PARIS LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2444, 10 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

PARIS LETTER.

[FROM OUR OWN COKHKSI'ONDENT.I Paki.s, January 25. The Panama Canal. Tin-: Panama Canal m;iy now bo said to have entered upon its life and death stage. Tho scheme lacks the sinews of war, and ns with uii pay mi pater nostriso, 110 loan floated no marriage of the Atlantic and the Pacific, by France at all events. M. de Lessepsboasts, and lie is justified in so doing, tVit lie dug the Suez Canal not by tho help of capitalists, but by tho hoardings of tin; humble, saving classes, such as servants, cabmen, artisans, and peasant proprietors. No doubt M. de Lcsjpps held out to them tho bait of high interest. Ile succeeded, audit wan tho confidence that success inspired, which niado him take up the old idea of cutting tho Isthmus of Panama. Does he retain tho confidence of his lowly capitalists? Is tho Panama canal within tho sphere of remunerative enterprises ? Those arc tho vital questions now to lie answered. No person really denied that, if expense was not regarded, and time only secondary, the canal could he made. .Hut tho capital to ho sunk might prove so enormous that the most rose-coloured hopes of traffic would not he able to yield any interest on the investments. Then there are the two overland American continental routes to the Pacific, which must tap passenger and light goods traffic. Tho general railway system of the United States still focusses at NewYork and the sea-board towards Baltimore, as the points of the carrying trade. The Suez Canal itself will be a formidable rival to Panama for the South Pacific com merce.

The original plan, tenaciously advocated by M. do Lesseps, was to make a level water-way from onenn to ocean. That was universally admitted to be pecuniarily impracticable, and beyond tbe financial powers of France. At last M. de Lesseps bowed to the views of practi • cal men ; the .system of locks wag to be adopted, and the scheme reduced to less grandiose proportions ; in a word, brought within measurable distance of completion. Even for carrying out this more modest project money was neco-sary. The recent instalment loans did not precisely take; an opposition financial ring kept nasrging at the: Panama Company. M. do L'.'sscps was at last forced to play his remaining trump card ; isauQ the loan on ii lottery basis, by which not only subscribers for scrip would be paid interest out of tho capital fund, but afforded tho chance to win a tempting prizo at tho quarterly redemption drawings, and guaranteed after the Inpso of n. fixed number of years thu ro-paymenfc in full of their shares.

For the success of this combination the approbation of the Government wa3 requisite, not only to authorise the lottery, but in a hazy way to throw the halo of its sanction over the entire project. Under (Irevy that turning of the blind eye was possible, but not so under Carnot ; hence, why the Government lias formally notified to M. do Lcssepa it cannot, for comnion prudential reasons, (is.-iociate the State with his canal plans, M. d(! Lcsseps to obviate a catastrophe, has adopted the only wise course open to him. lie appeals to the patriotic fibre of the nation not to allow the Panama scheme to collapse, that which would be damning the prestige of France, as an An<:lo-Aiucrioan syndicate would purchase the works for a song, and alone complete the undertakim:. He urges petitions to be sent to Parliament, praying that body to pledge France to sustain the Canal Company. It will then be for the representatives of the nation to declare either the project to lie a State undertaking, or to remain as it is, u gigantic private enterprise. If the former, the Treasury becomes guarantor, while accepting a hornet's nest of political complications. If in the latter, the magi'; of M. de L'.'sseps' name and his proTnises will not open old stockings and lied ticks since we are in the presence of their failure to draw ; the company would collapse which implies wide spread ruin. A Novel Way of Imparting Re-

ligious Instruction. "Manners like humours, t irn with climes." In Spain and Italy, dialogueconferences on relijjiou are quite common, whore two clergymen impersonate God and Satan, and discuss doctrinal subjects. The peasantry relish this plan of rendering religious truths less .severe to simple minds, and that may have its utility under certain latitudes. It has not proved a success at Rouen, whore two clergymen have displayed great want of tact in their dialogues. Faith is too delicate, too sacred a thing to bo battledored and shuttlec(icl;od before a mixed city congregation, where but too many cume as if for mere recreation. In the dial"»iie-con-fcreneo just held—and to the credit of the archbishop suppressed, politics broke out. The congregation took sides, the service terminating in v hat resembled a theatrical row. Tho police had to

be called in. Only the Beadle is reported as missing'. The mayor and tmvii council as a protest liavo resigned, and a Governmental prosecution or censure is demanded against the archbishop, for loving the church not too wisely, but too well. Politics. Franco having regulated the Florence difficulty between herself and Latin sister Italy, has no other foreign question to disturb her peace of mind. Like other nations, she looks on at the newspaper war between the (ienirins mid Russian?. For lli»! momi'ii', her s<>ri>ma business is to inform I'iime Minisrer Tirnnl that his services arc no longer required. lie lias been in olli :t) six weeks, so that he cannot complain that his country has been unsrrati.Tu!. M. Coblct, quite a little gamecock, is to be the new Prune Minister, as soon us the it"ijii-■mnrts carry away the few fniyments still standing, of M. Tirard's reputation. As M. Goblet has converted to his programme, ;i go-a-head one, the nioietv of the opportunists or followers of Jules furry, he can count upon a solid parliamentary majority. Exeunt, the hero of Tonkin and his staff, The British Embassy. At the pace matters are proceeding 1 , a vacancy may soon bo expected in the Fnglisii Kmbassy. The popularity of Lord and Lady Lytton with Parisians is something extraordinary ; they promise to succumb under the attentions paid to them. It seems to ho a steeplechase with the most, distinguished families of France, irrespc'jfivo of polities, as to who shall secure the Ambassador and his lady, not forgetting their beautiful daughter who is turning the heads of the gentlemen by her grace and elegance, Britishers can now measure the deplorable shortcomings of Lord Lyons in failing to create sympathy between the French and English. Earl Lvttou has, in a pre-eminent degree, every quality that can attract the French. Ila is simple, wiimintr, and kindness itself. Not a particle of insularism or snohhism or of stuck - upism in his character. Lord Lyons knew as

much about tiu' lCuulish colony in Paris as they diil of liini—next, to nothing :it £111. Indeed, many Britishers weru dril'tin<> into the habit, of regarding the American Minister as their national n'piesentative. Lord Lyltun lias finished with Mitt Itill ii 11. I'l l/ihlr of Jiis predecessor. J i o is .si«/licit. - !11!v democratic as to welcome at his brilliant reception members of the Knglish commercial world, as well as nil of those possessing intellectual ability and social worth ; he has the warm shake of hands alike for political ami religious dissidents : with him all are welcome, and at home. It is a toss-up whether he or the American Minister inceuds to annex c;ieh other's colonists in .Paris. Under this joint-stock rule Americans and Britishers are rapidiy becoming fused. For every work, -Koglish or Ame riuan, both Lord Lylton and Mr MaeLano, nre united in their patronage like Jutu'n sjWiiiiS. The I'Vem.h are delighted to have an jh Ambassador after their own heart, aii.l so is the British colony. T)io Opera. ■'.Vlu; National Dpi i n is hound (o proiktoe a ii-'v work once u year. For 18M8,

and in the course of a week's time, will be represented Lit Dame do Mottxoreau founded on the celebrated novel of that name, by Dumas pcrc and hiscollaborateur Hairnet, who has just died. The novel is considered Dumas' best after" Three Musketeers." It is in a word the story of the rival hates of Henri 111, and his brother the Due d'Anjou, for the same lady tbe Dilute de Mwisnratt a really historical personage. The Due d'Anjou is the prince with whom the good Queen Bess flirted almost, into matrimony. Dumas and Magnet founded a drama on their mutual romance, and that was represented at, the Ambitru theatro in November 1860. It was so lengthy that it took a whole night to act. Like a fond parent Dumas resisted any attempt to amputate any of the scenes. The manager at last succeeded in obtaining the consent of Dumas toapplv the scissors to tho play. Dumas and Magnet were enemies at tho time ; unawares to Dumas, the manager gave the play to Magnet, whose stago experience was great, to cut down. Thus reduced and re-represented, the piece met "with great sueee.s*. The authors were called for, and judge of the amazement of Dumas to see Magnet by his .side. Tho public insisted on their being roeoncilod then and there, which was done. The drama had a run of 365 nights. The score has been composed by M. Salvayre. Ho is already <iistin<nii«hed, though only 40 years of ago. He comDieted his musical education at Rome, where ho composed a St.tthnt, highly praised by Liszt. At Venice he lived with his chum Mercie, the sculptor, and there composed the Bravo, his first important score, and that had a deserved run in 187G- Later he produced at St. Petersburg his opera Ilhihtinl, 111. also a success. His manner of composing is peculiar; ordinarily, he might bo expected to find inspiration before a piano. No such thing : he strains that instrument for a few minutes, then goes, out; he seeks tho noisiest thoroughfares and while being pushed and knocked about, he hums—sketches an air, and then notes it on paper inside hi,-; hat. Returning home, he tries with the aid of the piano, to arrange tho notes : failure, till be goes to sleep, and in the middle of the niglit, ho rises, and completes his work. This is tho manner an opera is put on the stage ; tho vocal parts are given to the artistes, who aro to interpret them in their respective roles ; they practine the airs in their own homes, for generally about six weeks. The choiristers go into training under their chief for a like period. All are then united on the stage, where the airs and choruses are rehearsed to the music of a piano. Two days suffice for the orchestra to be trained, theirs being tho last parts written. Orchestra and artistes then practise together during a month. It takes on an average three months to mount a piece. But this does not include tho sketching of the scenes, costumes, &o. In February, ISSG, Salvayre received tho libretto ; in September, ISB7, ho finished tho score,

M. Gilhard, the director, concurrently with the above preparations, composes his volume, and which is as bulky as that of the score. In it he fixes the place for every scene, for each incident in that scene, and the position each aetov has to take, and that, too, in connection with such p;irt of the orchestra as may have to accompany the voice. The director also helps to design the dresses, and he has to study the chief historical works illustrative of the manners and customs of the period to which the plot—in this case the sixteenth century—relates. There will bo a good di.'al of fighting in Lα Dmnv dr. Jfui'scn-'di, and for tho lir-<t tiinn at the Opera, a duel, that between de l>i.ssy and the four favourites of Henri lit will be set to music. The seventh and last scene will bo a scone of assassinations on an extensive scale. The street processions of the Leaguers in old Paris, will be very splendid. No less than 700 costumes have been made for this newOpera : that for the Due d Anjou will be wholly green. The King will be represented by the gay and brilliant side o f his character. The Dame herself will wear the sombre toilette ef Charles IX's reign. The ballet will consist of seven scenes, will endure twenty minutes, and is founded on the "Fool's Festival," so popular three centuries ago. The total cost of bringing out the new opera, is 200,000 francs.

A Frenchman on the Irish Question.

Admiral Marse, the well-known advocate of the. cultivation of friendfy relations between Franca and Kngland, has called one of the writer's in M. Clemenceau's journal La Justice attention to his "injustice,'' towards England, for accepting as gospel all the canards respecting the administration of Ireland. The Admiral is surprised that the republican writer in question should demand a separate prison treatment for a rich law-breaker like Mr Blunt, while denying the same to the humble incarcerated. The Admiral demands, what would the French authorities do if a public man in a public square in Paris advocated resistance to the law, and pugilised the bobbies who came to uphold the code? Whack them off to the couciergerie, of course. The Admiral asserts that were the Parnellites sitting in the Chamber of Deputies, they would be ranged on the side of the reactionists and clericals. He alludes to La Vendee, and pertinently asks, "Is France prepared to accord self-government to that centre of royalism ?'' The Municipal Council of Paris has ljeen battering-ram-ming the Government for homo rule for years. " Don't you wish you may get it," is their reply. Admiral Marse is astounded at the French press swallowing all the lejrends, and not of Killarney origin, which would be excusable, respecting the Irish administration. The Admiral would be less amazed did he consider, that tho less the majority of French editors know about foreign relations, tho more they deem themselves qualified to emit c.v cathah'a judgments. Budding editors, who will on their college forms dash oft' a brand new Lycurguian constitution for their country, canuot on arriving at man's estate, but view the settlement of the Irish question as a mere flea bite, a simple veni, villi, vici. The Assault on Louise Michel. Poor Louise Michel went to Harve to denounce, not guinea pigs as such generally are not rich, Lord Colin Campbell for example, but the bloated bourgeoisie. An excited spectator disliking her Have Not and Lackland arguments, made the sign of the cross on her back, and then sent two bullets into her head and ear. She now carries lead in her body, like the Emperor of Germany. Tho report of the revolver so frightened the chairman, that he bolted, and is believed to be 011 the run. Louise demanded that her assassin he at onee set free—-the crowd had by then jellied him, and that she did not believe in any comxpiracy to murder her. That's the retort courteous to Jules Ferry, and his experience of being a target likewise for a madman.

Roohefort Denounced as a Tory! What is tho world coming to! At tlio last weekly meeting of tho true-blue fuuirchists, fi.oehefort was denounced as being too Tory in his'principles, and too tiuse in his writings ! One spenkor ad. voo ited the demolition of all factories—in order to give employment ; another orator wlio hazmled tho boliof such would likely be opposed, wns chucked out.