The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-31
Following is a comparative statement of
LESSONS OF THE PARIS FIRE.
A New Feeling Created in Regard to
the AristOcratic Class.


The obvious lesson that people should not
be allowed to stuff themselves into finder
box, even in the name of charity will soon
be forgotten. In spite of the precautions
taken by the police in the case of Paris
theaters it may be doubted how effective
they would prove under sudden alarm. In
all of them the avidity of gain has led to
the introduction of folding seats in the
aisles, with a probable result that may be
imagined in panic. Multiplied exits in
case of need seem also to promise little hope
of escape. One of these doors was tried the
other night and found firmly locked The
box opener, when asked for the key,
answered that it was kept by the manager.
In one of the theaters most frequented by
families a competent electrician amused
himself between the acts by trying to fol-
low up with his eye certain exposed wires
He was so impressed by what he thought
he discovered that he at once went for his
wife and left the place.
A more consoling conclusion is derived
from the character of the victims and the
feeling of the entire French people of every
class for them. They Were chiefly ladies OF
what is known as the Faubourg Saint
Germain-that is, aristocrats and clericals.
Most of the charities to which they We're
deVoting themselves were distinctly church
works. A few persons, representing the
Jewish and Protestant haute finance, were
mingled with these intense Catholics. Yet
even political hatred has found nothing
worse to say than that more is made OF the
disaster than would have been the case
with an equal number of victims from a
mine explosion. In reality, an immense I'M
closure of the multitudinouS work by private
charity in Paris. Maxine Du Camp, when
he came TO study this side of Paris life;
was converted to better thought of the real
French people-thoSe whom the foreigner
so seldom learns to know.
The Duchess d'Alencon, though french
only by marriage with the grandson OF
King Louis Philippe, was a sample of these
gems chics who are of other use to society
than by being agreeable in it's upper circles
and spending money in the lower. Like her
sisters the Empress of Austria and the eX-
Oueen of Naples, she was a notable horse
woman, and had the other accomplishments
of her set, which her position of fortune
tentation Her active charities, taking no
little amount of time and money, have be-
come public only with her death. Among
the rest was the house for novices OF Pere
Ollivier's order: and her body lies in the
friar's chapel, robed in the white gown or
Dominican nuns, while awaiting burial in
the royal mausoleum of the family OF Or
leans at DreuX.
The death of the Due d'Aumale, following
on the shock experienced at hearing of the
disaster is also calculated TO win the
French people back to what remains or
their national aristocracy. whether TINS
will have the slightest effect IN reEiVlng the
now desperate chances of Royallst party
NAV well be doubted. But the PATRIOTISM
of The dead prince his enlightened benet-
o oan Sne and ,he hard treatment melted out
RI him bv Republicans that denied the
rights of Frenchmen to those who would
not follow Gambetta and jules Ferry, come
hack now to remind the French people that
France is greater than the mere party
which hapnenS to be in power.