New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-02
IN THE PARIS WHIRL.
THE CAB STRIKE-M FLOQUET FIGHTS A
DUEL-THE ORLEANS PRINCES-AN
AMUSING LAWSUIT
Paris, Juno 2l.

HE, JUN II.
The two all-absorbng topics Of the hour are the
Great cab strike and the price Of butchers meat,
the latter assuming the proportions of a question
Of national Importance. As most of the readers
Of The Tribune are aware, the abnormal drouth in
France this year has destroyed nearly all the
fodder crop and rendered the feeding Of cattle
wcllnich impossible, at any rate TO the small
farmers. The consequence is a glut of live stock
in the market, some idea of the extent OF which
may be gathered from the fact that whereas the
average number Of cattle received at the Villctt
Market does not exceed $500 a day, it now
reaches ,. 900 and even 5000 Notwithstanding
this, the retail butchers maintain the price of
meat at its ordinary high rate putting forth dll
kinds of reasons for doing so, without Succeeding
in convincing anybody that they are justified
therein AS they absolutely decline to listen to
reason, it has been decided to appeal to the
authorities about the matter, and the question is
also to lie brought before the Chamber of Depu-
ties with the object of forcing the retail butchers
to lower the price Of their meat proportionate TO
that of live stock now prevailing, and to be con-
tent with moderate profits instead OF seeking to
make nearly 100 per cent on an article OF food
and an indispensable necessary OF life.
AS to the cab strike, it leaves the streets won
dcrfully quiet, but subjects us all to much in
convenience There are nearly 5000 Of these
facres laid up, and the absence of so large pro-
portion Of ordinary street traffic has produced a
calm which is not without It's agreeable side.
The cause OF the strike is the heavy price de
mandcd by the cab owners for the lease Of the
vehicle and the horse from the cabman who com
plains that the balance left him after paying the
owner is small as 10 be inadequate to keep BODY
and soul together Notwithstanding this, popular
sympathy is far from being with the cahnan. who
is an object of bad feeling TO the ordinary "it-
zen. In the majority of eases he IL an unconth
brute, cruel TO his horse, insolcnt to his fares.
devoid OF even the most elementary knowledge
of driving, and ever ready 10 swndlc foreigners
and unprotected women In many instances, h"
Is "A man who ha. seen better days, and who has
been reduced to the position Of cocher dc facrc
by vicious conduct He is, therefore, far from
being in position TO arouse the sympathy of tn"
Partisan population who are likely 10 turn deaf
ear 10 his protests against the ever increasing
number OF omnibuscs. tramways and bicycles
which, he claims, interfere with his trade
The Nculy Fair. which opened on sunday last,
is now in full swing, and apparently proves a.
attractive as ever 10 people in search OF summer
night amusement. Preparations are also bong made
for the great national festival on July II, winch
will as usual, De marked by n review of the troop,
forming the Paris garrison at LonschnmpS, while
at nighttime all the public gardens and squares,
including the Pare M0nccau. the Champs Elysecs
and the Gardens OF tho Trocadcro. will b. splcn-
didly illuminated al frcsco balls taking place on
the Square de La Rcpubquc and other similar
spaces in the metropolis Whether or not the
President will be- able to attend the review re-
mains in doubt. rs he is still quite ill., His cond
1 4 IL. .t..., 80,
Of his being incapaciatcd 10y his illness from the
performance of lis duties there l. no one legally
empowered TO act on his behalf Neither the
President Of the senate nor the Prcsldcn, OF the
Chamber OF Deputies j., invested with any cNccu-
tive power, and it j, regarded ~ probable that
the Government will Immediately proceed 10 -
cure the passage OF some measure providing for
"a contingency Of this kind and for ia" election
Of a vicc-prcsidcnt of the Republic.
ono Of the most extraordinary occurrences Of
the last week has been the duel fought By
Floquct the cN-prcsidcnt Of III" Chamber Of Dcpu-
tic-. and tie gray and austcrc Count dIIausson-
vlo who j. the chief representative" Of the Court
of Paris in this country. The duel originated
With some sighting remark made by tie Count.
which I'D NJ Tlouuct 10 publicly dcnouncr him ~
a coward and liar. The two old mon-hoth of
them in the nciphhorhood of s'ycnty-fought on
the Hoihschild Island, IN N" Sine. and alter "\-
changing several shots without doing any damage
honor was declared satisfied. and IN" "ntir" party
adjourned for d"icuncr 10 one Of the r"s'aurants
i'm the Bots The seconds OF VI. Ilopu"t were
NM Roissy dAngas and Marjan. while those
of the Count were the Duke of Fit1lamcs and
General Abzac, brother Of our Cou-ul-Gcn"ral in
Ncw-York VI. Floquct has been known "a.
hothcadcd man and as something Of a lir"catcr
ever sine" his sensational duel with General Bon
LANCER, in which, though an inexperienced swords
man. he wounded his adversary 80 dangerously
that for time the Generals life wa- dcspaird
Of But that the Count dlla~,onyille should
have taken part in . duel AS principal eNcite'
almost as much surprise AZ if the venerable Carli-
nal Archbishop Of Paris had made his debut, pistol
in hand, on the field Of honor
The young Duke Of Orleans. dissatisfied witt
the manner in which Connt d'IIaussonvc is
conducting the mprarchcal campaign here, has
inst started new paper her.. called ia" Alert.
Which j. destined ito give expression - ia"
ardent, generous and patriotic sentiment, Of IN"
yiuup princ.s7 | hear that Prince Henri, Nh"
son Of the Dlkc Of ChaItr-. is aSspciit"d with
his cousin in the enterprise but this ! doubt. As
il is notorious that the two young m'n have
been on terms tine reverse " amcablc since the
duy when the Duke so hcartlcssly tilted hi,
,ianccn the sister Of Prime" Henri Meanwhile,
,hc Count Of Paris, a. if 70 thoroughly ds1-so-
ciate himself from any appearance OF paillr~-
tion in his sons venture. has caused II . b"com"
known that he is hard AT work preparing "A new
and enlarged edition Of his drcary work on
british trades unionism. the first issu" Of which
Vas published few years ago. The mcr' an
nounccmcnt of the fact has proved To- be sufficient
"a still further incrcaS. the dissatisfaction on
the part of his followers. who complain bitterly
Of his lack of energy and OF I'll" hcavin"ss of
his character which can only be described a. th"
very antithc.is Of everything French.
News has just been received here from the
intiu,at. friend Of the Duke Of Orleans th" y6l:e
Uul<, Of Iz,s, who has been for ia" last eighteen
months travelling about on the west coast OF
Africa north Of the Congo. ITS solourn there l.