The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
DRANK TO THE CZ1R'S HEALTH.
what Was Done With tho Money He Gave 70
the Poor or Paris.
From the Philadelphia Public ledger.

FTo" tf fNituHripNiu fuoHr Itu0cT'
PARIS, Sept. 2s.-It is, AS is well known. the
custom of royal pcrsonaecs. when officially
visiting Paris, 10 hand over at the close of their
stay II sum OF money, varying according TO
circumstances. for distribution among the poor.
Beyond the announcement Of the fact in the
papers, there Is as n rule little more heard OF
these generous donations. A story has just
been made public, however. concerning the most
recent donations OF this character, which has
caused no little comment among those who
have the real welfare of tho poor at heart, and
who have for long been loud in their protesta-
tions against this sort of indiscriminate charity.
When The Gar left Paris at The cnd Of last
year, he handed over 10 the authorities no less
than 100000 for distribution among the poor.
and this, by order OF tho Public Assistance De-
Renaissance, or ont door relief offices. in differ
ent parts Of tho city. The I, ewing officer in
manner In which TO tender help 10 tho really
poor, ana he has always been doubtful as to the
ultimate destination OF the money which he
present instance the Cars gift W., divided into
sums of two Francs, and cmch applicant received
however, took The trouble to mark each coin
which no handed out, and some days after the
distribution he sent one OF his assistants TO n
ncighboring cabaret to change thcrca 900 franc
note, with The request that he might receive as
much of the change as possible in two'frano
pieces. \ large proport.io on Of the coins brought
back his superior recognized as the money no had
marked and hnndGd out TO- ne so'cHiisn aEierf,hg
lN'A - '"N w Nf' hN.'h'
majority, OF the people, in his district, at all
events, had gone. straight from, the relieving
office TO the public house, and had no donbb
spent the whole or the greater part OF tho
money received by them in drinking the Cars
health. For some months the matter Was Rer0
an official secret, but, a. | have said, II has now
been made public. with The result that he whole
system Of out door relief has Gcrn subjected TO
n hot fire Of criticism. Ii * pointed out than
while they have been handing out money lavish
ly to hahitunl dTlnlatrds. and 10 those whose
poverty is the direct result Of their own mis-
doing, the deserving applicants whom n littlo
temporary n"ip Nigh; have put upon the path
OF permanent employment, ARE left TO die OF
starvation in their squalid cellars and attics.
one Of tie papers, however, has interviewed
one OF the actual recipients of the, Cars
money, who cndcaYors 10 make out that becHusS
the twO-franC pieces were changed NJ the tavern
in question, il does not follow that the whole
sum was spent in drink. He AYERS That II ~
the ordinary custom Of the wrctChcd class TO
which he belongs to take ~ single glass OF alb
sintho whenever any small sum Of money comes
into their possession, The poisonous stun ac'5
IA n sort Of nick mc-ui, aud pulls them TO-
grthCr, especially when thy have been long
fasting. 1T j. M doubt true hc says, that
some OF the lucky owners 0f III, Cars two
franc pieces spent the whole Of that enormous
sum III further glasses Of absinthe.' but he
asserts that the majority, including himself.
after their single revivinG draught, went homo
and spent the change out of their tWo franosn
food. or used 1t TO pay q portion Of THAR SS1A