Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-12-07
AN EDITOR IN PARIS.
How He Escaped.

rom the Eu1tOrlal correspondence OF the Evening
Wisconsin.
HAvRE, Nov. 1, 1870.-After infinite
ifficulties, our Minister, Mr.. Wash
urne, obtained permission of the Prus-
IAN and French Governments for
mericans to depart. OF the 200 in
aris, about ninety availed themselves
{ this permission. So, on the 9th of
october, about twenty-five carria ges left
le city, passing through the French
ito the Prussian lines. Most of the par
es had to purchase carriages and
0rses; and, as French drivers were not
lowed to leave, one of the party had
/, drive. Most of these coachmen were
entlemen of education, fortune and
osition. So the remark of bright
inded youg lady-that the Americans
ere driven out of Paris by the most IL
istrious coachmen that ever graced. a
cocession-was accepted with really q
ltional pride. The recent heavy rains
I'd cut up the roads. Our progress
as SO slow that after nineteen hours in
r carriages we reached Versailles
e headquarters of the King-at one
clock in the morning, in the midst of
pouring rain. The hotels were full
Prussian officers. No accommoda-
ms could be obtained. A bed was
It of the question. The women had to
eep In the dirty stables in their car
lges, and the men had to wander
out to pass the residue of the night
they best could. Our party found a
staurant, where we were permit
| to sit until morning. New
did | more clearly appreciate the hor-
lie discomforts of war, than in our
st days ride from Paris to Versailles.
9 remained there during Friday. The
ng, the Crown Prince and Bismarck
,upy the old palace of the Kings of
ance. The various public buildings
, occupied as barracks. I walked
out, and / came to the conclusion
1t there are not over ten thousand
diers in Versailles. Military law
les the city, and everything is as or
cly and quiet as under Napoleon.
French national picture gallery is
IN as usual, and, save the presence of
Prussian uniform, one would not
DIV there had been a change. The
G looks sharply to the comfort, or
her to the purse of his officers. in
It he has ordered all the cafes and
taurants to furnish breakfast, dinner,
supper at fixed price-so low that
, proprietors aver that they lose mon
on every meal they serve. The
usslan officers seem to enjoy their life
Versailles, but they do yearn to get in
lie the walls of beautiful Paris. They
sely declared that Paris would be in
elr hands in three weeks
at is on the 18th of November,
1T [ knew that three weeks is more
kelly to be nine weeks. They are evi-
entity quite vexed that Paris has held
1T so long. They are so provoked that
ley express the determination to burn
with Greek fire if it holds out much
niger. Bnt that they cannot do, for
lie best of all reasons-they cannot
ROW shell into the city At no point
e the Prussians nearer than six miles
ON the ramparts. Hence the lombard
ent is as absurdity. Paris is invin-
BILE, except to famine. When I left
lie city, on the 2Sth of October after
siege of forty days-my calculation
as that fresh meat would last until the
rst of December, and salted meat un-
| the first of January. The stock of
our would supply the people until the
rst of March; of wine until October
st, 1871. Vegetables were cheap,
ith the exception of potatoes, which
ere extraordinary dear, 81 per bushel :;
lie ordinary price is 81. Bread was A.
ents per pound, and fresh meat 20
aYatc h11f oil 10
We ounces per day for each person.
utter and milk have disappeared from
le market, but this is no privation to a
renchman. He prefers black coffee
nd bread without butter. The stock of
lgar, rice, coffee and tea is ample until
he first of May. After a siege of forty
ays these articles have not risen over
We per cent. Oats are very dear, 50. so
er bushel- The supply of canned pro-
lslons is enormous. An official averred
me that there were sardines sufficient
} supply all the inhabitants for two
lonths. There is plenty of wood but
ne stock of coal is so short that the
treets are dimly lighted. Every balloon
equires at least 100, 900 feet of gas, and
ne government must reserve, at all cost.
ufhc1ent for this purpose
Before / left I came to the conclusion
nat Paris could hold out with reason
BILE comfort until the first of Febru-
ry; and, with some endurance, until
ne first of March.
VIII the French drive back the
russians? That is the mightiest of all
uestlons. 1t the French succeed, they
Ill become the grandest of nations.
he odds are fearfully against them,
ut by the 18th of December they hope
} break out of Paris with $50. 900 good
oldiers, and give the Prussians battle.
he surrender of Metz with 143, 600
rlsoners has so elated the Prussians
lat they laugh at the idea of the French
airing to meet them in the open field.
'UCROT is to command the army that
reaks out. He is an earnest man and
eheFes in the old Roman maxim, "De-
Drum est pro patria mori."
The French instinctively pronounced
'azaine a traitor On the day of the
Madame Bazaine was in Yer
headquarters of the King of
russia. This / know to be a fact.
wen before Gambetta's proclamation,
was convinced that the corrupt Mar
nal had sold his country. However,
so infamous has exasperated
u France into a fiercer warlike spirit.
s we travelled northward we found all
le population preparing for war. The
easants are not yet uniformed, but
lev are armed. Our carriage was stop
ed almost every half hour by detach
Ients of French soldiers, but as Amer
ans we were allowed to proceed. The
merican flag which We ioated through
rance is to be carried to his Philadel-
hia home by an American officer of
Iettysburg Immortality, one of our
arty, as trophy.
FROM VERSAILLES TO HAVRE.
we had to drive to Evreux, 70 miles
orthwest of Paris, before we could
each railway station. The Prussians
ola a circuit of forty-fve miles around
arls oy means of their Cavalry. which
oo ohe e hnest IN Europe, and about So
~ III %S'fong. Everywhere the Prussians,
o1h offlcers and men, were very cour-
sous 70 Americans. Our carriage was