Year: 1872




more too, for the want OF food was distress
ingly great. Merchants tell us that they
actually paid five to ten francs Zone TO two
dolars) for rats, and were glad to get them
at that and II is said at this present time,
scarcely one Of those pets can be found in
the city, so thoroughly were they trapped
and cleaned out. Cats and dogs brought
fabulous prices II they were fat; and we
are told by those who could afford 10 bny
them, that they were devoured with rel
ish which they never experienced at any
meal before or since. Many of the poor
had to resort TO the devouring OF terrible
filth TO exist. Yes, we are told all the hor-
rors of a beseiged city, and Of war, Of
which we could form any conception as
having been experienced here.


But what change, and how soon To-
day there are not 10 be found in any coun-
try finer and better filed markets, with all
the productions and luxuries of the land,
and more choice beef, mutton and meats
than here; and there is plenty Of every
thing, though the prices are comparatively
high and living expensive. All sorts of
business is going on the same as before,
and most of the stores under the same
names; manufactures also, and the city is
under greater prosperity, commercially,
than for years before. Schools are in prog
ress, and the government has appropriated
n larger sum for them by one third than it
did before the war. People begin to real
ize that the prosperity and strength of ma
ton depends very much upon education.
T.. nil ,,.,;, g
common schools the other day, he said that
Napoleon made everything turn to the
building up of his name and the aggrand-
izement of his court, and overlooked the
real good of the nation. AS an instance he
named the fact that he made, or caused to
be made, an appropriation of $40 million
francs for the army, while there was only
fifty millions appropriated for the schools;
and that all of his NOV es tended to the same
end, which was so obvious to the thinking
men of France that he gradually lost their
true respect, and they could not lament his
downfall though it cost the country so dear
ly. 1t is true that the Germans Of the city,
and many others, wish him back, but the
majority say there is not shadow of
chance for his return and what is more,
should he attempt it, he would no doubt De
shot think so, for he has many bitter
enemies. l think that great number of
the leading sensationists, those who have
carried the torch ready to fire any event
which would bring about revolution here,
were killed during the war /; and there arc
now some 10000 of the Commune prisoners
under the present government at Yer


1 - r.
the leaders, as you see by the papers, have
been shot this week, and many more will
share the same fate. In this the govern
ment is moving firmly and untearingly, al
though there are daily threats of rising.
We have been looking for some sort of
demonstration daily, vet 1t can he but a
show. for 1 believe the power of the gov
ernment is sufficiently established and re-
spected TO Immediately subdue and put
down the first attempt. The French are
such a peculiar people. they flash like scat
tered powder. one particle igniting the 9TH
er. till the whole city is in blaze in a mo-
ment. An instance: the other day (which
in the Catholic church is called here st. Eu-
penia's davl the friends of the ex- Empress
paid certain amount of money to have
mass said for her in the Madeline, at noon
of that dav. No sooner was the thing
found out than the church was surrounded
by thousands but the soldiers being called
out. prevented any demonstration. 1t takes
Int very little TO create a big commotion in
the current in Paris. However, as we have
been here but few days, having seen but
but little and heard less, we cannot express
any thing positiyelv. But we think that
some allowance should be made for tele-
grams and newspaper reports we get at
home. t,r 7 belleve so long as President
Tbiers lives. so long things will remain
obout the same as thev are now, which in
most respects is well enough. He is an
old man somewhat in his dotage and liza
HE IN drop away any time. Should he die,
I fear there would be another terrible time
in France for there is } other man they
are ot all united upon, and the contest Of
tbe Bourbons. the Orleanists and the Re
public, would begin with redoubled Juror,