The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-21
VILLIERS' PARIS LETTER

Special Cable to The Age-Herald. by
 Paul Viniers. Copyright, l9o7 by N. R.
 Hearst.
 D ARIs, April 20.-"Ameriean school
 buildings are the most perfect in the world is the verdict of commission of architects. physician and college professor who have been inves. tigating the schools of the various coun- tries preparatory to adopting a standard design for the new municipal schools to be built in this city as fast as possible.
 Some time ago the fact was brought to light that the schools of this city were all without any exception in most un- sanitary condition. and a great many absolutely dangerous 10 the health of the children forced to attend them.
 The truth of this statement was at first denied by the authorities, who, d short lime after, however. admitted that the buildings were in fact unfit for use. To their honor it must be said, though that as soon as they had been convinced of the necessity of providing new buildings they acted with all possible speed, and now new schools, the cost of which will amount 10 about one hundred million francs, are 10 be built at once.
 The necessary money will he raised by means of a loan, the bonds 10 bear 3ia per cent interest and redeemable in fifty years from 1911
 It is estimated that the profits from the municipal electric light and power plants will provide the necessary amount for the payment of the interest
 The Paris Municipal theatre has been in hard luck of late. Ii has never been a profitable venture, and the other night its interior was almost completely wrecked by furious audience, men in evening dress and women in low-necked gowns participating in the work of de- struetion
 Between the first and second acts of the play produced two bailiffs entered the building and took possession of the con tents of the cash box in payment of a debt.
 The news of this having reached the stage the actors and actresses refused to continue the performance unless their salaries were paid them on the spot.
 When the distracted manager appeared in front of the curtain to announce that the performance could go on, the audi ence pelted him with anything they could lay their hands oil, and an indescriba ble scene followed. the whole audience de- 1nandins the return of their money, which, of course. was impossible as the cash box did not contain a sou after the visit of the bailiffs.
 As the audience could get no satisfac- ton in this way they smashed everything in the house, from seats and scenery to electric chandeliers.
 They were at last stopped by the police but not a single arrest was made.
 The city of Paris is to have it's own municipal chorus of trained singers, who are to sing whenever their services are needed at great public ceremonies, joy oHs or sad.
 The resolution by the City Fathers to form the chorus arose from the funeral services of the late B. Berthelot, the fa- nous chemist.
 M. Dujardin Beaumetz had arranged that the pupils of the Paris Conserva- toire of Music should be present and take part in the ceremonies in the Pan theon. They did not, however appear, as it was found on discussing the matter with M. Gabriel Faure. the director. that the pupils of the institution did not know a suitable chorus for the occasion and that the time was too short for them to learn one.
 The two symphonies on the programme therefore had to be performed without any chorus, but this deplorable state of affairs made such an impression on mu- sic-loving Paris that public opinion forced the authorities to act.
 M. Dujardin Beaumetz has now given orders that the general vocal class of the Conservatoire shall at any time be pre- pared 10 sing any kind of chorus. and they are to be assisted by the pupils of the Choral school founded by NJ Jean q Estournelle de Constant. director of the theatrical sub-department of the Ministry of Fine Arts.
 The first appearance of the new chorus will be when the remains of M Emile zola are to be laid to rest in the Pan theon.
 Leo Taxil. the French writer whose anti-clerical works caused such sean dll here some years ago. is dead.
 He was educated by the Jesuts. but as soon as he had left college he com menced to write pamphlets against the clergy and was prosecuting for libel for some of them.
 After publishing number of such pamphlets and a score or more of books he stated that he had repented of his wickedness, and in 1885 asked for and received absolution from Pope Leo KILL
 He then turned around and attacked the French anti-clerical party as say agely as he had formerly assailed the clergy These writings, however, pro- duced no effect and most of them were left on the hands of his publishers.
 Taxil then published book the fla nous "'Diana Vaughan" who was sup posed to be at the head of a sect of devil worshippers
 Diana was described as the daughter of Lucfer, but she repented and Cardinal s---u-----s-~s,s-----~-----s'----