The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-09 00:00:00

NG, JULY 9, 1868.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 't
PARIS, WEDNESDAY, July 8.

The summonses to Fontainebleau are somewhat frequent
lust now. M. Rouher was sent for on Monday, doubtless
Dn account of the unfortunate turn of the debate in the
Corps L6gislalif. M. Magne's allusion to Mexico was
particularly unhappy. After M. Rouher, Marshal
Bazaine was called to the presence of his royal master.
The only interpretation that can be given to
this step is, that the Marshal will receive
instructions to reply to the provocations of the
Prussian press. The tone of some of the North
German papers has been strangely menacing of late.
Nevertheless, I do not think the situation has in any
respect lost its pacific aspect. When the cat is away, &c.
The retirement of C'cunt Bismarck doubtless gives the
Prussian journals opplrtunity to indulge in a few freaks,
which would be impossible if he had the control of affairs.
There seems to be no reason to believe that these studied
provocations are inspired.
The operation of the new Press Law is exciting much
indignation amongst the French press. The publisher of
the Courrier Francais has been fined 100 f. and costs for
pnblishing his journal without having given the required
amount of security. The paper has been suppressed. An
objectionable article in the Elccteur has also been very
severely punished. The author has been fined 5,000 f.,
and the printer and the publisher 500 f. each. Even the
Ministerial journals condemn these measures. The Consti-
tationnel thinks the latter prosecutions might have been
dispensed with. Such officious proceedings against the
liberty of the press serve only to strengthen dissatisfaction
without correcting abuses. It is believed that an appeal
will produce some effect.
On the other hand, the new law on public meetings is
attended with good results. An open discussion without
politics is a matter of some difficulty with the French, but
usage is getting over that nicely. A second meeting to
discuss the question of the employment of women was so
crowded that it was speedily found necessary to close the
doors. The surveillance of the police representatives is not
particularly relished, especially as these functionaries are
given to obtrusively announcing the fact of their presence.
But we in France, who have been waiting sixteen years
for the rudiments of liberty, cannot expect the whole doc-
trine taught us at once.
A long time has elapsed since the word " club " was first
brought over here from England. With the name we
have also got mansions equal to any in Pall-mall ; though
in other respects the club remains an English institution.
The cafe is the only approach to the English club ; the
vast and richly-furnished saloons which arrogate the title
and the insignia are scales de jcu, and nothing else.
The art of ruining oneself has become considerably simpli-
fied since the French attempted an experiment totally
foreign to their disposition. A young member of the
aristocracy here has lost a million francs in two months at
one of the Paris " clubs." A confirmed gambler, on
hearing the story, merely observed that the time
was a great deal too long. " The institutions of a people,"
says the Siecle, "do not improvise themselves. The
London clubs, which for two hundred years have been one
of the most characteristic traits of English life, have been the
joint work of time, circumstances, and the English
character. To be a clubman the French are too fond of
gambling',., the Italians not sufficiently sedentary ; and
the German's existence is too much devoted to beer and
tobacco. The English, therefore, are the only clubbable
people."

A very singular accident occurred on Saturday in the
shop of a perfumer. A vessel of some inflammable essence
was broken, and the contents set on fire by the flame of a
spirit-lamp. Three young female attendants were in the shop,
and the garments of one of them was speedily ignited
by the burning liquid. As usual in such cases, she
rushed madly into the street, and was caught by an
individual passing, who vainly attempted to extinguish
the flames. A doctor, named Bernardet, happened
to come up in the nick of time. Seizing the girl, he
immersed her in a large pool of water, formed by
recent rains, and extinction of the fire was the work of a
moment. Scarcely had this operation been successfully
performed ere another rushed out with her headdress on
fire. A second successful immersion followed. The third,
by her lamentable cries, would have secured a similar
attention bad not the doctor perceived that she was
uninjured except by fright. No serious injury was sus-
tained by anyone.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.