The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-24
WITEIN TEE WALLS OF PARIS.
The Distress Occasioned by a State
of Siege.
peGgars in tho streets-Their Appeals Responded
yrn--.ga..t--x1oW N.-4-xUutcd D.
Whom-Rents Free-Parisian Street
scenes'- Much Misery : The
Amazons Of Paris.

PARIS, Nov. 90, 1870.
The distress occasioned by the state Of siege in
which Paris has now been for more than two
months Is very great Many Of the shops are en-
tlrely closed, and in all the number Of hands have
been reduced There are innumerable beggars In
the streets, most Of them women and children. The
men who beg are poor crpples, and expose some
for the army.
THE POOR vAGRANTs.
There Is one point In the French character
which strangers cannot fall to remark. A
beggar seldom asks In vain. have seen group OF
Gardes Mobiles around an unfortunate each OF
whom has given something from his scantily lined
purse. In various parts Of Paris cdntines and soup
kitchens have been established TO supply the poor
with food at reasonable rate. At the present Tune
thousands OF persons forced to avail themselves
OF the advantages they offer, who, before the war,
were able to earn respectable livelihood.
PARIS IS ToPsY-TURvY
now. Many OF the large apartments In the most
fashionable quarters OF the town are inhabited by
persons who have taken refuge In Paris from the
country and working people from the faubourgs.
They inhabit the enormous elegantly painted and
gilded rooms rent free. A few sticks or furniture,
sabots and bouses contrast strangely with the deco.
rations. Salons are turned into laundries, and rag
ged linen hung out to dry on the balconies. From
the windows and balconies Of the upper stories OF
one OF those new houses in the rue de Lafayette
looking ever Baron Rothschilds garden, stockings,
shirts and female under linen OF every description
were dangling when passed yesterday. 1t is some.
thing to have roof over their heads, but the poor
require food. and the ca1uf,aes are great boon
In no quarter Of Paris do they render service
than In the Third arrondissement-the Temple-One
OF the principal centres Of Partisan industry In
that district the cantf1les work admirably, and
deserve special notice. There are at present six
teen, but the number will be increased to twenty
four. Upwards Of 5000
PERSONS ARE NOW DAILY SUPPLIED WITH FOOD,
but the supply Is not equal TO the demand. There
are between 150 and 200 employed IN the cdntiaes.
room having been obtained from house proprie.
tor, stove, counter Tor the distribution and two
three benches installed therein for the persons
waiting their turn to be supplied. Tables there are
none as the food is not to be eaten in the cantte
The distribution is made by woman cook and two
assistants In each room; the accounts and checks
are Kept at the Marie. Nothing Is sold at the can
tine, and persons DESTROYS Of obtaining food must
first obtain at the Marie, tickets, which are availa
bic at any caatine In the district They are of diff
OF the following portons:-Half q litre OF soup or
fifty grammeS oil meat, 200 grammes OF rice l75
granines dried vegetables, 600 grammes OF bread.
HOW THE DISTRIBUTION Is ARRANGED.
TWO distributions are made per day--from ten to
twelve and rom Iour TO six O'Clock. The cdnttnes
are also opened from eight till halfpast nine A. NJ
and rom two TO haifpast three +. NJ for tile issue
OF numbers indicating the order In which each VIII
be served. When the distribution OF food Is made
National Guard takes his position near the counter,
calls out the number, tells the cook the quantity and
quality OF the portions required and places the
vouchers In the till, which Is taken every evening to
the Marie for examination. Simple as this service
appears 1t requires great organization, OF which the
public Is not aware. 1t may be divided into
branches the material ana the distribution OF free
tickets. The first Is composed Of a DIRECTOR who
occupies himself with the general supervision the
choice OF localities for the cdntines, their fittings
the connections VITA the chief administration for
the provisions and credits; member OF the
relief, purchases provisions and acts as trea-
surer general; a member who, assisted by several
subordinates, keeps the accounts Of each canteen,
the vouchers which have been presented
to see II they tally with the food supplied and pays
for all goods bought and the salaries o the persons