Extracts from Our Paris Letter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4048, 19 December 1881, Page 3

Extracts from Our Paris Letter.

SCIENTIFIC.

The following programme of -the work to be undertaken by the learned societies during 1882 has been approved by the Minister of Public Instruction. The Congress will meet at the Sbrbonne, and examine the following questions : — .1. To report on recent discoveries con cerning Gallic coins. ■'. ,

2. To examine the questions concerning camps with vivified walls, and to endervor to determinne their date.

3. To determine, by inscriptions, the character of the carved figures and ornaments in the Roman monuments of the South, and in Gaul. ■:■: .

4. To point oat and to explain the inscriptions (ancient) found in France during the last few years. ' 5. To point out and' to explain the inscriptions dating from the Middle Aj^es found in France during the last few years.' ' '■■-■■•■ •'- "_■ "■ "■.. 6. To report on the monumental, artistic, or industrial works, especially of those the date of which is certain, which may contribute to the determination of the character of Merovingian and Carlo* vingiah art. „ 7. To point out the character of the eleventh century from the monuments, the date'ojf which may be exactly determined. - .•.■■■••: 8. To report on the different systems in use to fix the first day of the year during the Middle Ages in the different parts of France. ■ ■ ■ Vy- '■.' >• -■ "• ' "■■/■ ■' . •■/' '; 9. To point out from authentic documents the origin, object, $?$£ extension of pilgrimages previous tp^the sixteenth century. ,''.■' ;' ; T/ _i^\ '" '"']■■''- ■ 10. To report on the organisation of corporations in France before the sixteenth century. 11. To examine the reports of the reforms of customs in the 15th and 16th centuries ; to deduce from them the state of the legislation, aud the schemes adopted at the time of the cessation of hostilities with England; To draw up from these reports statistics of the ecclesiastical benefices, and of the number of lay landlords existing at the end of the sixteenth century. 12. To illustrate by historical documents the state of elementary education in France previous to 1789, 13. To point out and examine the documents concerning Provincial Assemblies during the reign of Louis XVI. 14. To report from ancient texts and monuments on the .state of thejpopular imago manufacture in France, previous to the end of the eighteenth century. 15. To report on the present state of libraries and museums of antiquities in the departments, and in the measures adopted in order that these establishments should contribute as much as possible to the expansion of historical and archaeological researches. The insurance companies are in their •nxious months, which commence and

end with the season for sweeping chimneys. It appears if your house or apartment t kes fire, the policy of insurance can be disputed, if the tenant cannot produce a cleau bill of health for his chimneys. The Demagogic Sunday matinees are already on the decline, and the orators and oratrices are unable to produce now fireworks or renovated denunciations, hence no amusement. A Gascon boasted that he came to Paris with only five francs in his pocket, aud made not the less his fortune ; nay, more, tlic firo franc piece was even bad " What is the use my dear," said one lady acquaintance to another, "in telling myage, since people will persist in adding six more years to it."