OUR PARIS LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2546, 3 November 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR PARIS LETTER.

[rnost our own correspondent.J

Paris, September 8. It will be for specialists to say, if the French Government has without any preconcerted notice, fitted out a reserve of eight ironclads, five cruisers, and twenty torpedo boats, with full complement of men and material, in the space of 48 hours. What throws suspicion on that next to superhuman effort is, that all naval men agree, that the best plan to secure tho reserves "aye ready," ia to keep tho laid up ships at anchor, and with half their crews on board._ In any case, it was well to strike the imagination with such a feat of alacrity on the part of the naval authorities, as France bestows more than the lion's share of her affection on the army. Certainly in Franco, the ladies do not encourage the blue jackcts with their best smiles. The File des Loges, held in a central spot two inilcs deep in tho forest of St. Germain, was exceptionally brilliant this year. It came off on Sunday last and attracted crowds, because it was one of the very rare days witnessed this season, duhciously ttoicing aud soothingly warm. The birds, as one passed under the trees, had the air of holding privy councils to discuss, ought they not commence to build nests again? Then there was that delightful refreshing sharpness in tho air, thalTwas as welcome as ice to wine on a sultry day. Were Louis XIV and his mother, ex-James II of JJnglaud, and old Thiers himself to visit the glimpses of tho moon, tlioy would find nothing cnangod in tho once royal city of St. Germain. Tho insignificant statue of Thiers appears to have mastayed. The weather seems to bo making crow's feet around the bronze eyes. It was a mistako to hand him down lo posterity in a curule chair, ho who was tho incarnation of perpetual motion. And that sheet of metal, intended to represent tho map of France, lying on his knee like a blacksmith's apron, or a

piece of zinc blown oil a neighbouring roof, looks more bizarre as time rolls on. It is a pleasant, walk under the oak trees to the site of the fete, which centres round the Legion of Honour School, for the education of tho destitute daughters of military officers. The peculiarity of the Lo«es Festival is that all is on camp-out lines, and that lovers or pedestrians can lose themselves for miles in the forest. It is also remarkable for the rarity of both shows and menageries. Preference is given to tent hops, and canvass concert balls. These the neighbouring peasants seem to patronize. Acrobatic feats, that are supported by sending round the hat, were well attended, only admirers and applauders have the. discouraging habit of breaking away when the collection commences. The police were very severe on rustic Monasos, where all the property consists of two small boards resting on four walking-sticks. A brisk businuss was clone iu instantaneous photography; twelve postage stamp size photos of your bust, for six sous, and done in three minutes. Who would not hesitate to go down to posterity? There was a novelty in the way of lock up 3. Those consisted of wooden huts on wheels, fitted up with all the comforts of a police cell. When filled with pick-pockets and thimble riggers, a horse was yoked to, and this new cellular van trundled into the town prison, cleared, aud whisked back again. Perhaps the great attraction was tho cooking in the open air, and then dining under the trees, which are innocent of all creeping things likely to indulge in a ten feet drop into tho soup tureen, the salad bowl, or between your shirt collar and neck. You glance at the open-air larders and make a profound study of revolving spits; you select a trussed fowl, a numbered steelskewer is thrust into it, and the corresponding check number handed you, and which you deliver up when the bird arrives roasted on the table. You have selected a few other it ceteras; a roast leg of mutton is always a safe investment; the fish looks fishy, but the spiny lobster is sound. Tho local twopenny beer must be patronised; it provokes" appetite and secures good digestion in advance. There is also the wine of tho region, that vin d'h&nncitr, which all tlw Bourbons, from Henry IV. down to Charles X, made it a duty to quaff, and perhaps under some of those old oaks that were saplings when St. Louis dispensed justice in. bis Arboraceeus Courthouse. Then it has the reputation of stimulating the wit of those who possess it, and sealing up the tongues of imbeciles. It tickles the throat like red popper, and produces in the stomach that white heat temperature peculiar to the cognac manufactured for West African Sambos at Sfr. the dozen, bottles, large size, included. It would almost provoke the employment of unscriptural ejaculations. It is said it was a bottle of that wine which Charles X. drank after signing his abdication, It was well calculated to add rapidity to his flight. The dinner parties, by the prevailing traiety are a success. Seated around are many potent, grave, and reverend signors, out for the day. I nod to a friend, who is holding a dish to receive a green goose he ordered, and which is revolving on its spit axis like a planet, having blazing logs for tho centre of the system. On week days he is occupied writing a popular edition of modern metaphysics. White cashmere, with the bow window hat and protruding silk border, is the favourite toilette, and contrasts agreeably with the dark green, leaves, and their faintest tinge of autumn russet on the edge. Not a hurdy gurdy, not a barrel organ, or a pandean pipe, is to he heard. Excepting the latter, such would not be in harmony with the Sylvan scene. But there wore numerous wandering minstrels. There were '■ two lady whistlers," who executed several pastoral airs. What surety of taste ; they had a littlo nigger in a canary costume, who solicited the smallest contributions on a S6vres plate. A pair of comics, in character of recidivists, executed some very droll stone-jug songs. The first collected sous in his hat minus a button, but that his comrade compensated by placing underneath his own hat with a tin coin, less a border. Dinner over, carriages came round to drivo across the forest to catch tho train at Maisons, or other border station, with the deeply, darkly, beautifully blue of tho clearest stellar nights glinting through tho trees. And to think that in all the fun, there was neither a cheer nor a groan for Bouianger or Floquet; not a scroosh against, or a viva for, any form of Government. Even the hereditary enemy was forgotten, and Crispi the Sly, was as if he never existed. It was fortunate tho Minister of Finances did not drop in : he would by the flow of cash, hedge France ripe for his income tax.

M Chcvreul has reached his 102 nd year far from being ailing, he is to found a Centenarian Society, where none will be admitted to membership who cannot produce documentary proof of being five score. It will bo open to ladies, and foreigners will bo admitted to honorary membership. A land of album or registrar will be kept, wherein the photos or miniatures of the members, taken at different cpoches of their life, will be preserved, with a history of their habits, dietary, etc. The honorary presidency will be given to the oldest old fellow. There is one man in Franco ten or twelve years M. Chevrcul'a senior. Chcvreul is remarkable for the clearness of his intellect. Ho does not wear glasses, and his writing is stouter than bis limbs. He visited an exhibition in the Palace of Industry a few days ago, and ascended threo flights of stairs unaided. Oil arriving at tho top, a deputation from the Chinese Embassy approached and complimented him. The old chemist is revising his proofs of a new work on "Light and Colours. M His son, aged 73, looks older than the father. The same _ remark applies to M. de Lesseps aud his eldest son. M. Cbevreul states one reason why he lives so long is the consciousness that he is keeping no one out of any property, since be has none to bequeath. His life is not insured. " Half a century ago, when I was a young man, a friend wished me to effect such, but feeling superstitious, I refused." Chevreul never took a dose of medicine in his life ; he detested smoking, because it begat indolent habits; except iri the form of grapes, he takes no wine. Ho relishes a few spoonfuls of coffee, but maintains that brandy should only be taken as a medicament.

At tho terrible railway accident near Dijon, xvhere an overturned express was run into by another fast train going at the rate of forty miles an hour, among the miraculously saved was a baby aged 13 months. It was drawn forth from between two carriage cushions, as if in a sheath, laughing merrily and holding a rusk in its dumpy hand. Lying over the infant was the half of a lady's body ; A Russian engineer was, as he said, coffined between splinters oE wood, and touching his shoulder during several hours, and staring him full in tho face, was tho mutilated head of a fellow-passeuger, an

apotheeary, who almost a few minutes previously had handed liiui a light for liis

cigar, Allmayer, tho dandy swindler, for whom prison bars had 110 fear, nov policemen terrors, is a man uniquo in his way. He is the quintessence of audacity and mnff froid. His speciality was, to do tradespeople, obtain money under false pretences or by forgeries. To succeed, and having naturally seductive manners and a polished education, he led tho life of a grand seigneur. He oallsd on his in-

tendod victims in his own carriage ; the l itter was always at the command of high officials. The banker, whom cashier he "did" iu the morning, lie dined with in the evening. Ho considered Paris the safest of hiding places. Ho hud ex-de-tectives salaried, to give him timely notioo when to change scene. Before executing a big swindle, ho ordered now linen and clothes with the initials of his latest titles, because it was under the negis of some aristocratic name he operated. lie set up a Jew to dispose of his " old clo." Learning by the papers that the police had not a good photo of the man who so often gave them the slip, he had his likeness taken in a photographer's studio, beside the head quarters of the detectives, and sent the photo to the Prefect de Police with his compliments. M. Perguer proposes to settle the Chinese emigration difficulty by running llie surplus celestials into the interior of Africa, and thus avoid atl inundation of Europe by the yellow race. But suppose Barktis is not willing to squat at Timbnctoci ? One-third of the legitimate marriages in Franco are sterile ; another third have only one child, and one-fifth two. By th 3 operation of Malthus' principles not two-thirds of the marriages are replaced by children.