. He is a very wealthy man, father of a large f ami ly, -and was believed to have erred through ignorance. His sentence was commuted to ten years of banishment and degradation. He went through the process of military ignominy laughinghly, and being conducted to the frontier at once decided to become a Prussian subject, his property being in Alsace. He can thus return to France when he pleases ; but if recognised by the mob ? It was about this time in August 1815, that General Labedoyere was shot; he was the first to bring his regiment over to Napoleon on escaping from Elba. It was found that for six months the soldiers had concealed the tricolor cockade in their knapsacks, and so had them ready for use. It is to be hoped M. Tbfers has i had knapsacks searched for eagles and . violets. The Assumption — the fifteenth day of August — is an important religious holiday ; it is the fete of the Virgin, and is celebrated by all called " Mary" in France — that is, one half the female population. Now as every Marie receives a gift from relatives and friends, the small traders had nothing to complain of; pots of flowers and bouquets were in great demand as usual, and sold at double the price — crowds even disputing for them at the highest figure. The flower market alone effected sales to the amount of 100,000fr8., business being as brisk during the night as the day. The churches were well attended, the services being conducted with every pomp. It was also the anniversary of the procession instituted by Louis XIII. in 1637, in honor of his vow to the Mother of the King of Kings ; his request to be blessed with an heir having been granted, as his wife, Anne of Austria, after twenty-two years of sterility, presented him with a son — Louis XIV. There are two Bonapartists in France at all events — though it was said they had all gone over to pay their respects at Cbiselhurst — for two fresh itnmortelles, with a volume of the " History of the Empire," by Thiers, were deposited on the stump of the Vendome column. The Parisians devoted the day to rest, promenading and pick-nicking, in the country. No one seemed to have missed the accustomed fireworks that Napoleon provided on these occasions for the people —^and at their expense. The imperial exile was not forgotten ; the souvenir that his folly and rashness left behind — five milliards and two provinces lost — will ever keep his iremory green in France. There were many comparisons between " now," and " tben ;" such as the feverish anxiety to peruse the oflicial journal, to find if one's prayer to be decorated with the Legion of Honor had been welcomed by his Majesty. Emperor's clemency was so extensively exercised, that something like a general efaol delivery took place Messrs G-ambetta and Trochu havirg opened all the prisons, and converted their inmates into patriotic guards, there was no necessity for similar liberality now — especially as much energy is being employed to arrest those set tree. As the imperial police were accused of getting up all tbe riots in Paris, it was held to be only natural on the part of JSTapoleon to liberate his own agents. The 15th August was a free day for the vagrants to ply their trade, but France bas no beggars now ; misfortune has enriched her — as she has subscribed for her own ransom loan — five times over. The French Geographical Society, after being somewhat incredulous about Stanley's discovery, is now having a gold medal engraved fur him. This will cure any pain caused to that gentleman, arid will obliterate the fault made by the Paris journals, viz., that Mr Stanley had discovered " Messieurs Livingstone and It would have been a sad calamity had the end of the world arrived before French pupils and collegians had received their premiums after twelvemonth's good conduct and diligent study. At the Sorbonne, the prizes were distributed for the general competition, the proceedings ODening with a professional address in Latin, and which caused an honest farmer's wife to remark to" her husband — who came to see their boy honored — how youths could be expected to obey the Commandments after such an harangue ! The various colleges had their special distributions ; at the Condorcet lyceum the proceedings were saddened, when the late young due de Cruise was declared a prize-winner in mathematics ; his prize volumes were bound in black, and handed over to bis father, the due d'Aumale. It is customary to present the laureate with a crown, composed of gilt paper oakleaves j one young republican, when the Minister, Jules Simon, was delivering to him- this trophy, respectfully but firmly pushed it back. Timeo Danaos, &c. A few years ago, at a distribution of prizes presided over by the Prince Imperial, young Cavaignac declined to come forward and receive his premiums, because he would have to shake hands with Napoleon IT., a condition not expressed in the bond of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The prizes consist of books ; in mathematics, the " favorite authors" are, Laplace and Arago; in philosophy, Cousin ; in history, Duruy and Tbiers ; the latter having superseded his confrere's — Louis Napoleon's — work, Julius Csesar. If the due d'Aumale ever becomes Lieu-tenant-General of France, like hia papa, in the " interests of Henry V.," the " History of the House of Conde," will have an immense circulation. There are a good many simple but effective city improvements being quietly effected. One advantage France possesses under the republic, that of changes being
made without flourishing of trumpets. A new kind of street lamp is being tested ; instead of the ordinary burner, two burners cross, and open ; between, is placed a lens, composed of tin and glass, ' concave on each side. The light is increased, but is rather thrown on two cardinal points, instead of four. The experiment is being: continued with one of the large lamps facing the new opera. The large vent-holes in the baeement storey of the houses are henceforth to be furnished with bars. It appears some children and drunkards have been passed through these ventilators against their will. It was by such apertures the communists poured in petroleum before applying the match. The temporary Record Office in the Louvre has escaped being consumed ; but four civil servants have been frightfully burned, and three have since died. One of the clerks commenced smoking where ] there had been an escape of gas— hence ' an explosion. It is said that pieces on flesh had to be removed with the burnt remains of their clothing. In additiou to smoking, French civil service clerks endeavor to kill time by card-playing; n:>t a few find consolation in sleep. There is a story told of a young Viscount, who, when fatigued reading the newspaper, went out ta walk. On one occasion, the chief of the department unexpectedly arrived ; the Viscount was enjoying the sleep of the just, and a fellow-clerk was about rousing him up, when the chef objected, remarking, if wakened, he would go out for a walk. The police authorities, whenever a person is condemned for insultiug a soldier, have adopted the practice of posting the punishment ordered, &c , on the walls of the city. In Belleville this will be increasing the notoriety lof the martyr. I personally overheard a few days ago an old man calling a soldier. The latter, almost a lad, came, raiaing his hat to the speaker, who poured forth a volley of foul abuse on the army. The soldier again raised his kepi, never replied, and continued his route. Finding the nation turns an adder's ear to frothy politics, the journals commence to remember that Bazaine is a prisoner, and aid him in his desire to be speedily judged by raking up all the charges — old and new — against him. Two charges are prominently dwelt on — that Bazaine had never any serious intention of quitting Metz, and that in the famous Council of War of 26th August, 1870, he held back Macmahon's despatch, announcing his march to pin Bazaine. The latter asserts be never received the despatch forwarded by seven different messengers, three of whom have now been found, and swear they gave Bazaine their despatches. One of these couriers is named Flahaut ; the despatch was written on the thinnest parchment, and the bearer on approaching the Prussian lines, swallowed it ; three times he believed he was at his journey's end ; three times he gulphed down the document, taking an emetic on finding his error. The emetic powder was mixed with road dust, and carried inside his shoes. The Homme-femme of Dumas Jils hai now reached a 25th edition, and the adultery difficulty is only increasing in interest for this country — and perplexity. Authoresses claim the right for a wife to kill her husband, as well as Dumaa advocates tbe principle for the husband to kill the wife. Girardin insists on the inutility of marriage, and proposes that in the case of divorce children should adopt their mother's maiden name. This celebrated writer thus realises his own remark, that a journalist should produce a new idea daily. It is suggested that the Assembly pass a law sanctioning divorce in the ease of bad husbands, and bigamy as a reward for good ones. In these times when a model husband is a rara avis, it is but justice to record that a crockery merchant in the rue dv Temple, on being assured by the doctor his wife had only a few hours to live, retired to an out office and blew bis brains out. The new journal, the Lizard, has had but the life of the roses— the space of a morning. As a compensation, citizens will have on Saturday, the new play called "The Salamander." After the recent torrid heat, we can enter into the spirit of the spectacle. For nurses and babies, I observe that the perambulator now in general use, is that where the handle, instead of being at the back of the vehicle, is placed in front, so that baby is rolled forward " backwards," but ever face to face with its nurse. It is a benefit both for hebe and nou non.
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Southland Times, Issue 1659, 8 November 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)
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1,742PARIS. Southland Times, Issue 1659, 8 November 1872, Page 1 (Supplement)
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