CHIFFONS FROM PARIS.

Tuapeka Times, Issue 851, 30 June 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHIFFONS FROM PARIS.

(TRANSLATED FROM LE FIGARO.)

Every cafe in Paris has at least one habitue who has been all through the last war.

One of these patriots, when slightly sprung, has a habit of joining in the general conversation.

For instance, he hears pronounced the name of Durand.

— Durand 1 he exclaims, with emotion, Gustave Durand you mean ? He was killed by a bullet, four paces from me, at Forback. Or perhaps it is Dupont. — Is it Dupont you are talking about ? The brave Dupont 1 Killed in the ranks, by a shell bursting, not two yards from me, at Gravelotte !

Once, a gentleman seated near him rose suddenly, and said :

—Monsieur, allow me to retire. There is always some accident happening to those who are unfortunate enough to be near you ; and if I remain here I am afraid the roof will fall on my devoted head ! Adieu ! Between lodges and landlord : — Monsieur, said the first, I am going to leave ? — On what account, if you please ? — Because you have failed to carry out the first clause in oar agreement. It was distinctly stated therein that no hammering trade was to be carried on within the build-

ing ; and there ia;e teacher of the piano just above me who is-consliantly giving lessons. — -But, I, dont seel . . 'ft— Then "theP piano,' I suppose, is not an iristrumqjit witlf hammers ?

Calino, maitre d'hotel, reads his account to one of his lodgers who has recently become blind. '. — EojEOj^O.feancjs.; jsandlca,.2O irancs. — But exclaims the lodger, when I was able to see you only charged me 10 francs for lights. Then, Calino, with his habitual candour : — Pardon, Monsieur, I thought that, being blind, you would probably burn your candle i day and night I

Funeral oration of restaubant pbopbibtoe. The president of the Municipal Council, in a broken voice : 1 —Yes, gentlemen, the friend we mourn is dead — victim to his devotion to art. Do you know what killed him ? It was not fatigue : he was robust ; it was not care : his affairs were prosperous. But in order to inspire confidence he took for his own meals, before all the world, the same dishes that he served to his clients ! i A murmur of mingled horror and admiration ran through his audience.