OUR PARIS LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2496, 5 January 1877, Page 2

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(FKOM OTTB OWtf COERESPOKDEHT.)

Paeis, October 19.

Peace, peace, when there is no peace ; here, as elsewhere, people are looking at the thunder cloud, expecting its bursting. From the first troubles in the Balkan provinces Prance saw clearly a revolutionary, but not the less an effective, advance guard of Eussia to carry out her old ambition, protecting the Christians by devouring Turkey. The latter, by her absolute submission to those European powers desiring peace, and resolved to ameliorate this time in a practical shape her defective administration, has deservedly won general approbation, while exposing the duplicity and morbid ambition of Russia. A few years ago it was customary to remark, not a cannon can be fired in Europe without the permission of France. This proud role now appertains to Germany, and although a Paris journal causes a melancholy smile by observing decisive,events remain ; suspended,, pending the re-opening of the French Chambers at the end of the month, France will not the less be able to play an important part when the struggle absorbs all Europe. It is a matter more of faith than demonstration that the Czar would not provoke the conflagration if he did not see his way clear with Germany, and come up to the latter's price. Holland, it is remarked, might compensate Germany for Slavonic influence on the Danube, and Italian support could be purchased by the offer of the Tyrol and the recovery of .Nice, for there is no secession party in Savoy. Will Europe then be able to resist Russia and Germany, to state the question at its worst, and are these two empires sufficiently free from internal, social, and religious questions as to guarantee their unity intact under all circumstances? .

In presence of the profound troubles surging around, and of the impotence of diplomatists to allay them, home politics have but little attraction for the anxious French. Thus the annual political mass in memory of Marie Antoinette's execution produces a general shrugging of the shoulders. She was as unfortunate for France as her fate was sad. Aa a political incident it is worthy of record that np; member of the Orleans family assisted this year at the memorial mass; they did so, however, in a body three years ago, when the fusion scheme was being hatched. On the other hand,no representstive|of the Legitimists assists at similar manes for the repose of the soul of Louis Philippe. The monarchal journals publish farewell letters of Marie Antoinette, written, as alleged, the evening after being sentenced to death; these areas well-turned and as philosophical, as any that ever emanated from the pen of Chateaubriand. There is here trop de seU as we know from the de Mefcy correspondence that the queen left everything to be desired in -ipoinii of education. When Sanson appeared in the condemned cell to claim Marie Antoinette, a gaoler, according to Comte de Reiset, relates, that she believed she was going to be executed then and there; the executioner only tied her hands behind her back, then cut off her hair, put it in his pocket, and burned it after the execution. The bill, " for the coffin, the grave diggers, and the grave for the Widow Capet " was 30 livres.

Gambetta is not in the odor of sanctity with the Radicals ; he has too muck good sense to be included as one of theirs, and knows men and the world too well to be astonished at popular ingratitude. They simply laugh then at his proposed scheme, ,more an administrative perhaps than a fiscal reform, by which the various clumsy plans of direct taxation will be superseded by a business-like income tax, destined to gradually extinguish several inconvenient imposts on consumption. It is difficult in any case to make people love taxation, and we are distant from the civilization of those South Sea islanders, who are reported to kindle bonfires when a new tax is decreed, and to enjoy themselves at banquets after paying their dues. In his projected income tax, M. Gambetta intends that professional incomes, and revenues derived from the public funds hitherto exempted, shall be included, hence a wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The contract for all the navvy and masonry work connected with the Exhibition has been adjudged to a contractor for 3,100,000fc As is usual, in all Government contracts, the tenders were solemnly opened in presence of the public, the amounts read out, after which the Commissioners retired to deliberate. There was a remarkable uniformity in ; the estimates, and only one was lOf per cent cheaper than the others, which was ultimately accepted, as it was found possible to execute the conditions by superior business arrangements, and the more economic employ ment of machinery. The Trocadero summits will be occupied by an immense building in the form of a horseshoe with cupola roof; one wing will be devoted to agricultural, and the other to horticultural exhibits ; the ppen space in the centre will form a waterfall, already baptized " the Niagara seption."

Theatrical managers, in presence of the extraordinary weather, are rubbing their eyes with fright, and demanding, are the days of June, and the brpiJing nights of August returned' to empty their houses? One can hardly believe the evidence that the chestnut men hare taken possession of the street corners, and with their large round pans display the agreeable 'and tempting nuts, the snow white kernels bursting through the well browned coats, suggesting the appear-

ance of a turkey well roasted. It is an inevitable sign : p£ winter, charming and inevit:able l '..but.''.!:ai;^s.uggestive of melancholy reflections as'", the appearance of another white^hair on our temples. In the mountainous districts of Southern France,? where wheat is a rarity, chesnuts enter largely idfo the food of the population. rJhe chestnut tree grows slowly, aridastaid to be only in the vigor of its youth when sixty years of age; three centuries hardly suffice to change its constitution. On the slopes of Mount Etna there is a chesnut tree said to be some thousand years old: its interior, hollowed by time, is occupied by a shepherd, and shelters also his flock. It is this tree that has inspired Lamartine in his fior d' aliza to form a house and a food supply for a grandfather and big descendants. Another proof of winter is the half-yearly removal of the'circus troupe from the Champs Elysees into their city quarters. It was intended to inaugurate the winter establishment by two wonderful American clowns, aged only twelve; but the law formally forbids children at that age to " work in a circus " unless accompanied by, and in presence of, their parents. Their mother is dead, and their father is in the States, bedrridden, though he has given his boys permission to tumble in his absence, by duly attested consular authority. The lads have been forwarded to London, where the law is less strict, it appears, respecting youthful talent.