The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LON FON, SATURDAY EV EN LNG, MAY 25 1867.

nental war would have been too great for any
nation at the present moment, when so noble an in-
vitation to universal peace and goodwill has been
inaugurated by the Emperor of France. There are

alarmists who yet pretend that the lull will be but
for the instant, and discern still in the political

horizon the cloud no bigger than a man's hand,

which will yet pour out its wrath upon the Conti-

nent in the thirst for territorial aggrandisement,
which has been lately evinced by more than
one potentate, and which forms the more espe-
cial characteristic of the barbaric princes of the
East. Thus it is said that Russia, whilst

rivetting still . more closely the fetters of that
hapless nation, Poland, with the evident and avowed

intention of annihilating every feature of its na-

tionality, is tampering with Selavonia, Croatia,

Gallicia, and others of the serf States of Austria.
Whether the accusation, however, bo true or false,

I yet trust and believe that Eastern or any other
_ _

ambition will have to succumb before the influence

of enlightened Europe, and the thorough under-
standing which daily increases in force between its
two most powerful sovereignties--France and Eng-
land ; the latter especially has learnt the lesson that
colonial possessions at a grest distance cost nearly,
if not more than they are worth, as has been

evinced in the attitude assumed by that Power

in respect to the acquisition of Russian Ame-
rica by the United States, and it is clear
that her statesmen consider the enlightened policy, to
which we have already alluded, as the best safe-
guard for the events of the future. _

The Exposition continues to prove itself a great
and undoubted success, and, from an estimate of

the daily receipts, it is calculated that at the period of
closing they will have amounted to 10} millions of
francs, or 2f millions in excess of the amount gua-
ranteed to the Imperial Commisssion, from the
impetus given by the ratification of the Treaty of

Peace, and the announced arrival of the greatest

Sovereigns in the world, it is probable that the

estimates will exceed rather than fall under the

mark.

The arrival of the Czar, who will be lodged at
the Palace of the Elyse°, is announced for the
.2d of June, and preparations are said to be
making at the Mhzistere de la Guerre for a grand
military review which will be offered by the Empe-
ror Napoleon to his illustrious guest, as well as to
the King of Prussia, who, it is said (and as indeed is
more than probable), will be accompanied by his
Minister, Count Bismarck.
Queen Victoria is looked for at the latter end of
June, about which period it is said the Qieen Isa-
bella of Spain will also most probably honour Paris
with a visit. A grand ball took place on the even-
ing of the 19th at the Tuileries in honour of the
foreign Sovereigns and Princes, the Emperor con-
ducting the Queen of Belgium, whilst the King had
the honour of giving his arm to her Imperial
Majesty the Empress. It is scarcely necessary to
observe that the ball was of the most brilliant de-
scription. It commenced at six in the evening, and
with the interval of a magnificent collation, at
one a.m., the votaries of terpsichore prolonged their
enjoyment until an advanced hour of the morning.
The Imperial ball has been followed up by
Matinees I)ansantes at the hotels of the various
embassies. At that of England, Earl Cowley, who
has for fifteen years represented his country at
the French Court, gives place to Lord Lyons, who,
whatever may be his diplomatic talent, possesses at
least the reputation of one of England's bravest
defenders.
Amongst the myriad attractions of the Exposi-
tion one of the greatest has been the in-
auguration, with all the ceremonies of the
East, of the Palace of the Bey of Tunis.
The Palace, the interior of which has been
entrusted to the care of Monsieur Alfred Chapon,
has been constructed under the immediate superin-
tendence of the Baron de Lesseps, Commissary-
General at the Exposition for the Tunisian Govern-
ment. It purports to be an exact representation of
the Bey's palace at Tunis, though whether his
Highness has been so ill-advised as to bring in his
train any of the cypress-waisted, gazelle-eyed
beauties of the East to learn a lesson of insubor-
dination at witnessing the complete liberty accorded
to the fair sex by Europeans, is difficult for me at
present to decide. The reproduction of the Moorish
Palace, with its richly-apparelled and accoutred
Guards and other auxiliaries, was so strikingly
illusory that for the moment I was transported into
the realms of romance, and half looked round ex-
pecting to see the Cid Rodriga advancing to its
assault. A sumptuous banquet had been provided
for the Visitors d'llite who had received special in-
vitations from the Baron de Lesseps, the baron doing
the honours with that polished courtesy for which
ho is so remarkable.
Prince Oscar cf Sweden also has offered the grati-
fication of an experimental pleasure trip on board
of his beautiful little Swedish steam yacht. The
excursion was to the Palace of St. Cloud, and more
than a hundred persons availed themselves of the
opportunity. The Prince, as well as the Prince de
Gallo, both of whom have just quitted Paris, has
been for some time past one of its greatest lions, and
from the Court milliner to the sender of toothpicks,
happy the marchand or marchande honoured with
the patronage of either of their highnesses. The
fortune of the highly favoured one was made at
sufficientlyottp e
brbseeoawntiasgiki
eiegrhebdel.oif
rtoieri e
once in his estimation, and at the entrance of every
hdt eh
faaortut
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ott
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eee
thee rhet hopeheh,
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Aothveerryofutshefe aulbeouvielf-emreennetieond celebrities.isespokenof
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likely
to take place shortly here at the Foreign -oine,
and which has for its aim the rendering universal
the French system of decimal coinage. The names
even of the representatives of the different great
nations are given. If the conference does take
gn befronmo doubtosuch afn aobmjeoestt. besnpefieackia-1
resultplace thereeman
emanating
ing of this matter leads me, at the same time,
to observe that, owing to the influence of the Prince
of Hohenzollern, the Sublime Port has accorded to
R)tunania, the currency affairs of which State were
in a most deplorable condition, a new and improved
systema,he
lonf coinage.
lp er ial
Commission has decided upon aug-
menting considerably the number of prizes offered
to successful exposants. Thus there will be no
less than a thousand gold medals, three thousand
of silver, four thousand of bronze, and five thou-
sand honourable mentions ; thus, the number of
exposants reaching to about 43,000, there will be
a recompense of one kind or another for nearly
every three persons.
the Minister of Public Instruction has returned
from a tour of inspection amongst the educational
establishments of the Departments of the North.
The Minister is an able, earnest man. I doubt,
however, the advisability of one of his recent alte-
rations, viz., the deferring classical studies to the
third or fourth year of the educational course. There
are good arguments to be found both for and against
this innovation. There can be no doubt that his
Excellency has found that too great a delay has
been involved in conducting the study of the classes
side by side with that of the maternal language, and
that this delay has operated to the disadvantage of
the latter, whilst he doubtless presumes also that
the preliminary course would better prepare the
mental faculties of the Eleve for the comprehension
of more difficult studies. lam apt to think myself
that the defects which have been attributed to clas-
sical study itself should more properly be attributed
to the defective and lingeting manner, want of sim-
plification, &c., in which the classes are taught at
the present day. There can, in my opinion, be no
difficulty in so simplifying classical studies as to carry
them on, side by side with others, for it is not until
we compare our own language with another, that
we can see fully the beauties of either. It is a
vexata questio, however, and it is probable that a
,middle course might have been adopted by his Ex-
cellency with success.
It is at present premature to say much upon the
Alsatian question. The hot-headed manifestoes of
the German students weigh little in comparison with
the guarantee afforded by the well-known wisdom
and moderation of the policy of the Emperor of
France, but we shall know more anon.
The weather has been variable and unsettled of
late. Excessive heat at one time has been succeeded
by excessive cold at another. The season is, not-

withstanding, gradually endorsing its robe of sum-
mer. The gardens and orchards are already pour-
ing forth their produce.
The Boulevards are thronged with their evening
loungers, whilst the fairy gardens of the Champs

Elys6es:with their brilliantly-illuminated theatres,
concert-rooms, the soft night breeze wafting from
them exquisite strains of vocal and instrumental

melody, resume their place amongst the very first

attractions of the fair city.

On Sunday, the 19th, a grand floral exposition
took place at Versailles, under the patronage of
her Majesty the Empress: The never-failing

attraction to the Parisians of the Grande Eaux. is

now continually announced at Versailles, St. Cloud,

and all other Royal pleasure-grounds, which boast
alike of fountains and a good supply of the limped
element. The little wandering Pfifferari are to be
met with in troops in every quarter of the city,

the police of which have not as yet succeeded in
materially diminishing the evil ; indeed, it would be
to bring one back to the days of King Ilerod
to use measures of a very bard character
against such infantile transgressions, and thus
the patron who imports all these children
escapes, and finds opportunity to enrich himself at
the expense of public credulity. The patron plays
his cards well, for one mnst have a more than com-
mon kindness of heart to resist the importunities of

the infants, many of whom are pecularly prepos-
sessing. A week or two since I was passing down
the Boulevard, by the Bastille, about nine in the
evening, which had been wet and stormy, when I
espied, sound asleep upon a wet bench, one of the
most beautiful cherubs, of about six years old, that
that one could imagine. The child was wrapped
up in a greatcoat, with hood attached, and the
smile that wreathed his lips as be slept showed that
he dreamt of the far off Savoy and of the mother
who had thus only sent him forth to brave the
troubles and trials of a hard world. I awoke him
with difficulty, and after the bystanders bad loaded
him with their contributions,,in which might be
reckoned more than one half-franc. The petit
bonhomme tottered off into the darkness, clasping
closely a violin which General Tom Thumb might
have envied, and bearing with him more than one
benediction.

The concert-rooms and theatres are crowded to
overflowing, the receipts at a concert recently given
by Carlotta Patti having exceeded 6,000 francs.
'l'amberlik, and Mademoiselle Nellson have ap-

peared at a grand fete given at the Hotel de Ville,
on Thursday last, whilst M. Perrin, director of the
Opera, has received the commands of the Emperor
to make every preparation for a gala representation
to take place on the 6th of June next.
The great prize of 20,000 francs, to be given to
the author of the best opera for ten years back, will
be awarded, it is said, to Felicien David, author of
the " Herculaneum.
The departure of the King of Belgium and his
son, the Count of Flanders, is spoken of as im-
minent, in consequence of the dAngerous state of
the unfortunate Empress of Mexico, who is at
Miramon, Austria.
The Queen of Portugal left on Tuesday last for
Turin, to attend the marriage of her brother Prince
Amedee, Duke of Aosta, with Mademoiselle de Cis-
terna.

The Emperor of Austria, Francis Joseph 1.,
will arrive at Paris with the Empress after their
coronation at Pesth.
One of the greatest attractions in Paris at this
moment is the Park d'Asnieres, which has been
converted by the energy and talent of W. E. Smith
into a Parisian Cremorne, and crowds assemble
daily to witness the extraordinary evolutions of the
hero of Niagara, whose services have been secured
for that establishment.
The American circus bids fair to be a complete
success, the enterprising and liberal director h
given a grand entertainment to the Parisian 'press.
The Prince Royal of Prussia is expected daily at
Paris.

Among the late arrivals of Americans in Paris
are Chas. A. Page, the United States Consul at
Zurich, and Col. M'Clure, who have come on a visit
to the Exposition, and will remain some weeks.
The weather is really detestable, and there
is no prospect of its being any better, as clouds are
always in the ascendancy. The rainy days we
have been favoured with puts a damper upon out.
door amusements, and the Champs Elys6es even
present a cheerless aspect.
Among the distinguished Southerners now re-
siding in Paris are—General John C. Breckenridge,
Dudley A. Mann, formerly U.S. Commissioner to St.
Petersburg; Mr. Slidell, Judge Perkins, of Cali-
fornia ; Capt. James I. Waddell, late commander of
the celebrated Confederate cruiser Shenandoah ; Dr.
Fred. J. M'Nulty, surgeon of the Shenandoah;
Major-General Ripley, the commander of Charles-
ton, South Carolina; Major A. C. Rogers, and
Major John W. Childress, late of Ray's noted
Texan Rangers.
On Thursday last Captain J. M. Hudson, the
commander of the Red, White, and Blue, had a
private interview with the Emperor.
His Majesty complimented the captain on his
daring in undertaking so perilous a trip, and ex-
pressed his determination to call at the Pompeian
Palace and see the little ship. Great exertions are
being made here by Americans to get the Red,
White, and Blue transferred from the Palace where
it is now on exhibition to the American department
of the Exposition ; and it is to be hoped that the
change will be made, for what is more worthy of
being shown as a proof of what American skill and
daring can accomplish, than this wee craft.

Few people have ever believed that to live in re-
tirement unheeded and unknown is to be happy,
still fewer are content to perform their deeds in
secret. I omit qualifying tlie said deeds, as the
terms good and bad are liable to individual appreci-
tion. Some perplexity must arise, for instance, in
the minds of readers who were lattly favoured with
the following intelligence through one of our lead-
papers. I quote M. Emile Picard has made a
second donation of the sum of one franc to the
Imperial Orphan Asylum."
My personal meditations have not ,relieved my
mind of a heavy burden concerning' M. Emile
Picard. Is this franc to be put, down as a good
action because " charity covereth a multitude of
sins ?" or is this unit to remain as a stigma on M.
Emile Picard's generosity on account of it being so
very unique ? As the imperial orphans alone can
know what they got for the donation, the disad-
vantages of publicity are in some circumstances
evident.

The same may be said with reference to the Duke
of Luxembourg. It must be peculiarly galling for
him to read in all the weeklies and dailies that
he is hot only to knock his own fortress down, but
pay for the damages. That " those who break must
pay" is a very grand principle—it is anti-social ;
society, in fact seems to thrive on it, but it is put-
ting a man in a very false position, though he tnay
be a grand duke, to expect he will put his finger in
his own eye with anything like grace. This of
course'is a metaphor, but, grammatically speaking,
the Duke of Luxembourg, while knocking down
and paying over will not be a neutral party ; accord-
ing to the rules laid down he is leaving the genders
entirely launchig forth into other moods and times
which are called passive,
because they are acted
upon.

Thusitisthepapersrevealsomeverybad cases, and
a great deal of private life besides. Two abandoned
babies were, on one night of this week, found by a
serpent de ville wrapped up, one in a number of the
Petrie, the other in the supplement of the Consti-
tutionfiel.

Alexandre Dumas, junior, is another victim of
journalism. He has been lately blessed iv ith a
daughter and christened her Jeannine, that being
the name of the heroine of his last piece, " Lag 'de"
de Madema Aubrey." Since the christening
he has been taken to task by one of the
learned brotherhood, and the dramatic author
has had to enter into explanations in a public sheet
for having called his own child by the name he
thought fit. It so happens that he had no right to
call the child Jeannine—it is not an orthodox name,
and the proof is not put down on the official al-
manac. It ensues that, should any man be un-
fortunate enough to become a father in Paris (of
all places the worst for paternity), he should with

! all the strength of firm will forego the temptation
of calling his offspring by any heroic name not ex-
tant on the almanac; howeverTrojan,however Roman,
however uncommon the name, he will get into trouble
if he does not keep all the saints in view, whose
Christian appellations are on record. Some, I agree,
are simply ridiculous, but even that of Ninyas, which,
though not a saint's name, is orthodox, and proba-
bly derived from Ninny-ass, would be preferable to
all the comments made by the papers, ending in
open defiance of civil law. Dress is another item
that is made somewhat too public in Paris. There
is not a capital in the world where ladies' small
artifices are so heartlessly revealed as here, and that
in the open streets in every shop window. No won-
der that when young gentlemen return from a con-
tinental tour to the bosom of their families, they
startle their sisters and mothers with all sorts of
technical expressions, which nothing hut long sta-
tions before shop fronts in the Boulevards could have
imported. There is no longer any mystery in
gutty percha or whalebone ; a stroll or two down our
most fashionable streets make a man perfect in what
the ancients called the plastic art. In our times
we may denominate it the plastering art. As I
have received some very urgent demands this week
for a long account of the fashions for June, I will
describe some of the toilets worn at the splendid
balls and matinees given at court or in court
circles. I refrain from mentioning names, as I cannot
think a robe is any the finer for the name of
the wearer, although she may lend it grace.
These papers are not written for the satisfaction
of personal vanity, but for public amusement or in-
formation.
At all the matinees white muslins are now worn
over light-coloured silk underskirts, and very wide
sashes, with immense bows behind, on the waist.
short costumes arc also worn at official morning
receptions. They are of the richest description.
The lightest silks are looped, festooned, fringed,
vandyked, covered with work ; black silk robes
are embroidered with coloured silks, the field
flower pattern, poppies, daisies, wheat ears, encircle
the waist, and look as if they really were flowers,
instead of needlework.
Foulard is a perfect mania, the favourite is light
grey, and these robes are trimmed with plaited
ribbon of a lighter or darker shade. Plaits are
worn on everything.
Some of the most admired evening toilets are
made of tulle, covered over with crystalised leaves
which sparkle like diamonds, or wreathed round
with entwining leaf garlands.
Salmon colour is the richest for poult de sole,
with or without lace tunics. This is very elegant
with the new green flower ornaments on the hair,
on the neck, and sleeves.
A pretty combination for young ladies is the light
green tulle, with rich bouquets of narcissus, with
crystal hearts. This glistens and looks as nymph-
like as girls can look when they will.
Few English ladies adopt straw colour, but it is
the height of fashion--a prejudice calls it yellow ;
but straw colour is not yellow. It is becoming to
all women beyond thirty ; that is, perhaps, why
English ladies do not like it when they are on the
wrong side of forty. If so, they are doubly in the
wrong, for when trimmed with an idea of ponceau
and black a straw-coloured toilet is very stylish.
Light Parma violets and brown-colouied tulle are
equally fashionable. Light-green satin under tulle,
looped up with hyacinths ; a rosy mauve satin,
with lilies of the valley, and a black-lace robe over
maize, worn with malachite ornaments, were much
admired at the Embassy. Powder in the hair will
soon be universal. It is much worn by day time
already.