The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-23
PARIS.


CRBDULITY OF THE PoPULACB.
The siege is one long holiday to the working
and have absolutely nothing to do except to play at
soldiers. Although the troops are unasle to hold
under the deluson that-to the favorite express
slon-the circle in which we are inclosed is gradu-
buying cigars at a small tobscconists. "Well,n
said the proprietor OF the shop to me- $50 we are to
destroy the Prussians In twenty days" Greatly"
] said. eyes" he replied, 81 was this morning at
the Marie; there was crowd before 1t complaining
n ey could mot get meat and a
zenesses, he said, be calm; contiRue to preserve
the admirable attitude which is ecitng the admira-
tion Of the world. | give you my honor that
arrangements have been made to drive the Prus-
slams away from Paris in twenty days of course,
added my worthy bourgeois this functionary would
not have spoken thus had the government not re-
vealed its plans to him." At this moment WELL
dressed individual entered the shop and asked for
subscription for the construction of q machine
which ne had invented to blow up the whole Prus-
sian army. expected to see him handed Over to a
him two francs! What, ask is to be expected of
city peopled by such creduous fools and the govern
ment fools them to the top of their bent?
THE RED RIOTS ON OCT 31sT.
had General Trochu been wise man, he would
have anticipated this movement, and not rendered
himself ridiculous by being imprisoned with his
council Of lawyers and orators for several hours by
mob. The workngmen who performed this feat
seemed only to be acUuated by wild desire to fight
out their battle with the PIussians and not captu-
late. They seem to wish to be led out, and imagine
that their undsciplined valor would be a match for
demanding that Dorian Should be at the head Of
the 5 new rIttan HE Is not demagogue
speeches, nor decreed any Utopan reforms
after the manner of his colleagues. But unlike
them he Is practical man OF business and this the
working men have had discernment enough TO dis
cover. They are hardly to be blamed if they have
accepted literally the rhetorical figures OF Jules
Favre. When he said that, rather than yield one
stone OF French fortress Paris would bury itself
say that neither the Government nor the oourx
have the remotest intention to sacrifice either their
own lives or their houses merely in order 10 rival
lOus position by their reckless vaunts and they
have welcomed NJ. Thers as an angel from
heaven, because they hope that he will be able to
save them from cutting too absurd figure. l
should not be surprised however, If the Govern
danger or has suffered real prIya1ons. If the
Parsisns take it into their heads that they will be
able 10 palm themselves Off as heroes by continuing
for few weeks longer their passive attitude OF
opposition, they viii do so. What incnes
much the capitulation OF BaZaine as the dread
that by remaining much longer isolated, they will
entirely lcse their hold on the provincials
SIEGE PERFORMANCE AT THE THEATRE.
Like all others, the Theatre Francas has been
c.osed since the Prussian investment became GER
tanty, and its foyer has been turned into an
ambulance. Some hardy spirits have timidy sug-
gesed that the mere fact Of the Prussans being out
SIDE the walls constitute no reason why We should
he plunged into unredeemed melancholy Within and
the performance was the first step towards admit
ting the possibility OF little recreation. Like all first
steps it was very short one and bore an absurd air
OF Compromise That boring old gentleman, M.
Legouve, favored US with a conference, which
means that he sat down behind a table and spoke
to us a speech OF the feebest description, nserarded
with small Jokes and pointless anecdotes Then we
had scene, "Pour les Besses," as well played it
could be by Fayart and Coquelin, an act OF Horace
and two acts of The Mtsanthrope. The actre sses
wore morning dress, and the actors the tai-c ,ats
and white Kid gloves Of society, the effect of which,
! when imported into classical plays extremely
| depressing. Maubaret, struggling in such a cos.
tnme with the part OF fine old roman father, was
painfully Ill at ease and the illusion OF the scene
! was OF course entirely lost. Madlle Agar brought
the performance TO close by singing the Marseil-
| laise' she alone can sing It, though she toe
evidently felt the loss OF that conventional cos
tune which, as neighoor remarked to me
"makes her show her fine arms F" The manly and
moving strains OF the great chant seem particularly
appropriate In Madlle Agar's mouth, for, with hel
swarthy skn burning black eyes, and wild gestures
she looks the very impersOnatiOn Of that spirl
which Rouget de PIsle first translated into melody
Many times day has the song been heard during
the last three months, but 1t has lost none OF il
effect, and the audience visibly trembled with ex
| citement when the trumpet-like chorus arose. A
| an experiment. the opening OF the theatre was
| great success so great that not place was to b.
had three hours after the performance had bee
| announced.