Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-18
LIFE OF AMERICANS PARIS.
CsrF'sPO"9rHre offhr Star.
PAr1N En- l. D., 1S- ,


sHGHGDae 1Hason-Amssican Beauty
BY O'Clock on The eyening of the l4th inst
party Of about thirty five Gneluding our bet
ter halves americans, had all assembled at
the HofoI OF our distinguished Minister at this
Curt, to accompany him to presentation and
oasi I" come Of - at the TuiIleries palace. on
that evening. After our Court costume Chired
Tor the OccaSon) had been subjected 70 the in
specti"n preliminary to appearance before roy
atty, and we had all passed muster" our
cards oi invitation were handed 10 W. by the
"Ver-SracIOus, ohligi1g and most efficient as
Ststant Secretary Of Legation. We were soon
on route for The Tuill@yies, WHERE arrived by Q
.. In, the hour indicated in our cards we were
nshered uP the spacious stairs lined on either
side by detachments Of the handsome "Cent
Iardes. and through various halls. until we
reached the Salon d'Apollon;' or reception
room. where we fund already assembled sub
Jects Of many European powers, alike under
gong the ordeal attendant presentation at
Court. At about ~ o'clock. the Grand Cham
oeTlain announced in n stertnrian voice En-
pcreur, and the Emperor and Empress entered
the room, and among others, the imperial SOW
ereign OF France was presented to thirty five of
the democratic SoyereIgns of the almiy Yam
kee nation. How hOnored their imperial males
ties must have felt? After the presentation
our hosts, the sOvereigns CT France preceded
Us, the sOvereigps Of the United States dis
guised in costumes repugnant to all our we'll
established ideas Of Republican simplicity to
the bail rooms, wherein we found ourselves
surrounded by the nobility of France, be-
sPrinkled with that of the other nations of this
Continent, all bcdecked and bedizened with
reSalia and all the honOrS and orders ever in
vented by the ever fertile imagination of Wis
sJnary mOrtaiS to commemorate glorious deeds
ot war, and alas, too often lavished upon worth
less accidental heritage to add more pride and
Ostentation TO the Surfeit of these little weak
nesses with which our good ana indulgent
mother, Nature generally supplies her sroilt
wayward rd-bra.a-ctildren.
During the presentation, the Emperor and
our tighly-esteemed Minister chatted for fcw
'nlnUtes, as If passing the usual compliments of
'he occasion; but the Empress advanced to
Judge Mason and entered into quite a complai-
SAINT little cOHceySIts0He, evidently betraying
by her manner and address, that TIE gross
Court scandal charging him with placing his
Arm around her chair-which originally ar
Peared in the independent Beige, and which
found It's way into the papers at home-was no
doubt instigated by the petty jealousy of The
representatives (or their satelitesl of other Pow
ers at the Court of France, to induce an es-
arrangement on the part of her imperial highness
towards the more favored representative Uf cur
own free country.
The Emperor circulated very freely through
the various rooms, conversing unreservedly
with those he recognized; but it was particu-
larry observable that he was remarkably gra-
clous To the representative of a grand urD,s.
Franchise, the continued favor Of which it is bis
hrst policy to secure; for there is no knowing
what day may bring forth among their mer-
curial people. The urbane and apparently sim
cere and unaffected manners Of both the Empe-
ror and Empress excited the admiration OF even
the democracy Of the United States who are
Vpr MI IN, talyn
assumption OF Ostentatinn of mapnerS 50 iubc-
rent in those clothed with the evanescent power
Of royalty
This bail was the most brilliant and rrcLeycLe
OF the season. L herewith enclose you a slip
from Galignani, (see nOte,) in which alIusion is
made TO II, and mention of some of the very
distinguished persOnages who formed the In
PeTlal QuadrIlie At one extreme OF the suite
"i Gi0Hs thrown open, delicious refreshments
were accessible during the whole evening and
at about midnight the doors of the other ex-
neme of the suite Of State rooms were thrown
open, and the Impress attended by Prince Ma
pOleOn, and the Emperor accompanying the
Princess Mathilde, preceded their guests To- the
Gallnl de Diane. where a most surnptuoEs
and inviting supper bid all a hoSpitable vel
come. Three O clock soon overlook ps diverted
a We were by the good cheer that surrounded
us, and leaving the gay and festive scene still
alive with the dancers. n We wendell Our way
ASNhO W VI uNclllIS IN marble halls.
On the 10th instant very recherche party
was given by our very popular and hospitabie
Consul and Madame Spencer. On entering the
ball room one could almost fancy him self trans
ported as If by magic. across the broad ATTAIN
tic, and set down ln the midst of a gay and
brilliant assemblage OF our own fair country
women. Judging from the old familiar buzz
emanating from the very many musical voice.
all bent on verifying the national characteristics
OF all speaking at once the good old dialact as
familiar as household words" IL really did
ones heart good 10 hear them, The bali was
very brilliant, and there was more beauty
among our lovely cUuntrywOmen concentrated
az this gathering than among the thousand of
all other nations who attended the Imperial
Court ball just described. But here where
there prevailed 80 much universal beauty il
might appear invIlious 70 particuIarize-ye
can confidently say, however, that not one be-
-shOwed-natural attractions to more
advantage by her winning ways and artless
manners, than the fair daughter Of our hospj-
table host and fascinating hostess
But among all the attractions of this gay
Parlsian world to ALLEVIATE the attachments due
10 our own beloved country, our patriotic Min
Ister, ever reminded by his motto, ''.SeD,pcr
P,Hrta, determined that il should not be for
gotten for invitations had already been issued
In the name of the Minister of the United
States and Madame Mason To- all their country
'
I'D There were some S0O to | 900 invitations
issued, and although the house is large and all
Oi II thrown open, except the part exclusively
used by the Legation, You may he sure that ss
the attendance was general, there was pretty
much oi " ashington jam" particularly
during the former part Of the evening This
was ball worthy Of the day it cnmmcmorated
and did honor tO our cruntry through its rem
resentatIon III foreign land. Although CIR
tCae (LentI had commenced. Yet the distiu-
gulshed nobility invited managed To- overcome
their conscientious ScTurl-> in favor Of the day
and Occasion, and all attended 20 do them
honor. The arrangements were most perfect
IN every btnHf51c. Two refrsshment rooms
were open daring the evening, and towards
midnight most buuntilul supper of all the
good things ot this life with printed bills of
fare lnterspeTSed over the table. which re-
minded one of the delicacies still crowded out
of sight Ibe music was faultess A galaxy
OF female loyeiness, combined with the bril-
liant wit OF the Sterner sex, the joyous abandon
81 the younger guests, rendered the scene
truly enchanting. Our distinguished host was