The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11 00:00:00

FRESH FISH FOR BREAKFASr!

In an article entitled "The Present State of Paris,"
under date Feb. 4, the Special Correspondent of the
Daily News thus graphically describes the change from
famine to iroh fish, aril the joy of the Parisians in an-
ticipating the "good things of this life," of which their
famine-stricken city bad so long been deprived :

I was awoke this morning early—at four o'clock—by beat
of drum. Again and again the drum went round disturbing
nip innocent slumbers. Those who did not know what it
meant were no doubt irritated by the clamour—perhaps
alarmed, lest the Prussians, in defiance of the armistice,
should be in ending Paris ; but those who could divine the
meaning of it turned upon their pillows to dream sweet
dreams of royal banquets in which doge, and cats, and
rats , and mice should no more be seen. Some pro-
visions hod come into Facto—not much, but enough to
creels a seronable in the market, which was besieged
by early buyers from two o'clock in the morning. About
throe o'clock—that is, of course, long bet ire the markets at
Skis season of the year are open to purchasers—the autho-
Lilies became anxious ; and at four o'clock the drum went
round to cdiect the National Guards, whose business it is to
wieeerve order. Long before day-dawn, great crowds were
assembled to contend for butter and eggs, curets and onions,
hitings and soles. The sale at day-break went off briskly
but peaceably, and the Petitions were in many quarters to-
day able to add a few luxuries to their repast—an egg or a pat
of butter.

I went to take breakfast at the Caf6 Voisin. The head
waiter came up to me to announce a State secret. It Is a
secret which be announce, to everybody: but he has such a
style about him that you fancy for a moment that you are
particularly favoured. Also he gives such an air of im-
portance to his communication—his eyes sparkling with
pleasure, and enlarging with the grandeur of his information
—that you are quite certain that the destinies of the day
are In hie hands. He hi the most Invaluable of head-
w titers in this way. You go Into that Cafe N'obiln as a
matter of bminese, meaning tl get through a meet
which has, perhaps, no great attractions for you, but
which nevertheless must be eaten. Perhaps you are
preoccupied with important new, political or military. The
heart wafter—his eyes tearful with appetite—recalls you to
fart, and makes you balloon ;till you begin to eat it; that the
Teat event of the day is roast ass or stewed cow. Ile came to
me this morning, his face beaming with intelligence of the
Infinite. Bafote he could speak he chuckled, as if he had a
miracle on his mind—something not to be believed—which
the sceptic before him would laugh to scorn. The
infinite, the incredible, the almost unspeakable, which
made this enprenie waiter hesitate with emotion, was—
a fried whiting. As if hie feelings were too much
for Men, and he could not stand th Felting which he antici-
pated at the mere mention of fresh fish, he pointed with
triumph, before he could receive an answer, to the silo.
board in the centre of the room. There were ranged three
large silver trays. Or one were rows of raw whitings ready
In be cooked; on another rows of sm,ked herrings; on the
third a collection of soles and turbot. I asked for the prices.
A small sole would be ten francs; a whiting would be two
francs; a herring would be • franc and a half.
The convoys of provisions which have arrived have as yet
been very scanty—enongh to add a few luxuries to the
tables of the rich, but not to toneh the necessities of the poor.
It Is said that in one of the districts of Paris this week the
' ration for a family of three persons was three herrings for
three days; and that in another elletect there was nothing to
distribute at the butcher's shop but vinegar and oil. The
people, howevgy, are full of expectation of good things to
i come, and I think that marry mouths are watering
for the good things which are to come from Eng-
land Whenever I meet a Frenchman I have to
give him an immense amount of small talk am to the nature
of " Torch" hams, and as to the eh traeteristlcs of cheeses
from S.llton, Cheshire, and Gloucester. A Frenchman gets
quite excited j ret now if you talk to him about ham or cheese.
If there he any truth in that old doctrine of the transmigra-
tion of souls, I fancy the Frenchman will turn mouse, he is so
fond of Cheese. But how can I answer all his inquiries!
What Is double Gloucester I beasts with pleasing hopes; why
double ? lie Is dreadfully disappointed when I tell him I
do not know. My ignorance on the subject is a proof
to him of the unreasoning nature of the English mind.
These English eat double Glonceater and they never inquire
how and why It is double. 'There wae never a people so
illogical," thinks the Frenchman. "They were all against
us in tho beginning of the war; and now they are all in our
favour, sending us thew, provisions. Of comae. they have •
reason for it. They want our help in that Back Saa buetheto.
lint what fools they were not to foresee that they would
want our help on against Bessie, ; and what selfish fools they
are to care for us only su long an we can be of immediate ue•
to them. NVell, we will thank them for their victuals, which
we will eat with a will No doubt the coming hums and
cheeses are good. But spite of ham, and spite of cheese, the
Euglish and French alliance is at end."