Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-09-28
PARIS.
Old Manuscripts in the National Library
of France-Letter OF Thomas
Jefferson.
The French IHdemnliy-The Pilgrim
ages 70 Our Lady Of LOurdes-
Chickens.


From Our special Correspondent
PARIS, September Through the
kindness Of Mr.. Washburne I have OBJ
tanned the ontro to all the departments
Of the great national library, fouuded in
1873 by Charles V. The French claim
it to be the richest and largest collection
in Europe. 1t is not all thrown open to
the public, and special permits will only
let you in 10 see the rare old prints and
manuscripts. In looking over some au-
tograph letters Of distinguished persons
of the past century, found one from
| Thomas Jefferson to Monsieur Marbois,
secretary of the French legation at Phil
adelphia. This was so very interesting
to me that thOughtit it might be to every
other American, and copied 1t minute
I ly, even to the character and" ~
where he used il. The writing is clear
and plain as print, and easily read:
Ann AroLIs, December ), I7S3.
/ Your very obliging letter Of November 23d
was put into my hands Just in the moment Of
my departure from Philadelphia, which put
/ it out of my power 10 acknowledge in the
! same instant. Ny obligations for the charge
I you were so kind as to undertake Of present
ing a French tutor TO my daughter, and for
the very friendly dispositions ana attentions
] You Halter me with. The same cause prevent
] ed my procuring her the books you were 50
/ kind as to recommend, but this shall be sup
] plledsby order nom hence mad left with her
| a OIL Bias & Don QttickOtte, which are among
the best books Of their class, as far as am ac-
! quainted with them. The plan Of reading
| which Ihave formed for her is considerably
different from what l think would be most
proper for her sex IN any other country than
America. ! am obliged I'm it to extend my
views beyond herself and consider her as pos
sible at the head OF little family Of her own.
! The chances that in marriage she will draw a
blockhead, calculate at about fourteen 10
one, and, OF course, that the education Of her
family Will probably rest on her own ideas
and direction without assistance. With the
best poets ana prose writers, shall, therefore,
combine a certain extent Of reading in the
graver science. However, l scarcely expect
TO enter her on this till she returns 10 me. Her
time in Philadelphia Will be chiefly occupied
in acquiring as little taste aud execution in
such Of the lne arts as she could not prose
cute to equal advantage IN more retired stu
alton. We have yet but four states in con-
greSS, ! think when we assemble we shall
propose TO dispatch the most urgent and i'm
pOrtant business, and putting by what may
wait; separate, and return to our respective
States The constant session Of congress can
not be necessary in time OF peace, and their
separation will destroy the strange idea Of
their being permanent body, which unac-
count2bly has taken possession Of the heads
OF their constituents, and occasional jealous
les, inj uriOus TO the public good. l have the
honor OF being, with very perfect esteem and
Re pect sir, your most obedieut and most
humble servant, THOS. JEFFERSON.
Here are in this letter some good old
fashioned ideas from a man who framed
the declaration of Independence for the
largest republic in the history of the
world. His ideas on the education OF
his daughters are just as sensible TO fol-
low for the education of any other girl as
his political opinions are to guide the
nation at present.
These old manuscripts, going back a |
long way beyond my ability to read |
them, now and again throw fresh ideas 1
that fit the present times like glove. /
Not such, Of course, as the sycOphantiC /
reverence that Madame MaintenOn pays |
in her letters to Cardinal Richelieu, nor |
the devoted flattery that Noltaire writes |
to the court beauties of Berlin, but Occa- |
sionslly some old square-sensed fellow |
who is insensible TO the fashions of his |
day, will launch thought on the world |
that will ring through all time. Here |
IN these old libraries is the hunting 1
ground for this rare game, and some |
thing that travellers seldom or never .
give themselves the time to examine.
THE INDEMEITY.
Just now the French people are under
a full pressure OF excitement. Their last /
indemnity to the Prussians was paid the
first OF September, aud these foreign sol
diers have ten days TO pack up and leave
the soil. Out of this war and its final
settlement has sprung a feeling of relig-
ious enthusiasm or pious revival. Cath
olics from all over France are making
PMGRDIAGEs
to La Salette, LOurdes and Paray lie Mo-
rial to pray at the shrine, where appari-
tions OF the Virgin have been seen, VINO
foretold the great evil that was about to
burst upon France, and that her anDihi-
lation could only be averted by prayer
and a general return TO God. The re-
generation of their country had been the
starting-point in view; but, naturally,
Catholics and priests soon added and
placed foremost the triumph of the
church. Plus IX was asked to bless this
double purpose. His appreciation gave
fresh impetus to the movement, until it
now has extended all over Europe.
Last week a party Of a thousand
pilgrims, English and Irish passed
through Paris, en- route 10 Paray lie Mo-
rial. Men, women and children all
wore a red cross and heart pinned on the
left breast. An immense crowd OF
Parisians went TO the depot to see them
arrive. Some to laugh and jeer, Others
TO pray God-speed. The GdlaOis says:
THE thousands that have passed
through these precincts with the one
svOwed purpose of prayer for the church
and for France, cannot be well counted. /
Some have estimated the number from
two to three thousand per day. The
manifestations are too vast in numbers
10 be passed over in silence or treated
with disdain.n Here certainly is a turn
back in the wheel of progress, when hu-
man intelligence can conceive god To-
Called who can only answer prayer at
one or two given points. Now, / pur-
pose jumping from spiritual matters to
material, from the church TO feeding
CHICKENS,
which may interest the farmer more
than all the saints in christendom. A
right good appeal TO the soul has some
times been made through the stomach.
The finest geological garden in Paris is
the garden d'Acclimation, where / found
an institution for fattening poultry by
steam-a high pressure concern that
puts them through by daylight. You
have only tn order your chicken for 8
specified time and of given amount ef
weight, and fat, and the bird is stuffed
to fill the bill. / watched the process
with considerable interest. There are
rows of boxes like the pigeon holes in a
pOstoffice, Of the ordinary size of goose
OF uutks lneht are bNAll hIOulu Il large
cylinder, which revolves at the will OF
the attendant-eGch duck, goose or
chicken sits in his box with hishead out,
The feeding machine is in front, to
which is attached a small rubber hose
with a metallic tube or mouth piece. The
prepared food is thrown by steam up
into the pipe; when the operator wishes
to feed them he takes one by the head,
opens its mouth and thrusts the tube
down its throat, touches a valve with
his foot, presto, the crop Of the
fowl is full, and it has only to
give a shake or two and sit
quietly and grow fat. A little turn OF
The cylinder brings another to hand to
90 through the same stuifing process,
and so on until hundreds are fed in an
incredible short space OF time. The
operator can raise or lower himself to
the different tiers of boxes with all hi
apparatus, by the same machinery
These may seem very singular things to
write about, when all around me is
spread such a wealth of wonderOus
feasts, il may seem to be seeing Eu
rope from peculiar standpoint. Still
I see what every John Thomas and
Miss Nancy Of a traveller sees and
writes about over and over again. So 1
propose telling something you may not
have heard before, If / have to hunt my
from low life. The Venice
party have arrived back here from the
tour on the continent, bringing +. s.
Davis, in very delicate health. He pro-
poses sailing for home on the thirlieth,
health permitting. Yours, etc,
MARY J. HOLMES, OF Memphis.
@
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.