The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-22

I tions. they must not count upon her Gle
mency they shall die! She concludes oy
asking her Cabinet, Is not this geoo :"
| Yes, very good, Madam Ranavalomanjs aka,
| much superior to impeachment or o vote or
want Of confidence.
LITERARY STATISTICS.
The total number Of general readers IN
the IMPERIAL Library since it was re6pened
in Julv last was 1884, and of authors,
students, &c., 2l,6l3. November hgd the
greatest number Of free readers. 1he 10
tai number of volumes consulted was 1oo,-
00o--being an average OF TWO volumes 70
readers of the first class, and three TO the
others. In one Of the most popular DISTRICT
Free Libraries in the city, WORKS OF science
were uatronized at the following ratio-2l
ner cent, Theirs, 1874; Hugo, us; Cha
teaubriand, %; Lsmartine, 80; Voltaire,
los Balzac, 90; George Sand, 81 and of
translations Mayne Reid, 55; Walter
Scott, 81. This is fair index of the read
ing tastes of Parisians.
| DEATHS IN PARIs-1NcREAsE OF PoPuLA-
TIoN.
During 1867, of the total number of
deaths (43,4l5) in Paris nearly one in four
took place in hospitals, asylums, or prisons
in similar places occurred ten out Of every
sevepty-four of the total births-55,O 600.
About one-third of the newborn were ille-
climate. Further, it has been shown that
in proportion as the annual contingent of
| the army is increased the increase In the
| population declines. This has been the
case since 1880. An eminent French writer
believes that France cannot bear drain OF
| lO0. 900 men annually for the army and
navy. Crime we know is not on the de-
crease in France. Apart from prison sta-
tistics, the official staff Of the prisons de-
partment at the home Office comprised In
1852 twelve clerks, one assistant chief, ana
two chiefs. At present there are seventy
clerks, five chiefs, and nine sub-chlefs. IN
| 1868, 1907 men volunteered for the army.
| These enlistments are much encouraged,
| and il is from this class most epGULetteS may
| he traced, as the members composing 1t
Join the army to make it their profession,
and very speedily rise to be officers. There
is no 'tpurchase system - IN the French
army: all must rise from the ranks except
ing graduates in few military schools,
admission to which is open to every COM
petitor in the kingdom.
g.. BANKING.
The Government propose establishing
commercial banks, by which merchants
will BIO advanced certain sums in proportion
to the value of their bonded merchandise.
FRIGHTENED INTO A CONFESSION OF GUILT.
A curious illustration Of how l" these
| -.,~oroJ ~ ~ hqq come
to light. Adele Bernard is a servant, aged
twenty-five. She was tried IN November
last for concealing the birth Of her child,
and having been promised mild sentence
if che confessed the deed, the terrified girl
ayowed the crime-nay more, midwife
and doctor swore that she had been re-
Gently confined. On being led TO prison it
was very soon discovered that Adele was in
"an interesting situation" Four doctors
were directed to report on her condition,
and they stated that not only was she far
advanced in pregnancy, but that she never
had been confined. On the Oath Of Deem
Der all doubt vas put an end to by Adele
| presenting the prison with bouncing little
| Frenchman. The lesson to be drawn from
the affair is this, that French judges err in
their system, by terrifying prisoners into g
confession, in holding out the promise OF
mitigated punishment if they mako such.
FASHION.
White satin vests and white silk ties are
becoming generally worn at evening par
ties. Some gentlemen have gone the length
of introducing bluetail coats and gilt but
tons. In the streets, clarct colored cut
away coats and brass buttons are making q
desperate fight for supremacy. Some ladies
are determined to make another stand for
short dresses. The Princess Sagan is to
give ball where only neat ankles may
appear. The attempt meets with violent
opposition. No wonder, as great many
ladies, as Alphonse Karr says, possess !" the
| features of the queen with the feet Of the
king" Since the Empress has adopted the
"happy dispatch" system Of dressing by
making descend through o trap-door from
an upper room, all her wardrobe, glories-
petticoats, slips, jupons, laces, feathers
diamonds, &C., ready for putting on, several
ladies are adopting the same. In the matter
of having her hair dressed, as the finish
her Majesty's idea is not new.
| BURLINGAME AND SUITE.
Mr.. Burlingame is certainly Inducing
his young men from China into Paris fast
life. Hardly ball of any note takes place
public or private, that the Chinese Embassy
is not standing dish. They are Inc only
things now make an ev'ning 60 smooth off,
The Cclestials enter into the fun Of the
thing. They are giving proof of under
standing our civilization by subscribing t.
several charities"