The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-29
. c..r..poudens's Experiences

CorrespOn denPs ENPere"e
n IT fCeorae Alfred Townsend?) sends
A.. e-,Iou,;no from Paris to the Cincinnati Ga
zette: ,
have hal two experiences with the Gov
eminent here. In 1866 was sent TO describe
the German war, and when 1t suddenly came
toan end stopped some months III Paris, to
write lesser matters. One of my letters relat-
ed some facts about the Emperors social me,
which the rebel editor of the Anglo and Fran,
co-American was at pains to clip out and send
to the Minister of the Interior with his coia-
pliments. The third day afterward, conf
dent looking, pale-eyed man came to my hotel,
and asked for the register. Stopping at my
name he made all possible inquiries about my
habits, acquaintance and opinions, anu con-
cluded by mounting to my chamber:
Monsieur" he said in a tone to discompose
me, exhibit your passport
Monsieur" said L as placldly as L knew nov
exhibit your authority.
Government" he said brusquely.
"Your word is insufficient
He showed me his commission, and handed
over the passport. He noted down every word
of it. looking meanwhile like a dramatic vii
lain in sofas, and then handed me the slip
had written.
at is yours?"
eyes"
He wrote down my admission
do you know that for this, three penalties
are optional with the Minister"
Il know that you can compel me to leave
France within twenty-four hours; nothing
more"
"A libel of this nature amounts to criminal
offence as much so as breach of the peace
You have accepted the hospitality of the En-
peror; you wrote the article here; it is here
that you are amenabe. --....
'The offence" answered, was not in the
writing, but in the publishing, and that hap
pened in New York. The Emperor is my cred
itor in nothing, save the weekly stoppage of
my papers. 1t is idle to speak of a prosecu-
I ann fafa Epap I laI -,
New York what shall publish as many times
again there as L choose, and if l am ordered
away, which is the extent of your power over
me, shall print the whole story again, with
the proof of it,"
That night my landlady told me, in palid
cOnfdentality, that must leave her house.
Whom pressed for the reason, she said 1 was
Rouge Republican, revolutionaire, and
that the Monchard had threatened her / re-
fused to leave without the customary fifteen
days notice, and this troubled the old lady
greatly. NeNt day the acknowledgement
again.
Have you given the congo to Monsieur"
Alas. he demands the Quinze jours.,'
Let him have notice instantly" ....
At the end of fifteen days was routed out
and took new quarters. The second day | in
habted them the same Monchard presented
himse f. and demanded that be given notice
SO was packed off again in another fifteen
days. This happened the third time, and then
wearind out, left the country.
pire, a misgiving crossed me that might be
annoyed anew A week passed by, during
which the charge OF the projected American
daily was proposed TO me- Three days alter
ward, knock fell upon my door, and when
opened it the pale-eyed, confident official stood
again in my threshold.
'Why, hallooi" L CRIED laughing despite
myself. "Old Qui'aze Jours, are you back
again."
To my surprise the Monchard laughed, also
very politely.
Monsieur is to have the American paper"
he said, "and so young There is money in it,
par bteu! 1t gladdens me greatly Monsieur,
the Minister of the Interior, by the Emperor's
directions, will demand no guarantee, / have
heard, for the issue of it. And why should he :?
The Emperor would be an American if he Were
not Frenchman, and journalist if he were
not an Emperor. welcome you back to France
again."
And have never seen the Monchard since
He left word with my landlady that was "a
young man of great distinction, nOtwithstand-
ing had rooms on the sixth floor; and have
since been invited to a ministerice reception
the motive of which, surmise, lies only in the
French superstition that, since the war, the
Americans have more money than any people
in the world, and mean to spend the most of it
in Paris