New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-30
PARIS UNDER COMMANDMENT
THE HORRORS OF STARVATION AND con !
FLAGRATiON.


FLAGRATION.
NEw-YEAR's IN A BEsIEGED ClTY-LirE IN TIE
CANT OF THE GARDEs MoBILE-C0NDlTloN
OF THE QUARTER AND FORTS UNDER FIRE.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS
PARIS, Jan. FL started out yesterday with
o companion on a Of the city It was o'cosI before
VIC made a start We were bound for Yincennes Mont
r and hervicllity and concluded 70 walk to Eep up
our bodily warmth. Tie weather was intensely cold
the wind nOrtheIly with sufficient dash Oh
casting 1t 10 make 1t piercing The slight fall OF sno"
during the night had hard rend ring locomoon
good gynasto exercise and forbade, be il said convey
ance tow ard our destination by vehicle considerable
time before sared-quite hour-the dead thud OF
the big PruSsan announced to us tho recommcnce-
ment Of the bombardment OF the forte while every no"
and then much heavier and louder defamation indicated
that the cannon from side az work BY fCHdhad
provided me with d card which facilitated Tiy passing
the barrier and the led to infer that IN some such
manner the Prufsan spies 60 10 and FRO with iihpuhy;
but this Is conjecture. Tie faubourg through which
we had passed Tie quarter OF the artisan class The
majority Of the shops closed for there are no pur-
chasers for what is not edible though there is super
abundance for edibes not ObGinGble was piteous'
unhappy it IS too common sight, TO contemplate the
long rows-thIee abreast-Of Shivering women
and children, awaiting tho opening OF the butchers
shops to he served in rotation with the mite OF horse
flesh which ia TO suffice them for THREE days TIE ma
,oritv Of these women being the wives Of National
| ".
about pence sterling daily pay Of their husbands
being 2, francs Thus, at the present time,
very large proportion OF the population OF
this city really supported out OF the
public eYehequer. 1t is help; for the sum- sihal
though IL be- will purchase three pounds ana nall OF
| wholesome bread, and this Ia something, wien the
wealthy cannot procure theicommonest provisions save
in the smallest quantities and at the most exorbtant
rates Similar groups besege the chops Of the ccrcu'
tiers OF porkbutchors but these gentry have long ds
continued selling pork and now expose OILY some nor
rible dark compound called 6otdin notr-trily pudding
| black enough-the very appearance OF which causes
even I'm us as we pass q shudder such ~ usually pre-
cedes the crisis familiar TO those who not at hOne on
the ocean We passed any number Of these groups OF
women and children, among whom were very few Old
old men, stamping the ground 10 Keep up OF
to promote the circulation; others were provided WIN
the cdpote military oyeTcOat OF their busband-prop
ably at home asleep his hours OF duty on the ram
parts-and charitby extended its welcome shelter 10
one or two neghbors less favored few were huddlcd
up a-sqIat on the ground trying to keep themselves
and their blue n0sed children warm by bodily contact
| Yet not symptom OF discomfort escaped
| Indeed the prevalent sentiment seened 10 be tuat
desire 10 make the best Of everything, so pecu-
ary Characteristic OF the French and mover more stk
ngly ~ than at this present most trying time On the
J,y In question some the groups quite animated
notice had been posted at the Marie tat on the NOR
row and OH the two following days the municipal author
rice coffee, salt pork ana Dut
ter NJ the rate of 2Ogrammesthe 2th part OF French
pound-per each individual, by iway of otre""es or
Ncw-Year's gift. Tic prospect oil choice of These IuAu
ries caused the connection observed, and IL was re-
lief 20 note how little II takes 10 divert the attention OF
these real sufferers frOmhe troubles and trials OF c
| hour.
The Quartier st. Antoine like every other presents the
same genera desoate aspect Closed shops, abandoned
store houses butchers stalls open the bakers empty
or nearly 40 no daires, greE+rrersi no eurHt"he
| vendors Of cheap vegetables or fruits wood. coal
ar coke stores OMEN or II 40 fuel Within hut the wine
shops well attended and men in military attire Of every
kind drinking and chatting and laughing at the Prus
sian guns but anYious withal one or two dozen sol
ders Of the line In heavy marching ORDER ana hhder
command of subordinate officer are eating their ration
Of dry bread outside OF winestore They are nom Nlh
cennes Hand are Oh their way 10 ioinether IDattal"n
which masters ut at the Hotel de WIG. 1hey
helped tako the plateau dAyrOn and also helped 10
abandon IL; and IL tough work, Monsieur under
the guns OF the Prussians We believe H. and pass on.
still through tho long long street. suggestive OF
poverty, abandonment, dcsolation; but every group
every man. woman. child with aSsetled expression
OF eounenance which resolution ~ suffer 7" die II
need be- but not 10 give up till the very Last extremity
The scene outside tho barrier Iresembrs In Its general
features the ordinary aspect OF the military zone all
round the city Heaps Of rubbish where pretty villas
stood 6nps Of trees sharpencd 20 point. rising IRON
hoIows and seooped out purposoly ana called woifs
boes-LOts dc Loup These 10 embarrass cavalry,
and 10 catch runaway PYsan infantry Here and there
,oDtarS house then farther groups 81 hsbtstions