The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-11
PARIS CORRESPONDENCE.
PARIS, Februarh 1852

PARIS, February 1882,
To the Editor Of The National Era.
One or two little personal incidents will give
you better idea Of the present condition OF
France than the most elaborate description
The other day was walking along the
Bouleyards, those glories of Partisan promo
nade-whch combine more the breadth and
length of Pennsylvania avenue. with more than
the gay splendor of Broadway-when ! OBJ
served that the cornices OF many of the finest
houses were broken off, and the stones of others
perforated and blackened. what docs this
mean !" asked of friend walking with me
"Oh!p said he, the bullets and cannon balls
of the Sd of December did all that" There
must have been great deal of fighting then"
| continued "t0 batter the houses in that
manner His reply was--"A great deal Of
firing, but not much fighting. Several thou
sand drunken soldiers marched along street
thickly crowded and inhabited on both sides
can do great deal Of damage in u very little
time, especially il they fire without cause or
reason into every window where an unlucky
head chances 10 be deserted"
{" But you do not mean to say that such was
the plan adopted on the I'd and Sd Of Deccm-
Der ~ II do my friend rejoned :" | remem-
Der that called, on one of those mornings, to
see some American ladies, who were lodging
ON the Boulevard, when We suddenly heard the
clamor OF drums and trumpets in the street.
Rushing to the easement, in perfect ignorance
of what was going on, our FIRST saiutation was
a rattle of musket shot into the glass. Fortu-
nately none of us were shot, though several
might have been, as some twenty-eght hun
dred people were, in other parts Of the city.
On this no commentary is needed.
The other day, too, took my way into one
of the outskirts Of the city, beyond that beau
tiful monument of scientific skill and curiosity
the Jardin des Pldnies, towards q lofty and
strongly built structure, which is called St.
Peagie. IL 10 q prison, not for malefsctors
but for men who are found guilty Of thinking
in accordance with their own minds and hearts
and not the statutes. Without much difficulty
was administrators have had even tess In
getting there, while they found il extremely
hard 10 get Out--and was shown, with great
courtesy, 10 the fourth and fifth floors. THE
French arc polite, even in prison In the
yards were several different groups, either
walking about or smoking pipes, or engaged
In animated discussion. They were all politi-
cal offenders Of one sort OF another A the
top of the building found q plain-looking but
comfortable apartment, Mt the door Of which
Knocked and was told 10 enter. ] did so, and
discovered, sitting ut a course oaken table,
covered with books and writing materials, a
round-faced, jolly-looking individual, who well
coined me in the blandest and most beneyo-
lent manner.
"You are :" he inquired.
Monsieur 49,, Of America l
answered
"And J." he continued Proudhonr
II was no less than that most famous lsh-
maelte whose hands are said 70 30 against
everybody, and everybody's hands against him.
Yet 10 look Mt his round face, his laughing
eye, and his large, sensuous mouth, you would
say thatit was anybody but the intrepid leader
Of the blouses, who makes such wild war upon
Legitimst, Republican, and Communist alike,
and who, 70 far ~ can understand him, 10