The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-26
FRENCH GOSSIP.
Anecdotes of Henri Monnier
Practical Joke.
FRENCH DIPLOMACY.
The Coming Session Of the
Assembly.
1NCH DIPLOMACY.
vOLTAlRE'S STRANGE CoURTESlEs.



The death Of Henri Monnier. the creator Of Joseph
erudnomme, 10 tho principal topic Of conversation at
the present momont. Innumerable are the anecdotes
told OF him. Perhaps OF the best relates to that
nne answer he made to gentleman who asked him
the why to the Pantheon where many OF the great
men Of France lie buriedl They were on the Boue.
yard at the time, but Monncr promptly said sPar Ia
Rue des Martyrs" Here Is playful instance OF
bis w.t. friend OF his pointed out TO him negro
who wore white tie Yes" said Msnncr. The has
put IL on to mark where his head begins" practical
ioke OF Monnier's is among the most Iudicrous on
record though II cannot be SAID 10 haze been wholly
lefcnsble Taking a stroll ono day he
mw in front Of q grocer's store q cage con.
Rining couple of ferrets. Monnier stood for a while
before the cage them as the owner Of the came
out, "What fine guinea pigs you have there, my
friendI' quoth he "Ferrets, you mean" replied tho
grocer, with superior smile. ''Ferrets be hanged;
Shay are very rare specimens OF the guinea pig"
'.Impossble, sir! bought them ferres." "Thcn
my good fellow, they've been hoaxing YOU" .Why
should believe you more than the man who sold
Them to mss" "That is your affair; and yet, as d.
rector of the Geological Society. l ought TO know
something about animals" '.Oh, sir, in that case il
Fou say they guinea pigs H. be So" s.In any
you have not lost the bargain" Next day, as
had been arranged, Monner's friend Romicn passed
by and halted before the grocer's. 'Fne
ferrets these, my frend,'' he carelcssly
observed" "You are mistaken, SIR" said
the grocer "they guinea pigs OF a very rare
breed" Every rare, indeed, l should think" re-
sRonded tho other with sheer; why. mar, I've been
Al my life in the ferret trade and should think knew
what a ferret was by this time" Romien than calmly
showed him that the directors Of the Geological Gar
den must have been in error The grocer was con-
WINGED; but next day a German philosopher happened
In Inv nd dur tna min,
discussion followed, but the grocer ended by being
reconverted to Monnier's view On the following day
dog fancer reconvipced him that they lcrrets
and 50 on for a fortnight, all the men having OF
course, boon sent by Monnier In the end the lux.
less grocer became so exasperaed that he pitched the
ferret cage wildly into the street, and narrowly
capped being taken up for assault The ferrets were
then quietly drowned; for the innocent often pay
dearest for practical joke.
Romien, by tho way. as incorrglble joker as
Monnier, but one day he was very
NEATLY TAKEN
by clockmaker in the Palas Royal whom no had
sought to mystlfy. Enter Romien pretending to be
gentleman from the country of very simple type
deed.
RoxIEN with strong provincial accent)-Pray, sir
can you tell me what those little round machires
hung up in your shop Window
Communicating are called watches, sir. (Unhooks
one and shows ~
RoMIEN-Ah, watches, and what they for, please
CLocKMAkER-To Indicate the time sir.
RoMIEN-ro indicate the time And how, pray2
CLOCKMAKER-l Will show you. (Entcrs into brief
but lucid explanation Then concluding.) You must
wind up the watch every twenty-our hours.
RoMKN-Every :wenty-four hours! Morning orr
EVENING"
CLocKxAKER-Mornipg.
RoxrEx-why morning?
CLocKMAKxR (blandly) because, Monsieur Romien,
In the evening you are generally drunk.
Another DEATH Just recorded recalls associations of
very different kind The day before Yesterday were
Inferred, IN tho Cemetery OF Picpus tho mortal re-
THE COUNT DE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
Ihe only OF the heroic Maurille Sombreuil who
married NJ. de vielume, officer IN the ''emigrant'
army Of the Prince OF Condo Mile. de Sombreuil's
father was condemned TO death during the Reign OF
likely to prove unavaling Az length, however, the
drunken tribunal which presided over the Orgy of
mage is said have devised this test Of lal pety II
the daughter would go to the Of scafold and
Inn mediately after the execution Of certain royallss
drink tumblcr OF their blood her fahers life should
DO spared. From this CHASTITY trial, SO history or
legend says she did not shrink, and NJ dc Sombreui
was pardoned.
The painter Courbet has been presented doubtless
~ way oil etrennes, with little b-tO w.t. the costs
lor rebuilding the Vendome Column, pulled down by
his orders during the Commune. IL amounts TO
1873 O9lL &c., or say, in round numbers, 10 S64 OO0
NJ Courbet win probably find It convenient to change
his residence from Paris TO Brussels Rome, the
courts have already decided against him, and there
every prospect that the fine will be vigorously
INTO power and NJ. Gambetta become Prime Minister
President OF the republic, N. Courbet would have
little to hope from the change N. Gambett like many
ptner sincere republicans, is only anxious an
opportunity OF proving how little sympathy he has
with Communism or with Communists With regard to
THE EASTERN BORE
Is whispered here that the Conference Is last turn
ing into struggle for precedence between the varous
ambassadors. The representatives oil. Great Britain,
Russia, Germany and France are severay and midi
vduay inspired with the belief that their respective
countries have been .by heaven designed play first
touchy, the Consantinope Conference beng the first
regular congress OF the great Powers at which France
has repre- eDted since the disasters OF the late
war; NJ. le Comic de Chaudordy, an extremely ape
dplomatist Is naturally anxious that the great nation
tensions But, in truth, the balance OF power Is
nicely adjusted ut the present moment for the Ambas
others Very far removed is the age OF the
Third Republic from that OF LOUIS XIV, whose
representative a. Rome, the Duke DC Cnolssu
any privilege accorded TO the envoy Of anolher
king. ~ do Choseui not only insisted tas he
same privilege being accorded to himself but a
new privilege being created in his special favor.
THE COMING SESSION
is expected to be toeracy quiet one, though thare
will no doubt be sufficient amount Of ''crses,"
rood many Of .hem hav ing their origin munger
Tor place which like hope, springs eternal In the hu
man breast That was a good answer which was maize
by member Of the Chamber OF Deputies 70 u friend
on the occasion OF important debate. The Deputy
was rising speak defence OF the Ministerial policy
sBut my dear fellow" demonstrated the friend,
"yOur seven children uute sot Paccs
promised Them. ~ "rruen said he, shut there is a
possibility OF my yet having others" This story re-
minds one OF that other touching gentleman VINO
had tolorabIy comfortable place In the .cusloms and
who submitted nis neghDors ihough aRrcat deal too
uu,e,y TO certain appointments OF Roman Catholics by
King James H. when that monarch was endeavorpgto
drive coach and SIX through the British constitution.
az have" he said, 'fourtccn excellent reasons Tor
complying with HIS Majesty's wishes-a VIE ana thir
teen children" .,,
A scramble Tor the loaves and fishes has actually
been IN progress during the last fortnight and this
half hAznn Ofarts n
have been gazetcd out OF office and their
places gwen 10 ''true republicans "
The Gauios has recently published fac-simile OF the
nrst French daily paper lie Journal dc Pds, which
made It's appearance the LIST Of January, l'7 TINS
1rst number Is highly interesting and contains very
characteristic letter from Vota,re, who writes:-
'The plan OF your Journal appears 10 me as wise as
u is curious and interesting. My great age, anu the
maadies with which ain overwhelmed, leave little
that shall be able nrQducc further WORK