New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-15
CHRISTMASTIDE IN PARIS.
SOME NOTEWORTHY CELEBRATIONS.


worthy initiative in reviving the celebration Oh 'ho
Nativity this season. Les Danes des Halles are an
historical corporation, and typical po"S "
French women. They are pucky ana an 49,
BODY. Injured TO every kind OF hardship ~"" ~.
bitually exposed TO every kind OF weather. in0 ~"
roof above them shelters them, 1t is true from RAJ"
and snow that fall vertically. But wheh they "i0
driven slantingly by high wlnd' .he ""iN0v
women are unprotected. All haIo "0i"e
women are sincere; all ousy ""'A'"
b,unt readv-tongued. Readiness oil speech
stands in the way Of philosophical determi-
nation TO govern ones temper. Les Danes des
Ualles have. as the French put it, the te pres q"
bonnet OF the head very the cap they nave
Moreover ance in their daily toll and show herolsih
In heir cheerfulness. But they are hasty ana I'M
pulsiye creatures and have corporate temper ana
corporate idiosyncracIes. to which each woman
furnishes her quota. Les Danes des hales nave
pften come forward in French history. lhey "''e
ON the side of the Guiscs against Henry w.; Out
when that king was assassinateo t'ey "e .
into mourning for him. They Joined WIN
ibo Recent Anne Of Austria against
The fine ladies and gentlemen OF the
Fronde. Although the Bastile was III inc
hands Of the latter they marched to the fa''is
Eoval where Der Majesty was staying win 'h' III
FAINT King and his brother to assure her OF thei "'
votion ard TO otter presents TO Der. She iecei''"
them at night aud tool! them INTO tie room W"'''
tie roya children were 0sleeP-a touch u IHo'HgIS
nafure that set all the good souls weeping iuc
market women Of Paris came forward at royal
births and weddings and when the d&n2A'erS OF
Iouis XIV. and Dauphins ami their brides made
their solemn entry into the French Call-
fail They marched professionally 10 Yer
Kailles 10 sec the eldest of Louis NV. when
I'm infant a week old III ms CRADLE and they Missed
Egalite d Orleans for having at the christening o.
Madame Royale daughter Of that mon:rch' lnSlhn'
ated doubts about her paternity. In the he'o'uu"n
thew were on the popular side Al the D'EI'Ij'E ~
the Epopirc they were with the Emperor and Louis
Napoleon took means to render mmNeu popular
,monp the market women. Ic gave Them the new
ron sheds IN which they carry on their
bu.uess with the vast ceaiage III
which they store their merchandise. They
we're invited to 90 and see tho Puce IN
perial in the cradle which the City ot PARIS hat Is
10 say, the Municipal Commission named oy I'M
yerial decroel gave him. One Of them pushed
boldness to the degree of taking up the babe ana
handing il round to her rough sisters 10 be embraced
by them In the Revolution the women c1 inc nSn
market obtained sinister reputation, but MleE'iet
proved unjusty. The day the Qneen was gong 10
he gulotned they went TO see her pass through the
streets and donncd white aprons for the otea-
scn In this they were simply Parisiau
tremendous historical drama was being played in
the streets, and in going 10 look 2t the spectacle
they made themselves neat as they possibly
eould.
The nine tree which was lighted up "a 3 o'clock on
Chnstruas morning in the fish pavilion the !Ia!les
was a present to les Danes from great agricn-
tnrist of Nevcrs 1t was placed IN great box. and
hammers full of oysters wcre piled around the stem
TO keep It in its place. The height Of the pine
Was gigantic. II was agreed that every
market woman should scud IN the DANES Of poor
rbildreu that she knew to n committee of manage
mani which had been elected ny female suffrage.
Offerings in money aud in kind we're sent IN 70 the
committee Wand, which had not been sold on the
p4tE and might have been stale in a couple Of days
were sent 10 he cooked at popular restanrau,
under the shadow OF 81. Eustachc's Church, and
ranged upon long tables which formed
souare round the tree. ~ o'clock every
fling was ready Each market
hadlcr battalion Of little children whose mothers
had been previously told 20 make them o. tidy Is
,Lev vorr able As the feast spread on the table
was OF immens- proportions there was enough and
to snare for all Lots were drawn for the toys and
other objects that were hung upon The pine tree
lint IS II had been arranged that there we're 10 be no
blank tickets each child drew prize. barrel -
cheap wine lad been heated at the restaurant and
brought in copper vessels. K was served cut by
c;rl in Normandy cap assisted by lot OF portcrs
snee cheers but does not inebriate. lleaiths were
drank and sentiments" propounded. Gayety aad
pood-fellowship prevailed. stout ishwoman pro
nosed a subscription for the orphans of the
Donlopng fishermen drowned six weeks ago, and
collected a basketfpi of coppcTs, which was borne
In triunfh TO tho ComnIssary of the Uailcs TO he
forwarded by HIM to the Mayer OF Boulogue.
Another poissa rde made little speech to this efect
"My good friends, read in the journals that re-
nublic is tho government for the people and b. tho
ncople We are worry republican here this moruing
We enjoy liberty. Let us profit Ey 10 to cultivate
fraternity. II we DO. equality will
of itself Let us each, wherever
tnaet between this blessed morning ana next
Christmas, poor child wanting mouthful Of
bread and kind counsel, he to 1t big brother or
hir sister Let us toward each other be loyal, and
when we fall out ready to forgive; and let us hate
rapoiIfcs wherever we meet them. |Iye la Repgb-
loue. va pour les petits enfants.'
The Chief of the Municipal Police, who listened
10 this speech, is not ashamed to confess that the
tears rolled down his checks. He never heard
more eloqnent sermon The population OF Paris
basr.ally great and good qualities. Its spontaneity
Ia mi oeperis Seeds of goodness thrown upon the
parsian soil rapidly shoot up into blooming plants
They do not often take deep root but while they
last they arc very charming
II was not 10 he expected that NJ. Gambeta
would afford open patronage TO the Christmas tree
nf tho Alsace orraine Society, which has become
mighty organization for doing good. This Christmas
The Society which is composed of wealthy aud note
worthy emigrants from the provinces annexed to
Germany in 1871, held its fete in the Winter Cir
rms founded by Myers, the American. The tree as
psuol was fetched from an Alsatian mountain, and
The presents hung upon 1t cost, although bought at
wholesale price, 80 600 francs There were also in
nnmerable gifts sent in by shOp-keep
rnnn,1farl1rers Innr Thousand