OUR PARIS LETTER.

Thames Star, Issue 3715, 20 November 1880, Page 6 (Supplement)

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(FBOM OFB OWN COBBEBPONDENT.) PabiSj October 7. France is prepared to vote millions for the cause of education: for the furtherance of such, no question will be asked. During the last few months the Government has organised a series of educational reforms, that ten years ago would be deemed Utopian. They are now in operation. There is a central depot, where all who desire to become teachers can have their claims and competency registered. Permanent Governmental commissions exist to study the best plans of school buildings and their fitting up; to glean all that is new or improved in the systems of education in other countries, and to adopt whatever may be useful, in French schools: another commission devotes its exclusive attention to school books and apparatus, and having •elected types and models, invites contracts for their execution at fixed prices. Many books are supplied gratuitously. Thus Herbert Spencer's work on " Physical, Moral, and Intellectual Education" has been translated, and is literally s6wn broad-cast among teachers and school libraries. Any person may write or comJile a book; insert an apparatus, &c. : he as only to send it to one of the central commissioners: if approved of his fortune is made.

M. iGrevy is like the honest women, considered to be best when not talked about. Some legends are associated with his country residence at Mont Sous* Vaudrey. It is not an eagle's nest like Bob Boy's : it is a simple chateau, situated in a,plain, and there is not a mountain within twelve miles. The new is built alongside the old mansion, in the midst of green fields, venerable trees, and gardens. The resident does not pass all his time shooting, for there is but little game on the CBtate, or in the neighborhood; he cannot thus give sporting parties, excepting to the immediate members of his family; no oompaay is received, and if any, it is to breakfast, where business is familiarly .discussed. Then follows a game of billiards, dinner lin the neighborhood, or fishing the well stocked Lone close by; The dinner is strictly a family affair, after which there is a little music, chess and cards. Early to bed and early to rise is the motto. Mr Grevy reads all the journals of the capital, marking with a red pencil any important item. Be receives two special couriers daily from Paris, and devotes four hours at least to I correspondence and signing documents. The re establishment of diplomatic relations with Mexico is an m important event, not only for France, but for Europe. Mexico is a splendid country, and in closer connection with European nations, she can count upon a brilliant j future; the wrong inflicted upon her was the work of an intriguing dynasty—not of the French nation. The exports of France to Mexico amount to thirty million francs per year. Financial societies expect to reap golden harvests, by lending money at the current rates of interest in Mexico—6 to 12 per cent. The Duke of Wellington observed that high interest was but another name for bad security. Some improvements taking place inthe me Saint Louis, recall the site of the

" kennell," not house, where Crebillon, , the great tragic .muse resided and died, in 1762, aged 88. It was the most totter* ing mansion in Paris, and the first floor was occupied by the poet and his eight or ten dogs, which set up a terrible howling when one knocked at the door. Cre'billon begged to be excused a second, till he finished a stanza for the printer, or an actor, for/ like Pirou, he wrote and corrected all his works, first in his head, and counted on his memory to reveal them. The writing finished, he perceived the visitor was standing, for each dog had its arm chair, while the master had but a stool and an old table. A blow ot a whip cleared the chairs, and an apology and a pipe soon made the new-comer at home. Eugenic Scribe had on his palatial house in the country a motto that recalled his early days, it ran thus," The theatre paid for bhis country seat. To you who pass by, thanks, as perhaps it is to you I am indebted for it." V A costermonger aged 38 has committed suicide, in a manner at once strange; and frightful. He lost his wife a few weeks previovsly and could not console' himself for her loss. He shut himself up in a room, and when discovered he had a razor in one hand and his wife's photo in the other. He was bleeding profusely from a gash in the throat, where all was severed, save the carotid artery; he made a few signs to a drawer, in which was found a note that he could not survive his wife: he had a fortune of IOO.OOOfr. M. Prunier owns a menagerie, and complains that his wife devotes more of her time and care to tame hearts than lions, tigers, and panthere: he demanded a separation.. Pending the decision, he was to allow his wife

20Ofr. per month, and she was to reside in Marseilles. One night she came to the menagerie and abducted two cubs, the old lion making no objection; but her husband did, as he had her arrested.

The present is what the French call the season between the dog and the wolf: to-day the sun will be warm and brilliant, to-morrow it will rain or freeze. In the country fires are lighted; charming the first fire of autumn; how the flames dance and the sparks fly; it interests like as old acquaintance refound after a long absence—soon to become fatigued with it, as too well known and insipid. It is in the. country residences that the rehearsal of the coming Paris , season is taking place. The age of fire brings about that of the salon, and to have a merry, as well as a warm fire-side, invitations are freely addressed to you from the four corners of France; to go to Chartrain, to eat partridges, to P£ngord to eDJoy truffles, to another locality for theatricals, and elsewhere to sing in operette. Wot a iew persons run up to, Paris to receive their rents —this.being quarter day, returning to the place from whence they came, on the plea to kill.rabbits, but ostensibly to economise. We have our usual supply of travelling "Royal Princes, and a very rich and fast Italian Duke—Torlonia, whose grandpapa was a tinker, named Torlonge, and followed the army of the first Republic into Italy, where he managed to make a little money: then he settled down at Borne, as an army contractor and banker, and eventually became the Rothschild of Italy. The theatres are full of country cousins: I know one gentlemen who prides himself on divining the character of ladies by the loud ness of their toilets, just as others recognise foreigners by their abuse of the Paris fashions. The most showily dressed is ever the most garrulous. Jf you give a waiter two ioui for a pour

boise he will hardly thank you ; give him three he will pronounce half the word " thanks ;" present him with four he will thank you heartily, and help you on with your "coat into the bargain. The correspondent of the Figaro has been " doing" Ireland: he prints his hotel bill at Cork, where the "attendance" exactly equals in price the meals furnished.

A.t St. Cloud Fair, the popular toy is a Jesuit pulling Old Nick by the tail. A royalist orator boasts that since 24 years he asserts at the annual banquet the Count de Chambord may be expected soon.