The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-05
For the National Era.
BELL SMITH ABROAD.
No. TX.
POLICE AND PRACTICAL.


DEAR FRIEND: One hears much of the po-
lice, their extraordinary discipline, activity, and
success but the stories arc so strange that it
requires decided organ of wonder to receive
them with belief l was disposed at first to 81
the majority of them to the account of wor
derful tales for strangers; but little event
lately occurring with us, has opened my mind
20 the fact that an unseen power really sur
rounds, and, whether for good or i'll, exercises
Il startling influence. This system, | believe,
grew up under Napoleon Ponaparte. His his
tOrian cannot claim the honor or dishonor, Just
as one views it, of being the inventor. The
Institution, as would call it, is the necessary
part of a despotic Government, and existed in
France for centuries But Napoleon first ar
ranged this strong arm of Government, and
in addition TO using it as political engine
perfected it almost as a part of the criminal
code This under various forms of govern
ment, has continued ever active and effective
think it has birth in the popularity of the
French; no other people would think of this
system-certainly no other people would sub
NIT to such 1t would take up more space than
| can give you, and call for more postage than
you would spare, to attempt anything Ike the
details Of this implicated affair; and besides,
to tell you the truth, do not know them
We had been in Paris but few months
when the discovery was made that our domes-
tic has very improper notions upon the sacred
rights OF property, and appropriated various
little articles to herself We, of course, dis
missed the offender; aud about three weeks
after, Lucy announced the fact that q piece of
jjewelry, not worth in itself over hundred dol
lars, but valuable to her otherwise as keep
sake, was among the missing The poor child
was in tears, and, at her earnest request d.
went to the police with tho grievance To
complain of our late domestic was absurd, as
the article had been missed SO lang after her
departure. We were satisfied that she had
taken the pin with her, but had no evidence.
The official listened patiently, asked numerous
questions made few notes, and then, in an
swer to some inquiries of d., shook his head,
aud said nothing d. again called on him. in
stigated by friends, who assured US the police
would not let it rest, but received no encour-
agement and we let the matter drop. Some
time after-so long, indeed, that we had for
gotten the domestic, police and all-Lucy sud
denly rushed into the dining room with the
missing jewelry. She had found it, carefully
wrapped in paper, lying upon the table in her
room. Between the time of the loss and re-
covery, we had removed to distant part in
Paris from our first residence and again
changed our domestic. D. Immediately called
saw him enter, but gave no explanation of the
mysterious return of the missing trife.
Another instance was related to me lately.
An American lady hired q coach she met in
the street, and kept it four hours. After re-
turning to her hotel, she found she had lost
valuable watch and chain, and, satisfied that
she must have dropped it in the COACH she
gave information to the police, but could not
remember the number of the carriage, and, as
she had engaged it in the street, had conse
quenty no clue to the stand or stable. She
could not even remember a popularity about
horse carriage or driver. The officer had only
the part of the street where tho coach was
first engaged, and the fact that the driver, on
being dismissed, had turned round and driven
in an opposite direction from the one he came
This was exceedingly slight material 30 60 on,
yet In five hours her watch and chain were re-
turned uninjured.
Mrs. r., while walking on the Boulevards
dropped her pocket-book. She missed the ar
tcle within FIVE minutes of its loss and going
Immediately to the nearest police station, stated
her troubles At the conclusion of her short
description, the officer quietly opened drawer,
and handed her the missing port-monnaie. 1t
had but a moment before been brought in by
a street cleaner-contents untouched. Resi-
dents and visiters at Paris will give you any
Quantity of instances such as these. But it is
as a political machine that the system appears
the most startling. To believe all one hears is
to put faith in necromancy. We do know,
however, that suspected persons have no So
crets, and no life out of the keeping of the
powers in existence. His apartments are open
to the poIice-when the lodger is out, they are
in. His property is closely inspected-his
trunks, drawers, writing desk, cupboards, and,
in fact every recess known or attempted to be |
hidden are opened, and written inventories, |
careful copies of all papers, made, for the IN
speetion and consideration of their masters
Nor will any attempts at ordinary concealment
serve the purpose. The suspected cannot take