The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-13

bullet IN 1t: the seconds took 10 writing those
odd otrlcial letters which are in favor among the
Contin ental duelliss, and ultimately decided that
there should be no fight at all This great
fort TO the poor little Princess who had let her
tongue run so fast and was now half wild with
fright. But, unfortunately, Frenchmen can never
do anything quietly, and after having wri ten the
lished them in the morning papers, because as
much notoriety as possible Is invariably given to
ali the proceedings OF trial py combat in France.
Prudence, somehow, seems TO look funny in
print; and when 1t appeared that some extremely
fine folk had been making much ado about nothing,
all Europe burst out laughing. prince and
count could not be expected to stand this so they
went to war this time In grim earnest. hostile
meeting soon arranged. ana the next morning
Prince Metternich nodded kindly to his wife and
told her he was going to take walk before break
last. He told her nothing else but shortly after
wards she learned that he had ventured a very
pleasant existence for her SAKE ana had luckily
scratched Count Montebello with a sword because
she had anronted him. SO the thing ends, and it
is 20 be hoped that she win recolect another time
'that swe et words do best become q woman
VERSAILLES.
have been backward and forward to Versailles
during the last ten days because Versailles is now
Paris, and eight Ministers have been ruling
rs in less than week OF time. NJ. Bunet, the
Due Decazes, N. de Goulard, N. Dufaure, Due De-
cazes again, the Due d'Audlfrret Pasquier whose
reign lasted an hour Marshal MacMahon himself
and finally tor the presently Ernest Conrtet de
CIssey old soldier. more than sixty years of age
VINO does not promise 10 last very long. The most
prominent member IN the new Cabinet is certainly
the Due Decazes. He is genial, popular noble
man. OF . cheerful manner Of expressing himself
ay a m N think n
purpose. But ne will be able to do nothing with
the present Assembly at Versailles, because
II is split up into factions equally
balanced that no party has a working majority
and any two or more parties ready TO COM
blne against the government merely tor the fun or
the thing, and without any reference to the lmme-
date objects which they are supposed TO have in
view Thus informed you several weeks ago that
the Duke de Brogle would be upset, and ne has
been upset accordingly; but no observer, however
shrewd, could have predicted that he would be
overthrown by coalition OF Bonapartsts, legit-
mists and republicans acting together Yet such
was the case. The French are q charming people,
kind hearted, witty beyond all other human wit,
and most sublime dreamers; but they have no
more IDEA Of Parliamentary tactics than
many children and indeed not half so much
as English or American children, who
combine and make laws Tor their games,
which they observe with scrupulous fidelity:
whereas Frenchmen can make no laws at all, and
would not abide by them If laws were passed by
accident. have often been at a loss TO under
stand how people 80 clever and who reason SO
precisely and logically, can be SO silly In the
duct OF their public business. 1t is the more
derfu, because they are particularly governable
people, and whole nocks OF them Will be kept
standing in orderly rows. or what they call tas,"
No. .anr ng a.
by single policeman, though an English crowd,
unoer such circumstances, is quite unmanageable
and few festivities pass over in London without
some people being trampIed to death. though the
English are quiet enough in their Parliament
Houses. have long suspected that Frenchmen can
only be governed safely BY an authority with which
they are cot allowed TO argue, and 1t is certain
that the Germans controlled them successfully by
stern methods. Indeed, from the moment they
are permitted TO talk their vanity will come into
play; they literally live gratlhed self-love, and
many OF their most grave and reverend elders, If
not all OF them pass their spare time ia courtshp
Thus it happens that the National Assembly il
constantly thronged by ladies', and, whenever a
Deputy sees young woman who has expressed
an interest in lis weare within earsnot the lively
fancy Of the man lights uD at once, and he bursts
forth in speech commonly about nothing. This is
and "res bfen," and 'de protester apec
eaergte which are constantly being heard
or, go to say, fired on In French political
assemblies Moreover, every Frenchman Is
born with some OF the best qualities OF an actor
and likes to exhibit his talents in that direction for
men are always fond OF doing what they do we'll
consequently there are always dozen Deputies
who keep an attentive eye on the tribune, ready to
make rush for 1t II they can nnd an opportunity
or pretext for so doing. Then they talk-heaven
and earth how they do talk They go on clrcnng
round question with words Of fire till they posi-
lively stand in need OF reireshment. Some OF
them take sugar and water, which may be called
the national drink, when they have chartered
themselves dry. Some take cofee, some wine. 1t
is all the same. words never fail them,
and they are admirable words, so that il
business could possibly be done in
i've hundred ways at once by speech, they would
do II capitally. II tins cannot be managed under
the existing conditions OF the universe France
absolutely must submit to another Empire. She
cannot help herself; there is a block all along the
line; the present Ministry cannot pass single
measure OF any Importance. and their successors
Will be just as Incompetent That state OF things
cannot 80 on forever. The other day half dozen
pursy bankers went puf,ng to the President OF the
Republic and told him that they dared not invest
their capital till they knew whether there was
gong 20 be some sort or working government; and
It Is an awful matter when the money market takes
fright.
AAcMAHoS AND THE CONSERVATIVES.
Wen, the President told these good people that
he would not desert them, aud that II the mob
became rampant ne would put it down with a
strong hand. That is AL very nice; and the bank
ers went away much comforted by the old soldiers
words. But they simply mean that Marshal Mac.
Mahon, II driven beyond his wits, which are not
very long, win risk another coup d'etat What
then He may march half dozen cavalry regi-
ments about the quarter Saint Antoine ana Bene-
Vile. He might, perhaps. go the length OF shutting
mp N. Gambetta. But ne would also have 70 shut
up NJ Theirs and N. Belcastel, with $50 other PEG
Pile, before he could make the smallest impression
ON the opposition, and as far as his own words TO