The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-19
THE PARISH POOR.


 the very poor of Paris are fed, and how cheaply they buy their food l have been told something about it, but did not matter into my head until went and saw it.
 You know well enough that there is no such thing as wassefulness in all France. The French people not only have econ- omy, but they have a more useful virtue even than that. They have facility. They not only can save, but they can make the most out of what they save. Here is the way this thing is managed. Everything that cannot possibly be used and reused at the hotels is scraped together, and 1t becomes the perquisite of the chefs or certain other domestiques of the estab- lishment Bits of meat of every sort, bread, butter, vegetables, pastry and ready for the buyer. Men and women, young and old-usually old-come round to these hotels and restaurants and large houses and buy up all these leavings, which they take away in great baskets swung upon their backs. The less pros porous dealers, doing business on the capital of a few francs, take their stuff away wrapped in old newspapers and all this food goes to the markets. Here, in the night, it is assorted meat, vege- tables, bread, pastry put into separate piles, and then arranged in due propor- tons on plates to be sold. Many fami- lies-I am told thousands of families live wholly upon ,hese leavings, year in and year out.
 The woman of the family comes to the day--or can afford to buy-and takes it home with her either in a basket or in a bit of newspaper, as her means may en- able her. In other instances many come to the market and do their eating here, buying their plate of victuals, and usually getting a piece of fresh bread from an opposite stall. These plates of food are sold anywhere from two cents to twelve cents. am told that family consisting of live persons can be fed on as little as twenty-five cents . day. You would sup- pose all these scraps of food-the leav- ings of the leavings-world look unin- viting. Not so. Remember a French hand has touched it all, and, as if by magic, it is turned into slightly and aps petizing meal.
 When was in the market saw old women bringing masses of this food wrapped in newspapers, which they sold for few sous, and in a few minutes it was all assorted and transformed into rather inviting dishes. Then there were the buyers and the eaters. Perhaps in all there were one hundred in the market where l was, eating their food standing at the counters. Families of working people sometimes arc bit ashamed to buy of these dealers, which nevertheless they do under the pretext of buying the food for their dogs. However, this is all perfectly we'll understood.
 By this time the crowds of the indigent poor were gathered around the soup- kettles ranged along the sidewalks out side the markets, and so sauntered out and along with the crowd. My eyes were opened. Here was a side of Paris life had never seen. l know the poor in London well-their animalism and bor- der-land of starvation. l did not know there was just the class in Paris. lreally saw stoaes converted into people. It was in this wise. Around one soap-kettle, where an old woman sat, saw, should say, ten half-starved, pinched, chilled men and boys and girls. These were waiting Tor some generously disposed person to come along and buy them bowl of soup. As each gentleman or lady approached the soup woman, thes miserable creatures would crowd up, but would not persist entity beg, though their eyes would look toward the soup. Well, now for the miriele. saw tour miserable looking men, and as many half-naked boys, and l handed the old woman a franc 10 give them each bowl of soup. Instead of my eight, instantly there were eighty around me. Where on earth they came from l do not know, how they came, and all the rest of it, left on my mind the of a miracle wrought before my very eyes. The stones were converted into people. went to the other side of the market and selected a soup-ke,tle about which saw boy and girl stand- | ing and shivering. wished to see ifI again this marvel of multiplication would be wrought cast about me and saw, other than the boy and girl, few stroll i ers passing and repassing. As quietly as could-almost slyly-l handed the wo- man ft1ne, and 10 and behold, there l were not leo than score of like wretched men and women, boys and girls, implor- ing me for soup, and this-in all serious ness-was in the twinkling of an eye. | This soup smelt savory and looked nice. | A large bowl had bread broken into it, and with ladle the bowl was filled from | he kettle, in which bone and sausage and vegetables were boiling. Two cents ! a how'll That is all. Good, tasteful soup i at two cents bowl.
 To pootmasters.