The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-01-21
(Regular corresponderce.)

Although Christmas plays but small part
IN France, and although Boxing Day Is un
known except in the form of the Jour de PAn
it so happens this year that the week inter
vening between Christmas Day and the LIST OF
January Will be unusually active IN the pro-
duction of theatrical novelties. The reason,
however, Is rather because French people stay
at home at this season of the year than because
they 90 out. 1t becomes necessary therefore,
to tempt them with new attractions "DivOr
cous" is at length to be withdrawn at the Pa
lais Royal, after l know not how many months
of success, to make way for new comedy,
while the Opera Comique has announced for
Saturday threeact opera by NJ Henri Mare,
chal, as we'll as for Wednesday a one act piece,
Lies Pautins," prize by NJ. Rue. AT several
minor theatres new pieces are also announced
for this week. The rehearsals on the stage of
NJ Ambrose Thomas's "Francoisc de Rim-
nj" have Just begun, and it Is stated that the
opera will be ready in the beginning of Feb
ruary. 1t will be preceded by the ballet of
"Namonna," of which the music has Been
written by NJ Lalo, and which Is to be pro
duced at the end of January. A prop0s of
theatrical matters, it may be mentioned that
the private entrance to the Grand Opera, or
iginally designed for Napoleon III. and never
quite completed, has just been got ready IN
order that Nj. Grevy may use il at the gala
performance to be given tomorrow in AID of
those who have been made destitute by the
burning of the Ring Theatre. In no other
country does the whirllgig of time bring about
such changes as III France Who that knew
NJ. Grevy twelve months ago, when he used to
pass his evenings at the Cafe de la Regence
playing with few old bourgeois friends, could
State, living at the Elysee, and driving up to-
the Imperial entrance of the Operas.
Teetotallers will be delighted to learn that a
temperance movement of no ordinary strength
has been begun IN France. The inhabitants
of that country are not, 1t is true, forsaking the
rough Bordeaux wine which is known by the
name of 'le petit bleu," but they are eschew-
ing brandy; and it is hoped by those who are
sos Vim 'Ai"', iA''fihS Si'Nh up lhC liplC cS
ductve fluid, they may in the end be induced
to surrender the less palatable drink Posi-
sihly this might be the case, but for one little
difficulty, which does not seem to have quite
presented itself to the temperance advocates
The real cause of decrease in the consumption
of brandy in France appears to be that so much
inferior cognac has been been vended of late
throughout the country, that the people, in
sheer despair of getting anything better, have
simply forsaken the beverage rather than be
any longer deceived. There Is, however m
fortunately, nothing in the way of wine, that
can really be classed as inferior to the terrible
stuff with which the French peasant
regales himself; and thus all hopes of his be-
ing weaned from the wine as he has been from
his brandy, swiftly vanishes Perhaps, if the
tetotallers could offer him better drink IN its
place, they might lead HIM to temperance.
But that is a task which they do not seem ca
pablo OF accomplishing.
SO far as democratic anxiety Is concerned
over the threatened political disruption of the
" Solid South" the whole case is admirably
stated in brief paragraph by the Fulton
Democrat:
Mahoneism is dirty subterfuge; yet Demo.
crat as we are, we hail with delight the prom
Use of a dIsmantled "SolId South" Whatever
disrupts the Solid South" disrupts also the
"Solld North" and buries the bloody shirt A
Solid Union is the thing most needed-a union
full of peace and fraternity.
EVERYDAY CYcLoPEDIA OF UNIVERSAL KNOW
LEDGE" is the title OF q standard work issued by
the Moffat Publishing Co., of St Louis, No. IL
contains a vast amount of ACCURATE AND RELIA-
BILE INFORMATION, for Merchant, Farmer, Me-
chanic, Trsdesmsn and Housewife. It embraces
the care and management, diseases and remedies
ef Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Swine and Poultry; be-