New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-21

including tao United States Ministers, beside
almost every one belonging TO our Legation
here, three bankers and nearly all the ADeri-
GINS know in Paris, but not one French law
yer of the standing required, for 1t seems I'M
possible to find one in Paris to-day. This room
can hardly be called parlor oil things consld-
cred; but it has been crowded all day 90 %
with wives and female friends visiting one or
other Of us insiders-perhaps 1t may be most
accurately Characterised as the kissing roorn.
/ should like to speak of the phases of life here
from hour TO hour presented-of the demonstra-
tions of fervent affection, the anxious consola-
tions, the confidential whisperings and the uni
versal desire Of each basty ttte d-ttte to respect
the sacredDess of others confidence, so that
fifteen or twenty couples converse here by the
hour within space thirty feet by twenty, yet
no one knows because no one wishes to know
what any other couple are saying. But must
hurry over all this or my letter will never have
an end.
Formerly, Clichy was in bad repute On ac-
count of the facility wherewith all manner of
females called upon and mingled with the male
lodgeIs in the inner sanctum. All this, how
ever, has been corrected, and no woman is now
admitted beyond the public kissing-room except
On an express order from the Prefecture of Po-
lice, which is only granted to the well-authenti-
Gated wife child ofan inmate. (The female pris-
On is in entirely separate wing of the building
The enforcement of this rule is most rigid,
and, while am not inclined to be vain glorious,
and do not doubt that other large domiciles in
Paris are models of propriety and virtue, yet
this do say, that the domestic morals of Clichy
may safely challenge comparison with those
of Paris generally. ! might put the ease more
strongly, but it is best to keep within the
truth.
So with regard to Liquor. They keep saying
there is no Prohibitory Law in France; bat they
mistake, if Clichy is ia France. No Ardent
Spirits are brought into this well-regulated
establishment, unless for medical use, except in
express violation of law; and the search and
seizure clauses here are a great deal more
rigorous and better enforced than in Maine. !
know little is struggled in notwithstanding
mainly by officials, for money goes great way
in France; but no woman comes in without be-
ing felt all over (by woman) for concealed
bottles OF liquor. There was small flask on
our (private) dinner-tabe to-day of what was
called brandy, and smelt like compound Of
spirits ofturpentne and diluted aqua forts (for
adulteration is vice which prevails even here);
but not glass is now Struggled in where gal
Ion used to come in boldly under the protection
of law. Wine, being here esteemed a necessary,
is allowed in moderation; no inmate to have
more than one bottle per day either of ten-sous
or twenty-sous wine, according to his taste or
meaBs-no better and no more. | don't defend
the consistency of these regulations; we do
some things be tier in America than even in
Clicby; but here drunkenness is absolutely pre-
vented and riotous living suppressed by sump-
tuary law far more stringent than any of our
States ever tried. And, mind you, this is no
criminal prison, but simply house of detention
for those who happen to have less money than
others would like TO extract from their pock-
cts, many Of whom do not pay simply because
they do not owe. So, if any one tells yOn again
that Liquor Prohibition is a Yankee novelty
just ask him what he knows of Clichy.
know that cookery is point of honor with
the French, and rightly, for they approach it
with the inspiration of genius. Sad am to say
that find no proof Of this eminenee in Clichy,
and am forced to the conclusion that to be in debt
and unable to pay does not qualify even French
man in the culiIary art. My auxiliary doubt
less does his best, but his resources are limited
and fifty fellows dancing round one range with
only few pots and kettles among them, proba-
bly confuses him. Even our dinner to-day (four
of us-two Yankees, an English merchant and
an Italian banker-dned en- tamiiie in No. %, on
what we ordered from an outdoor restaurant
(such are the prejudices of education and habit
and paid fifty sous each for, but it did not seem
to be the thing. The gathering of knives, forks,
spoons, bottles, &c. from Nos. 81, 63 and l39,
to set the common table, was the freshest fea-
ture of the spread.
The sitting was nevertheless pleasant one,
and an Englishman joined us after the cloth was
(fguratively) removed, who was much the
cleverest man Of the party. This mans case is
so instructive that must make room for it. He
has been every where and knows every thing,
but is especially strong in Chemistry and Me- |
tallurgy. A few weeks ago. he was coke |
burner at Rouen, doing an immense and profta-
bic business, till heavy debtor failed, which |
frightened bis partner into running of with all |
the cash Of the concern, and my friend was COM
PEELED to stop payment. He called together the
creditors, eighty in number, their banker alone
was in for 49, 0o francs,) and said, Here is
"my case; appoint your own receiver, con-
duct the business wiselv and all wi he maid -