PARIS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1415, 12 February 1873, Page 4

PARIS.

(from our own correspondent.) (Continued.) November 30. Mine. Thiers, who is nearly young enough to bo his daughter, and who is blessed with an inseparable sister — a second Juno's swan — Mdlle. Dosne, diligently seconds her husband's efforts to give animation and movement to the social world of Paris. It is not her fault, nor that of her husband, if the world be still unphilosophical enough to take less interest in the sayings and doings of the President and his lady, than it took in those of the Imperial pair who preceded them in the direction of French affairs. She gives much time and effort in promoting the various national subscriptions that have been formed for patriotic and charitable purposes, and is indefatigable in getting up charity-con-certs, in patronising dramatic entertainments and lectures, etc., as well as in visiting hospitals, asylums, schools, and museums ; in all of which she is ever accompanied by her second shadow ; she presides with grace and affability at the Presidential entertainments, which up to this time have been confined to dinners and evening receptions, dancing having been eschewed from all circles of Parisian society since the last Bad events. But this season the famous masked operaballs, suspended since 1869, are to take place as usual, with an admirable orchestra of 120 musicians, led by Messrs Ducarrc and Arban, successors of the extinct dynasty of waltz-kings, Strauss I. and II ; the opening of those world-renowned gatherings, which have become much less characteristic and picturesque than formerly — without having become more edifying — are announced to take place on the stroke of midnight of the second Saturday of next month. The return of the Orleans Princes has naturally brought out the partisans of the "Younger Branch" into a relief which they were unable to assume under the Empire. The Comte de Paris is believed to be by no means anxious to ascend a throne so unsteady as that from which threo occupants have been already violently hurled ; but his uncle d'Aumale has more ambition for him than he has for himself, and the receptions hitherto held by the Duke d'Aumale, the cleverest, cunningest, and most enterprising member of the Orleans Family, having gathered a large circle of friends of the July dynasty, naturally attracted also those who cared little for the political tendencies of either the host or his guests, but were delighted to have the opportunity of being seen in the princely mansion of the Faubourg St. Honore*. The Duke, however, was considered to have thrown open" his doors somewhat too widely, and on one or two occasions certain Iwi polloi contrived to get in, and behaved so rudely, that something very like a " row " ensued, the offenders only being got rid of through the aid of the police. The partisans of Henry V. remained somewhat aloof from this social movement, the ladies of that party associating mainly with those who share their political views ; while some of the families who have remained faithful to the White Flag and the " lilies," have pushed that fidelity to the point of having vowed that the shutters of their ancestral homes — nearly half a century closed — shall not be opened " until the king has come to his own." At M. Thiers' receptions people of all shades of opinion meet on neutral ground; Princesses and Duchesses encountering the present head of the French Government, but not being thereby brought into any greater degree of sympathy with those who are outside of their own particular pale. A fashionable wedding, especially if among parties well-known in the artistic, literary, or diplomatic worlds, often brings together a number of people, associated with the various ex.. regimes, whose names are never seen together, excepting on such occasions. The marriage of the son of M. Etnile de Girardin (so long associated with the Paris press, aud whose connection with the family and Court of Louis Philipe, and indeed entire career, political, literary, speculative, and domestic, would afford abundance of most piquant materials for a satiric novel) with the (laughter of Signor Vimercati, of the Italian Legation, which took place here a few days since, was the occasion of a gathering almost exclusively Imperialist. The witnesses for the bridegroom were Admiral Henriot de I' Angle, and Count O'Donnell, of the family of the Spanish Marshal, and who married a sister of M. de Girardin's first wife. The latter was the renowned "Delphine Gay," celebrated through all Europe for her beauty, wit, poetic genius, and patriotism, and who as "The Fourth Grace," "The Tenth Muse," "The Muse of La Patrie," •and other similar designations, suggested by the classical mania of her day, was the object, wherever she appeared, of social flattery and of popular ovations, but which seem as far removed from the sympathies, and even from the possibilities of the present time, as though they had belonged to the Age of Stone or Bronze. The witnesses for the bride in question were— Marshal Canrpbert, and Chevalier de Higra, Ambassador of King Victor Emmanuel, and the first maker of omelettes in Pans. Among the fair sex' present were Princess MathUde with her Ladies of Honor, the charming Marechale Canrobert, with her lovely English complexion and beautiful blue eyes, Counter Walewska, &c.-aU devoted BonapXS! The Americans are supreme herd at the

present time. They come hither in crowds, and by their great wealth and lavish expenditure, have fairly eclipsed the Russian Colony, which had previously, in the same way, eclipsed the English— so long regarded as the impersonation of wealth and extravagance, but now lost sight of in the blaze of their cousin from " over the way."- The weakness of the lady Republicans of the Fifth Avenue for rank and titles, render their advent extremely welcome to the inheritors of ancestral "handles," who have lost the estates that formerly went with them ; and a season never passes here without witnessing several catch marriages, in which Uncle Sam's fair nieces, bo remarkably pretty and elegant, and possessed of as many millions as charms,exchange their graces and dollars, for the titles which are not otherwise to be had. Paris has also just had the satisfaction . of providing the vved<?ing outfit for the •daughter of Mustapha Pacha. Four carriages and six horses have been sent out for her use to Constantinople. Thirty magnificent dresses have been furnished by the leading Parisian houses ; and the furniture of two rooms, from an"upholster of this city, has cost 60,000 francs. Besides the magnificent jewellery ordered for her by her future husband, KhalibPacha, the bride, who is declared to be one of the greatest beauties of the day, will wear, at her marriage, a diadem and necklace of brilliants worth one million of francs, to say nothing of such a trifling detail as Brussels lace, worth 20,000 fr., all of which would be very charming and interesting if there were neither poverty, ignorance, nor vice among the subjects of the descendants of the Prophet. The new fashions are successful, excepting bonnets, owing to their exaggerated style and fantastic trimmings ; the " Reabagas " especially, worn at the back of the head, and unsuited for the inclement .weather. Street costumes, worn just touching the ground, are mostly braided, tint upon tint, in the Caniaien style, or trimmed with fur. Reception dresses are made with train- skirts, either in velvet gros de Tonrs, or. other similar costly materials. The Dolman cloak — always comfortable aud becoming — is in favor, and the prevailing colors are bottlegreen, cronza, marine blue, which make up well in velvets, cloth, tweed— for walking costumes.