And then suddenly an impenetrable cloud descended over Paris. The
balloon service ceased, of course, the railways were not opened, the Germans were in no hurry to re-establish postal communication, and for a week the outer world has known nothing of the con- dition of the great city. That the supplies of food had run short is known, and admitted by the Germans, who have sent in 3,000,000 rations—two days' supply—but beyond this nothing is accurately known. The Government is buying food at Dieppe and urging it to Paris, and a committee in London is trying to despatch half a million of rations a day, while German traders are swarming in with cattle, but the distress will be very terrible. The poor people have no money, and it is said the Government bad 800,000 men, women, and children upon its hands. Money will still be required in large amounts to keep the people alive, and the Municipality, already loaded with debt by M. Ilaussmann, will be speedily at the end of its resources. It is not till the Germans are gone that the special trades of Paris can revive.
