PARIS AND THE PARISIANS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8751, 13 October 1906, Page 3

PARIS AND THE PARISIANS

A Famous Fete.

(By IDALIA DE VILLIERS, in the " Boston Globe.")

Some years ago it would not. have been possible to organise — and carry out — a successful fete at the end^ of June, in Paris. Even a notable leader like the Duchesse d'Uzes would have found it impossible to keep the ultrafashionable women, so long in town. Now everything is changed : the, Paris eeason marches with that of London, and no one Tegards the Grand Prix as a signal for adieux. One of the most successful fetes of the whole season was held at the end of June, in the Jardin de Paris, in aid of "Le Pouponnatde Montgeron," at Nouzet. This splendid charity was founded by the Duchess d'Uzes. in 1903 ; and a-t the " Pour>onnat " they receive — and care for — little new-born children, who. otherwise would be sorely neglected, if not ill treated. In the midst of. pure country air, these wee children are carefully looked after by experienced nurses.

Every notable leader of fashion in Paris took part in the fete and at five o'clock in the afternoon the famous " Jardin des Paris" presented an appearance of extraordinary brilliancy.

There was a children's ball, finishing up with a cotillon; a first-rate circus performance and a " Ooncours de Chapeaux"; the judges of this " Concours" were Boldini, the famous portrait painted ; Caran d'Aohe and Sem, the caricaturists ; Telleu and other celebrated personages. Among the beautiful women who sold programmes — at fabulous prices — was the Princess ftalitaine, who wore an exquisite robe of palest beige voile and ivory mousseline de soie; the mousse-: line was richly embroiderd, and the princess wore a picturesque hat of ivory crinoline straw with drooping feathers in an artistic shade of nut brown, and under the brim a cluster of pale pink roses.

Comtesse Jacqueline de Pourtales looked remarkably well in ivory Indian muslin, lavishly . decorated- with hand embroidery ; she had a Tuscan straw hat loaded with, pink roses and lilies of the valley, and, falling from her shoulders a flowing scarf of pearl-grey crepe de chine. A notable beauty was the Marquise de Gouy D'Arcy — who sold flowers, and who looked perfectly oharming with her picturesque basket filled with fragrant blossoms ; she had a wonderful toilette of blush-i'ose foulard inset with Valenciennes lace; her quaint hat-rin cloche form — was of Tuscan straw, and the high crown was surrounded by soft folds of blush-ros© tulle; falling at the back there were pale pink and pale grey feathers. » Another "beauty" who made a small fortune as a flower seller was the Comtesse dv Bourg de Bozas, who wore a sheath-dress of fine black guipure, encrusted with superb chantilly and with medallions of Irish lace arranged in the hem of the skirt and on the bolero; the comtesse wore an immense hat of drawn black tulle and a black bird of paradise falling low over the left ear.

The famous Mdme de Banardaki lookyoung as her own daughter in a princess robe of embroidered lawn, with rich incrustations of point d'angleterre ; her charming little coat of the lace was fastened in front with loos© bows of liberty satin in artistic shades of pale blue and mauve, and her hat of tagal straw was wreathed with poppies and golden corn.

There have been elaborate entertainments at all the Embassies of recent days, but it was left to the Turkish Ambassador to completely astonish. Paris.

The Turkish Embassy is the same house in the Rue Villejuste which used to 1 be occupied by General Porter, when he represented the United States in France. In General Porter's time the house was severely simple, as regards decorations, but under the present rule it ia as gorgeous as an enchanted palace in one of Dumas' romances. •

The dinner was served in superb style ; all the dishes were wreathed in flowers ; the roasts with roses; the 6alads with carnations; the ices with jasmines, etc., etc. The wines were of the rarest and most expensive order, and all the rooms were filled with pale-hued flowers of great beauty.

It was undeniable that the dinner was quite perfect and quite perfectly served, but tout Paris ha 6 been, talking about the entertainments which were afterward provided for the amusement of the guests.

Arlette Dorgere, who is said to bo the prettiest actress in. Paris, was engaged to give Oriental dances of a remarkable nature, and many other photographic beauties took part in the "sing song" — as Munir Pasha modestly called it.

In the summer season — especially in the month of July — the Bois de Boulogne is the heart of Paris ! With the ultra-fashionable restaurants, the exclusive clubs, and fhe splendid racecourses, everyone is to be found "Au Bois."

Every year " Le Polo" Club gives a charming fete for the children of. its members, and this summer this entertainment was even more successful than usual.

The weather was perfect, and on che terrace and on the immense lawns there were children in pure white dresses, with flowing curls and coquettish knots of ribbon hanging over the left eye, or in white "duck" sailor suits, with closely cropped heads and cocks, in the strange fashion which prevails in France.

Watching the games with tireless interest, I noticed the Comtesse de Briailles, the Princess de Ligne in a rolo of ivory lace and with snowy feathers in her picture hat; Comtesse de Castellane, whose beautiful little eon ' Georges " won a flat race in splendid style; Princesse Lucinge-Fauoigny, la Marquise d'Agrioollar, Gomtesse de Casteja, and many others. On© of the most attractive " events" of the afternoon was the flat race for little girls under seven. The small creatures made the best possible use of their plump legs, and as they approached the winning post the sea of flushed and excited faces was a eight ever to be remembered.

Tho Pro Catalan restaurant in the Bois has enjoyed a very successful season. It is as much frequented as Armenonvill©, but the restaurant itself pretends to be " quite in the country !" Close by there is a model farm, where 'fresh milk can be obtained — hot and foamingj>.and. fresh from the cows — and everyone thinks it the correct thing

to eat egge at unaccustomed hours. Tn long ago days the Pro Catelau Avas very much frequented by the Empress Eugenic and her court, and romantic memories cling round it.

Parieieunes — and Parisians— are very iond of taking up new ideas and of doing their best to keep them " new." That is to say, to keep- them from being adopted by their neighbours France, is. said to be the land of "liberty, equality a-nd fraternity," but I do not know of any other country in which, the aristocrats guard their privileges — I cannot call them rights — so zealftusly as in France. For example, take the case of a beautiful village in the Seine et Marne Department, where I have been, spending a short holiday. All round this enchanting village there are immense forests, which are carefully guarded for the hunting season. Two aristocratic families, some of the oldest in France, own the entire country, and they will not permit a railway station to be made at a convenient distance from the village.

The train from Paris crosses a bridge, one hundred yards from the village church, but it does not stop, and the inhabitants are obliged to walk many miles to reach a station ! Those who own. the land do not occupy their chateau more than two — at most three — months in the year, but they wish the village to remain isolated — because it suite their own arrangements. . . .

While staying in the Seine et Marne Department I had the pleasure of being, introduced into one of the latest, the most exclusive and the most fashionable clubs.

It was started by a few well-known Parisians who wished to enjoy the delights of the country without much trouble; the clubhouse is a glorified farm, and the whole place ie hidden away in a magnificent garden, with a forest on one side and in the near distance the silver river.

Everything is arranged in country fashion, but the cooking arrangements are in the hands of a " cordon bleu," and the prices are rather startling. The members are limited, and the whole thing gives you the idea of a big house party; everyone knows everyone, and everyone is " at home."

Though this exclusive club is situated in the heart of the country, it is only three-quarters of an hour's run from Paris — by automobile. I need not say that every effort is made by outsiders to obtain right of entrance — without avail.

If a stranger chanced to ask for particulars, each and every member would profess entire ignorance of the existence of such a place. "There are charming farmhouses in the Seine efc Marne Department," they would say politely, " but of a club we know nothing!"

Hidden away among giant trees, and in magnificent gardens, there- are at Neuilly some superb houses. It is an artistic centre, and on all sides you find the homes of famous personages. Comte Robert de Montesquiou's wellknown " Pavilion des Muses " is at Newtlly and many other mansions of almost equal celebrity.

The painter Chart-ran has given during the season a series of delightful entertainments at his studio in the Boulevard Victor Hugo, Neuilly, but perhaps the most successful of these was the fete in aid of a deserving charity which he gave a few months ago, and at which Cecile Sorel, of the Comedie Franenise, - had a great success. So-rel looked extremely handsome on this occasion in a beautiful toilette of ivory crepe de chine with Irish lace twenty inches wide inserted round the hem, the same costly lace forming a bolero of novel design.

Her hat was of the fashionable Tuscan straw, turned up rather sharply at the left side and caught in by an art noveau ornament in pale green enamel and pearls; there were a great many feathers in pale shades of grey and of delicate mauve, waring over the.crown, and across her arm she carried an embroidered scarf. p.