r. A boy from above, before the choir, in the likeness of an
angel, announced the nativity to certain canons or vicars, who entered
as shepherds through the great door of the choir, clothed in tunicks
and amesses. Many boys in the vaults of the church, like angels, then
began the '_gloria in excelsis_.' The shepherds, hearing this,
advanced to the stable, singing '_peace, goodwill_,' &c. As soon as
they entered it, two priests in dalmaticks, as if women (quasi
obstetrices) who were stationed at the stable, said, 'Whom seek ye?'
The shepherds answered, according to the angelic annunciation, 'Our
Saviour Christ.' The women then opening the curtain exhibited the boy,
saying, 'The little one is here as the Prophet Isaiah said.' They then
showed the mother, saying, 'Behold the Virgin,' &c. Upon these
exhibitions they bowed and worshipped the boy, and saluted his mother.
The office ended by their returning to the choir, and singing,
Alleluia, &c."[95]

CHRISTMAS DAY IN BESIEGED PARIS.

"Christmas, Paris,
"_Sunday, Dec. 25, 1870, 98th day of the Siege._

"Never has a sadder Christmas dawned on any city. Cold, hunger, agony,
grief, and despair sit enthroned at every habitation in Paris. It is
the coldest day of the season and the fuel is very short; and the
government has had to take hold of the fuel question, and the
magnificent shade-trees that have for ages adorned the avenues of this
city are all likely to go in the vain struggle to save France. So says
the Official Journal of this morning. The sufferings of the past week
exceed by far anything we have seen. There is scarcely any meat but
horse-meat, and the government is now rationing. It carries out its
work with impartiality. The omnibus-horse, the cab-horse, the
work-horse, and the fancy-horse, all go alike in the mournful
procession to the butchery shops--the magnificent blooded steed of the
Rothschilds by the side of the old plug of the cabman. Fresh beef,
mutton, pork are now out of the question. A little poultry yet remains
at fabulous prices. In walking through the Rue St. Lazare I saw a
middling-sized goose and chicken for sale in a shop-window, and I had
the curiosity to step in and inquire the price (rash man that I was).
The price of the goose was $25, and the chicken $7."[96]

CHRISTMAS IN PARIS IN 1886.

The Paris correspondent of the _Daily Telegraph_ writes:--"Although
New Year's Day is the great French festival, the fashion of
celebrating Christ