The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-11

tho Bourse- Paris City lmprovcments-So.
cial Stss'stics-NIarrisgo and the Marriage
LHw-Artisau Decentralization.
PARIS, June "a, 1870.
The new French Minister, NJ Paradol, was the re-
cipent OF farewell banquet just given at the hos
pitable house OF the United States Consul General
Read, when many OF our prominent members OF the
American colony in Paris and nearly all the repre-
sentatiyes OF the New York press were present.
NJ Paradol leaves Paris next Thursday to embark
on board the Lafayette, which leaves Brest July
for New York. No French minister has left his
country for the United States with such hearty good
wishes for his future welfare as NJ Paradol carries
with him from ali the Americans in Paris. The
Minister on his arrival at New York will proceed I'm
mediatey to Washington TO relieve NJ Berthemy,
who Is DESTROYS to return at once to France; but
after presenting his credentials he proposes to make
q short sojourn at Newport, In order, among other
motives, TO give his young and lovely daughter an
opportunity to see something OF our fashionable
life at one Of most arstocratlc watering places
Politics, like everything else to have dried up
under the effect OF this long spell OF dry weather. that
is now becoming topic OF unusual interest II Is
stated that twice during this century France has
been visited by excessive Overwhelmingly, in 1903
and IN ls40but that this has surpassed them
both in extreme dryness From all parts OF the
OF crops, and all ways ana means OF relief are being
devised to diminish the OF the evil Paris get
ting on well enough so far though the price of bread
and provisions generally Is augmenling; but ser.
GUS dread OF lack OF water begins be entertained
and already the necessity OF economizng every pos
sole way s admitted There is talk OF boring for ar.
tesian wells, and yesterday proposition for funds for
that purpose was laid before the Chamber There Is
no doubt the wheat and hay crops have already sur
fered so severely that large mportatons will be ne
cessary, and as this involves large outlay OF gold
the effect the French money market cannot fail to
be very detrimental. The Boursc or Stock Elk.
change is beginning TO exhibit indications OF
coming trouble; for there have been several serious
falls In the value OF all kinds OF securities and the
attempts to effect revival have only been partial
and shortlved. Well, nations, like individuals can.
not expect to be always prosperous, and France has
OF late years enjoyed so large share OF good fortune
that she ought to meet any vcissitdes that may be
IN store with composure and patience. She Is rich
enough to endure very considerable losses without
falling to the condition of privation, not 90 say
penury, that were not uncommon in her history
during the last previous Centuries
In spite OF drought and high prices there Is still a
TAX OF going on With the improvements OF Paris,
which were arrested by the downfall OF the re-
nowned Haussmann. Several new streets were begun
under his reign tnat are left incomplete ana it il
desirable to carry them through, both for convent.
ence as well az beauty. Hitherto che great Impede
ment has been to provide The requisite funds, for so
much had been already expended on these gigantic
schemes OF municipal recon;truction that public
opinion denurred loudly at any further out
lay. Still, 1t Is considered that some two or
three OF these new streets Will DC advantageous to
Paris; that Is quite worth while 10 go and finish
them, and therefore The Chamber or Deputies which
now holds the purse strings, has decided through
Its committee 10 whom the matter was referred TO
permit another municipal loan OF 500 000, 900 francs
($lO4 0O0) which regarded as sufficient for the
purpose. Iupre Is every prospect, then. g.
nue. Napoleon, which Will run from the new opera
house across TO the Place de Paals ROYAL nearly n
mile In length, beng completed In the course Of
another year. Ii has been opened and built up at
both ends for short distance, ana promises
70 be one OF the MODEST thorOughiares OF
Paris for its commanding width and tuF
splendid character OF IT. buildings 1t will cut
through one OF the Oldest and denses parts Of Paris,
aud transform an ugly and ui aubrious quarter into
one or the finest promenades OF the capital. How
long VIII 1t be before New York raises up another
Ilaussmannf Iii high tiuie As the HERALD suggests
that those hldeous eyesores, the old wooden docks
and piers, should be swept away and that spacious
and elegant quays OF granite should be erected in
their places, such as we contemplate with admiration
In London, Paris ST. Petersburg and tile other great
capitals OF Europe.
II would be some satisfaction To the tax-rldden
community OF New YORK II they could see some such
solid and beneficial returns for their money as the
improvements IN question. Can II be that n
democratic municipality is unable TO accomplish
the same useful and splendid results in the orna-
mentaton OF great cities that we behold In all the
capitals OF monarchlca Europe2 There is little doubt
that the taxation Of New York is nearly equal to
some and greater than most OF the chief cities OF
Europe-with due reference to population--yet what
in the way OF grand public edifces and highways
has New York to boast Off IL would be good
plan to revive the Old Roman institution OF the
edle5, and select some OF our leading citizens OF
known energy and taste to be specially charged with
the task OF Improving and identifying the great
metropolis Of America
We have had some curious and piquant statistics
lately published in Paris the subject OF matrl-
mony. You know that In France, as in all Catholic
countries divorce Is next To impossbe; but what Is
allowed in lieu Of IL Is separation de corps et de
biefs-that Is, literally Of body and goots. This
only be obtained by an application to tue regular
legal tribunal where the reasons for the demand are
investigated ami decided on according to their
merits. One singular fact has become very promi-
nent as to these separations IN France, and that is
That they have greatly increased OF late years With.
In the last ten years il appears that they have
ebed, and increased tenfold IL we stretch the cacu-
aion over period OF thirty years. The progression
Is steady from year TO year. In 1868 the number OF
Applications Tor judicial separation was 5000. or
Whicn somewhat more than One-laf Ia set down TO
the account II Paris alone. The other great towns
Bordeaux, Lyons, Maiseies &C., follow In the wake
OF the capital. IL is thus apparent that conjugal
contenment is far rarer In the cities than In the
country, for scarcely any Of these applications for
relief from the burdens OF wedlock come rom the
rural population Not only are they confined to the
towns, but, what seems stranger still, they nearly all
proceed from the working class. or the 5000 cases
found too heavy 1883 belong to the artisans
class. This Is certainly novel feature. In former
times the expenses OF litigation were sufficient TO
deter the aboring class from any attempts modify
their conugal condition, but recent legislation has
placed legal assistance within reach OF the neediest.
Another fact as remarkable the rest that Is
gathered nom these interesting statistics is that
the women, by an immense majority, constitute the
list OF compliments. In 1853 out OF the 900
above mentioned 1t was the wife who asked for the
separation, while the husband opposed the demand,
and In the remaining cases, where the husband was
the complainant, the wife offered opposition.
Who can solve at all concusively this Incredible
amount OF feminine dissatisfaction with their conju-
gal state ? Are married men OF the French working
class really greater brutes than other men or the
same class In other countries or are the women Of
this class become OF late years injected with the
prevalent mania OF slrikes" that they have been
seized with the Irresistible desire to strike also
against their lords and mastersY There must be
some cause for these odd results. but can't stop
now to hunt il up.
Here Is stu another strange circumstance In
the one year l am quoting from Qs6s,
twenty-four separations were asked for after
more than forty years OF wedlock, exactly
the same number that were demanded after
one year OF marriage The latter can easily be ex-
planned, but how can the former be at all under
sioodY One would suppose that forty years would
reconcile even couple OF hyenas TO live together
For fhn fnft bx.tN olp attn