New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-21
MIDSUMMER IN PARIS.
A MICROSCOPIC WRITING CONTEST HofA
ERA AND THE RAGTICKERS.

\
ERA AND THE RAGTICKERS
Paris, July 20.
A leading Paris paper, the Eclair," is Offering
O gold medal prize to the finest writer, with
out distinction of nationality. II is not literary
merit that is wanted, as the above announcement
would lead one to suppose. The prize-giving editor
merely wants to know how many words can b
written on a piece of paper. Replies have al
ready been sent in. A Belgian officer has ac-
complished the feat Of putting 2,1s7 words on .
post card. A Marseilles gentleman has distanced
him. having crowded on card Of the same size
1850 words, representing an article of NJ. Sarcey
and poem of Deputy Clovis Hughes. both legi-
bic without a magnfying glass; though not, !
imagine, without good pair Of eyes The above
feats nothing beside that of another competitor
for the gold medal, "a government clerk, M.
Survigny, who has on post card written out
official directory from the President and his
household down TO the members of the Paris
Municipal Council, altogether 5000 words. He
spent twenty-eight hours over this at leisure
moments, and worked with the naked eye But
he is capped by Sergeant Lethorel, secretary Of
the 127th Infantry who announces that he Will
shortly produce post card with collection Of
articles amounting to 900 words.
As an art, small writing has been killed BY
photography. Microscopic photography was simply
invaluable to France during the siege Of Paris
when carrier pigeons were daily sent out With
10, 900 private letters photographed on q pelliclo
two inches square rolled up in quill There
still, however, plenty of amateurs, some OF
them distinguished and even illustrious. | may
mention for instance, Alphonse Daudet. who has
often, out Of fun, written original newspapd3
articles on a leaf Of cigarette paper. rnod %
Paris just now 1. very uncomfortable fcf q
large class Of Enslishspeaking people, those youna
men who have work to do here, whether a. rep+
resentatives OF English and also American ousi~
ness houses, or in professional capacity, having
as yet but moderate means, are compelled to 1.-Two
in lodgings There has been rain now for
many weeks; the pavements are hard and bak<
ing the atmosphere sultry and devoid Of vitalizing
power, opportunities for exercise Of any KIND
except walking are wanting, and bath Is q
luxury which must be sought out Of tho house.
Luckily, there have not been wanting among tho
English speaking colony men Of energy and De-
votiop. who, perceving a want, set about supplys
ing IT, The Decimal Boating and Lawn Tennis
Society Is the result Of their efforts The cluh
owns a goodly part Of the charming lie des
Anglais at Ncuilly-sur-Seine. The approach 10
by boat, which you summon from the bank. when
George, the cood-natlired custodian for thu
island and factotum to the society, PUSHES out OF
the lurking place where he has been brewins
des lemon squash" and pulls you by very
artistic curve across the swiftly flowing stream
Once on the other side, you seem to be IN Eng
land. There are two excellent lawn tenniA
courts, made Of course, Of asphalt. for turf does
not flourish in France. and surrounded with
comfortable lounges. There is lofty ooae-
house where every kind Of craft may he hsd TOE
a spin on the river, and in the galleries OF tho.
same building are sleeping rooms billiard room
and reading room, we'll supplied with books
and PAPERS The social life Of the Decimal Clun
/, full and friendly, as it should be. Many
member, make the island their headquarters for
living. Getting and sleeping. The social yeas
IL marked by regattas, tennis tournaments, con-
certs. billiard tournaments and swimming matohesi
The club calls itself Decimal because the number
of the original promoters was ten.
The "City Of the Sun" is up in arms asainst
the Project Of Police and his officers. The inhan-
itants have been invited" in the language or
the official decree, to evacuate their dwellings
within ten days. and find lodgings where they
can elsewhere. The Moors on leaving the Alham-
bra shed fewer tears than the "chiffoniers' OF
Clichy are shedding at the prospect Of leaving the
cent title Of The City Of the Sun" The Chif-
foniers. or rag-pickers have no luck. Some time
avo rae-picking was lucrative profession, and
no, few members Of the fraternity have left for
times Of $4,000 or S3, 900. But day came
when the crocheteers looked askance at the rag
man. with his genius for exploration and turning
nm sinking rubbish to be purified by the healthy
embraces Of the air. These " faddlsts' looked an
the matter from the point OF view OF the air, OK
which the supply in Paris is strictly limited ana
they argued that dust-heaps, II piled about ana
disturbed breed infection more rapidly than II
left alone to be decently shovelled into the dust
cart when it comes by. So the Project made
decree that the use Of dustbins should be univer-
sal through all Paris. The ragmen could no Longer
rake among the old familiar heaps. But their
trade was not killed. They still had something!
Now IL looks as II their occupation would b
shortly gone altogether
There is ragman's quarter in Cichy.
lust "a there is an organ-grinders' quarter
in London. II consists Of half dozen
blind alleys called cites or as they say In Edln-
bursh. closes There is the Cite German. the
cite Simonneau. the cite of Little Poland"
and the cite of the Soleil. The lat
for is so called. not because it occasionally
receiye. the suns rays but because its precincts
are surrounded with q belt OF sunfowers. This
nest Of buildings harbors nearly 400 families, Of
four, five six, or sometimes eight persons each.
Rents here, am told, range from shilling to
two shillngs a week. A ground floor Of tive
rooms may come as high as four shillinss. Tho
are regular incubatos Of fever aerms.
and are doubtless the starting point OF the chole1
endemic, for which reason the Project has seen
6t TO close them until further notice. / made
my way into one Of these courtyards through
puddles OF sinking oozc and climbed up one OF
the outside staircases by which the apartments
are reached The steps are slippery with refuse
flung out upon them BY the rag-sorters, who wc4
Indoors Nv courage failed at the threshold, -