PARIS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 106, 15 February 1873, Page 9

PARIS.

The Americans are supreme here at the present time. They come hither in crowds, and by their great wealth and lavish expenditure have entirely eclipsed the Russian colony, which had previously, in the same way, sclipsed the English—so long regarded as the impersonation of wealth and extravagance ; but now quite lost sight of, in the blaze of their cousins from " over the way." The weakness of the lady Republicans of the Fifth Avenue for rank and titles renders 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 Sam's fair neices, so remarkably pretty and elegant, and possessed of as many millions as charms, exchange their grace and dollars for the titles which are not otherwise to be had. Harris has also just had the satisfaction of providing the wedding outfit of 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 upholsterer of this city, has cost 60,000 f. Besides the magnificent jewellery ordered for her by her future husband, Khalib Pucha, 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 francs, to say nothing of such a trifling detail as Brusssels lace worth 20,000 francs, 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 " Rabaga" 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 camctiere style, or trimmed with fur. Reception dresses are made with train skirts, either in velvet gros de Tours, or other similar costly materials. The Dolman cloak—always comfortable and becoming—is in favor, and the prevailing colors are bottle green, bronze, marine blue, which make up well in velvets, cloth, tweed, for walking costumes.