The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-04
VAR MISCELLANY.

Seeking Food on the Battlc.FIeItl-The
Want OF Fuel.
The Times correspondent at Versailles, IN
letter of the 7th, says: - 81.
A calm after the storm. The snow falling
softly. Not sound in the broad avenues of
the CITY of Versailles The wagons and carts
of many conveys passing along the paved
streets make no noise on the stones. The forts
are silent. Like some wild beast ENGAGED,
poor Paris has her fits of fury and ofdejected,
moody silence-perchance repose, which can
not bring her comfort or strength-the sleep OF
. wounded man who Is tortured in his dreams.
There were, last night, some outbursts from the
forts; but In my morning walk toward Villa
d'Avray / heard only the pop-popping OF The
outposls across the Seine, which put me IN
mind very much OF what must be going on
now by many covertside these frosty morn
ings across the Channel. And this cold will
bring misery unutterable on the Parisians,
among whom there was no great store OF
wood, as they had not laid in their winter pros
vision of fuel. If complaints were heard a
month ago. what viii they be now! The
plaques which desolate armies and are nursed
by famine have every scope In beleagnered
Cities Smallpox. typhus, hnnger-a fearful
slsterhood to be dwellers within your walls
and an enemy relentless at your gates: For
me, confess, the sight Of Paris now is hearsi
breaking. Will no eae force her will ana
make her pale lips breathe forth tue word
which can save her, 1Peace." little incident
When the French Held batteries advanced IN
front OF Creteil-and /. see an erroneous opin-
ION has been expressed in England that the
columns did not advance beyond the cover
of the guns of the forts, whereas some
of the places named as positions occu-
pied by the French are out Of dre-they were
exposed to CALLING returns from guns inside
the Prussian field works, under which the bat
terry horses dropped on all sides. The French
held their own gallantly, and from time TO-
ume, when horse went down, group OF
men would gather round him, regardless OF
shell and bullet, and then dlsperse OF return to
their pieces. No one could make out what
they did, but the officers and men inside the
Prlisslan villages, saw this happen over and
over again. When they pushed out their sklr-
mishers to feel the way toward the enemy on
the retreat OF the French Inside the walls the
mystery was cleared up The skeletons
only of the horses were lett; the heads
even in some cases were gone: Inc M cay, az
flesh carried away. They could not al
ford to lose an ounce Of that precious food,
and some, no doubt, were killed In obtaining
It. This cold weather completes the work OF
ruin. If any ''happy home" had . door let or
table or chair In the wrecked villages, IL mas
gone4now in the flames OF many watch hres
ana camp klCCQGQS, An dudtcul LOia klC ehee
nothing burned SO we'll as ''piano-Wood," and
that he had no idea OF its value, having never
had an opportunity OF testing the property Do,
fore. hear the army before Orleans, suffered
greatly from cold in spite OF the warmth anord,
ed by burning villages and farm-houses. anu
what must 1t hsve been for the wounded OUT
in the fields? Death after torture The con-
dition France will be In next year promises TO
be, if possible. worse than her present state
Here we are eating oil the cows, so there Will
be no calves In 1871, and every one Is so busy
killing and eating and eating aud killing that
there is no thought for the morrow. SUCKING
pIge, lambs, sheep, calves, chickens, duck
lings, g0slings, all die almost Us soon as theJ
show. signs of lie.
Retributlon-A Strange Story.
The Times correspondent at Versailles says
the following story is in circulation there ST.
A Prussian officer and party of men came
to the residence of the Marehioness OF 81,
an old lady, who had not fed like her neigh
inquired of the villagers where the house was,
and If the lady was still living In it He enter
ed with his men, stOrmed and swpre in The
hall till he saw the mistress. He ordered din
.ner for bis party, spat on the carpet, took up
chair and dashed it against a mirror,
threw . vase down from its stand, broke
a clock over the chimney-piece, and
behaved, In fac, abominably. The. old
lady was terrified to death. Dinner was sery..
ed The officer complained of the wine, and
told his men to tSrOw the bottles through the
windows till they got better drink. He dined
apart, and treated the servants with the ut
most insolence. at last, when the orgie was
over, ne asked to see the lady of the house.
He was told she was in bed, Ill and frightened.
"Where Oh, in this room But am going
to sleep here.'' The lady had to get up and
turn out, and the officer, when in, broke some
things, got into bed in his clothes, and alter
time rang the bell violently. "A servant appear
ed. The officer pursued the domestic aaid in-
sisted on seeing the lady. Surrounded BY her.
maids, and pale and ialnting, the old lady re-
took of his helmet, bowed with the ut
pest courtesy, and said. Madame, have