There is also a system of Pneumatic Tubes (Télégraphie pneu-
matique) for the transmission of messages within Paris : cartes
télégrammes ('petits bleus' ; number of words unlimited) 30 c, reply-
paid 60 c. ; for letters not weighing more than 7 grammes, 30 c.
The cards may be obtained at the telegraph-offices, to which special
letter-boxes for the pneumatic post are also attached.

Telephone. Messages can be telephoned from most of the post
and telegraph offices. Service Urbain (within Paris), 15 c. per 3 min.
Service Suburbain : a, with a telephonic exchange in the department
of the Seine, 25 c. per 3 min. ; b, with an exchange in the depart-
ments of Seine et Oise and Seine et Marne ; for charges, see the
list on the door of the cabin. Service Interurbain, consult the 'An-
nuaire des Telephones' at any post-office. Service International,
with England (London and about 20 of the chief provincial towns),
Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, and Switzerland (England,
10 fr.; Berlin, 6 fr. ; Brussels, 3 fr. ; Turin, 3 1/2 fr. ; Bern, 4 fr.;
other foreign towns, see list in the waiting-rooms.). The chief tele-
phone-offices are in the Rue du Louvre and at the Bourse.

Requests to use the telephone should he addressed to the employé on
duty in the waiting-room.

'Urgent' messages may be exchanged with Germany at treble rates, the
maximum rate, however, being 15 fr.

The charge for informing a person of the office and hour at which
a telephonic communication will be made to him (avis d'appel téléphoni-
que) is 25c. for Paris and 15 miles round, 30c. for the department of
Seine et Oise beyond 15 M., and 40 c. for any other locality.

9. Theatres. Circuses. Music Halls. Balls.

Paris possesses about 20 large theatres, in the proper sense of
the word, and the traveller doing the 'sights' of Paris should not
omit to visit some at least of the principal houses. Performances
generally begin between 8 and 8.30 p.m., and last till nearly mid-
night; details are given in the newspapers and the posters on the
advertisement-pillars devoted to theatres, concerts, balls, etc. At
most theatres matinées are given in winter on Sundays and holi-
days, and sometimes on Thursdays. Many of the principal theatres
are closed in summer.

An intimate acquaintance with colloquial French, such as can be ac-
quired only by prolonged residence in the country, is absolutely necessary
for the thorough appreciation of the acting; visitors are therefore strongly
recommended to purchase the play (la pièce; 1-2 fr.) to be performed, and
peruse it beforehand. Dramatic compositions of every kind are sold at
the Librairie Tresse éc Slock, Théâtre Français 8-11, by Ollendorff, Rue de la
Chaussée-d'Antin 50, at the Magasin Théâtral, Boulevard St. Martin 12, etc.
The plays may also be procured in most instances at the theatres themselves.
Play-bills (le programme, le programme détaillé), or theatrical newspapers
with the programme of the evening (l'Entre-Acte, l'Orchestre, and others),
are sold in and outside the theatres.

The best seats are the fauteuils d'orchestre, or seats next to the
orchestra, behind which are the stalles d'orchestre, and farther