The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-29

strange race-that has come to be a trite
saying but it is true. and the more one
lives among them the more he appreciates
how strange they are.
In the main Parisians. for they are to all
intents and purposes the people of France,
drift along with their occupations
and pleasures utterly and serenely indif-
ferent to what is going on in the chamber
They skim over the parliamentary reports
now and then, shrug their shoulders at
the long winded speeches and refuse to be
bored by reading them.
Having elected deputies and paid a
president to look out for the interests of
the republic. they trouble their heads no
more with affairs of state. unless it be to
crack a joke about Carnot's automatic
smile or Ferry's long nose.
That is the way ParIsians treat politics
In the main, but the way they can change
from apathy to boiling excitement. from
good natured approval to a rage which is
all but murderous reminds one of the sud
den sweep of storm over a Swiss lake or
the rise of a prairie cyclone.
All that is strange enough, and the his
tory OF Paris is full of it!
Let me take you. reader, into the white
stone building, with its ponderous doors
and heavy low built walls, which is the
gathering place of the French parliament.
commonly called the ''chambre des uepu.
ties" Ii stands on the southern bank of
the Seine, facing on the Place de Ia Con-
corde. Around it has been built a sort of
stockade made of long iron spikes, sharp
at the point and glded for purpose of
decoration. This is for the mob. the rag
ing, bloodthlrsty multitude. which laughs
and jokes for years in the city of pleasure
and then one day. suddenly by magic,
springs up from nobody knows where,
with ranks fortified by nobody knows
whom, and marches against whatever an
noys its fancy and sweeps things before it
in a most uncomfortable fashion.
1t is true the gingerbread iron fence
around the chamber would not be of the
slightest use in checking one of these
mobs, but they put II there all the same.
That Is another strange way they have!
Now we will pass into the stone-paved
courtyard through the little gate on the
right. tor the big gate and the big stone
steps up 10 the main entrance are never
used. Two or three doorkeepers in scarlet
and gold receive US with naughty stare or
obsequious bow according as we are
somebodIes or nobodies. The little yellow
card | have, which is issued for men of
the press, makes US soInebodies, you see.
and We are shown to the winding stair
case on the left with special attention.
The staircase leads TO the press gallery
where We will be fortunate II we ge, n
seat, as there are about three correspond
ents Tor each place, and they are all sure
-.
when cabinet crisis Is expected.
Stop minute before We COUP! You see
the soldiers with their red trousers and
funny pointed boards coming through the
door yonderf There! The drum is beat
ing 10 tell OF the approach OF President
Charles rlOquet. who is crossing the gar
den from his residence adjoining. He is
president OF the chamber you understand.
not OF the republic. and a handsome man
ne Is, one OF the very handsomest in
France. Tie looks like Daniel Webster !
FOr HVe or SIX years now he has presided
over the assembled deputies and is counted
one OF the ab!est officers who ever welded
the gayel or poured oil on the troubled
waters OF angry debate. He will have
plenty 10 do this afternoon
mere We are IN our places and the scene
over the red cushioned galleries and the
sweep OF seInIclruiar chairs beneath is
worth Studying. II looks for all the world
IKE theater, does it not, with its double
tier OF boxes each flied with men and
women OF the hdut ia01ide2 Nine times out
OF Zen those boxes are desolate and empty
but the ambassadors and their wives and
the prominent people of the capital have
turned out today TO see the show How
do they know there will be one? Oh. they
teel II IN the alr-that Is another strange
haolt oil theirs.
Ana yet at present everything is quiet
enough, the deputles-most of them DOS
se~seu OF bald heads-are standing about
IN groups chatting Of indifferent things or
10 ing back IN their comfortable chairs as
II they We're bored almost beyond endur-
arce.
On the front row, right in the center and
directly under the tribune. are the men,
Ders oil the csblnent IN tuli evening dress,