The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-06-02
Our Foreign Correspondence.

PARIS, April 10.
NJ. Richet attributes the social and eco
nomical difficulties Of France to her sta
tiouary population; NJ. Block on the con-
-trtry considers the population so dense,
that despite the ~fecundity OF the soil,
France must ere long become a food-lm-
porting country. VI. d'Haussonville as
serts, that below 4 salary OF FRI. 10 per dav,
there is nothing but misery, and Nine. de
Barran affirms, a woman earning but frl.5O
daily, cannot live virtuOusly in Paris. All
however concur that high rents are the
cause Of much OF the suffering which
exist.
The phiiauthropic intention of the gov
ernment to- constitute an immense building
society for the erection Of cheap houses in
the suburbs, 10 become the property OF the
tenant after twenty years occupation, l.
not warmly received. Grave people do not
like to see the State playing at socialism,
and to favor these dwellings by an ex-
emption from local taxation and dues on
building materials, Is not relished. Such
houses must ultimately fall into the hands
of those member of the labOriug classes
already exceptional by their thrift and
steadiueSS.
The c%hifonniers constitute the dregs of
the city populations they reside no where
permanently they camp in structures
OF the most primitive order of archi-
lecture run up on sites recognized a. 10
mans land. The repulsive nature of their
calling forces them to remain "kroumirs.U
Next III the scale come tie SCaN6ngefS.
they reside in barracks, forming cities
seven or eight individuals club together and
rent Il room at 12O fE. = year, and so live.
The iaboTers' pTopeT-tiie floating and for
eign elementof the population follow they
are generally single a COCK loft, shared by
a chum or a pal, with the scantiest Of pc
mates ~suffices. After these classes, the ar
tiZaiis enter en- scene. The mean average
rent of Paris is about $50 fr., and two-thirds
of the total rents OF the city represent a
mean of 900 fF. In lSl7 a bachelor could
secure a fair room for 90 fT. q year, when
Napoleon / came To Paris as a sub-lieuten-
ant, he paid only Is tr. for 4 month Tor his
two rooms under q garnet.
Since ten years provisions have risen i'm
moderately in Paris this il chiefly owing
to the excessive barrier dues, so that the
capital Is embeilishcd at the expense of our
stOmacifS. Bread, forms 30 per cent OF the
food of citizens, j. kept low, and chiefly
form political motives. Meat has tripled in
price; eggs, cheese and butter have doubled
RochefOrt always selects the price Of butter
as the standard Of metropolitan morality.
Yet the cost Of living can tempt those who
like JOIN Giipin have frugal minds.
In the me de IL NcrTerie, q meal can be
mad for Is sous, without wine, and 8 second
of these establishments i on the point Of
being opened. That miracle of feeding the
thousands is daily performed by the Lyons
railway company il supplies a d~ejeuner to
1900 employees at l3 sous ahead, including
interest on capital.
Clothing is cheaper, due TO improved
methods OF making, and this can be seen in
the well dressed appearance Of the crowd Oh
Sundays and fetes. With a ribbon or G
fchn, "A French woman will not only give
herself the afro smaTtness but of elegance.
The mean price for s-ustCuaDce for a work
man in Paris Is $50 to 1900 fr. per annum,
which represents Tor 300 working days,
about fT. 2.75 20 II. J "A day. y wife costs
one-half more 10 support and 4 child one
third. LabOreTs and pOrteTs earn fr. $50 10
1 per day scaveugers 3.25 rag-pickers l.50
TO I, sometimes double If they rave good
legs. Their clothing costs nothing as their
uniform must be rags they pick up scraps
Of food from kitchen refuse or the charity
of servants.
stone cutters earn Il. l.2O per hour and
printers Is sous 10 fr. 1920 women compost
tors are paid Is sous the 1000 letters. same
a. the men, but the amount Of work turned
out by them j. less; flower girls can make
fr. > a day. but -Ieir season lasts only four
months. Dress-maksTs fr. > TO 1. and sewing
girls, fr. $50 to r.. l. 1t i among the latter
that the shTOud iSstitcheia as well as a shirt.
There is no Poor Law ia France, the INDECENT
being supported by Z on places Of amuse-