Paris is to be virtually turned upside down to-morrow by one of its enterprising news-Papers, the "Matin," which has organised what it calls "Lo Marche do l'Armée." Picked teams from 220 regiments and other units belonging to all branches of the army are to compete in a 28-mile walk froifi Paris to St. Germain and tuck, wearing their uniing from all parts of France, are to be lodged in the various Paris barracks, meet outside the "Matin" office in the Boulevard Poi: sonniére to-morrow morning, and, headed by two bands, march. to the Place de La Concorde, where the start for the race is to take place, the finish being et the Galerie des Machines in the Champ de Mars. There is to be a " jury," or committee of judges, composed entirely of officers, with a fully-fledged General in full uniform at their head. The indefatigable " Matin" not only arranges for the conveyance of the competitors to Paris and back, but attends to every detail of the race, provides refreshments and medical attendance, gives some prizes: and causes, a great many more to be given, provides the competitors with theatre tickets for the evening, and adds to its boon by offering prizes for the best decoration of private houses on the boulevards.
Stranger than Fiction.
The parish priest of a quiet village some thirty miles from Paris found himself, several years ago; servantless. His domestic had been suddenly called away, andthe was wondering how be could replace her whicn middle-aged wo:.n, poorly but neatly dressed, knocked at his door. He at first took her for a traveller in need of assistance Snd was much surprised when she applied for employment as his servant, her voice and manners being far superior to' those of the domestic class. Alter some reflection, he took her into his service and had no reason to repent. She proved industrious and capable. She was expert in the art of making the plainest food appetising, but she caused Te Curé to marvel when he ascertained that she always did her cooking in gloves. She studiously avoided the neighbours and seemed to have no wish for any companion ship. Out of respect for her unspoken wish, he never questioned her as to her past. One day the postman came with several large registered letters covered with imposing seals and stamps, addressed to the servant. The Curé serut for her and observed that the letters seemed to embar-mss her greatly: His curiosity now over-came his discretion, and be asked for an explanation. She then admitted that she was not of humble birth but that she had voluntarily become his servant to satisfy her conscience. She and her sisters, the mysterious domestic added, were carrying on a lawsuit against a foreign city, hence the arrival of the registered letters. The Curé asked no more questions, and life in the quiet vicarage resumed 2s every-day routine. A. few, weeks ago the unknown woman died. On looking through her. papers the Curé discovered that she was a Princess of the house of Brunswick and great-granddaughter of the famous duke whose proclamation, threatening Paris with total destruction if the Royal Family were harmed, led to such terrible results in 1792. She bequeathed everything she possessed to the Curé. She was one of three granddaughters of the Duke of Brunswick who died some twelve yours ago leaving large bequests to the city of Geneva. His daughter took proceedings to have the will set aside snd the litigation was continued by her three daughters, one of whore was the Curé's servant. This accounts for the comespondence which so keenly excited the good priest's curiosity, but the reasons which induced the princess to retire into obscurity and become a maid-of-all-work are still unknown.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.