Parisian Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 42, 8 February 1889, Page 5

Parisian Notes.

A GBXAT demonstration, intended by M. Floquet as an obstacle to the advance of General Boulanger, has, by its complete failure, Lad a directly opposite tendency. It took the form of a procession from the Hotel de Vllle to the cemetery of Montmartre in honour of a republican hero named Batdin, who was shot in the attempt to raise a barricide in tbe Faubourg Baint-Antoine on the day of tbb coup d. itat. For pome weeks nothing had been talked of but this demonstration, which many people feared must be the occasion of serious riots. It passed off. however, in the most tranquil manner possible, and comparatively little interest of any kind was shown in it. Boulanger 's popularity, meantime, continues to increase, and something more powerful than »n attempt like that in question will be needful to overthrow it. What has made the affair still more ridiculous is the fact that Baudin is also held in honourable memory by tbe Boulangista themselves.

A duel even more absurd than the majority of these encounters, not made grave by finalities or dangerous wounds, has taken place between a Deputy named Reinacb, and M. Dcroulede, the President of the League of Patriots. It was brought about by D6roulede's speaking contemptuously of Rheinach as a little Jew. The combatants took aim at each other, but the pistols in both cases missed fire. M. Deroutede is understood to say that, as he considered there was no cause for the challenge sent him, he fought without spirit. It would form a curious psychological inquiry, in this instance, as to tbe nature of the relations between tbe mind of the man and the loading of his weapon, by which the latter became so affected by the condition of the Conner as not to go off.

A new writer of some ability has appeared who takes as his subject that of war, and makes an exhaustive examination of what the future is to bring forth in this way— -especially as regards France. Concerning the prospects of this country he writes with confidence, dwelling on its vast resources and tbe progress made since the German conquest. Tbe writer, who signs himself Captain Daorit, is said to be a young military man of great promise. He certainly seems to understand the object and end of his profession, and all that relates to it.

The famous diva, Madame Patti, has been in Paris taking part in Gounod's opera of " Romeo et Juliette." This opera was written some years ago for a (avonrite tenor, who, after all, did not Bing in it, and a great deal of its first success was due to Madame Miolan Uarvaiho, the star of the Lyrique. Madame Patti create), as usual, a tremendou* furore, and although she seemed rather nervous at first, ehe whs pronounced, if anything, even superior to her former self— which, for a woman of some forty-six or lorty-seven years of atre, is a great deal to say. So great was the attendance, and so many the disappointed who could not find places, that she was induced to promise a sec nd visit when an engagement formed in London was concluded. This announcement was hailed with enthusiasm, and some of the lady's admirers marked their delight at it by convertitg her dressiDg-room into a floral palace. The tenor on the occasion was De Reske, who, for the period wanting in great tenors, takes a leadiog place.

Poet and pie-man— the combination seems Bomewhat strange, aod it does not seem one bit less queer when the nature of the pies in question is considered. Mangold, the poet of Alsace, ia dead, and with him is dead also tbe most famous maker of Strasbourg pice. The poet could siug of tbe lark aod the nightingale ; but tbe pieman could torture the unfortunate goose, and make its liver swell abnormally for the delicacy he manufactured. A successor, meantime, for Mangold in the matter of pies will certainly be found, but it may not be so easy to replace him in the matter of poetry. His muse wa9 devoted especially to the celebration of the beauties and glories of his native province, Alsace.

A great deal of gossip is going on relatiTe to the divorcs ca«e between General Boulanger and his wife. It has always been known that a worse assorted couple could not be found. He was dashing, and gay, and adventurous, and she was quiet, and ascetic, and retiring. He was jevnc et beau, and she was elderly and an invalid. It is, however, not eaßy to reconcile the lady's profession of religion with her application fox a divorce, which the Church condemns. Otherwise nobody denies that Bhe has abundant grounds for the petition. The General's enemies are trying to makv capital against him out of the case, but, such are the morals of the times, it is not comidered likely to do him serious injury. On the oontrary, the chances are that Ihe Genera], who lenowa well how to seize an opportuDity, may contrive to torn the matter to bis advantage.

A proposal is now made to Honour tbe mem >ry of General floche, leader of the iiNstarrcd voyage to Ba trj Bay. by according Lia remains a- renting- place near those of Victor Hugo in the Pantheon. The Marquis des Roy», grandson and representative of the General, however, opposes tbe proposal on tbe grounds that as a sincere Catholic he does not wish to see his grandfather's dust laid in a desecrated church. The oase is likely to form the subject of an obstinate dispute, for neither the Marquis nor tbe Government seem* inclined to yield. Most probably the decision will be adverse to the individual, as his objection is based on religious grounds.

The death has recently occurred in Paris of the Duchess o£ Galiera, a lady noted for her great wealth and her more than munificent charities. Her alms-giving of various kinds amounted almost to millions. She led a life of strict retirement, and was devoted to religion. Her heir is an only surviving son who refuses to bear his father's title, and who also has a contempt for wealth. He is not, however, a fool or a madman, bat is completely addicted to learned studies and pursuits.

Tbe events in the religious world have been the Catholic Oongrera at Lille, and a mixed conference of Catholics and Conservative* generally held at Lyons. At the Conarrea M. Ohesnalong nude a powerful and eloquent speech in defence and advocacy of tbe Temporal Power. At both assemblies indeed a very determined attitude was assumed towards this question, and a firm demand made that it should be eolved without delay In favour of the Papacy. One of the speeches at Lyons even went so far as to propose a Crnsado formed of volunteers from different nations. What,,moreovei , seems a somewhat strange development is that the tons of F ranee as a whole, including all partiee, tends towards recognising tbe necessity foe complying with the claims of the Holy Father. Outside »f the Catholic body, nevertheless, this disposition may be looked upon as rather arising from the alliance between Germany and Italy than from any solicitude as to the welfare of the Holy Bae. Ball it is ono of the ways in which the power of the Papacy makes itself felt, that France, although unfaithful and disobedient, cannot afford to see it placed under tue control of a Government unfriendly to her. Bat the Pope stripped of the temporal principality and residing in an Italian Rome must now be more or less subjeot to the will of Gannany. This is a view of tbe situation which suggests even the possibility of a war, undertaken for this cause alone.