OUR PARTS LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3801, 21 June 1880, Page 3

OUR PARTS LETTER.

[*BOM OTTB OWK COBEEBPOKDENT.] April 10. Tho public is bocoming oblivious of the Jesuits, whose notioe to quit will expire by Augasb. Emile de Girardin says there are 3000 in France, nob 1480 as given by the official cocker; it is better to agreo with Figaro and Garibaldi, and admit they are " here, there, and everywhere." They and tho other religious orders must submit to the law, or take up their beds and walk. Prince Napoleon has been indulging in 80mo political fireworks. Ho claims to be democratic mid anti-clerical, assorts tho Republic is right in dispersing the Jesuits, &c, and ho takes French leave of his quondam allies — the Royalists. All tho effect this manifesto has produced is to give Paul do Oaesagnao the fits, aud necessitate keeping tho black border on his journal, the Pays, till tho empire finds an Emporor, and since it is an elective institution, why not propose himself? Prince Napoleon has only writton one lcttor more. To Franco ho remains tho eamo ; ho represents a dynasty that rests on no priuciplo, no authority. In point of interest, Nordenskjold, Princo Napoleon, and Marie Bioro, are surpassed by the Comtesso do B . A few evenings ago she gave ono of hor famous balls, where all that is distinguished in tho aristocratic and fa hiouablo world was present. In receiving her guests, sho was aded by her sister. When tho Baroness do S , a lady of Russian J origin arrive:!, tho Conitesso do B turned her b;iek to her; tlw Bister did tho eamo, and having directed a valet to conduct that lady at oncj to her carriage, tho Uomtesso and hor sister retired, packed up their trunk?, find sot oft' to Brussele with tho agility of a defaulting iio.'incior. The^. -Baroness whon in Russia cscapad strangulation by eouio masked nion, who ontond her bedroom. Failing in this, they later ai templed lo sot firo to hor bed, by placing a slow match boncath it in a shoe. She then cmuo to Paris, where hor inisfor- , tunes, accomplishments, wealth, and connec- I

lions opened eery salon to her. One afternoon the Cointessc do B and her sister <hove to the studio of M. and Mine. Florenoe, portrait painters, and disco vorod they wore ?imply in the presence of the husband of the countess and the beautiful Baroness, ffine Hits la crimes. Mine. Edmond Adam is a rich widow, not fat, but fair and forty. Slio is editor and proprietor of the Nouvelle Revue., the republican and lively competitor of the Orieaniet Revue de Deux Mondes, raid to have more subscribers than readers, and whose late proprietor declined to publish an article on " God," on the plea that it possessed no actuality. Mme. Adam has commenced a series of Wednesday recoptions, where mimic und literature are the standing dishes with occasional representations by the leading theatrical artistes. One is certain to oncounter there every old and now celebrity, save Gambetta, who ever remains conspicuous by his absence, acting, it is said, on Woller's advice to "beware of the viddiee." Gnmbetta avows be is married to the Republic as other people are affianced to tho Church, and his cliief enjoyment is to pasß hid holidays in Mb bueno retiro near Versailles with a few bachelors, playing at ekittles or nine pins,, with, for change of exorcise, a literal carrying out of Candide's advice "to cultivate your garden," and bo secure health, ease, and serenity, the three graces of Epicurean philsophy. Mme. Patti and Nicolini mui-fc bo. coiuing money, as every off night they are engaged in Paul and Virginia extracts from the leading operas. Their joint fee is 6000 f an evening, and they generally manage to kill two birds between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. The diva has bought up all the photos representing her between her husband and sfico!ini, a trinity not at all desirable. At Baron de Hirech's soiree, where the Rothschilds are surpassed in eumptuousness, their co-religionist, Patti, created a great sensation by singing a ballad from ' Mignon." The orchestra was composed of the chefs of that of the Grand Opera, each cf whom is a maestro in his line. The concert-room recalled a corner of the gardens of Bagdad, and tho artistes sang in character. If. fact, since Patti and NicoKni warbled in evening costume in tho garden scene of "Faust/ at tho Pnnccßse do Sagan'a ball, the incongruity could not be > repeated. A few extra bank notes inducedthe diva to don an Egyptian costume for appearing in the third act of " Aida." She | looked Btrangely beautiful in the bistre tint, j which delicately veiled her white features. 1 without blackening them. Baron de Hireoh : i is a Bavarian, and the well-known bankor " dear" to Turkey. He owns tho hotel formerly rented by the Princess de Metternioh, ; and once the property of the ex-Eropresa. Like all Jewish financiers, ho loves a title and a decoration, even if it should commemorate the Crusades. This is not in accordance with tho democratic spirit of the times, and Israelites are democrats. But when the nobility became bankers and stock-brokers, the Jews, always having a revenge to take, may be excused going in for hidalgo honours. A cross is not exactly a decoration for a Jew j the Cohens of Antwerp are more in their r6le, as their escutcheon is " David's harp." Rothschild tliould adopt Noah's ark, and Hirsch, Solomon's Temple. However, vanity likeGuzman, knows no obstacle TheDucheiMO Decazes wore a white satin robe, with gar. lands of natural roses round the skirt, and a bouquet of roecs on the right shoulder. Another "sweet dresß" was black moire with a long train, an orange scarf, and rivers of diamonds in the hair. Mdme. de Boy was in black velvet ; she wore the "Phrygian" coiffure; a fichu of scarlet silk, tied up behind like tho Bordeaux country girls, her blond locks retained by a diamond crescent. She is this season the diva di primo cartello ; no fete in Paris would be considered complete without her j she is tho spoiled child of the salons, and being a foreigner, the attention is not homage, bub greater patronage. ,To a style of beauty whick commands, she unites suppleness of mind, and a good Bounding name ; she is tall and robust, with a constitution of steel, a& every queen mmt posaeßs who is at tho beck and call of " the world." She is rich too, or what is the same, has unlimited credit, possesses » fine picture gallery, and gives exquisite dinners. She is a Swede, and Sweden rules Paris just now. There in Nordenskjold to commence with, and Prince Oecar for the finish. She is a blonde, with eyes as profoundly blue as a northern sea ; her beauty is pleasing and ,' juvenile; she is devoid of pretentions, and possesses that supreme of attractions is natural. She has r-lready dethroned Mine. Bornardaky, whoso sculptural beauty struck but never retainod you How many thorns lio ooncealed in the roses that strew the path of a Parisian queeu of beauty, but who must nevertheless expire like all royalties; curiosity burrows like a mole subterraneously round the sovereign. A thousand stories are curront anent her fortune, birth, and conduct. Her origin is low, her millions a blind ; she may be a Montpayon, perhaps has killed her children like Medea. She is invited all the same; hostesses dispute as to who Bball possess her, onrt her red headdress will become a mode. It is tho husband of such beauties that is most to be pitied. Tho world, ub a rule, regards him as an idiot. Then he must be ever on the watch leßt a wolf might entor tho fold. Ho must bo at once the most reserved of lovers, and the most pronounced of husbands ; a slip will muke him ridiculous, and ridioule kills. The Duchess of Newcastle is now Mrs Torn Hohler. She is a daughter of tho celebrated banker Hope, and after oighteen yean of a miserable union with a worthless Duke, casts off her weeds, and weds her bus band's private secretary. But Tom Hohler is a splendid looking fellow, and of very elegant manners ; ho has a good tenor voice ; attempted the stage, but failing to becomo a Mario de Candia, has succeeded in being the husband of a Duchess. It is refreshing in this prosaic Age to see Queens marrying shepherds, and lovo troating parohmont Bcrolls as so much waste paper. The duchess is very popular in French society, and her mansion, in the Rue do Mirome'nil, ifl furnished with great taßte. Another illustrious recruit for the fashionable world is the Prince of Wales, who need* lesely sacrificed his popularity, by an undisguieed sympathy with the now dodo dynasty — Bonapartism. Ho will cut out Prince Oscar, who lias a good deal of tho hobbledehoy in him, and who made a laughable blunder in coming to the Princess do Sagnn's bull with a transparency under his dross shirt. Viscountess dc Corval is to give a fancy ball in honaur of the Prince of Wales, whero all tho gentlemen are to appear in Bcarlet. Tho Prince will sign tho marriage contract of the Marchioness do Galliffol's daugbfcor— aged 18, fortureless, and devoid of tho radiating beauty of her mother — our Gnh of fashionable?. Her intended hußbnml is double her ago, a millionaire, and brother of the Princosso do Sagan : this ludy and tho MarchionoßS do Galliffet, represent tho Anglomania element in French society. They adopt, "Ye manners and ye customs" of England ; keep only English servants, road only English literature, and unablo to havo ' their children born on tho banks of tho Thames, havo them, as a compensation, baptized with English names. Nordenskjold must be us glad to cscapo the ovations given to him by the French, as to get ' | clear of the laßt band of ico that barred mm out of the sweet waters of Asia. VHomme de Olace ate his last dinnor with tho author of L'Homme gui Hit, and Hugo ovor tho walnuts and wine complimented him ou having oponed an additional rond for tho universal Republic. Stanley received tho eaino incense for his voyago across tho dark continent, and doubtless if de Tracy can roach the South Pole, tho old man eloquent will lu'ogiso him similarly. Mile Auelerc, tho leader of tho rnovemont against '.'maseulino auiocraey," refuses to pay her taxoß till eho bo accorded the right to control their expenditure by voting for a reproscntalive. French gallantry, unhappily, will take the form of a bailiff. During tho expiring days of tho Second Empiro, ono Gambon played at Hampdun, and every year the authorities had to eoizo his cow, which ho I bought in. [ On ono occasion, Brrmufotlp, King of Sweden, was very ill ; ho ref need to bo Mod till tho doctor promised not to mention tho upponranco of Jiis arm. " Death to kings " wna intoned thereon, a dovieo of Weruadotto's when a simple sol'iioi' of (ho Republic. Siberia, according to n French traveller, is the most intellcctunl region of Russia — the oditcalcd classes arc all trjimjwrfcil there. Sarah Bernhardt is nt, lan(, beautified ; hor portrait figure? on cigar buxeit and pquuroß of soap. A lady is now culling on (hi'utrical rnannpors with two cwt. of manußcript plays, and invites them to make a selection.