The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1879-10-04
Letters from Europe.
Return Of Pardoned Communists from
New Oaledonie Providing tho
Poor Fellows with Food
and Raiment.

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the charitable public and by the
municipality 10 Paris for the purpose
Of ministeriDg to the immediate wants
Of the distressed Communists who
have Just returned from exile. But
no clothing seems to have been forth
coming, on the part Of the reception
fund at least, at the Paris galway
terminus. The men, as they stepped
off the platform, stood il their white
blouaes and felt hats, sliveriDg in the
raw morning air, and knowing not
what to do nor whittier to go. They
were destitute, and all bnt naked, in
the midst Of plenty. 1t was with ex-
IRENE difficulty that single delegate
Of the relief committee could at
length be found and this functionary
was, it would appear, SO i'll provided
with ready money, that lie was only
able to give such Of the Communists
AZ were wholly without home or food
couple Of francs apiece, furnishing
them at the same time with the adj
dress of the committees bUreaux.
Fortunately the surrounding crowd
had compassion on these forlorn way
farers. The poorer Communists were
forthwith escorted to the nearest
brnsseries and wine shops; aud, as
the French licensed yictualler is Il
shop keeper who really sells snbstan-
tial victuals rs we'll as drink, the
poor, penniless men were soon provi-
ded with hearty meal. And from
beneath many a blue blouse, doubt
not, was the well-worn portmonnaie
produced, and the scant store of sill
yer or coppers shared. with tie weary
wanderers.
Thus upon one section Of the exiles
q feeble but kindly ray Of sunshine
fell. There were others who basked
il Brighter beams, and who had re-
turned to that which was not only in
name but in reality home. They had
mothers, wives, daughters, sisters,
and their wpmankind were waiting
for them at the stati0n-waiting with
almost convulsiye eagerness to clasp
the loved ones in their arms. They
were members Of no committee they
were not persons in authority; bit
their own instincts taught them to
divine iE what kind Of trim the ex.
convicts would come back. Jules
had left the dock for the convict
prison in the shabbiest Of blouses or
the raggedest Of coats. How could
jules be expected to return, after
eight years penal seryitude, dressed
like ~ Monsieur. The thing was an
impossibility. Women can guess
everything, and are prepared for any
emergency. So the faithful wives and
sisters, the mothers and daughters Of
the home coming Communists Sc
depon'licrent. The French popular
vocabulary positively comprises
verb expressive Of the art Of proyi-
ding raiment for others i'll case Of
need. Sc depouillcr means to get
Up some store Of clothing, "by hook
Or ny crook" oven if it comes to
parting with ones own garment
for the compassionate purpose. The
women came down to the terminus
laden with coats and waistcoats, and
with hats and caps slowed away un-
der their sllawls. So soon as tie first
embraces We're over, they proceeded
With nlmble hands to disrobe tile
Communists Of their folons' liyery.
to dress them il decent, albeit per
chance threadbare, garb. What des.
perate efforts had been made to get
these clothes together--what trans
actions with tile marchand Fhab;ts or
second hand clothes man had been
necessary, what little bits of femi-
nine fincry had been parted with.
what gowns and petticoats sold out
light, perhaps, to bny tile home com
'ng Jules coat ind waistcoat and d
not 10 related. They be-
ong TO those annals Of the poor and
nose records Of woman's devotion il
ne hnmblest ranks Of life, which are
'a'tiy doomed worth publication.
bot tho thing had to he done-aDd it
vas done. The mother was not going
2 allow her son, the wife would not
suffer her husband to walk through
ne streets Of Paris ia tile livery of a
GREAT What would the neighbors.
Vi'at would the concierge have said 2
sometimes hear of proper pride:
md IT ever there could be proud
'roP'iety it was shown when the poor
women in the yard Of the railway
tatlon stripped the liberated men Of
heir garb Of disgrace, and made them
ook like human beings again. 1t
must have been i sight, as the saying
), tor sore eyes; aud unfortunately,