OUR PARIS LETTER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 29, 3 August 1925, Page 15

OUR PARIS LETTER

WHAT'S IN A NAME ?

DICTIONARY STICKLERS

(moa ots own coitßisft»n>«!rr.) PARIS, 10th Jane. Some current expressions in the j French lafigaago have failed to find fay- j our with the committee of the Academic Francaise, who are revising the new edition of the official dictionary. Somo members object to such words as bordeaux, boargogno, camembert, and rocjneiort. They consider that these names of places should not be used for the articles of food and drink which they represent to the man in the street. The correct form, they say, is yin de Bordeaux, yin de ~Bourgogne, fromage dB Camonbert, or fromage de Roquefort. On tho other hand, they accopt the word champagne, because this kind of wine is produced in various parts of France, and because the word champagniser is already admitted. Those are fino points, and tho members of the committee are thinking them over before coming to a definite decision. KISSING LOVERS AND THE DARING CHILD With the object of studying the street traffic problem from the chauffeur's point of view, a correspondent of tho "Matin" has made the journey from the Faubourg Poissonniere to tho Buc Blanche in a taxi-cab. His account ia One long list of hair-breadth escapes, of lovers who insist on kissing in the middle of the street, of people who wait in the gutter rather than step back a couple of feet into safety, of citizens who discuss politics at dangerous crossroads, of others who dart out from cover without looking where they are doing, and children who run after balls as if they were in a playground. The driver had to be constantly on the alert to avoid an accident, and the "fare" came to tho conclusion that the public does not realise the simple truth, that the roadwuys arc intended primarily for vehicles. WARDROBE BERTHS Scarcity of room in Paris flats has encouraged the invention of various devices to provide sleeping accommodation for children. Tlia latest idea is to put them in berths' one above the other, as if thay Were in a sleeping car or in a liner 3 stateroom. During the last few months, a great many of these double berths have been sold. They are usually enclosed in what looks like a wardrobe. To obtain a real specimen of the old-fashioned Breton beds is considered quite a triumph. The berth system undoubtedly saves space, and children find it amusing, but whether it is good for their health is another matter.' THREE HURT AT BULL-FIGHT Three persons were gored by the bulls in the opening of the arena at Aries (Bouches-due-Rhone), for the season. In inciting, the first bull, the toreador Antoihe Azais, of "Vauvert (Gard), did not step far enough aside when the animal i charged his flag, and he received a I Wound in the left arm. He was taken to hospital. The second bull was dispatched without. incident. When the third bull was led into the circle an amateur fighter named Paul Pernier jumped into the arena despite the Cries ,of the professionals. He was caught by the bull, who pinned him down, and dragged him across the ring before ho could be stopped. Before the afternoon was over a young Spanish toreador, Canarlo Ohico, was gored in the abdomen while in the act of placing a pair of banderillos. SHAMPOO RULES Fresh and stringent rules have been issued by the Prefect of Police regulating the use "of etherol as a shampoo^ The highly inflammable product is greatly in demand among women who require a frequent shampoo for their shingled heads, and this dry method is popular for its speediness. To prevent the accidents which co easily happen, etherol may now be used only in closed rooms with draughts carefully excluded, and with neither fire nor flame. The operation, over, the room must be thoroughly ventilated before tongs may be heated or any open gas jet or lamp lighted. Another rule is that a fire extinguisher shall be close to the operator's hand while using the volatile fluid. DINING NINETY-FIVE YEARS AGO Ninety-five years ago, two illustrious Parisians, a poet and a. young lawyer who became later a famous politician, dined together "at Verey's Restaurant, at that time one of tho boat of Paris, and the most fashionable haunt in the PalaisRoyal. The bill for their dinner has survived the events of a .century, and is now in possession o£ M. Jean Bernard. It shows that Lamartino and M. Thiors diucd copiously for 19frs, and a few sous. They had half a chicken for 9frs.. the dish of turbot cost theni a franc and a few sous apiece, and the French beans the sailio amount. Tile portions Of Roquefort cheese cost a franc, and the Mack coffee more than the cognac served with it. the one 16 sous and the other 12 sous. Their bottle of Chambertin at sfrs., with tho olives they, took as horsd'oeuvre, made a total of not quite 23frs. "KILLED" HIS FATHER In the hope of a gratuity from his employers, a man employee! by a Paris printing works to deliver parcels killed his fafhor. Ho did so, it should be explained, merely in a Pickwickian sense, by announcing with tears in his voice that liin parent had departed this lifa. Tht other- members' of the staff clubbed trtgothev, and next morning a large wreath, bge^rtitr tho inscription "From _lbc steP", was delivered at the bereaved one's house; greatly to his disgust. Some of his comrades, not hearing anythm|»nboitt the funeral, put inconvenient questions, and the real state of the case wag disclo«ed. The tod-ingenious one was called bofore tho head of tho firm, who severely reprimanded him and made him refund the full amount of tho subscription. Ho was allowed to keep tha wreath.

FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND VOLTS GENERATOR

In order to carry put research on th« constitution of matter and the radio treatment of cancerous tunioiir*, Proles* aor d'Aiwnval, the famous {Vcnch scietilist, has invented nn electrical generator gjring a. direct cm-vent of hall a million vnlls. NiH'ct- before liae ii volla.go of more than 300,000 been obtained bjr direct current, though higher figures tnau KX),OCO Imvo l»ern ,^tn.i»od hy pHgi*nut'iut uuiTsiiU; ProfuMoi' d'Arsonr*!,

in describing this new generator to the Academy of Science, said that the production of still higher voltages by direct current was only a matter of money, and that the construction of such generators would revolutionise civilisation.