The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-09-02
Paris Letter.
Irregular correspondence

PARIS, France, Aug 8, 1889.
The new cabinet made its bow before q
crowded chamber this afternoon, aud, in &C.
cordance with CUSTOM received q shower of
congratulations and assurances OF good Will
from most parts of the house. M. Duclcrc,
In particular, was surrounded for some min.
utes by crowd OF friends, al anxious to
Cookery, who modestly took his seat on the
second bench, accepted the Fluctuations of his
colleagues with the air of man who has
grown quite accustomed to the title "Minlstre
immovible." After few local measures had
been passed NJ Duclerc rose to read the de-
claration Of the new ministry. The President
Of the council is a tall man, dIgnIfied, robust
aud singularly upright IN bearing consider
ing that he has nearly attained the age of three
score and ten. lie wears carefully trimmed
white beard, and, as becomes senator, Is
build headed, with the exception of a thin
patch of grey hair coming to point over his
forehead. NJ. Duclerc read out his document
IN steady, deliberate tone Of voice, audible
throughout the whole Of the chamber.
A Frenchman who has the good luck to be
Honor has probably attained to as much
earthly felicity as it is possible for human
being to achieve. The fact of the I'M.
portance and consideration usually attached
to this gallo decoration has apparently led
some individuals to the conviction that, next
to possessing the distinction itself, the second
best thing is to pretend to possess 1t. Conse-
quently, ingenious devices worthy of far
better cause have been adopted, with view
to carrying out this scandalous piece OF i'm
position The coveted French order consists
OF rcd-colorcd ribbon, and 1t has been found
practicable for posscssors of foreign orders
which are also compounded of Il redribbon
attached TO q cross or other symbol to arrange
the decoration in such manner on their no
bic breasts as to conceal the cross and show
the bit OF scarlet silk attached thereto. In
this way fraudulent individuals have gained
all the additional importance to which mem
bership in the distinguished brotherhood en-
titles man. without in the least deserving
buCH ANS h"o h"'u'oi'y AS"N w
great CONSERVATION in tue ranks of the coun.
Gil of the Legion of Honor, who, with the as
sent of the President Of the Republic, have
issued a schedule of foreign decorations, the
ribbons of which are similarly colored to that
of the French Order so that people may be on
their guard against attempted imposition. AT
the same time it has been decreed that owners
of the foreign decorations in question must
display their crosses as well as their ribbons,
so that there may be no mistake. Verify the
Frcnchman in his weaker moments is alto.
gethcr vanity.
The military operations IN Egypt are being
watched here with the intenscst interest, and,
1t Is only fair to add, with certain amount
of sympathy. The opinion, however, prevails
that It would be n mistake to attempt any de-
finite action until the troops had arrived from
England. Arab has had full leisure to con.
centratc his forces, and as the blow which
might have crippled HIM Immediately after
the bOmbardment was not struck then, it Is
thought that it would DO more prudent to defer
any decisive action until the field could he
taken with a proper complement Of troops.
No doubt seems indeed to be entertained as
to the final result OF the expedition, though
critics fancy that they have lately perceived
some symptoms of the old tendency to make
too light of the foe.