NEWS FEOM PAEIS

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 19 February 1870, Page 6

NEWS FEOM PAEIS

(From a Paris Correspondent's Letter.)

NATIONAL EDUCATION

From the Ist of October, 1870, Prance will be in the enjoyment of gratuitous primary education. The Government will allocate 25 millions of francs to start the idea, increasing the annual grant by a like sum, until the estimated yearly expenditure ?s attained — namely, 125 millions. Local funds and bequests will be accepted as a "rate in aid. The measure will be applied first to the poorest districts. The salaries of the teachers will be divided into four classes, with, a commencing income of 700 francs, rising to 1000. They will also have the right to all Government clerking duties in their district, and to existing house accommodation. What the national instructors next require is a liberal scale of pensions. Forty francs a year for forty years' work is a crime. THE EMPRESS. Since the Empress astonished the Turkish ladies by the elegance and brilliancy of her costumes, the modistes of Paris are executing large orders from Constantinople. Never did Eugenic appear in more exquisite taste. From every part of the Bosphorous, women, who have only the right to be mothers, ran to se la Franca, and to address an Allah sizi saclacin to her. Egypt is found very dull after the G-olden Horn, and Cairo pales before the crescent city. It is difficult to repeat a success. Some little excitement was caused by the rumour that the captain of the Imperial yacht refused to enter the canal because of the shallows. THE FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD. On Sunday commenced the fetes des mortes, and which will continue for a week yet. This festival of the dead is extensively observed in France — graves

are " cleared up," replanted with fresh flowers, decorated with iouquets and the little nothings that loving hands and pious hearts contribute. The observance of this fete has had its origin in the tenth century. Celebrities receive immortelles on their tombs from their admirers ; but those families who have lost all those dear: to them, kneel beside the grave, pray, and cry. It consoles the living — it is respectful to the dead. This anniversary is peculiarly triste. Winter has arrived, while autumn was still laying " a firey finger on the leaves ; " and if it be true that sorrow makes us wise, Parisians should at this moment possess much wisdom- This is also the period when the farmers repair to the country towns to engage their hands for the ensuing six mouths. FAIL OP RENTS. In the midst of all the discomforts that at present surround, and are in store for, a resident in Paris, there is one bit of consolation — rents are tumbling down. A great many proprietors, when they invested in a palace, believed they had nothing to do when it was finished but to ask what rent they pleased, and to get it. For two and three years many marble halls remained tenantless, rather than accept an inferior offer. But as the world just now is going away, rather than coming to Paris, these proprietors are showing symptoms of sanity, and announce that in the letting of their houses, no reasonable offer will be refused. No taxes are levied in the city on unoccupied premises, and this encourages much of the penny wise and pound foolish proceedings on the part of the landlords. FRENCH POLITENESS. Whoever called the French a polite nation, " must have commenced their nomenclature too soon." As far as taking off hats go, none are more expert. I witnessed yesterday a salaam between two street shoe-blacks, worthy of the best days of Versailles, and which must gladden the heart of Mr Roebuck. Nowhere is woman received with more outward respect, and inward contempt. In their intercourse, envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness hold sway. Petty jealousies create feuds only to be equalled in intensity by the Montagues and Capulets. To have anything that your friend has not is an evil worse than the violation of all the capital sins. Nowhere is this state of society more rampant than in the French Fourth Estate. It is the cause of the " mob of gentlemen who write," possessing the monopoly in duelling. At present there is a war of personalities going on between the two chiefs of the leading journals of Paris, all arising out of a dispute as to the alleged " widest circulation in the world" of their papers. One reminds his rival that he cannot produce the evidence of his legitimacy, and that another when he was dining with Prince Napoleon, his wife was bhe self-invited guest to the table of their house-porter. Ah nno disce omnes. A NEW ADVERTISING DODGE. The latest advertising van is to have the sides made of glass, to show off the goods, " all marked off in plain figures." It is, in fact, a portable shop window. The driving is not like that of the Son of Nimshi, and wherever there is a " block " these vans are at home. TUE POPE'S FAVOURITE. From Koine, the. great event is the falling in love of his Holiness with the Archbishop of Eouen, Cardinal Bonnechose; the Pope cannot stir without him. This is not gratifying to those who thought young Cardinal Napoleon was first in Pio Nino's love. Without mentioning names, every " monarch retired from business," every prince and every pretender will be at Eome this winter, to assist at a spectacle not witnessed since 300 years. About 150 Fathers of the Faithful have arrived, and are holding •' Caucus" meetings. THE BATTLE OF THE TARIFFS. Grave doubts are beginning to arise as to the ability of the ministers to uphold their Free Trade policy. The " battle of the tariffs " begins to wax strong, and the Cobdon Treaty first will show what other treaties will have to submit to, when their period of maturity arrives. The great protectionist leadei', Pouyor-Quortier, is a candidate for one of the vacancies in Paris, and he is a foeman worthy of the best steel the cabinet can wield. FATHER HAYACINTHE. The inspired organs at Eome have pronounced Father Hayacinthe to be a fool or a lunatic. So all prospect of the return of the ex-monk to the fold may be considered as abandoned.' Possibly it was in retaliation for this attack the parde found consolation in New York, on his Friday's beefsteak. The rumour is again revived that on his return the late Carmelite will occupy the editorial chair in Paris. He cannot count upon detaching many sons from the Church in this city — because few attachments for it exist.

Dr. Joseph Jones, secretary of the Southern Historical Society, has published an estimate of the losses of the Confederate army during the war, which is as follows :— Killed, 63,773; wounded, 194,026; prisoners, 202,283. He thinks that if the deaths among the discharged for wounds and diseases, among the sick and wounded on furlough be added, the grand total of deaths in the Southern army during the entire war did not fall short of 200,000.