The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-18
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[Tor the Democrat
OF THE SIEGE OF
PARIS.


deep an interest In the civilized world as the
siege of Paris It seemed almost impossible
that the horrors Of war should be brought to
to the very portals Of that city OF pleasure ana
luxury. yet no sooner had Sedan surren-
dered than 1t became evident the Prusslans
would march without impeachment to the gates
OF the capital, and scarcely had two weeks
ELAPSED before Paris was besieged. The al-
tborities who, until the second Of September,
had united with the sanguine populace
in crying out, "a Berlni Berlin!" suddenly
woke I'D to the fact that tho city was not
provjsioned In a matn9r to enable them to
sustain long siege without severe suffering
| to the inhabitants and now no time was 81
lowed them to repair the effects Of their SUI
piueness hence it bec9me necessary at the
very commencement of the siege for the au-
| thoritieg to take the control Ct the food in
Paris and limit Its consumption.
| The supply OF flour was eonsld i
| therefore bread was freely dispensed; but one
can can. form some idea Of the hardship to people
accustomed to plenty and luxury to, lind
themselves reduced to an allowance Of two
ounces of meat per diem for each adult, and
half the quantity for children. The author
tiles confined their restrictions to- the staples
Of life. but people who had means could sup
pletnent the daily allowance by such dellcacles
as they could procure. Eggs, chickens and
vegetables rose to fabulous prices, and after
much coveted dainties. The very mention OF
these questionable delcacies nauseates one
vet the Parisians bore their hardships brave,
~ and without sullenness, and 1t speaks vel
for the spirit of the people that In the midst
OF all tits misery they were cheerful, and
had many q joke over their mlsfortunes.
Can I ever forget seeing q pompous bo'lr,,
geois, carefully attired, his well developed
81 ,@.,<4 fJnyyf ipFr
Tuicking his way across the bouevards on o
rainy day? A shout is set up by group OF
garnins, "Gare Ia bomber Instantly the
worthy citizen falls flat on his stomach in the
mud (s,lch being the course prescribed to
avoid lying fragments) and Is only informed
of the joke played upon him by q burst Of
laughter from the worthless young repro
bates.
Horseflesh at that time was greatly es,,
teen ed in Paris by some people; even now II
| is considered preferable to OK meat" Chocau
, q son gout" It's contended that the meat O
horse is gamy and may be favorably com
pared with venison. BE that as 1t may, 1t Is
l considered good, wholesome food, with tnl
. nauor The people Of Paris complained no
of too much flavor; they simply craved fol
more, for indeed hunger IS great appetizer
"Roti de vieille rosse and "IIet dc cat
Y horse were delcacies not within everybody
i reach and when they could be obtained, gen
orally caused gathering around the festive
y board. On one occasion, the master OF 81 vel
l. appointed establishment, with abundance 0
money and small choice of food, invited
y company of ladies and gentlemen to partab
v Of a dinner-an Invitation much prIzed II
u those days of famine.
I. The company had assembled awaiting th
q summons to dinner. when they were startle!!
- by the sudden entrance of the host, whose agi
: tated manner conveyed to their minds tina
:. the house was attacked; In mock heroic tone
# he exclaimed: ITO horse to horse, ladies ant
gentlemen, to horse, with which words h
4 {,.f I,pp r,tJin nh unrI1at
Cat meat was the dainty OF oil dainties |
= was openly sold and eagerly bought up b
% the starving epicures and twelve francs wa
~ not considered too high a price for q good cal
. During those memorable days 1t Is estimate
l. that over 30, 900 cats were consumed by til
n Partisan gOurmets.
=, Dogs and rats came next in succession, an
d met with considerable favor. | cannot Ver
tl1re to say what number OF horses, dogs an
rats were Ievoured during the siege, but til
a curious may be enlightened by referring t
- the books of the Paris food commissioners,
l. Cat meat Is considered d special delicacy b
d many French people, and particularly by tn
q soldiers and Zouaves. Even in time OF peace
/, when q regiment OF IOuaves is quartered in
o town, Or marching through, prudent house
q keepers take care to lock up their pet cats S
n as to keep them out Of harms way.
,o Theophie Gautier had quite o passion fC
# cats as pets, and when he left Paris, prior
n the siege, there were as many as seventy cal
ri in his house. On his return, at the close {
& the Siege Sttn TO teltLS, Ol sbll nus pbLS nJl
,e five were left to tell the tale, and of these v
h two were taliess, having escaped with the
&c lives and the loss of their ornamental ~
III pendages The French are good mar&smel
at but in these two instances, they struck the
N prey in the least Vulnerable point. Perhar
one of Gatltier's feline darlings went to fu
nish the banquet Of the student Of medicir
whose invitation to a fellow-student ran thus
III "Come and dine with me in my apartme1
G. to-day, and help me to denolish Il brOile
ioat niGt1phiG
3d and pmento, washed down with Charbli
IN After dinner we will drink Khenish wine
~ the indivisibility Of France"
td | was very sorry about the cats, for
lie Paris they have very fine large ones, and ii
IN Angora breed Is much esteemed there.
he brought an Angora cat to New Orleans;
was born In Paris and was IL large, noble al
NAL Being pure white he Wa vs. called sn2,
IN of my many travels am glad he escape
en- being eaten In Paris and lived the full mea
OF ure Of his days. He died short time ba'
u, at the age of seventeen.
30 It is said that the commander OF fort
OF ing visited by officials whom he was expect'
s, to entertain, Notwithstanding his emp
ed larder, received them with affability. He
ne vted his guests to sit down to q dinner,
ne which the choice dishes were q roast cht ga
n nished with mice, and q salmi Of rats.
they took their seats, the host exclaimed:
Manager du rat, du cheval gu du CHEN,
81 Celia nous repose.
wv Quand on lignore, ce nest rien,
r Quand on le salt, c'est peu de chose.
The scarcity of meat was sach that t
directors Of the Jardin des Plantes unable
feed the animals under their charge, resolv
he to sacrifice their precious lives for the bene
&C. of the citizens; thus lions and tigers, ap
IN and bears, fell victims to the necessities
ke the city; but they do say that the elepha
us was very tough morseI.
On Talking OF the Jardin des Plantes rem1n
u me of a relic Of the siege who is exhibit
vnn there at present, and attracts q good deal
lte notice.
IS When it became obvious that Paris won
OF be besieged, the authorities discovered tn
;e. the artillery forces at their command we
not sufficient to man the guns at the fort
it was therefore decided to bring up detac
ments of sailors from the men-Of-war lyil
ue in the harbors of Brestand Cherbourg. Amol
IA, these was q sailor who possessed a parrt
OF more remarkable for his conversational po
lp, ers than for the beauty of his piumage. ia