PARIS LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17352, 17 May 1924, Page 1

PARIS LETTER.

POLICE KEPT BUSY. THE LATEST OPERETTA (Special to the “ . PARIS. March 27. In a country where the conscript system flourishes in all its splendour, and where no excise is admitted—conscientious objection or anv other—it is doubtless in the natural order of things that anti-militarist propaganda should be very active. While other countries move towards disarmament, the French Government, if the present militarist tendencies of France continue to Jest themselves, will find itself cor fronted with an increasingly difficult problem Already, on various occasions. the police have been compelled to intervene. This week they redoubled their vigilance. Complaints having been received from the General Headquarters of the Rhine Army of Occupa* tion, the police searched a large number of offices and even private houses which were the centre of dangerous and wellorganised propagandist activities. Though the French police, take an artless pride in the close guarding of their secrets, it has transpired that certain important documents were seized, as well as considerable sums of money. Our police officials are much intrigued as to the source of origin of the funds in question THE SPORTING GESTURE. Is the fraternity of sports destined to reconcile that which many declare concilable? Perhaps it would be premature to affirm it; but one may note that in the domain of sports is now manifested the state of mind propitiou? to such reconciliation. Carried away

by his enthusiasm dor ” ie sport,” Monsieur le Parisian so far forgot himself as to applaud German victories on the cycle track, while in Berlin French sportsmen were wildly cheered! This happy frame of mind is not shared by the music-hall artists, who held an international congress this week in Paris. As the result of animated discussions it; was decided to maintain, with certain unimportant modifications, the conditions to which German artists were corv» demned some four years ago. On the other hand (vive la France!) when a member of the congress mentioned that the Germans were a little tired of their own artsits, and would doubtless be disposed to offer advantageous terms to foreigners, it was arranged to send French delegates to Berlin to study the question! The French “sporting" ' code would appear to have its limit*tions! It is true that before separating it was decided to form an international aliance, but as it is composed at present ct France, Belgium and Italy, and its object is to protect its members in foreign countries, one may scarcely anticipate a strictly impartial “ international ” attitude. “ EN CHEMISE.” I should not be at all surprised if the new operetta “En Chemise,” that is •causing some discussion here, achieves an immense success, despite its flagrant mediocrity. In the flrst place, a title so frankly suggestive of deshabille is very much to Parisian taste. Moreover, the Mayor of Calais has given the show some fine gratuitous publicity which wiil not tail to swell the box office receipts This worthy citizen held it his duty to locL-:e a protest with the Minister of the Interior against the stagpmg, / as comic characters, of itustache ae SLV Pierre and his five fellow-citizens, t-fie heroes of the Siege of Calais in the neign if Edward 111. Alterations and omissions will not satisfy the outraged Mayor; he dei.oands that in the name of Calais 'En Chemise ” be banned; In the theatre opinion is unanimous that he has unwittingly contributed to a predestined success of the season.

THE GUI.LELESS GAUL. Is France so bkxse, so cynical, so sceptical as she is invariably represented? The theory is oper.\ to doubt when one reads of the successful exploits of the soi-disdbt Professor Arianys, who in a few years succeeded in amassing a considerable fortune frpm the sale of charms and talismans. The professor proved himself a most able man of aflairs, for the publication of a detailed brochure on these toys ot luck preceded the opening fo a large establishment, with many branches, to further their extensive sale. There w.ire talismans tor all tastes and eventualities. But, alas for the Professor, at Uie moment when he dreamed of honourable retirement on me proceeds oi niA ‘ sciene, ’ trie police got wind of the ardair, recognised in him a dangerous cipok, and put him safely under iock and key. GREEDY LANDLORDS As the date of the Olympic Games draws nearer, the hotel-keepers ut Laris grow proportionately unreusouable. Not merely are their prioert orbicant, but they now refuse to let by the month, according to past <iu&iom. Many habitues of the Paris hotels find themselves reduced to seeking other shelter. This scarcely simplifies the housing problem, already sufficitntly acute. In view- of the existing demand, the landlords are trying to get rid of tenants whose rent they cannot increase beyond a certain fixed percentage And on the other hand the foresaid tenants are digging themselves in, a.-i it were, under the aegis of the law. There are constant scenes, alternately tragic and comic. T-n the latter category this week is the case ot Madame Frisson, who had her landlord a nested. That gallant gentleman*. having exhausted all other artifices, had jiersuaded one of his friends to represent himself a Commissary oi ‘Police to give Madame Frisson the order to quit! AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION. Considerable ingenuity is brought to the solution, of the housing crisis—chacnn a sa inaniere. A vagabond whose mental condition is uncertain had found an original way out—or, more* correctly. a way in! On two occasions he had simply strolled into the royal apartments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and it was here he was discovered one fine morning, sleeping peacefully in a deep armchair, his legs strotched comfortably on two other chairs . in the apartments destined shortly t o receive the King and Queen of Rumania I “ PARCOUREUR.”