New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-11
FRENCH SUSPICION.
Amusing Descriptions.

The CORRESPONDENT of the New York
Tribune, writing from the camp at Chalons
on the twelfth ultimo, thus recounts his
adventures in company with the distin-
g,lished French writer, Arsene Houssaye:
As my friend and walked about we were
closely watched by several citizens in
blouses mentioned above, but when he re-
turned to point out to me some beauty on
the steeple of the cathedral, We We're con-
sidered to be without doubt Prussian agents
of the most dangerous kind, aid the number
OF our followers increased. "YOu see.' said
one, 'they are looking at the steeple Of the
cathedral to send soldiers up there when
they come; let us watch them closely"
We, however, went on our way looking
uncOncerned, and as we passed the
museum, HOussaye, who is inspector of the
museums in France went in to ask the
conservatism some information. This
also, to idiOtic and benighted men who
watched us was thought suspicious,
''for," said one, 'there is there a plan OF
the old town Of Chalons, and they are going
no doubt to copy that" When my friend
came out, the excitement of our prosecutors
made them brisk. All the forms they had
kept in a measure till then, were dropped,
and they began to shout aloud that we were
"Prussians etc. The excitement increased
every second, jam tdsces ct sdr q rOtant. We
keep calm and quiet bearing till the con-
servateur of the museum comes out ana
answers for lis. We are then released and
the crowd dispepses, not without growing
though: and hear one man mutter that he
does not know whether the conservatism
himself is not Prussian, for he saw him
the day before looking at Il bridge built. You
can not form an idea of the smallness ofmind
of the lower classes in the provinces OF this
country, for it shows itself to advantage
only in crises like the present. The episode
have related is only one of many which
occurred to lis during the hours we We're at
Chalons, and the only precedent can find
to compare the state things are III AT present
in France is the time of the Terror. 1don not
mean to say that it is SO bad now, but the
principle is the same. The mob are in the
ascendrncy, they have it all their own way.
They shout. sing and swaggcr about. and /
am thinking Of wearing blouse and cap
myself, and dirtying my hands. That is the
best costume to get on i'll at present. and to
be most cOurted i'll. just one specimen to
give you an idea: Yesterday, at the hotel at
Chalons on our asking to have our boots
cleaned, the servant answered. IN clean
them if you like, but people don't have their
boots cleaned now-we've given ii up
The next day the same experience was
had in his encounter even with officials who
could scarcely be considered as part of the
mob"
This morning, after posting my letter,
went up to the headquarters Of the army,
to ask about the marshal. A very gentle
manly looking officer answered me that he
had left with all his staff for Metz. but that
his "chef d'etat major" General Neury was
very likely to be still at the station at Petit
Mourmelon, about four miles off. and that if
fastened l very likely should find him
there, and he would perhaps take me on i'll
a troop train to Metz. Thcreupon looked
out for a carriage or cart to save time,
and saw one of the latter cOnveyances at
the door of booth where crowd Of sol
diers were drinking. l asked the driver If
he would take me over to the station, and
he said he would. Under some pretensc or
other however, he delayed a few minutes,
and at last we starten, but Lad not gone ten
yards when We wete stopped ~ Il sergeant:
An adjutant then Came running upland asked
me for my papers. l gave him my pass
port, which lie scarcely looked at. SO de-
sirors was he of finding Il case against me.
was, therefore, marched to a hut; SO We're
the peasants to whom the cart belonged.
About four hundred men had gathered by
this time. Officers of all ranks came into
the room. and picket of soldiers was sta
toned outside to keep Oft the crowd. AL
though my papers were III perfect order,
they said they did not think they We're.
The adiutant-inajor had his horse saddled.
and few off with my papers to the general
commanding l was left under lock and
kew, and in charge of corporal At length
the adiutant returned with my papers, ac-
companieG by a staff officer, and l was
bowed out with great politeness and eX-
cuses, and told if FASTENED to TIE station
/ should find there staff officer, who would.
no doubt, send me Oft by troop train TO
Metz.