A petition which has been addressed Ly the "strong men" of the central markets—les "forts" de la Halle—protesting against the unfair competition of men with handcarts, reminds mo that there is no more curious corporation in the whole of Paris than these seven hundred broad-chested, brawny-armed carriers of sacks of flour, cases of butter and cheese, and loads of vegetables. Before being allowed to join ita man must satisfy the Prefecture of Police that his character is spotless, and he must pass an examination, the principal test of which consists in carrying, without apparent effort, a load weighing more than four hundred pounds. The corporation dates from very carly times. In the Middle-Ages "les Forts " used to participate at the burials of the Kings France, carrying the bodies of defunct sovereigns on their robust shoulders from, Notre-Dame to Saint-Denis. At the inferment of Charles VII, considering that they were not sufficiently well paid for their services, they put down the coffin when half way on their journey and refused to move another step until promised an increase of salary, probably the most! original strike on record.
Les Forts," who invariably wear enor-with thick sticks studded with copper nails, are great favourites with Parisians. They fully merit the sympathy which is shown them, for a more honest, hardworking set of men does not exist. It is to be hoped that M. Lépino, the Prefect of Police, will give ear to their request that hand-carts be not allowed to enter the central markets after a certain hour.
Charming Wanda de Boncza.
Boulevard "habitues" and all theatre-goers were terribly grieved to hear of the sudden decease of Mile. Wanda de Boneza. I had heard it rumoured that she was suffering from appendicitis, but never suspected that the famous actress of the Comédie-Frangaise was in danger of death. It appears, however, that she was attacked by the worst form of this terrible malady, and that after the surgical operation which was performed at her residence in the Avenue Boche there wes no hope of saving her life. She died after forty-eight hours of severe suffering.
Beautiful Wanda de Boncza, who was only twenty-nine years of age, was born of rather poor parents, in the Batignolles quarter, who looked upon her early taste for the stage with considerable anxiety. She was, indeed, quite a child when re ceiving her first lessons at the Conservatoire, in Worms's class, where she succeeded in carrying off the first prize for comedy. She made her debut at. the Odeon Theatre. At the Comédie-Fran-oise, where she made her debut in Mus-set's "On no ba dine pas avec lamour" in_ 1894, she played in "Struensée," "Othello," "Adrienne Lecourreur," "La Conscience de I'Enfant," and " Alkestis. One of her best-known reles was that of Miss Clarkson, in " L'Etrangére," which was created by Sarah Bernhardt.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.