The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1881-03-01
OUR PARIS LETTER.
PARIS. Feb. 14th. 1881.

siderable energy, as well as indus
try, to see all that is notable and in
teresting in the city of Paris, with
its population greater than that of
any States OF our Union with the
exception of three or -four, and equal
to about twenty times the whole
population of Delaware. Now that
the bright sunshine and the warm
showers prevail, making the grass
green, and Inspiring the song birds
with music, reminding US of the
April days at home, the fashionable
Parlsians fill the streets with gay
equippages, and the Boulevards are
again bright and joyous with the
swarming multitudes, glad that the
reign of winter is over. Amid all
the splender, we look in vain for
the contrasting poverty aud wretch
edness so common in most of our
own large cities, aud particularly
conspicuous IN London and in most
cities on the Continent. We know
that the pauper population of Lon
don would equal the whole Of two
cities such as Wilmington.
But whatever be the sentiment
that prompts it., Paris doe 8 not per
init the signs Of poverty and misery
to mar the gaiety and beauty of her
fair streets, but makes general pro
vision to keep all such sights in the
back ground and hidden from the
visitor. A beggar must pay for
license TO sell some small article
that may serve as pretext to beg,
and even then, must not be impor-
tunate.
The charities of the city are numer-
Gus aud varied, and so classified that
every form of suffering has its especial
department, which is supervised by
officers particularly trained for that
branch of the service. Most of the
hospitals are served by nuns, and the
priests have charge of most other char
liable institutions, giving their whole
time and all their learning and ener-
gies 10 their work.
There are some eight hospitals in the
city, which have capacity for tie
of from fifteen hun
dred to twelve thousand patients each,
and which treat, on an avera.e, more
than sixty thousand cases yearly
The paupers, supported by the city,
amount to more than one hundred |
thousand every year, and the funds
variable for this purpose are raised
Dy certain percentage imposed on
The sale Of Opera and Theatre tickets,
and by Octroi duties, that amount |
yearly 10 about tive Ity five millions of |
dollars.
These Octroi duties are what makes
living expensive in Paris, for they are
taxes imposed upon everything |
brought into the city for sale or use.-l
The whole city is surrounded by high, |
thick walls, and every road leading |
INTO the city is shut off by gate at
tended by the Uctroi officer, whose |
iuty is to examine the contents of |
very carriage, bag or basket that at
-empts TO pass through, and impose a
certain tax upon the contents. This
luty, mostly on edible and perishable
articles intended for sale, is equal to
lbout one third the value of the arti-
lie, and therefore raises the prices to
he consumer accordingly
THUS, the Provinces may have their
leot, bread, wine, &C., at considera-
Dly less prices than those within the
,ity walls. Yet for the laborers and
raiders the conyeniences of residence
inside the gates go great way TO off
set The high food values. Their houses
ire arranged SO as to accommodate
he greatest number at the smallest
cost, and he economies for heating
IND cooking are perfected.
Single houses contain rooms for the |
accommodation of a hum
ired families, none of which, neces.
,arily, interfere with the others.
Every floor has its suites of rooms, and
very suite is complete in all it's de-
,artments. All are approached by
taircases leading from the courtyard
o the halls or passages. In some of
he tenement houses for the poorer
.lasses, the inmates are packed almost
IS thickly and as snugly as young bees
II the comb.
We have before spoken of the usual
manner Of contracting marriages in
Paris and n France amongst the high
# classes. There are regular mar
iage brokers, Or commissioners, who,
or fee negotiate proper and advan-
ageous marriages where these ar
are not made by parents or
'ther interested intermediates.
The commissioner initiates his client
n dress and general appearance as I
learly as possible, and thus presents
himself TO the desirable maiden and
his purpose of entering in
o negotiations ON this delicate busi-
less. All particulars are often arrang-
d before pers nal acquaintance |
axes place between the persons most
Interested, and they are married whilst
.lmost strangers.
Strange to say, such marriages are
ften as happy as those contracted af-
er protracted courlship and violent
owe.
French laws do not contemplate or
provide for divorces.
j. r. NEWCOMER, of Toledo. Ohio |