The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-12-17
An EDITOR IN PARIS.
How sSe Escaped.
From the Editorial Correspondence of The Evening
Wisconsin.

burne, obtained permission of the Prus
sian and French Governments for
Americans to depart. OF the 200 in
Paris, about ninety availed themselves
of this permission. So, on the 9th of
October, about twenty-five carriages left
the city, passing through the French
into the Prussian lines. Most of the par
ties had to purchase carriages and
horses; and, as French drivers were not
allowed to leave, one of the party had
to drive. Most of these cOachmen were
gentlemen of education, fortune and
position. So the remark of a bright
minded yong lady-that the Americans
were driven ont of Paris by the most IL
iustrious cOachmen that ever graced
processiOn-was accepted with really
national pride. The recent heavy rains
had cut up the roads. Our progress
was so slow that after nineteen hours in
our carriages we reached Versailles
the headquarters of the King-at one
o'clock in the morning in the midst of
a pouring rain. The hotels were full
of Prussian officers. No accommoda-
tions could be obtained. A bed was
out of the question The women had to
sleep In the dirty stables in their car
rlages, and the men had to wander
about to pass the residue of the night
as they best could. Our party found a
restaurant, where we were permit
ted to sit until morning. New
er did l more clearly appreciate the hor-
rible discomforts Of war, than in Our
first days ride from Paris to Versailles.
we remained there during Friday The
King, the Grown Prince and Bismarck
occupy the old palace of the Kings of
France. The various public buildings
are occupied as barracks 7 walked
about, and [ came TO the conclusion
that there are not over ten Thousand
soldiers in Versailles. Military law
rules the city, and everything is as or
derly and quiet as under Napoleon.
The French national picture gallery is
open as usual, and, save the presence of
the Prusslan uniform, one would not
know there had been a change. The
king looks sharply to the comfort, or
rather to the purse of his officers. in
that he has ordered all the cafes and
restaurants 10 furnish breakfast, dinner
or supper at fixed price-sO low that
the proprietors aver that they lose mon
ey on every meal they serve. The
Prusslan officers seem to enjoy their life
in Versailles, but they do yealn to get in
side the walls of beautiful Paris. They
freely declared that Paris would he in
their hands in three weeks
that is ON the 18th of November.
but | knew that three weeks is more
likely TO be nine weeks. They are evi-
IDENTIFY quite veyed that Paris has held
out SO long They are so provoked that
they express the determination to burn
1t with Greek fire if it holds ont much
longer. Bnt that they cannot do. for
the best of all reasons-they cannot
throw a she'll into the city. At no point
are the Prussiaus nearer than six miles
from the ramparts. Hence the lombard
ment Is as ahsurlity Paris is inyilt-
clble, except to famine. When I lett
the city, on the 2Sth of October-after
a siege of FORTY davs-my calculation
was that fresh meat would last until the
first of December, and sailed meat nm
til the first of January. The stock of
flour would supply the people until the
first of March of wine until October
LIST, 1871 Vegetables were cheap.
with the exception of potatoes, which
were extraordinary dear, 81 per bushel
the ordinary price is 81. Bread was a
cents per pound, and fresh meat %
cents, but Won were only allowed to buy
five ounces per dav for each person
Butter and milk have disappeared from
the market, but this is no privation to a
trenchman. He prefers black coffee
and bread without butter. The stock of
sugar, rice. coffee and tea is ample until
the first of May. After a siege of forty
DAYS these articles have not risen over
hve per cent. Oats are very dear, s.. 80
per hushel. The supply of canned pro
VISIONS IS enormous. An official averred
TO me that there We're sardines sufficient
to supply all the inhabitants for two
months. There is plenty of wood but
the stock OF coal is so short that the
streets are dimly lighted. Every balloon
requires ut leost 100, 900 feet Of gas, and
the government must reserve, at all cost.
sufficient for this purpose.
Before L left | came to the conclusion
that Paris could hold out with reason
able comfort until the first of Febru-
airy and, with some endurance. until
the first of March.
VIII the French drive back the
Prussians} That is the mightiest Of all
questions. If the French succeed. they
will become the grandest of nations.
The odds are fearfully against them,
but by the 18th of December thew hone
to break ont of Paris with $50. 600 good
soldiers, and give the Prussians battle.
The surrender of Metz with $4,000
prisoners has SO elated the Prussians
that they laugh Mt the idea of the French
daring TO meet them in the open field.
DUcRoT is to command the army that
breaks out. He IS an earnest man and
believes IN the old Roman maxim "De-
corum est pro patria mort. ="
The French instinetivelv pronounced
Bazalne traitor. On the dav of the
Madame Bazaine was in Yer
sailles-the headquarters of the King of
Prussia. This I know TO be fact.
Even before Gambetta's proclamation.
| was convinced that the. corrupt Mar
shal had sold his country. However.
treachery so Infamous has exasperated
all france INTO fiercer warlike spirit.
As we travelled northward we fonnd all
the population preparing for war. The
peasants are not vet uniformed. Int
thev are armed. Our carriage was stop-
ped almost every half hour by detach
ments of French soldiers. but as Amer
leans we were allowed to proceed. The
American flag which we fioated through