New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-30
Art Museum Had Narrow
Escape, as Did French
National Library.
POSTAL SERVICE
is DEMORALIZED
Numberless Letters Go Astray-
Government Is Trying to End
Growing Confusion.
By E. A. BEAMAN.

Especial Correspondent Of The New York
Tribune and London "Standsrd."l
Paris, Sept. 29.-All the museums OF
Paris have been closed since the be-
ginning of war and as far as possible
the chief treasures deposited in iron
cases in vaults-a precaution that
proved only too we'll advised. One OF
the aeroplanes that recently flew over
the city dropped q bomb when imme-
diately above the Louvre, but fortu-
nately the aviator did not allow sutti-
GENTLY for forward velocity and the
bomb fell into the Seine close by.
The Bibliotheque Rationale had a
still narrower escape which was re-
coupted 20 me by one of the Librarians.
He with three other persons saw one
of the aerial visitors drop bomb When
exactly over the principal manuscript
room. and the missile only missed the
building by twelve yards. This aviator
was afterward chased and caught oy
one Of the French air patrol and iound
IN he q man who lived for years quite
near the famous library, showing tnat
the attack on the wonderful collection
of priceless manuscripts was not aecl-
dental.
service, which seems to be gettlhS
worse instead Of better, has given rise
to complaints on all sides and all kinds
of suggestions have been put forward
with a view to remedying the evil. Inc
newspapers receive letters every day
giving examples of the time taken Tor
a letter to travel from one part Of Paris
10 another Trains carrying eight or
ten van loads of post bags have been
seen by many. One woman who has not
heard from her husband since mobili-
cation being unable to bear the
suspense longer, set out for the place
where he was stationed, and after q
long and difficult journey Of several
days succeeded in finding him. She
learned he had written her twelve let
tiers and could not understand why ne
had received no replies.
Another person wrote 70 q French
aviator on August 8, but the letter was
returned TO the writer on September IL
with q curt notice on the envelope "Ad-
! dressed deceased" No previous intor-
nation as to the death of the aviator
| had been received. There are innumer-
/ able stories of like nature, and one
| large firm has requested its clients to
deal with its branch in Belgium as "the
postal service in that country is SO
very much better than in France"
Now that the government has taken
the matter in hand one hopes for a
: speedy amelioration of this state OF
things, and trusts that in future let
ters from Dieppe or Marseilles will not
take at least eight days in reaching
Paris.
Paris, Sept. 29.-The artistic beauty
of the Cathedral Of Rheims which suf.
fered in the German bombardment OF
that town can never be restored, in the
opinion of Whitney Warren, the New
York architect, who has just returned
from Rheims, where he made a thor.
ough inspection of the famous struc-
ture.
Mr.. Warren, who is a corresponding
member of the Institut de France, was
given the privilege Of visiting the ca
thedral His investigation has no of.
fetal character, but the result of his
observations will be communicated "a
Myron 7. Herrick, American Ambassa-
dor to France.
"That anything remains of the ca.
thedral," said Mr., Warren, "is owing 20
the strong construction Of what might
be called the shell Of the cathedral
whose walls and vaults are of 70.
business which can resist even modern
implements Of war.
The police to-day revised the list Of
permits issued 10 foreigners who wish
10 stay in Paris. A long line of people,
4 including many Germans and Austrians
some Of whom are servants of wealthy
Americans, stood in front Of the police
station Anxiously awaiting the decision
of the officials. The regulations are
now exceedingly stringent, and mum
Der of foreigners were forced to leave
the city to-day.