Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-04


political spies were notorious He had dis
covered that / was an American travelling
for pleasure
"Ahl how glorious to live In a republic
where the masses reignl" he exclaimed 1.-THE
Americans are right to detest monarchy.
Monarchy Is corruption and oppression"
Your people don't seem to think So"
''But they do, monsieur"
Then why don't they make q republic
hereY'
was ''informationn for which he would get
credit with bis chief He entered Paris with
me, drove to the same hotel, and as soon as
had gone to uy room he disappeared Two
hours later very genteel looking man paid
me a visit and introduced himself as an official
Of the bureau Of public safety. l was for
eigner. It was bis duty to inspect my papers.
Monsieur is English, believe, and from
LondonF' he queried
mo. am an American, from New York.
"Sol Does MONSTER travel for pleasurer
s'Oh. no am in France to buy chestnuts
for the American army
''Chestnuts for soldiersF' he queried. THAT
is strange Monsieur speaks Frenchw
Sorry to say that my French is failure"
They were papers, as I have said, that no
official would dare to question, and, after
looking them over, he bowed very low, and
inquired:
''Win monsieur remain long in FranceT
THAT will depend on the state of the chest
nut market" replied
During the day called upon the secretary
81 legation for consultation, and when told
1 IS 49, H. <lo4
in the country was under surveillance to a
greater or less degree The war in the United
States was exciting the French people and
making them restless, and the political police
had been doubled in number. Revolution
was breeding, and Napoleon was determined
to apply the knife with vigorous hand Sus-
poets were arrested and imprisoned IN the
most arbitrary manner, and no one felt that
be could trust any one outside his own fam
ly.
l was to go from Paris to Reinls. Spies
had followed me everywhere In Paris, and
planned TO get out Of the city without being
Swallowed The clerk at the hotel Office
hoped would give him days notice Of my
intended departure. He wanted to inform
the spies, but determined TO beat him.
ate my dinner as usual, went out for q stroll,
and when l returned I rushed for vahse, al
ready prepared, demanded my bill on the in
slant and WIS out Of the house In ten minutes
pleading case Of life or death. went on
foot for three squares, engaged cab to take
me to the station from which could depart
from Versailles, and as soon as he bad put me
down and departed walked away and en-
gagged another vehicle to convey me to the
right depot We arrived ten minutes be-
fore the departure Of the train, and pur-
chased my ticket and got away with the rush
AS l came to know subsequently, there was
great row raised over my departure. Spies
were sent out by the dozen, kilograms de-
spatched by the score, and l arrived at Reims
to find a crowd Of no less than six officials
awaiting to arrest me- 1t was not exactly an
arrest, either As left the train an official
touched me on the arm and respectfully said;
Monsieur the American viii oblige meg'-S
''If possible" replied, knowing well what
was coming.
''Then monsieur VIII accompany me In my
carriage to make call at headquarters"
Two carriages followed ours, and after O
drive of mile we drew up at the headquarters
of the bureau of public safety In Reims. It
was r1isnomer. 1t should have been called
the bureau of public peril, for the arbitrary
measures Of this department. were making
fresh enemies every hour in the day. The
chief was very pompous and dignifed man.
Hereceived me politely, but coldly, and the
first question asked was:
SIS monsieur guilty Of some crime that he
leaves Paris so secretlyf"
Il left when got ready, and after my own
fashion. Here s9e my papers. Examine
them and satisfy yourself"
He looked them over. No official in France
dared dispute them or put me under arrest
after seeing them.
But why did monsieur claim TO be an Eng
lshmanr' he asked.
II never did"
$50! But you speak French, and yet you
denied it."
II never denied it"
But you say you want chestnuts for
American soldiers. What do they do swith
themT"
Make soup, of course"
"Oh That Is different. It must be good
soup. Monsieur asked why the French did
not make republic"
THAT was to please one of your political
spies"
'Spies! Have we spiesf'i
Thousands, sir. They are at every ste
ton, In every hotel and cafe, on the steam
boats, In the omnibus In the theatre and
church. They have dogged me ever since
landed Napoleon is afraid have come to
usurp the throne. You had better search
my hind pockets and see if have usurper
with me-"
They looked puzzled, and, after consulta-
ton, was bowed out of headquarters and
sent In q carriage to a hotel. Twice after
ward, ct Amie1ls and Lille, I was brought
up in the same way and sent of after exami-
nation; and during my three months stay
in the country there was never day that l
was not under surveillance and suspicion
New York Sun.