PARIS.

Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2401, 16 April 1873, Page 3

PARIS.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

February 6. Tiie country is enjoying something like a horse-langh at the manner M. Thiers has discomfited the famous Do-Nothing Committee of Thirty, whose members nearly all consisted of the quiutescence of the majority of the Assembly. The only interest, if any at all, that the committee attracted was how M. Thiers would knock over its house of cards. Instead of frankly and dutifully amusing itself in draughting another constitution for a first-class burial in a pigeon hole, it proceeded to cut blocks with a razor. The committee worked in the interests of the majority of the Chamber to promote its narrow aims ; M. Thiers, with the nation at hid back, maintained the expectant attitude. It was not in the interests of the realm that the majority labored to reduce M. Thiers into a parliamentary dummy, hence, while deploring his occasional impudent interferences in trivial debates, and blubbering out the threat of his resignation when heavily " punished " in such encounters, the lovers of fair-play, the persons who desired France for the French, and not for a dynasty or a sect, objected to his being tied like the Davenport brothers, although knowing he would loose the cords "as flax that was barnt with fire." The majority dare not go to the country. M. Thiers can, and hence why the latter disdainfully refuses to be a mannikin—a chimney ornament, or to be personally humiliated by the "standing orders "of party opponents. He struck an excellent note, because a true one, in claiming to be simply a member of the middle classes —of the bourgeoisie—arrived to be what he is by study and work, and ouly honored from his long experience in political and administrative affairs. The committee has succeeded in what was expected—the founding of nothing,, uot even in silencing M. Thiers. It is wished to trade under his flag till in a position to pitch him and his colors aside ; to impose on him the precedents of a free government without a free constitution, especially with holding the power to dissolve an Assembly when at loggerheads with the Executive, and leave to the electors to terminate thus every crisis. The majority will not be allowed to place on the doors of the Assembly a notice board ordering M. Thiers " not to trespass on these premises."

It is a pity the majority, the Right, will neither use their eyes nor their ears, by adapting their conduct to the year 1873' and not to 1788. They are honorable men, attached to religion as a duty, and respectable in their adhesion to and practice of their principles—obsolete or rather unsuitable as such are to modern France. They are going from bad to worse; after their fiasco touching the muzzling of 11. Thiers, they are about meddling with universal suffrage, which they will find sooner than they expect to be the sharpest of two-edged tools. It is by that system of voting, which France adores as a superstition, the present majority has to thank for its existence. Why distrust it now, why find it excellent in February, 1871, and regard it as tantamount to a mockery, a delusion, and a snare, for the closing months of 1873 ? Bonapartism has faith in it—and restored it; the Republic which in 1848 created' it an institution, still swears by it; the poles thus meet— lea extr&mes se touchent.

In the diecussion on the doings at Lyons, after the fall of the Empire, the Eight has seriously lost ground. Its committee of inquiry into the war-contracts unable to track corruption to officials, indulged in abuse of the Government of the Fourth of September. The victim chosen for sacrifice was M. Lacour, thf> ex-Prefect. No proof was adduced that either directly or indirectly he was guilty of malversation ; amidst the floating spars of the wrecked empire, and the Prussians bearing down, he had to organise on the moment, measures of defence ; had no time to debate over prices, and hardly enough to equip defenders. Besides, France does not consider it a crime, the fitting out even regardless of expense, of her sons to combat the proud invader. The victims, strangely enough, rather sacrificed the priests on their own altar. M. Lacour's speech is an arsenal full of terrible weapons for the use of his party—of which he will likely become the chief, cutting out Gambetta, and shunting aside the latter, as the Republicans of 1848 did Ledin Rollin. But then Ledin found in retirement a rich life, and at present enjoys the arm-chair and port wine existence. Gambetta, being a bachelor, can also speculate in matrimony. As to the often-discussed charges against the Government of the 4th of September, for not convoking at once the National Assembly, &c, it is a question as open to conjecture as that the world would have been spared the horrors of the first revolution, had Europe permitted France to settle her own affairs without foreign interference. To elect an Assembly on the 4th of September, was to virtually end the war, and at that period the country was in full fever to " not yield an inch of territory, or a stone of a fortress;" every man had resolved "to make a pact with death;" the country had not risen in the majesty of its power, and Bazaine was still " the glorious.'" Every voice was for war ; he who would have cried out for peace would have been hanged as high as King Haman; the dictature of Gambetta was accepted, and only repudiated when he failed to work miracles. The present Assembly is particeps criminis with the gentlemen of the pavement—if crime it was to pick up the power that fell from an incapable and selfish Empire. No deputy has ever yet stood-up to declare that the continuation of the war, after the downfall of Napoleon, was wrong; nor has the Assembly ever thought of re-establisbiug the Empire, swept away as it was amidst indifference and derision ; on the contrary, it has fiated the work of September, 1870. No deputy has ever protested against the extinction of, or moved for the re-assembl-ing of Napoleon's Corps Legislatif. The conduct of the Bight is thus as hollow as it is sterile ; it cannot deceive Freuchmen, and it must not be allowed to impose on history.

It is but a few days ago since the immediate members of the ex-royal family of Spain and its long pedigree assisted at the funeral of a morganatic scion of that house of the Bourbons. Now Paris is amused with the family scandals. The Due de Montpensier—true to his Orleanist instincts— after agreeing to run his chances with Isabella for the crown of Spain, now discovers that the ex-Queen has morally damaged her hopes in consequence of her separation from her husband. The Duke is going in for Pretender on high moral principles, after finding, from a two years' experience, that the contrary does not pay. The Spanish marriages had no old slipper thrown after them when celebrated. Two new insurrections may now be looked upon as inevitable in Spain. It would be worth while for the interested to form a Joint Stock Company (Limited) for civil war. Spain is not in the order of sanctity in France, and the spectacle of a few fresh civil wars there—is not viewed as abnormal.

A Red journal demands in the name of Louis XVI., pardon and mercy for the condemned Communists : and the Government replies by establishing a quarterly packet service with New Caledonia for the regular transportation of political sinners. It is asserted that the escaped leaders of the 18th March movement are emigrating from Switzerland to London, if where work is plentiful

and well paid." A special correspondent sent to report on the Commune colony at London, remarks that it is very thriving, one of its notorious members having succeeded in a '' Professor in Oxford College." and another has become " editor of the • Pall Mall Gazette. , " The photographs of the ex-Emperor are gradually disappearing from the shop windows, as well as the illustrated newspapers respecting his death, with letter-press in every language. No difficulty was created to this exhibition of painting*, save limited space on the part of the vendors. The most attractive woodcuts are those representing the Empress in her weeds, as such touches our common feelings. " After all, there is a good deal of human nature in man." Politically the Imperialists are as much forgotten as their late chief. Alexander Dumas His is spoken of as being eugaged in a work to show Napoleon 111. as he was in private life ; the author ought to know a good deal more of the deceased's " inner life" than anybody else, as he often entertained his ex-Majesty with the mysteries of table-rapping, and the usual " material " manifestations of the spirits. It is said that it was only at tho Taileries the " spcerits " were known to have ever laughed. The most extraordinary vroodents of Chiselhurst, aud its recent sad eveuts, found a market in the demand for cheap illustrations. i; Buckingham Palace" did duty for Camden House, and " Victoria Station " for Charing Cross. If it was not the rose, it was near the rose. Then again, an American Monitor was represented as the ship of war, freighted with the sentenced for New Caledonia. A respectable journal, the " Constitutionel," announces that the .Murillo, which so brutally deserted the Northtleet, had arrived at Madrid ! The shade of Dumas pere will be shocked at this capability of the River Manzanares, as Dumas once refused a glass of water from that river, assuring the Spaniards he could not think of depriving the stream of it. The " Journel Ofticiel," or its predecessor, once electrified Paris by publishing that three Englishmen men of war had anchored before Cairo ! On Sunday last a very curious experiment took place in a cell in one of the galleries of the Catacombs, in presence of sixty persons. The object was to prove that a man could breathe in an explosible or unrcspirable atmosphere. The discoverer is M. Denayrouse, who, though a poet, has not the less improved the diver's costume. Each guest was provided with a candle attached to a lath, and arrived at the selected spot where temporary benches had been constructed; a miner appeared inside a glazed cell, trundling before him half a dozen of cylinders full of compressed air ; a tube from these communicated with his mouth and lantern ; his nose was closed by an India rubber band, but the mouth was free ; he could speak and expectorate. The spectators extinguished their lights, and candles in various parts of the cell were then lighted; a rabbit and a hen were afterwards introduced ; then some cylinders of carbonic acid, which on being opened gradually put out the candles, and later the rabbit and hen expired after a slight agouy. At this stage the miner spoke, expectorated, and worked with pickaxe and spade. So far the experiment was successful, and is intended to prove that after a fire-damp explosion a mine can be explored at once without danger. Another Frenchman, M. Louis, has invented a code of signals for strategetic correspondence that foreign authorities ought to look after. By two signals—balloons, flags, detonations, or reflectors, a most perfect system of aerial telegraphy is carried on, which is as simple as it is easy, and cannot be deciphered except by the parties interested. The annual meeting of (the society for the suppression of the use of tobacco has just been held, and commenced proceedings by voting thanks to Sir R. Wallace for his drinking fountains. Cold water looks a bad substitute for the naked beauties of the cigar. The meeting concluded by an excelleut concert, which made one forget the medals and testimonials voted to anti-tobacco authors, orators, and converts. Tho society could do much by Urging the Government not to kill taxpayers by horrible cigars aud poisonous tobacco. There is much mortality thig season among rentieres, or annuitants, who, according to Byron, never die. They are generally old women, who live on incomes secured by selling out their interest in business, or having purchased by their savings a lifeannuity. They keep a Dives' table ; never promenade except from their bed to an arm chair, and back again ; they receive their visitors in the old French fashion, reclining in full dress on their bed ; they arc the best clients for the doctors, three of them would alone support a rising practitioner, and five justify his getting married. A work is announced treating on the deaths of all the Kings of France, from the House of Valois to Napoleon 111. The author traces in the various maladies that the physician did more fatal work than the diseases. What must subjects suffer then 7 Another publication is in hand, pointing out the transformations in trades, from a sex point of view. In some countries it is woman who competes formalc occupation ; in France, it is the reverse, here we have the man-house-maid, the man-milliner, the man-laundress, the man-dressmaker. A treatise on thia " Fall of Man " will be interesting. Complimentary cards of admission to places of public amusement, is the newest thing out in advertising, as well as sending with goods purchased, a packet of visiting cards with your name and address, worked off in a few minutes by a machine. A Frenchman returned to Paris from the States, after an absence of fifteen years, declares he finds every fellow-countryman to be a little National Assembly. A drunken ruffian felled his wife a few days ago, and then invited her brother " to come and work," just like Dumas's Claude. Many think time is up with the " Spcerits" for interviewing Napoleon 111. Curiosity will be as great to know how he is getting on in the other world, as it was respecting his departure from this vale of tears. The " voices " cannot be less'liberal and communicative than in the case of Horace Greely. En attendant, George Sand supplies a cabinet picture of the ex-Emperor, traces his failings to his surroundings, and not to himself. But he made his surroundings. She asserts he was "neither a monster nor an idiot," and that France would never have submitted to be ruled twenty years by a cretin. She very justly remarks, however, that Napoleon 111, failed, because he felt he was seen through, weighed in the balances, and found wanting, and lost confidence in his star—in his illusion—in himself. He was a breakdown since the death of his brainscarrier, the Due de Morny. He mistook his destiny for duty, just as after the coup d'etat when he traversed on horse-back the Boule yards, he had a few hours previously cleared by grape shot. He mistook the applause of the crowd at his graceful horsemanship for approbation of his crime. Madame de Sevigne observes no French ruler can be popular who is not a graceful equestrian ; they make an exception in the case of M. Thiers, and remember with pleasure how gracefully their pet Henri IV. kept his seat, when before Amiens his saddle was as ragged aa himself. The discussion as to Napoleon the Third's liaisons ought to be closed; the French never found fault with their monarchs on this account. Correct society even lacks Roman severity in banishing the memory of celebrated courtezans. Music gives us the " Agnes Sorel " quadrilles, and Fashion ,; Gabrielle " collerctts, " Mnintcnon " skirts, " Pompadour" head-dresses, and, " dv Barry " pantoufles. In a century hence " Bellenger" corsages may be expected in honor of the second empire. The debate on the Lyons Commune is one more unfortunate illustration that authorities without pluck and Conservatives without courage, must abandon all to the mob. At Lyons everyone was a patriot, desired to be armed, led against the Prussians. As therr , was no commander the effervesence became a fiasco. He who blew his own trumpet th ■ loudest was heard, was entrusted with fabulous sums of Government money to conduc: legions to battle, decamped with the cash at the earliest opportunity, and ever put :>. gentlemanly distance between their trooi>

and the enemy. Well-wiebers of France sold the invaded powder at Bf. per pound, which usually costs but 2f., and out of gratitude to France for having freed his country from the Alps to the Adriatic, and Italian furnished soma thousands of rifles at 30f. each, which hr.d previously been offered to Gambctta at 18f, but refused as possessing no killing qualities. It was a cabinetmaker who secured this piece of good fortune for his townsmen. A silk merchant was entrusted to manufacture capsules, while protesting '• cravats" wvro his specialty. Tho horses wore furnished anything but according to sample; instead of being from four to twelve years old, the Itozinantc's could count n, quarter of a century by the stud book ; some were blind, many afflicted %vith spavin, aud two could not walk—all unfit aa food for powder even. A Russian who had left his country for his country's good, was entrusted with the command of a division, and what was worse in the end, with 50,000 francs ; he insisted on providing his braves with a cashmere fez, ornamented with feathers, the very sight of which would vex tho Prussians ; ho continued marching his men up hills and down again, till he came cloao to the Swiss frontier, when he bid his adopted land good night, Colonel Lienard attests, that during the fading days of the empire the arsenals were emptied to find money ; that 50,000 rifles were sold for 4 J francs by private contract : that Victor Emmanuel was glad to repurchase them at 55 francs each, and so on respecting swords, bayonets, cannon, &c. Hence why the " strong" places proved so weak when the Prussians arrived. The ex-prefect of Lyons, in defending himself against the conclusion of the Committee of Inquiry spoke eloquently, protected he was a man of order, loved the tricolor, kc. However, a deputy rose, and said when he marched to the outskirts of Lyons at the head of his regiment of Mobiles, ho succeeded in replacing the red flag by tho tricolor, for which the ex-prefcet in question wrote, "shoot him and his riff-raff at once." Some deputy in his speech having quoted a few Latin phrases with ft strong German accent, was immediately called to " order " by his colleagues, and invited to "respect the Assembly."

To judge by the promenadera iv the Bois dc Boulogne, Paris must be very near in the height of its season. Nothing more elegant and attractive than those fashionable meets, whero in walking one discusses everything. The Skating Club has been in high spirits lately by the promising frost, but old-wet weather times have come back again. A telegraphic office has been re-opened in the " lake district " to summon the Upper Ton to cut their usual figures on the ice when it is ready. In the absence of Jack Frost, pigeon shooting is the only manly sport to fall back upon. It is remarked that servants are the only class of people who at present make money. They demand the highest wages for doing the least amount of work ; they have only to save, their wants aro all supplied : it is they who now invest in shares, stocks, lands, and houses. After the invasion and the commune, it wag expected that prices and salaries would return to normal rates : but no, as tho world gets older the price of everything augments, and this, despite the sewingmachine and the Norwegian pot that cooka without fire. A lady's maid must now bo engaged in diplomatic style ; her food must; be superior, her wine fine ; she becomes the universal legatee for the cast-off apparal of her mistress —which must not be over-worn into the bargain ; she must be protected against any familiarities on the part of such under-servants as the butler and coachman, and ehc receives as a present ever year, a bonnet and a dress from the shops that supply her mistress ; she must not only have her Snndays, but an off-evening in the week to go to the theatres to study the fashions for Madame ! The Barouess Rothschild is likely to revive tho Sedan—that is, the Louis XVl.—chair. The Rtrcet before her mansion being cut up by the pas men, two footmen carrying my lady to the cud of the street, where her carriage awaits her. One laguais precedes the chnir to clear the way, aud another constitutes a rear-guard. Owing to the increased price of living, the intern pupils in the Agricultural College of Grigrin must thenceforth pay 1200 francs a year, instead of 1000 francs. This sum includes all the comforts of a home. The "boys in blue" will receive, like the soldiers, five sous additional per day. This liberality will recall their uavy to many Frenchmen. The drapers are the only persons who show themselves friends of suffering humanity; taking advantage of " the end of the season," their advertising vans announce the usual r>o per cent discounts. It is puzzling to know this year, of which of the seasons we now enjoy tho " end." It 13 believed that when the new commercial Ireaty with England comes into operation the houses will be next to thatched with pancakes, and the streets paved with penny loaves. By-the-by, why not execute a "To Deum" iv honor of such an event, and invite tho "Peoples' William ?" Baznino's trial is spoken of as likely to come off, and the authorities are varying the arrests of hot-headed republicans, by seizing members of the " International " Society. It was currently believed this society was wrecked on a bank of herring bones in Holland, and tapered off into as many divisioua as, say—parties in the National Assembly. There are greater disturbers of order in Franco at this moment than the Ishmaelitca in question. The Government allows fifty francs reward to whoever kills a mad dog ; the same for a wolf or a wild boar. ■ At Monthecon two bargemen quarrelled ; one bit the other ; the crowd concluded the biter was an mad as a dog, resolved to kill him, and demand the reward of fifty francs, The unfortunate was hunted down the street, in and out of house?, sought refuge in a barn, was dragged out, jumped upon, and was finally finished by successive batterings on the head with a stone 401bs* in weight. Sufficient time was not allowed the deceased to become even mad. Two policemen " assisted " at this spectacle, aud it is to bo hoped, they will be promoted. Three of the ringleaders were transported instead of being hanged— "The dog recover'd of the bite, The man it was that died." A chiffonnicr has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment for stealing a box of snails from a fruiterer's; he denied the soft impeachment; did not believe in " sympathetic snails " —detested them as he did the Prussians, and did not resemble tho " quality" in their taste for Chinese delicacies — earthworms, en impUlotte and leeches, a Iα vinaigrette. In the Faubourg St Antoine, at the sign of "Domestic peace.' , whips can be bought or hired, or a trial allowed for a day. Not a Katharina ie now to be found in the neighborhood, "a graceless traitor to her lord," Petrucliio. In his examination before tho committee M. Thiers stated that in pronouncing the dethronement of the Napoleons, the Assembly never intended they should merely " quit .the Tuilerics for the Grand Hotel. ,, -Several papers have done a profitable stroke of business by substituting in their reports, as solicited, the names of other hotels, in place of the " Grand."