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EUROPE AND ITS CITIES. 395
in " The Official Journal." Rigault, BiQivray, et aL, spent
their leisure with their mistresses ; while even Paschal
Grousset, appointed delegate for foreign affairs, gave himself
up with other leaders to bacchanalian excesses. While
shouting, " Down with the house of Thiers, and confiscate
his property," decrees went forth, " Use petroleum," " Repeal
aU law," " Fire the churches," " Suppress the newspapers,"
"Abolish marriages;" and aU this in the name
of liberty, fraternity, freedom, — " social freedom," par
excellence !
Doubtless the Thiers government was in some respects
oppressive ; but did this justify the atrocities of the Commune
? Burning a barn to kill a weasel, demolishing a
costly edifice to get rid of a wasp's nest under the eaves,
would be a ranting diabolism paralleled only in folly by
French Communism.
Excepting Flourens, the leading members of the Commune
seemed inflated with ambition ; inspired with the love
of money and pleasure, wine and women.
The Franco-Prussian war, and the Commune, quite effectually
paralyzed Spiritualism. It is now re-gathering its
scattered forces. At Mrs. HoUis's stance, held in the apartments
of Mrs. Mary J. Holmes, near the Champs-Elysees, I
had the pleasure of meeting that gifted author, Victor Hugo.
He wept like a child when receiving a communication from
a loved friend in spirit-life.
ILLEGITIMATB CHTLDEEN.
Official returns from Parisian hospitals last year showed,
that, of the births in the city, fifteen thousand three hundred
and sixty-six were illegitimate. Boxes called tours are
established in various parts of Paris, each of which revolves
upon a pivot, and, on a bell being rung, is turned around by
the proper person inside, to receive the child that may have
been deposited. No attempts are made to ascertain the parents.
love.
These children never know a father's care, a mother's
Nurses are secured from the country.