The most potent enemies of the "Trente
Jours de Plaisir" were now the satirical
journals, who could not, of course, give up so
good a "subject" for ridicule. The "Corsaire"
was too dignified to trouble itself much about
the matter, so long as there remained Red
Republicanism, or Moderate Republicanism, or
Republicanism of any kind, to bring into
contempt; but the "Charivari " needed subjects
for its artists, who had been working
"Actualités" and "Causeries" to the last point of
despair; and the "Trente Jours" was too
tempting to be missed. But after a few days
of most unparalleled facetiousness in its pictorial
department, the "Charivari" appeared
one morning with the imposing advertisement
of the "Trente Jours" on its back page; and,
by a curious coincidence, from that exact date
the "Trente Jours" disappeared from its
pages as a subject for satire. Meantime the
"Tintamarre" had not been idle. The
"Tintamarre" is the latest literary offspring of
the satirical mind of Paris. It spurns your
"polished razor keen" as a weapon of wit;
and, in its warfare, inclines itself to the five-
and-twenty-bladed pocket-knife; while it does
not neglect to attack with the tomahawk as
often as it has strength to lift that weapon.
It inclines itself to zoological comparisons;
and, when a minister or journal of Order is
to be attacked, the old-established donkey is
its favourite illustration,—except when this
animal gives way to the equally congenial
baboon.

The "Tintamarre," from the very first,
waged war against the "Trente Jours," for
no reason more serious, I believe, than the
fact that it afforded a good mark. The arguments
against the practicability and utility of
the scheme having been exhausted, a grand
discovery was made,—that the name of the
director of the project was Rion, and that his
name was naturally susceptible of a pun!
Accordingly, the changes were rung upon the
word, most remorselessly. "Rion de tout,"
figured in every column, in an endless variety
of forms, all tending to the conclusion that
"nothing at all" was precisely what the
subscribers were likely to get for their money.
As may be supposed, the donkey was trotted
out, until he must have been as dead beat
as the reader himself; and as to the baboon,
his synonyme was legion.

Notwithstanding, however, this terrible
resistance, it was announced, a few days ago,
that the directors were in a position to
proceed with the accomplishment of the project.
Whether or not they had secured the desired
number of subscribers, I am unaware; but it
is evident that they have obtained a sufficient
number to justify them in taking the step.
Nor is there any reason why the project
should not be successful with even something
less than the proposed number of subscribers;
everything depends upon the facilities which
the directors of the public amusements give
to the undertaking. These, of course, vary:
in some cases it will be necessary to pay the
full price of admission; but then, on the
other hand, there are many sights in Paris
well worth seeing, but which meet with but
little support; and these may, doubtless, be
secured on advantageous terms. The conclusion,
therefore, must be, that, taking the
average, all the amusements of Paris may be
at the disposal of M. Rion, for considerably
less than the sum subscribed.

However this may be, the scheme is now
in operation; and thousands of the middle
classes of Paris are availing themselves of an
opportunity that, to a Frenchman, is no common
boon. To secure a day's pleasure, for
the sum of five-pence, is, indeed, an effort of
human ingenuity that few except a Frenchman
could have conceived; but so tempting
are the terms offered, that there is no reason
to suppose that a nation, even less partial to
pleasure than the French, might not take
advantage of them.

Such is the veracious history of an undertaking
that has been exciting the ridicule,
reprobation, approbation, and, ultimately, co-
operation of all the harmless people in Paris,
who are not too much occupied with politics, for
the last several weeks. Whether it be a very
important or desirable object to throw open
so much miscellaneous amusement to an
equally miscellaneous collection of persons, is
another question; but the realisation of the
"Trente Jours de Plaisir" (unless M. Rion
happens to be ruined) is certainly not without
its significance, as an indication of what
we may expect for the future—either of good
or evil—from the associated movements of
large masses towards a common object. As
a matter of taste, the notion of thirty days of
pleasure implies wastefulness of the most
valuable but most fleeting of human possessions;
as a matter of practice, it may be pronounced
impossible. About a week of continuous
sight-seeing is sufficient to sicken any person
possessing a respectable amount of fastidiousness;
a month of it will scarcely bear
contemplation. For my part, I would as soon
walk a thousand miles in a thousand hours.
Neverthelesss, chacun à son goût: M. Rion
has accomplished a bold feat, and M. Rion's
subscribers have my hearty congratulations.

On September 29th was published, price 5s. 6d., neatly
bound in Cloth,
THE THIRD VOLUME
OF
"HOUSEHOLD WORDS."

Publishing Monthly, price 2d., Stamped 3d.,
THE HOUSEHOLD NARRATIVE
OF CURRENT EVENTS.
*** This Monthly Supplement of "Household Words,"
containing a history of the previous month, is issued
regularly (pending the decision of the Barons of the
Exchequer as to whether it be liable, in law, to the Stamp
Duty) with the Magazines. THE FIRST VOLUME, being a
Record of the Public Events of the Year 1850, is still to
be had of all Booksellers.