Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-12-20
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

The PARIS PoLIcE.-The street police of
Paris furn ishes model worthy of imitation.
The Partisan policeman's dress is peculiarly
attractive. 1t consists Of cooked bat with
out feathers, bat tastefully ornamented; q
dark blue cloth dress coat, with the prettiest
cut swallow-tail imaginable; blue pants and
! a small sword. This Office is entirely filled
by deserving soldiers, as reward OF merit.
The Partisan policeman is q gentleman, he
is never in the least ofhcious. He is quiet
but watchful and efficient officer, always.
pleased when he can be useiulin directing the
inquirer or relieving the frequently entang-
led mass Of carriages at the crossings OF the
vast thoroug ghfares. One remarks how few
policemen there are, and yet how surely,
when anything occurs, there always seems 60
happen that one is just atthe spot on the
occasion. Our American cities might profit
by sending committees 10 get the hang Of This
variation from our characteristics.
Wherever there is to be a gathering OF the
people, competent posse of police is pro.
vided by government. The race course, the
theatre, the public dancing saloons, the cca-
cert, find always, inside snd outside, fciai
vigilance, which never fails to preserve peace
and decorum. +"
Troopers are seen, also, at the outgoing
from the operas, keeping order among the
carriages. II every direction one sees tue
good effects of this vigilance. Order ens;
no rude or boisterous alterations are heed,
but quiet good humor and universal polite
ness with your notice and your cordial aomira-
ton.
A driver of cabriolet, on the BoIlevards,
was apparently SO much elevated by wine as
to make him an unsafa guide among the
closely crowded carriages on those frest
thorou ghfares of the world, though be was
not what we should call Intoxicated. The
vigilant policeman quietly took the horses
by the head and beckoued the coachmeo to
descend, which he did without word. He
was banded into the custody of another off,
Ger, while the first officer, after inquiry of
the company inside, mounted the box and
drove them to their destination. There was
no noise and no audible word spoken; nor
were any persons allowed to gather as spec
taturS. .-
A cabman, in making g turn into the
Boulevards, at the same time, had the misfor
tune to have his horse hurt by slipping on
the very smooth fiat stones which formed the
CfosSiHS. Il pOiiCetuSi. al uSuai, " a. Ou eLio
spot on the instant. He interrogated sever
al bystanders, who certified that the thing
was a casualty not chargeable to the driver
at all, but in great measure to weak knees
aud over-worn nurse shoes After having aid
ed 10 get matters righted, he handed the
ccachman his card, as reference for his en-
ploycr. This saves him from discharge.
So when bus is beated by obstructions
or excusable cause of any kind, the police
man S card is always given and this settles
the matter with the owners.
The South CAROLINA LEersLArURE.-The
members sit with their hats on. The clerk,
clothed like an Episcopal clergyman, calls
the roll The m essenger, in front of the
Speakers room, strikes his staff on the floor,
crying out; Make way for the Speaker"
the doorkeeper repeats it loudly with three
heavy rhps of his staff, and the the Speaker
himself, clothed in q rich blue mazarine robe,
marches up the asile to his seat. The build
ing in which the body meets is very incon-
venient The seats are old and bestrewed
with papers. The members are noisy and
talkative, and, with their hats on, lock more
like u common political gathering than any