Parisian Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 22, 23 September 1887, Page 5

Parisian Notes.

The Figaro has published the report of an interview between a distu.guistied French writer and the Pope, in which his Holiness expressed himself as characterised most of all by a desire for moderation. He declared that it was his intention to be always a conciliating Pope, and that he would never be numbered amongst those wht favoured extremes.

The fe""e of July 14, the 97th anniversary of the fall of the Bastille, tth eh was looked forward to with some apprehension, passed off without any distuibauce worth speaking ot. There was a review at Lougchamps, which was witnessed by great crowds, and, as President Gr6vy was on hiß way there, he was met by a hostile demonstration in parsing near the cascade in the Bois de Boulo^ue. But it was a paltry affair and soon exhausted itself in cries of " Vive Boulanger," " Vive la Commune," " A bas Grevy." Some little riot was also made by a nondescript crowd as the President was returning. They ran before aud around his carriage as it drove along the Champs Elysees and raised their stupid clanuur. But M. Grevy was not in the least discomposed and seemed completely indifferent. The statue representing Strasburg on the Place de la C.ncorde was visited by a number of patriots who laid wreaths of flowers at its feet and otherwise gave expression to thiir sorrows and their hopes. Notwithstanding the day generally passed by brightly and cheerily like a Parisian festival.

The lovers of the sen9atioual are again busy with Pranzini, the condemned assassin, whom they now assoctaie with the murder of Mme. Skooeleff, mother of the famous General. It will be remembered that this lady was murdered as she was on a journey to visit her Bon in Bulgaria, a large sum of money which she had in her possession being carried off. It is suggested that Pranzini, who has asserted that he was in the service of General Skobeh ff, is the man who acted as courier to the unfortunate wjman, and who, they say, has never since been heard of. But wneiber the mystery will be unravelled or not remains to be seen.

Some of the papers are much interested in the mission of Mgr Persico to Ireland. They differ among themselves as to their views of its results giving it variously as favourable or disastrous to the Irish cause. But, as the disposition of the particular editor rather than the facts in his possession must determine his opinions in the case, the publications made are not very important. The Figaro, nev< rtheless, hopes that Monsignore's mission may make the way more easy lor the Pope to tulfil his part of acting as the peace-maker of the world— and in this we may well agree with it.

General Boulanger is still among the prominent men of the day. That he is as yet an acknowledged leader of the people cannot truly be said. In both camps, the Radical as well as the Conservative, he has opponents and even enemies. But he still manages to keep well before the bight of the country. A considerable amount of indignation has been caused among his opponents by the publication of some telegrams and a letter from him, which are declared to have the signification of a manifesto. The General is not personally accountable for the publication, which has been made by one or two of his friends, but he is accredited with the intention. He tells the French people that they should hold up their heads — the only attitude that becomes them,

An attempt made by his friends to gain for him the credit of having rejected overtures made to him to betray the Republic to the cause of the monarchy, has been met by M. Paul de Cassagnac who denies the story vigorously. He sa\ she has been commissioned both by Royalists and Imperialists to give it the lie direct. As General Boulauger seems pr .vided with no proof in reply he may be looked upon as convicted of fal&e pretences. But, very possibly, though for the present he suffers panial eclipse at Clermont Ferraud, France aa a whole may not yet be dove with him.

Paris now aspires to rule all France by means of her Municipality. This body proposes to convene a congress of delegates from all the municipalities of the country The pretence is the promotion of local self-government, but the result, if successful, must Jbe to make this city dominant. It would be a more sinister proof even than any hitherto given of the truth of the old claim that Paris controlled the country, and determined all its movements— and nothing could be more disastrous in its effects.

A statue of Pope Urban 11., who was a Frenchman, has just been unveiled with most imposing ceremonies at Rheims.

Cardinal Lavigerie has bad an interview with President Gre"vy in which he pointed out to his Excellency how the position of France in the East was compromised by the opposition given at home by her Government to the Church. French influence in the countries referred to, his Eminence explained, depended upon the French missionaries and the Christian communities to which they ministered. Were the military law recently passed, therefore, to be enforced, and as a necessary consequence were a serious restriction to be (placed upon tue number of missionaries obtainable, tte missionaries of other nations must replace those of France — which would involve the loss of her protectorate. But most probably the reasoning of Cardinal Lavigerie falls on deaf ears.

Among those who have recently been decorated with the Legion of Honour hare been the bister Philomena of the Sisters of Charity and Christian Education of Nevera, and Mme. Furtado Heine , a lady diitinrfuiabed for her benevolent and charitable workt,